Dawn Wells Net Worth

What Is Dawn Wells’ Net Worth?

At the time of her death in December 2020, Dawn Wells, the American actress best known for her role as Mary Ann on “Gilligan’s Island,” had a reported net worth of $50,000. This figure reflects her earnings from a career spanning several decades, encompassing television, film, and theater, as well as royalties and other ventures.

Early Career and “Gilligan’s Island” Salary

Before landing her iconic role on “Gilligan’s Island” in 1964, Dawn Wells embarked on her professional acting career, securing guest-starring roles in various television shows. Her appearances included “77 Sunset Strip,” “Maverick,” “Bonanza,” and “The Cheyenne Show,” indicating a steady climb in the industry during the early 1960s. She also took on smaller roles in films such as “Palm Springs Weekend” and “The New Interns,” demonstrating her versatility as an actress.

The role of Mary Ann on “Gilligan’s Island” catapulted Dawn Wells to stardom, making her a household name. During the show’s original run, Wells, along with her cast mates, earned a weekly salary of $750. Adjusted for inflation, this translates to approximately $7,300 per week in today’s dollars. Assuming a 40-week production schedule for each season, which is a reasonable estimate considering the number of episodes per season (36 in season one, 32 in season two, and 30 in season three), Wells’ annual income from “Gilligan’s Island” would have been around $30,000. In today’s money, this is equivalent to roughly $300,000 per year.

Contrary to popular belief, Dawn Wells and her fellow cast members did not receive substantial income from residuals for “Gilligan’s Island.” As Wells herself explained in a 2014 interview, the cast did not receive significant royalties, despite the show’s enduring popularity in syndication. Sherwood Schwartz, the producer of “Gilligan’s Island,” reportedly earned $90 million from reruns alone, highlighting the disparity between the producer’s earnings and those of the actors.

Post-“Gilligan’s Island” Career and Ventures

Following the conclusion of “Gilligan’s Island,” Dawn Wells continued to reprise her role as Mary Ann in various reunion movies and spin-offs. These included “Rescue from Gilligan’s Island,” “The Castaways on Gilligan’s Island,” and “The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan’s Island.” She also lent her voice to the animated spin-off, “Gilligan’s Planet,” showcasing her dedication to the character that defined her career.

Dawn Wells’ career extended beyond her association with “Gilligan’s Island.” In 1992, she reprised her role as Mary Ann in an episode of “Baywatch,” demonstrating her ability to adapt her iconic character to different contexts. The following year, in 1993, she co-authored “Mary Ann’s Gilligan’s Island Cookbook” with Ken Beck and Jim Clark, featuring a foreword by Bob Denver, who played Gilligan in the original series. In 1997, she starred as Mary Ann in a music video for the song “Mary Ann” by the pop-punk band Squirtgun. The song, which expressed the singer’s admiration for Mary Ann’s wholesome persona, reached the top 40 of MTV’s Alternative Music charts.

In 2004, Dawn Wells consigned her original gingham blouse and shorts that she had worn as Mary Ann on “Gilligan’s Island.” The outfit was sold for over $20,000, underscoring the enduring value and cultural significance of her character’s wardrobe. In 2014, she released a book titled “What Would Mary Ann Do? A Guide to Life,” co-written with Steven Stinson, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of “Gilligan’s Island.”

Outside of her work related to “Gilligan’s Island,” Dawn Wells pursued various roles in other films and television shows. In 1975, she appeared in the film “Winterhawk.” She later appeared in other films like “The Town That Dreaded Sundown,” “Return to Boggy Creek,” “Soulmates,” “Forever for Now,” and “Super Sucker.” She also appeared in the 2012 comedy horror film “Silent but Deadly.”

Dawn Wells also dedicated a significant portion of her career to theater. By July 2009, she had appeared in nearly 100 theatrical productions. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, she toured extensively in shows, including the second national tour of Neil Simon’s “Chapter Two,” where she played the role of Jennie Malone, and the second national tour of “They’re Playing Our Song,” in which she played Sonia Walsk. In 1985, she had a one-woman show at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, showcasing her versatility as a performer.

Financial Difficulties and GoFundMe Campaign

In September 2018, it was revealed that one of Dawn Wells’ friends had launched a GoFundMe page to help the actress raise $200,000 to cover unexpected hospitalization expenses. Wells had reportedly suffered an accident that resulted in a broken knee and required a two-month hospital stay. She had been facing financial challenges since the 2008 recession and was seeking $194,000 to alleviate penalties imposed by the IRS and to pay for her hospital costs. At the time, she was living in an assisted living facility and had already lost her home due to her debts.

Early Life and Education

Dawn Wells was born on October 18, 1938, in Reno, Nevada, to parents Evelyn and Joe Wesley Wells. Her father owned a local Reno construction company called Wells Cargo. Wells attended Reno High School and, after graduating, attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. While there, she majored in chemistry before deciding to transfer to the University of Washington in Seattle. She joined the Alpha Chi Omega sorority while a student and graduated with a degree in theater arts and design in 1960.

Dawn Wells’ first experience in the spotlight came in 1959 when she was crowned Miss Nevada. She represented her state in the Miss America 1960 pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey. She then moved to Hollywood and started landing small roles in films and television shows throughout the early to mid-1960s. In 1961, she appeared in “Wagon Train,” “The Everglades,” “The Cheyenne Show,” “Maverick,” “77 Sunset Strip,” and “Tales of Wells Fargo.” In 1962, she appeared in “Hawaiian Eye,” “Bonanza,” “It’s a Man’s World,” and “Lawman.” The following year, she appeared in “Palm Springs Weekend,” “Ripcord,” and “Laramie.”

Personal Life and Charitable Work

In October 1962, Dawn Wells married Larry Rosen, a talent agent. The couple did not have any children together and divorced in 1967. She never remarried.

Dawn Wells was actively involved in charitable work throughout her life. She operated an organization called Wishing Wells Collections, which created clothing for people with limited mobility. She was also the founder of the Idaho Film and Television Institute, a non-profit educational organization dedicated to improving education, economic development, and technical training in Idaho. Additionally, she supported the Denver Foundation, a West Virginia charity chaired by Dreama Denver, the widow of Wells’ former co-star, Bob Denver.

In her later years, Dawn Wells faced several health challenges. In 2018, she suffered a fall, leading to the establishment of a GoFundMe page to assist with her medical expenses. In June 2020, her manager disclosed that she was suffering from dementia. On December 30, 2020, Dawn Wells passed away due to complications from COVID-19 in Los Angeles.