Net Worth Ranker
What Is Vincent Price’s Net Worth?
At the time of his death in 1993, Vincent Price, the celebrated American actor known for his distinctive voice and roles in horror films, had a net worth of $5 million. Adjusting for inflation, this sum is equivalent to approximately $11 million in today’s dollars. This financial standing reflected a career spanning stage, film, television, and radio, underpinned by his diverse talents as an art collector and gourmet cook.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Vincent Leonard Price Jr. was born on May 27, 1911, in St. Louis, Missouri. He was the youngest of four children of Vincent Price Sr., who was president of The National Candy Company, and Marguerite Wilcox. The Price family enjoyed considerable wealth due to Vincent Clarence Price, his grandfather, a pioneer in the toothpaste industry. Vincent attended St. Louis Country Day School and Milford Academy in Connecticut before earning a degree in English and a minor in art history from Yale University in 1933.
Price began his acting career on the London stage, debuting in 1935 with a performance in “Chicago” at the Gate Theatre. That same year, he played Prince Albert in “Victorian Regina,” also at the Gate Theatre. He reprised the role when the production moved to Broadway. In New York, he appeared in several productions, including “Heartbreak House,” “The Shoemaker’s Holiday,” and “Angel Street.”
Film Career and Notable Roles
Vincent Price’s film debut was in the 1938 comedy “Service de Luxe.” The following year, he starred in the horror film “Tower of London.” During the 1940s, he played Joseph Smith in “Brigham Young,” William Gibbs McAdoo in “Wilson,” and Vital Dutour in “The Song of Bernadette.” He also appeared in “The Long Night” and “The Bribe.” In 1950, Price played James Addison Reavis in “The Baron of Arizona” and Burnbridge Waters in “Champagne for Caesar.”
In 1953, he took on the lead role of Professor Henry Jarrod in “House of Wax,” marking a significant turn toward the horror genre. Subsequent roles included Don Gallico in “The Mad Magician” and Francois Delambre in “The Fly” and “Return of the Fly.” In 1956, he portrayed Baka in “The Ten Commandments,” a film celebrated for its special effects and nominated for several Academy Awards.
The 1960s were particularly fruitful for Price in the horror genre, beginning with “House of Usher” in 1960. He went on to star in “The Pit and the Pendulum,” “Tales of Terror,” “The Last Man on Earth,” and “Witchfinder General.” He also explored comedy with roles in “Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine” and its sequel. The 1970s saw him in “The Abominable Dr. Phibes” and “Theatre of Blood.”
Later in his career, Price appeared in the 1983 comedy horror film “Bloodbath at the House of Death” and “House of the Long Shadows.” His role as Nicholas Maranov in the 1987 drama “The Whales of August” earned him an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Male. In 1990, he played an inventor in Tim Burton’s “Edward Scissorhands.” These diverse roles throughout his film career contributed significantly to Vincent Price’s net worth and cemented his legacy in the entertainment industry.
Television and Radio Ventures
Vincent Price made numerous appearances on television anthology series, including “Science Fiction Theatre,” “General Electric Theater,” “Crossroads,” and “Playhouse 90.” During the 1960s, he was a frequent participant on the game show “Hollywood Squares” and guest-starred on series such as “Daniel Boone” and “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” He played Edgar “Egghead” Heed on “Batman” from 1966 to 1967.
In 1971, Price had a cameo on “The Hilarious House of Frightenstein” and guest-starred on “Here’s Lucy,” “The Brady Bunch,” and “The Muppet Show.” He and his wife, Coral, starred in the CBS fantasy drama series “Time Express” in 1979. From 1981 to 1989, Price hosted the “Mystery!” series on PBS. In 1985, he appeared in “Faerie Tale Theatre.”
Price also had a notable career in radio. From 1947 to 1951, he played Simon Templar in “The Saint.” During the 1970s, he hosted “The Price Of Fear” on BBC Radio. In 1975, he and Coral performed in the BBC radio play “Night of the Wolf.” He also starred in “Tales of the Unexplained.” From 1979 to 1980, he hosted “Mystery Night” on “Sears Radio Theater.” His consistent work across radio and television likely played a role in the growth of Vincent Price’s net worth over time.
Voice Work and Other Contributions
Vincent Price’s distinctive voice led to numerous voice acting opportunities throughout his career. He provided a monologue for Alice Cooper’s 1977 song “Black Widow” and recorded a cover of “The Monster Mash” that same year. In 1982, he provided voice work for Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and Tim Burton’s short film about a boy who enters a fantasy world where he is Vincent Price.
In 1985, Price voiced Vincent Van Ghoul in “The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo” and appeared in commercials for Tilex cleanser. In 1986, he voiced Professor Ratigan in Disney’s “The Great Mouse Detective.” In 1987, he narrated “America Screams,” a documentary about amusement parks. These voice acting roles provided additional income, contributing to Vincent Price’s net worth and broadening his appeal to different audiences.
Art Collection, Culinary Interests, and Personal Life
Vincent Price was an avid art collector and art historian, serving as a commissioner of The Indian Arts and Crafts Board. In 1957, the Vincent Price Art Museum was founded in East Los Angeles, housing over 9,000 objects, many of which were donated from his personal collection. From 1962 to 1971, Sears, Roebuck & Co. offered prints from the Vincent Price Collection of Fine Art.
Price was also a gourmet chef, authoring several books on food, including “A Treasury of Great Recipes” in 1965 and “Cooking Price-Wise With Vincent Price” in 1971. That same year, he began hosting the British cooking show “Cooking Price-Wise.” He also released numerous audio tutorials on cooking. While it is difficult to assign a specific monetary value to these activities, they certainly enhanced his public persona and potentially led to additional opportunities.
Vincent Price was married three times. His first marriage was to actress Edith Barrett in 1938, and they had one son before divorcing in 1948. In 1949, he married costume designer Mary Grant, with whom he had one daughter before they divorced in 1973. His third marriage was to actress Coral Browne in 1974. She was the widow of actor Philip Pearman when she and Vincent met while filming “Theatre of Blood” in 1973.
In 1989, Vincent Price was inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame. He passed away on October 25, 1993, in Los Angeles due to lung cancer. At the time of his death, he had been struggling with Parkinson’s disease. His legacy remains significant, and while a precise breakdown of the assets contributing to Vincent Price’s net worth is unavailable, it is clear that his diverse talents and extensive career played a crucial role in his financial success.
