Net Worth Ranker
What Is Errol Flynn’s Net Worth?
At the time of his death, adjusted for inflation, Errol Flynn’s net worth was estimated to be $10 million. This figure reflects his earnings from a successful acting career during Hollywood’s Golden Age. Errol Flynn made numerous films throughout his career and was particularly famous for his roles in romantic swashbucklers and Westerns.
Errol Flynn’s Early Career and Breakthrough Roles
Errol Flynn was born on June 20, 1909, in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. He had a rather turbulent educational background, being expelled from several schools, including the Hutchins School, Hobart College, the Friends School, and Albura Street Primary School. He also attended South West London College from 1923 to 1925 and Sydney Church of England Grammar School in 1926, from which he was also expelled. Flynn began his career working various jobs, including a junior clerk at a shipping company in Sydney. He was fired from that job for stealing cash. He subsequently worked in Papua New Guinea in the tobacco planting and gold mining industries before venturing into acting.
Flynn’s formal entry into the film industry began in 1933 with a role in the Australian film “In the Wake of the Bounty.” He subsequently moved to Britain, where he honed his acting skills with the Northampton Repertory Company. However, his tenure there was cut short when he was dismissed for throwing a female stage manager down the stairs. Despite this setback, he secured the lead role in the film “Murder at Monte Carlo,” which proved to be a pivotal moment in his career, leading to a recommendation to Warner Bros. in Hollywood.
Flynn’s Hollywood career took off in 1935, and following minor roles in “The Case of the Curious Bride” and “Don’t Bet on Blondes,” he achieved his breakthrough role as the lead in Michael Curtiz’s swashbuckling pirate film “Captain Blood.” Released in 1935, “Captain Blood” was a massive success for Warner Bros., earning significant revenue and cementing Flynn’s status as a leading man. It was a popular hit, grossing over $2 million at the box office, which was a significant amount during the Great Depression. This film also marked the beginning of a fruitful partnership with actress Olivia de Havilland. Details on Flynn’s specific salary for “Captain Blood” are not publicly available, but it was a landmark deal. The film was a box office hit grossing over $2 million. Adjusted for inflation in 2025, the film’s box office earnings would be approximately $45 million.
In 1936, Flynn and de Havilland reunited for the historical adventure film “The Charge of the Light Brigade,” another commercial success for Warner Bros. Flynn’s salary for “The Charge of the Light Brigade” isn’t publicly available. It contributed substantially to Errol Flynn’s growing net worth. Together, these early successes significantly boosted Flynn’s earnings and established him as a prominent figure in Hollywood.
Following these initial successes, Flynn starred in a series of films, including “Green Light,” “The Prince and the Pauper,” “Another Dawn,” and his first comedy, “The Perfect Specimen.” These roles further solidified his position as a versatile and bankable actor, contributing to his rising income and financial stability.
“The Adventures of Robin Hood” and Subsequent Film Career
One of Flynn’s most iconic roles came in 1938 with “The Adventures of Robin Hood.” Reunited with Olivia de Havilland and director Michael Curtiz, the film was the first large-budget Warner Bros. title to utilize three-strip Technicolor. The film’s budget was approximately $2 million (equivalent to around $43 million in 2025). “The Adventures of Robin Hood” was an international hit, grossing over $4 million at the box office (approximately $86 million adjusted for inflation in 2025). The film earned widespread acclaim and further cemented Flynn’s status as a star of romantic swashbucklers. Precise information regarding Flynn’s salary for “The Adventures of Robin Hood” isn’t publicly documented. The film’s popularity enhanced Flynn’s career and contributed to his financial success, as the studio capitalized on his image and box-office appeal.
After “The Adventures of Robin Hood,” Flynn continued to star in a variety of films, including “Four’s a Crowd,” another collaboration with Olivia de Havilland and Michael Curtiz, but this screwball comedy proved to be a commercial disappointment. He subsequently appeared in “The Sisters” and “The Dawn Patrol.” In 1939, Flynn starred in his first Western, “Dodge City,” directed by Curtiz and costarring de Havilland. “Dodge City” became Warner’s highest-grossing film of the year. It grossed over $3 million at the box office, contributing to Flynn’s earnings. This film, released in 1939, was a major success, earning Warner Bros. their highest gross of the year and solidifying Flynn’s reputation as a versatile performer. Estimates suggest the film earned over $3 million at the box office during its initial release. Adjusted for inflation, this equates to approximately $65 million in today’s dollars. Errol Flynn’s specific salary for “Dodge City” remains undisclosed, but it undoubtedly bolstered his financial standing due to the film’s commercial success.
Also in 1939, Flynn, de Havilland, and Bette Davis starred in Curtiz’s “The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex.” Flynn continued his foray into the Western genre with “Virginia City.” Despite some behind-the-scenes issues, the film was a big hit. He then starred in the swashbuckler “The Sea Hawk,” his tenth collaboration with Curtiz, and the Western “Santa Fe Trail,” also directed by Curtiz and costarring de Havilland. Warner Bros. invested heavily in Flynn’s projects. The specifics of his contracts and earnings from films like “Virginia City” and “The Sea Hawk” are not publicly available. Flynn’s contract with Warner Bros. included a base salary along with bonuses tied to the box office performance of his films. During this period, it’s estimated that Flynn was earning around $150,000 to $200,000 per film (equivalent to $3 million to $4.3 million today), although exact figures are not verified due to privacy.
In 1941, Flynn starred in his last film directed by Curtiz, the aviation film “Dive Bomber.” The following year, he began a long-term professional relationship with director Raoul Walsh in “They Died with Their Boots On.” Flynn’s collaborations with Raoul Walsh in the 1940s included “Desperate Journey,” “Gentleman Jim,” “Northern Pursuit,” “Uncertain Glory,” and “Objective, Burma!” These films solidified his place as a versatile and popular leading man. During the early 1940s, Errol Flynn’s contract with Warner Bros. reportedly allowed him to command salaries between $150,000 and $200,000 per film. Considering “They Died with Their Boots On” was a monumental success, it is plausible that Flynn earned closer to the higher end of this range. Inflation-adjusted, this would be approximately $2.7 million to $3.6 million in today’s value. “They Died with Their Boots On,” released in 1941, was a box-office success, grossing over $2.75 million. In today’s value, that would equate to approximately $50 million.
Flynn’s films during the mid-1940s, such as “Objective, Burma!” and “San Antonio,” continued to add to his wealth. Despite the controversies in his personal life, his professional career remained largely successful. Flynn’s versatility allowed him to negotiate favorable contracts with Warner Bros. He earned a substantial income through his roles in these films. As a result, Errol Flynn’s net worth saw consistent increases throughout this period. Although precise figures are not publicly accessible, contemporary estimates placed his earnings from each film in the range of $100,000 to $200,000 during the mid-1940s.
His other credits in the 40s include “Edge of Darkness,” “Thank Your Lucky Stars,” “San Antonio,” “Silver River,” “Adventures of Don Juan,” and “That Forsyte Woman,” which he did for MGM. In 1948, Flynn starred in “Adventures of Don Juan,” a swashbuckler set in 18th-century Spain. The film’s budget was about $4 million, one of Warner Bros.’ most expensive productions. The earnings from “Adventures of Don Juan” added to Flynn’s revenue, although the film’s high production cost impacted its profitability. Although it was a box office success, it was not as profitable as previous Flynn films. The details of Flynn’s income from “That Forsyte Woman” are not public, but appearing in a MGM production contributed to his financial portfolio. In the late 1940s, Errol Flynn continued to command high salaries, generally between $100,000 and $150,000 per film, equivalent to $1.2 million to $1.8 million in today’s money.
Returning to Warner Bros. in 1950, Flynn starred in the Westerns “Montana” and “Rocky Mountain.” The salaries he commanded during this period were still notable but reflective of his declining star power compared to the peak of his career in the 1930s and 1940s. Precise details are not extensively published, but the income from these films sustained his lifestyle, even as it diminished compared to his earlier successes. Despite this, Errol Flynn’s net worth continued to be substantial thanks to his previous successes.
Subsequently, he wrote and co-produced the low-budget 1951 film “Adventures of Captain Fabian.” The following year, Flynn starred in “Mara Maru” for Warner Bros. and “Against All Flags” for Universal. His final film for Warner Bros. was the swashbuckler “The Master of Ballantrae,” released in 1953. From 1950 to 1953, Errol Flynn took on fewer high-profile roles, marking a shift in his career dynamics. While he still commanded respectable fees, the exact figures were not as high as during his heyday with Warner Bros. The financial details for “Adventures of Captain Fabian” are scarce, but it’s known that it was a low-budget film, limiting potential earnings. During this transitional phase, Errol Flynn’s net worth experienced fluctuations, reflecting both successes and financial risks. The film “Against All Flags” added positively to his financial status due to its relative success at the box office. While the specific salary details for “The Master of Ballantrae” are not accessible, the income from this film sustained his financial portfolio. During the early 1950s, Flynn’s income per film was about $80,000-$120,000, equivalent to $900,000 to $1.3 million today.
Flynn relocated to Europe, where he made the swashbuckler “Crossed Swords” with Gina Lollobrigida. That film inspired him to produce “The Story of William Tell,” which faced numerous challenges during production and was never released. This venture left Flynn in significant financial distress. The production of “The Story of William Tell” was disastrous, resulting in financial losses and diminishing his net worth. It’s estimated that he lost a substantial portion of his earnings trying to get the film off the ground. The financial impact of “Crossed Swords” was moderate but did not offset the significant losses incurred during the production of “The Story of William Tell.” The financial missteps with “The Story of William Tell” significantly eroded Errol Flynn’s net worth. Given the lack of film sales and mounting production debt, Flynn likely lost several hundred thousand dollars, equivalent to millions today.
To mitigate his financial difficulties, Flynn accepted a supporting role in the British musical film “Lilacs in the Spring.” He appeared in two more British films, “The Dark Avenger” and “King’s Rhapsody,” before returning to Hollywood and making his comeback with the Universal film noir “Istanbul.” The financial benefits of “Lilacs in the Spring” were modest, offering short-term relief but not substantially rebuilding his financial standing. Participating in “The Dark Avenger” and “King’s Rhapsody” provided incremental income, helping to stabilize his financial status slightly. “Istanbul” was a strategic move to revive his career. While details of the financial agreements are private, it’s likely the contract included a substantial upfront payment and a percentage of the film’s earnings. The movie provided a much-needed boost. During the mid-to-late 1950s, Flynn’s income from films ranged between $50,000 and $100,000 per film, or about $500,000 to $1 million today.
He subsequently starred in “The Big Boodle,” “The Sun Also Rises,” “Too Much, Too Soon,” “The Roots of Heaven,” and “Cuban Rebel Girls.” Flynn’s final known credit was as the narrator of the 1959 documentary “Cuban Story: The Truth About Fidel Castro Revolution.” The latter years of Errol Flynn’s career were marked by financial instability. He had to take on roles that were not always commensurate with his earlier status. The films he appeared in during the late 1950s helped sustain his lifestyle but didn’t significantly increase his net worth. Details on the exact earnings from these films are not widely publicized, but they were essential for his survival. “The Sun Also Rises” provided a financial boost and was his most prominent role in this late phase. In the late 1950s, Errol Flynn’s earnings were highly variable, likely averaging around $60,000-$80,000 per film, equivalent to $600,000 to $800,000 today.
Personal Life and Death
Errol Flynn was romantically linked to many famous women, including actresses Marlene Dietrich and Dolores del Rio. He married three times. His first marriage was to actress Lili Damita from 1935 until their divorce in 1942. They had a son named Sean. Flynn was subsequently married to actress Nora Eddington from 1943 until their divorce in 1949. They had two daughters named Deirdre and Rory. Finally, in 1950, he married actress Patrice Wymore, with whom he had a daughter named Arnella. During the late 1950s, Flynn’s lavish lifestyle and various financial setbacks had significantly impacted his net worth. While he still had substantial assets, they were considerably less than the peak of his career. He owned multiple properties. Flynn had acquired significant financial obligations due to legal troubles, divorces, and the failed film projects. His complex financial situation meant that Errol Flynn’s net worth was a mix of assets and debts.
While being driven to the airport in Vancouver, Canada, with actress Beverly Aadland in 1959, Flynn experienced severe pain in his legs and back. He was transported to the residence of a doctor, Grant Gould, who administered medicine. When Aadland came to check on Flynn, she found him unconscious. Flynn was quickly transferred to the hospital, where he passed away that evening from a myocardial infarction with liver damage as a contributing factor. He was 50 years old. Errol Flynn’s estate consisted of a mix of assets, including properties and residuals from his films, as well as debts. Due to financial difficulties, his estate had complexities that impacted the inheritance for his heirs. It is estimated that Flynn had $10 million adjusted to inflation at the time of his death.
