Net Worth Ranker
What Is Aaron Spelling’s Net Worth?
At the time of his death in 2006, Aaron Spelling’s net worth was estimated to be $600 million. This substantial net worth was primarily accumulated through his prolific career as a television and film producer. With 218 Producer and Executive Producer credits, Spelling built a television empire that generated significant revenue over several decades.
Aaron Spelling’s Television Empire and Earnings
Spelling’s success stemmed from creating and producing numerous long-running and popular television shows. Some of his most well-known creations include “Charlie’s Angels” (1976-1981), “The Love Boat,” “Fantasy Island” (1977-1984), “Dynasty” (1981-1989), “Beverly Hills, 90210” (1990-2000), “Melrose Place” (1992-1999), “Sunset Beach,” “7th Heaven” (1996-2006), “Family,” “T.J. Hooker,” “The Mod Squad” (1968-1973), “The Rookies,” “Starsky & Hutch,” “S.W.A.T,” “Hart to Hart,” “The Colbys,” “Hotel,” “Nightingales,” “Matt Houston,” and “Vega$.” The sustained popularity of these shows led to substantial earnings through syndication, licensing, and other revenue streams.
While specific salary figures for Aaron Spelling are not publicly available, his role as a producer and executive producer would have entitled him to a percentage of the profits generated by his shows. Given the long-running nature and wide viewership of his series, these earnings would have been considerable. In addition to his producing income, Spelling also earned revenue from his writing credits, with 21 writing credits to his name.
Spelling Entertainment, the production company he founded, played a crucial role in his wealth accumulation. He took Spelling Entertainment public in 1986, raising $80 million. This capital infusion allowed him to further expand his production capabilities and create even more television content.
Spelling Manor: A Symbol of Aaron Spelling’s Wealth
Perhaps the most tangible symbol of Aaron Spelling’s wealth was “The Manor,” also known as “Spelling Manor,” his Holmby Hills mansion. In 1988, Spelling purchased the property, which previously belonged to Bing Crosby. He demolished the existing home and constructed a 123-room estate at a cost of $47 million. The Manor, located in Holmby Hills, is the largest single-family home in California, boasting 56,500 square feet. It features amenities such as multiple swimming pools, a tennis court, and extensive gardens.
After Spelling’s death, his widow, Candy Spelling, initially listed The Manor for $150 million in 2008. In 2011, Petra Ecclestone purchased the property for $85 million. The mansion was later sold to an anonymous buyer for $119.7 million in 2019. In 2022, it was relisted for $165 million, further showcasing its continued value and prestige.
While the exact address of Spelling Manor is often kept private for security reasons, it is known to be located in the exclusive Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. This area is home to numerous high-profile celebrities and business executives, contributing to the property’s desirability and value.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Aaron Spelling was born on April 22, 1923, in Dallas, Texas. He grew up with his mother, Pearl, his father, David, a tailor, and his siblings Becky, Sam, Max, and Daniel. His parents were Russian-Jewish immigrants, and David changed his last name from Spurling to Spelling after immigrating to America. He was a victim of anti-Semitic bullying during his childhood, which led to a nervous breakdown at age eight.
Spelling attended Forest Avenue High School and later served as an Army Air Corps pilot during World War II. During his military service, he was shot in the hand by a sniper, earning him a Purple Heart. After the war, Spelling attended Southern Methodist University, graduating with a journalism degree in 1949. He joined the drama club and was head cheerleader. Spelling also earned a Harvard Award in 1947 for a play he wrote about racial prejudice and won the award again in 1949.
In 1953, Spelling made his acting debut in the film noir “Vicki.” He also appeared in “Dragnet” and “I Led Three Lives.” In 1954, he sold his first script to the anthology series “Jane Wyman Presents.” The following year, he appeared in “I Love Lucy” and “Alfred Hitchcock Presents.” From 1956 to 1961, Spelling worked as a writer for the Western anthology series “Zane Grey Theatre” and became one of the show’s producers in 1960.
Spelling Entertainment and Production Ventures
In 1965, Aaron Spelling established Spelling Entertainment, marking a significant milestone in his career. He also collaborated with comedian Danny Thomas on Thomas-Spelling Productions from 1966 to 1972. Later, he partnered with producer Leonard Goldberg on Spelling-Goldberg Productions from 1972 to 1986. These partnerships allowed Spelling to expand his production capabilities and create a diverse range of television shows.
Spelling Entertainment’s public offering in 1986 generated $80 million, providing a financial boost for the company’s future endeavors. This capital enabled Spelling to produce numerous additional productions in the 2000s.
During the early years of his producing career, Aaron Spelling served as an executive producer on several TV series, including “The Lloyd Bridges Show” (1962-1963), “Burke’s Law” (1963-1966), “The Smothers Brothers Show” (1965-1966), and “The Mod Squad” (1968-1973). These roles helped to establish his reputation as a successful television producer.
Personal Life and Family
Aaron Spelling’s personal life included two marriages. In 1953, he married actress Carolyn Jones, known for her role as Morticia Addams in “The Addams Family.” Their marriage ended in divorce in 1964. In 1968, Spelling married Carole “Candy” Marer, who later became known as Candy Spelling. They had two children: daughter Tori Spelling, born on May 16, 1973, and son Randy Spelling, born on October 9, 1978.
Aaron Spelling often cast his children in his projects, most notably Tori Spelling, who gained international fame for her role as Donna Martin on “Beverly Hills, 90210.” This decision allowed him to incorporate his family into his professional life.
Death and Estate Distribution
Aaron Spelling passed away on June 23, 2006, at the age of 83, at his home in Los Angeles. He had suffered a stroke five days prior. Before his death, he had been diagnosed with oral cancer in 2001 and also suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.
Following his death, Spelling’s family held a private funeral, and he was buried in a mausoleum at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery. Two months later, he was posthumously honored at the Primetime Emmy Awards by stars from his shows, including Joan Collins from “Dynasty,” Heather Locklear from “Melrose Place,” and Farrah Fawcett, Jaclyn Smith, and Kate Jackson from “Charlie’s Angels.”
Spelling’s estate was valued at $600 million at the time of his death. Two months prior to his passing, he modified his will, leaving $800,000 to each of his children, Tori and Randy. The will included a no-contest clause, preventing his children from contesting the will without risking their inheritance.
Awards and Recognition
Throughout his career, Aaron Spelling received numerous awards and accolades. He won a 1989 Outstanding Drama/Comedy Special Primetime Emmy for “Day One” and a 1994 Outstanding Made for Television Movie Primetime Emmy for “And the Band Played On.”
In 1999, Spelling was honored with a Britannia Award for Excellence in Television. The Producers Guild of America presented him with the Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television the following year. He also received recognition from the Costume Designers Guild Awards, the GLAAD Media Awards, the Golden Apple Awards, the Online Film & Television Association, the Publicists Guild of America, the Soap Opera Digest Awards, and the TV Land Awards.
Aaron Spelling received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1978 and was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1996. In 1983, the NAACP awarded Spelling their Humanitarian Award after he donated $100,000 to pay for 21-year-old Derrick Gordon’s heart transplant operation, demonstrating his philanthropic efforts.
