Net Worth Ranker
What Is Betty White’s Net Worth?
Betty White, a celebrated actress, comedienne, author, and television personality, accumulated a substantial net worth of $75 million throughout her extensive career. Her financial success stemmed from diverse avenues within the entertainment industry, including acting roles, television hosting, writing, and shrewd business decisions.
Betty White’s Illustrious Career
Betty White’s career spanned over eight decades, making her the longest-standing television entertainer of all time. While specific salary details for her early roles are not publicly available, her consistent presence on television, beginning with her co-hosting role on “Hollywood on Television” in 1949, provided a steady income stream. In 1952, when Al Jarvis departed “Hollywood on Television,” White assumed the main hosting duties, significantly increasing her visibility and earning potential. Furthermore, in 1952, White strategically established her own production company, Bandy Productions, showcasing her entrepreneurial acumen. This venture provided not only creative control but also direct financial benefits from the success of her shows.
Her career in the 1960s, marked by frequent appearances on popular game shows such as “Password,” “Pyramid,” “What’s My Line?” and “I’ve Got a Secret,” also contributed to her net worth, as game show appearances often came with appearance fees and potential winnings. While the exact figures for these appearances are unavailable, her consistent presence in these programs helped maintain her public profile and generate income. The ’70s marked White’s first appearance in the immensely popular show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show. By the end of her run on the show, Betty White had won three Emmys over the course of her career.
In the 1980s, White earned the moniker “The First Lady of Game Shows” after hosting shows such as Just Men!. A defining moment in White’s career was when she took the role of Rose Nylund on “The Golden Girls”. To this day, Betty White is perhaps best known for this one particular role, and she won another Emmy for her performance. After the end of The Golden Girls in the early ’90s, White went on to book a number of roles in shows like Yes, Dear, and Suddenly Susan.
One notable contract detail that emerged later in her career was her salary for “Hot in Cleveland.” Reports indicated that she earned $75,000 per episode. This figure highlights her earning power in the later stages of her career and underscores the value of her experience and established fanbase. From 2012 to 2014, Betty White hosted and executive produced a show called Betty White’s Off Their Rockers, in which elderly people play pranks on the younger generations. In 2012, White was honored with an NBC TV special entitled Betty White’s 90th Birthday. In 2019, she joined the cast of Toy Story 4, voicing the character of a toy tiger called “Bitey White.”
Real Estate Assets Boosting Betty White’s Net Worth
Betty White’s real estate holdings also played a significant role in contributing to her net worth. In 1978, Betty and Allen Ludden invested $170,000 in an undeveloped property in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. They proceeded to construct a 3,700-square-foot, 4-bedroom home with incredible views of the ocean. This property was later sold by her heirs in March 2022 for $10.775 million, demonstrating a substantial return on the initial investment and significantly adding to her estate’s value. The property’s address is not publicly listed, but it was described as a custom-built home with ocean views. Her heirs placed the property on the market for a little under $8 million.
Additionally, Betty White owned a home in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, which she and Allen Ludden purchased in 1968. Her estate listed this property for sale in April 2022 for $10.575 million. It sold one month later for a little less than $10.7 million. While the exact purchase price from 1968 is not publicly available, the appreciation in value over the decades reflects the lucrative nature of real estate investments in prime locations like Brentwood. This property’s address is not publicly listed, but it was described as a family home with a traditional layout.
In September 2022, an estate sale featuring around 1,600 of Betty’s personal items was conducted by Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills. The sale was expected to bring in between $400,000 and $600,000. In the end, the sale brought in $4 million. Some of the notable items in the auction included Betty’s “Golden Girls” director’s chair (sold for $78,000), several signed scripts (each sold for around $50,000), a dress worn on the show (sold for $32,000), as well various pieces from her personal art and jewelry collections.
