Net Worth Ranker
What Is Ava Gardner’s Net Worth?
Ava Gardner, a prominent figure in Hollywood’s Golden Age, had a net worth of approximately $200,000 at the time of her death in 1990, adjusted for inflation. While she was a major star during her career, financial difficulties plagued her later years. Her early life provides a stark contrast to her eventual fame and fortune.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born on December 24, 1922, in Grabtown, North Carolina, Ava Lavinia Gardner was the youngest of seven children. Her parents, Jonas and Molly Gardner, were tobacco sharecroppers. Ava grew up with two brothers, Raymond and Melvin, and four sisters: Beatrice, Inez, Elsie Mae, and Myra. The family faced financial challenges, losing their property when Ava was a child. They subsequently lived at the Brogden School, where Molly worked as a cook and housekeeper.
In 1931, after the closure of Brogden School, the Gardner family relocated to Newport News, Virginia. Tragedy struck in 1938 when Ava’s father, Jonas, succumbed to bronchitis. This loss prompted another move, this time to Rock Ridge, North Carolina, where Ava attended high school. Following high school, she enrolled in secretarial classes at Atlantic Christian College in Wilson, showcasing her initial path toward a more conventional career.
A pivotal moment occurred in 1940 when Ava visited her sister Beatrice in New York City. Beatrice’s husband, Larry Tarr, a professional photographer, took Ava’s portrait. Impressed by the results, Tarr displayed the photograph in his studio window. Barnard Duhan, a legal clerk from Loews Theatres, noticed the photo and was similarly captivated, suggesting that Tarr send Ava’s information to MGM. This chance encounter led to an interview at MGM’s New York office, ultimately resulting in a contract offer and Ava’s relocation to Hollywood in 1941.
Breakthrough and Peak Career
Ava’s early Hollywood career involved minor, often uncredited roles. She appeared in films such as “Shadow of the Thin Man” (1941), “Babes on Broadway” (1941), “This Time for Keeps” (1942), and “Kid Glove Killer” (1942). Her first screen billing came in 1943 with the comedy horror film “Ghosts on the Loose.” Further uncredited roles followed in “Young Ideas” (1943), “Swing Fever” (1943), “Lost Angel” (1943), and “Two Girls and a Sailor” (1944). Gradually, she earned billing in films like “Three Men in White” (1944), “Maisie Goes to Reno” (1944), and “She Went to the Races” (1945).
Her breakthrough arrived in 1946 with starring roles in two films noir: “Whistle Stop” and “The Killers.” “The Killers,” in which Ava portrayed the femme fatale Kitty Collins opposite Burt Lancaster, propelled her to stardom. This role established her as a leading actress and opened doors to more significant opportunities.
Following her breakthrough, Ava starred in numerous successful films. These included “The Hucksters” (1947), “Singapore” (1947), “One Touch of Venus” (1948), “The Bribe” (1949), “The Great Sinner” (1949), and “East Side, West Side” (1949). In 1951, she played leading roles in three major films: the film noir “My Forbidden Past,” the musical romance “Show Boat,” and the romantic fantasy “Pandora and the Flying Dutchman.” She subsequently appeared in “Lone Star” (1952), “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” (1952), and “Ride, Vaquero!” (1953).
One of Ava’s most acclaimed performances came in 1953 when she portrayed Eloise “Honey Bear” Kelly in John Ford’s “Mogambo,” starring alongside Clark Gable and Grace Kelly. Her performance earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, her first and only. Following “Mogambo,” Ava starred in “Knights of the Round Table” (1953), “The Barefoot Contessa” (1954), “Bhowani Junction” (1956), “The Little Hut” (1957), “The Sun Also Rises” (1957), “The Naked Maja” (1958), and “On the Beach” (1959).
In the early 1960s, Ava starred opposite Dirk Bogarde in “The Angel Wore Red” (1960) and opposite Charlton Heston and David Niven in “55 Days at Peking” (1963). She also had two memorable leading roles in 1964, in John Frankenheimer’s “Seven Days in May” and John Huston’s “The Night of the Iguana.” Later in the decade, she appeared in “The Bible: In the Beginning…” (1966) and “Mayerling” (1968).
Later Career and Final Years
Ava continued to work steadily in the film industry until 1982. Her late-career credits include roles in “Tam-Lin” (1970), “Earthquake” (1974), “The Cassandra Crossing” (1976), “The Sentinel” (1977), and “Priest of Love” (1981). Although she remained active, the roles were less prominent than those in her earlier career.
Personal Life and Relationships
Ava Gardner’s personal life was as captivating as her film roles. She was married three times, each marriage to a prominent figure in the entertainment industry. In 1942, she married fellow MGM star Mickey Rooney. The marriage was short-lived, ending in divorce the following year due to Rooney’s alleged mental cruelty.
Her second marriage was to musician and bandleader Artie Shaw, from 1945 to 1946. This marriage also ended relatively quickly. Ava’s third and final husband was singer and actor Frank Sinatra, whom she married in 1951. Their marriage, often tumultuous, lasted until 1957. During their marriage, Ava reportedly had two abortions, a difficult decision that reflected the complexities of their relationship.
In addition to her marriages, Ava had relationships with other high-profile men, including business magnate and aviator Howard Hughes. She also dated Spanish bullfighter Luis Miguel Dominguín, whom she met through their mutual friend Ernest Hemingway. Other boyfriends included actor Benjamin Tatar. These relationships contributed to Ava’s image as a glamorous and worldly figure.
Financial Circumstances and Death
Despite her successful career, Ava Gardner faced financial difficulties in her later years. According to reports, she was nearly broke in the years leading up to her death. At one point, she considered writing a memoir for a small lump sum. However, she ultimately withdrew from the project. Rumor has it that Frank Sinatra provided her with the money she would have earned from the book, preventing her from revealing potentially damaging information.
Ava was a heavy smoker for most of her life and also suffered from lupus. In 1986, she contracted pneumonia, which, combined with her existing health issues, led to a stroke that left her partially paralyzed. Ava Gardner passed away in early 1990 at the age of 67. Her death marked the end of an era in Hollywood.
Legacy
Ava Gardner’s legacy endures as one of the greatest female stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age. She is remembered for her sophisticated and worldly image, her seductiveness, and her memorable performances alongside major male movie stars. Her impact on cinema and popular culture is undeniable.
Ava Gardner’s life and career have been documented in numerous biographies and articles. One notable biography is “Ava Gardner: The Secret Conversations,” written by British journalist Peter Evans. This biography provides insights into her personal life and career, further cementing her place in Hollywood history. Her net worth, though modest at the time of her death, does not diminish her significant contribution to the world of film.
