Net Worth Ranker
What Is Kim Novak’s Net Worth?
Kim Novak, a celebrated American actress and painter, has accumulated a net worth of $15 million. This figure reflects her successful career in Hollywood, marked by numerous iconic roles and subsequent ventures into the art world. Her financial stability stems from a combination of acting income, property holdings, and artistic endeavors.
Kim Novak’s Early Career and Acting Roles
Born Marilyn Pauline Novak on February 13, 1933, in Chicago, Illinois, Kim’s journey to stardom began with modest roots. Her parents, Blanche Kral and Joseph Novak, a history teacher and freight dispatcher, provided a foundation that nurtured her artistic inclinations. She attended William Penn Elementary and Farragut High School before enrolling at Wright Junior College. Securing two scholarships to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago marked a turning point, hinting at her future as an artist. Before finishing junior college, she spent a summer modeling at trade shows for a refrigerator company, a role that eventually led her to Los Angeles.
Novak’s entry into Hollywood was serendipitous. Crowned “Miss Deepfreeze” by the refrigerator company, she caught the eye of an agent while waiting to be an extra in RKO films. This encounter led to a contract with Columbia Pictures. Despite initial resistance to changing her “Polack” name, she compromised with the studio head Harry Cohn, adopting the stage name Kim Novak. Her uncredited debut in “The French Line” (1953) paved the way for more significant roles. In 1954, she appeared in “Pushover” and “Phffft,” winning a Golden Globe for “Phffft,” marking an early career milestone.
The year 1955 proved pivotal. Novak had an uncredited role in “Son of Sinbad,” starred in “5 Against the House” and “Picnic,” and co-starred with Frank Sinatra in “The Man with the Golden Arm.” These roles broadened her exposure and cemented her status as a rising star. The drama “The Man with the Golden Arm”, while not yielding any specific financial data publicly, undeniably boosted her visibility and subsequent earning potential.
In 1956, she starred in “The Eddy Duchin Story,” a biographical film that further solidified her reputation. The following year, she took on the title role in “Jeanne Eagels” and played Linda English in the musical comedy “Pal Joey,” again alongside Sinatra and Rita Hayworth. “Pal Joey,” while details about Novak’s specific salary are not available, earned a Golden Globe nomination and a Laurel Award, showcasing her ability to perform in high-profile productions.
1958 saw Novak star in Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” as Judy Barton / Madeleine Elster, alongside James Stewart. “Vertigo”, now considered a classic and preserved in the National Film Registry, remains one of her most iconic roles. No specific data about how much she was paid for the movie is known. Also in 1958, Kim appeared in “Bell, Book and Candle” and “Middle of the Night” in 1959.
The 1960s brought a mix of roles in films like “Strangers When We Meet” (1960), “The Notorious Landlady” (1962), “Boys’ Night Out” (1962), “Of Human Bondage” (1964), and “Kiss Me, Stupid” (1964). She also played the title roles in “The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders” (1965) and “The Legend of Lylah Clare” (1968). Although concrete salary figures for these roles are not publicly accessible, it is reasonable to infer that her earnings during this period significantly contributed to her financial standing. The specifics of her contracts and potential royalties for these films remain undisclosed.
After “The Great Bank Robbery” (1969), Novak took a four-year break before returning to the screen in “Tales That Witness Madness” (1973) and the TV movie “The Third Girl from the Left.” She then appeared in “Satan’s Triangle” (1975), “The White Buffalo” (1977), “Just a Gigolo” (1979), and “The Mirror Crack’d” (1980), and the TV movie “Malibu” (1983). These roles, though varying in critical acclaim, provided consistent income and maintained her presence in the entertainment industry.
A notable television stint came in 1986-1987 when she played Kit Marlowe in 19 episodes of “Falcon Crest.” The role provided steady work and exposure, undoubtedly adding to her income stream. In the 1990s, she appeared in “The Children” (1990) and “Liebestraum” (1991) before retiring from acting. Her remarks in a 2004 Associated Press interview highlight her burnout from “Liebestraum,” which influenced her decision to leave the industry. Though she missed the creative process, she found the promotional aspects challenging. This decision marked the end of her active acting career, influencing her subsequent focus on painting and other personal interests.
Kim Novak’s Post-Acting Career and Artistic Ventures
Following her retirement from acting in the early 1990s, Kim Novak transitioned her focus to painting, an artistic pursuit she had long cultivated. This shift in career allowed her to express her creativity in a different medium and generate income through art sales. While specific sales figures for her artwork are not publicly available, the 2019 retrospective at Ohio’s Butler Institute of American Art significantly boosted her profile as a painter. The exhibition, accompanied by the publication of “Kim Novak: Her Art and Life,” showcased her artistic journey and likely enhanced the value of her pieces.
The Butler Institute of American Art’s retrospective served as a landmark event, drawing considerable attention to her work. The accompanying book, “Kim Novak: Her Art and Life,” provided a comprehensive overview of her artistic evolution, further cementing her status in the art world. Specific details regarding the number of paintings sold and the revenue generated from the exhibition and book are not publicly accessible, but the event undoubtedly contributed to her overall net worth.
Kim Novak’s Real Estate and Personal Life
Kim Novak’s real estate investments have played a role in her financial portfolio. From 1961 to 1973, she resided in a 2,070 square foot home in Carmel, California. In 2021, this property was listed for $12.5 million. Although it’s unknown when she bought the house and for what price, the considerable price it was listed at when it went back on the market shows how valuable her property assets were. She also previously owned a home in Eagle Point, Oregon, which was unfortunately destroyed in a fire in 2000, and lost a Bel-Air home to a mudslide in the 1960s. These events underscore the volatility of real estate investments and the importance of diversification.
Novak’s personal life has also been eventful. In the 1950s, her relationship with Sammy Davis, Jr., faced racial prejudice, and a BBC documentary alleged that Columbia Pictures head Harry Cohn enlisted mobsters to threaten Davis. In the late 1950s, she was engaged to Richard Quine, who directed her in “Bell, Book and Candle,” “Strangers When We Meet,” and “The Notorious Landlady.” She was briefly involved with Wilt Chamberlain in the 1960s. Novak married actor Richard Johnson on March 15, 1965, but they divorced in May 1966. She later moved to Big Sur, focusing on raising horses and painting.
In 1974, Novak met equine veterinarian Robert Malloy, and they married on March 12, 1976. Their marriage lasted until Malloy’s death in November 2020. In 2006, she suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung in a horse-riding accident, and in 2010, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her manager, Sue Cameron, reported that Novak was undergoing treatment and was expected to recover well. These personal events, though unrelated to her professional life, influenced her decisions and priorities. In 2021, Novak recounted a disturbing experience at a party at Tony Curtis’ home, alleging that he may have spiked her drink. She also shared that she was raped by a group of boys in her neighborhood as a teenager. These experiences shed light on the challenges she faced beyond her public persona.
Kim Novak’s Awards and Recognition
Kim Novak’s career has been adorned with several accolades, underscoring her impact on the film industry. She won two Golden Globes, including Most Promising Newcomer – Female for “Phffft” in 1955 and World Film Favorite – Female in 1957. In 1957, she also received a BAFTA Award nomination for Best Foreign Actress for “Picnic,” a Golden Apple Award for Most Cooperative Actress, and a Photoplay Award for Most Popular Female Star. From 1958 to 1963, she consistently earned Laurel Award nominations for Top Female Star.
Further recognition includes the Berlin International Film Festival Honorary Golden Berlin Bear in 1997, the George Eastman Award in 2003, the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society’s S.F. Cinematic Icon Award in 2012, and Febiofest’s Kristián Award in 2015. In 1960, Novak was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. These awards highlight her enduring legacy and significant contributions to cinema, bolstering her reputation and, indirectly, her financial stability through increased recognition and potential opportunities. Although the awards themselves don’t directly translate to monetary value, they enhance her brand and recognition, which can influence her overall net worth.
