Net Worth Ranker
What Is Arthur Miller’s Net Worth?
Arthur Miller, a celebrated American playwright, essayist, and author, had an estimated net worth of $10 million at the time of his death in February 2005. This figure reflects his successful career in the American theater and film industry.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Arthur Miller was born in Harlem, New York, in October 1915. His father was a prosperous clothing manufacturer until the Wall Street Crash significantly impacted the family’s financial situation. Miller graduated from the University of Michigan in 1938. Before achieving fame, Miller worked various jobs, including a stint in the Brooklyn Navy Yard during World War II, which provided material for his later plays. His early experiences profoundly shaped his perspective and provided source material that he would later use in his influential plays.
After graduating from the University of Michigan in 1938, Miller initially joined the New Deal Federal Theatre Project, which was shut down by Congress the following year. In 1940, he married Mary Grace Slattery, and they had two children, Jane Ellen and Robert. His first play was unsuccessful, but he achieved his first Broadway success in 1947 with “All My Sons,” for which he won his first Tony Award.
Key Milestones and Income Details
Miller’s career reached a turning point with “Death of a Salesman” in 1949. Premiering on Broadway, it became a commercial triumph and secured him a Tony Award, the New York Drama Circle Critics’ Award, and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. He was the first playwright to win all three of these major awards. According to a signed financial statement from September 9, 1957, Miller and his then-wife Marilyn Monroe declared a joint annual income exceeding $50,000 with total expenses around $30,000 with $50,000 in life insurance.
Notable Works and Screenplays
Arthur Miller is best known for several landmark plays that remain staples of American theater. These include:
- “All My Sons” (1947)
- “Death of a Salesman” (1949)
- “The Crucible” (1953)
- “A View from the Bridge” (1955)
In addition to his stage plays, Miller wrote screenplays for film adaptations of his own works and original screenplays, further contributing to his income. These include “All My Sons,” “Let’s Make Love,” “The Misfits,” “Everybody Wins,” and “The Crucible.”
Awards and Recognition
Throughout his illustrious career, Miller received numerous awards and accolades, including the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Dorothy and Lillian Gish Lifetime Achievement Award, the Prince of Asturias Award, and the Jerusalem Prize. In 1980, he received the St. Louis Literary Award from the Saint Louis University Library Associates. These accolades not only cemented his reputation but also likely enhanced his earnings through increased demand for his works.
Personal Life and Assets
Arthur Miller was married three times. His marriage to Marilyn Monroe from 1956 to 1961 was highly publicized. Before marrying Monroe, Miller was married to Mary Slattery from 1940 until their divorce in 1956, with whom he had two children: Jane and Robert. After his divorce from Monroe, he married photographer Inge Morath in 1962, and they had two children, Rebecca and Daniel. Miller’s personal life sometimes intertwined with his professional life, influencing his work and public perception.
After filming for The Seven Year Itch wrapped up in November 1954, Monroe left Hollywood for the East Coast, where she and photographer Milton Greene founded their own production company, Marilyn Monroe Productions (MMP). After founding MMP, Monroe moved to Manhattan and spent 1955 studying acting where she began dating actor Marlon Brando and playwright Arthur Miller. On June 29, Monroe and Miller were married at the Westchester County Court in White Plains, New York; two days later they had a Jewish ceremony at the home of Kay Brown, Miller’s literary agent, in Waccabuc, New York. With the marriage, Monroe converted to Judaism, which led Egypt to ban all of her films.
Miller owned a farmhouse in Roxbury, Connecticut, where he spent a significant amount of his time. In his final weeks, Miller moved into his sister’s Manhattan apartment due to health issues. A 1961 Land Rover Series II 88-inch Hardtop Chassis, which Miller purchased directly from the Solihull factory and owned for over 40 years, was auctioned off by Bonhams on January 24, 2025.
Some of his other written works fetched high prices — a love letter he wrote to Marilyn Monroe sold for $43,750. The University of Texas purchased the entirety of his archives for $2.7 million, outbidding Yale University.
Philanthropic Activities
The Arthur Miller Foundation continues his legacy by supporting various theatrical and literary endeavors. According to ProPublica, the Arthur Miller Foundation has total net assets of $713,002 with income reported at $129,242. Contributions accounted for $907,595 which is 99.9% of total revenue.
In addition, Rebecca Miller, Arthur’s daughter, donated 155 acres of her father’s estate to create the Arthur Miller and Inge Morath Miller Preserve.
Distribution of Assets After Death
Arthur Miller passed away on February 10, 2005, at the age of 89, due to congestive heart failure. According to a letter from Rebecca Miller, Arthur Miller bequeathed “everything left over after taxes” to his children, ensuring that all were treated equally in the distribution of his estate. Six weeks before his death, Miller included his son Daniel into a trust, making him an equal heir to his other three children, Jane Doyle, Robert Miller, and Rebecca Miller.
The New York Public Library acquired his collection of published plays, books, translations, anthologies, and publications relating to his work. This acquisition includes 692 volumes in total.
