Net Worth Ranker
What Was Jack Lemmon’s Net Worth?
At the time of his death in June 2001, Jack Lemmon’s net worth was estimated to be $25 million, adjusted for inflation. This valuation reflects his successful career as an actor, musician, director, and producer across film, television, and Broadway.
Jack Lemmon’s Diverse Career and Earnings
Jack Lemmon, born John Uhler Lemmon III on February 8, 1925, in Newton, Massachusetts, had a multifaceted career that contributed to his substantial net worth. His father, John Lemmon Jr., was the president of the Doughnut Corporation of America. Jack’s early life included attending John Ward Elementary School and the Rivers School. He later graduated from Phillips Andover Academy in 1943 before enrolling at Harvard University.
Lemmon’s foray into the entertainment industry began on radio and Broadway. He debuted on television in 1949 with appearances on “The Philco Television Playhouse,” “Suspense,” and “Studio One.” That same year, he had an uncredited role in the film “The Lady Takes a Sailor.” His first credited film role came in 1954 with “It Should Happen to You,” where he played Pete Sheppard.
In 1952, Jack Lemmon starred as Pete Bell in the CBS sitcom “Heaven for Betsy.” His early film credits include “Phffft” (1954), “Three for the Show” (1955), and “Mister Roberts” (1955). For his role in “Mister Roberts,” he received his first Academy Award nomination and won the award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
A significant milestone in Jack Lemmon’s career was his collaboration with director Billy Wilder. Their first project together was “Some Like It Hot” in 1959, co-starring Marilyn Monroe and Tony Curtis. This film was a critical and commercial success, solidifying Lemmon’s status as a leading actor. He later worked with Wilder on several other films, including “The Apartment” (1960), “Irma la Douce” (1963), “The Fortune Cookie” (1966), “Avanti!” (1972), “The Front Page” (1974), and “Buddy Buddy” (1981). These collaborations not only enhanced his reputation but also contributed significantly to his earnings.
In the 1960s, Jack Lemmon starred in several notable films, including “The Wackiest Ship in the Army” (1960), “The Notorious Landlady” (1962), “Days of Wine and Roses” (1962), and “Under the Yum Yum Tree” (1963). In 1968, he played Felix Ungar in “The Odd Couple” alongside Walter Matthau. Lemmon and Matthau’s on-screen chemistry led to numerous collaborations, including “The Fortune Cookie,” “The Front Page,” “Buddy Buddy,” “Grumpy Old Men,” and “Grumpier Old Men.” These roles brought him both critical acclaim and financial success.
Jack Lemmon’s earnings further increased when he won his second Academy Award for “Save the Tiger” in 1973. He also starred in “The Out-of-Towners” (1970), “The War Between Men and Women” (1972), “The Prisoner of Second Avenue” (1975), and “Airport ’77” (1977). His performance in “The China Syndrome” (1979) earned him several awards, adding to his career accolades and financial gains. In 1975, he received a Primetime Emmy nomination for his role as Archie Rice in the TV movie “The Entertainer.”
During the 1980s, Lemmon continued to work steadily, appearing in films such as “Tribute” (1980), “Missing” (1982), “Mass Appeal” (1984), “Macaroni” (1985), “That’s Life!” (1986), and “Dad” (1989). He received Academy Award nominations for his performances in “The China Syndrome,” “Tribute,” and “Missing,” highlighting his continued relevance and talent in the industry.
In the 1990s, Jack Lemmon took on roles in films such as Oliver Stone’s “JFK” (1991), “The Player” (1992), “Glengarry Glen Ross” (1992), “Short Cuts” (1993), “The Grass Harp” (1995), “Getting Away with Murder” (1996), “My Fellow Americans” (1996), “Hamlet” (1996), and “Out to Sea” (1997). These roles demonstrated his versatility and sustained his presence in Hollywood. In 1996, he received a Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Word Or Nonmusical Album for narrating “Harry S Truman: A Journey To Independence.” He also voiced a character in “The Simpsons” episode “The Twisted World of Marge Simpson” and played Juror #8 in the TV movie “12 Angry Men” in 1997.
In the final years of his life, Jack Lemmon starred in TV movies like “The Long Way Home” (1998), “Inherit the Wind” (1999), and “Tuesdays with Morrie” (1999). He also had an uncredited role as the narrator in Robert Redford’s “The Legend of Bagger Vance” (2000). He won a Golden Globe for “Inherit the Wind” and a Primetime Emmy for “Tuesdays with Morrie,” marking a fitting end to his distinguished career. Given the multitude of roles in TV Movies toward the end of his life his average salary was estimated around $500,000.
Awards, Recognition, and Net Worth Impact
Jack Lemmon’s extensive list of awards and nominations reflects his significant contributions to the entertainment industry. He earned eight Academy Award nominations, winning for “Mister Roberts” in 1956 and “Save the Tiger” in 1974. His other nominations included “Some Like It Hot,” “The Apartment,” “Days of Wine and Roses,” “The China Syndrome,” “Tribute,” and “Missing.”
He received six Primetime Emmy nominations, winning for “‘S Wonderful, ‘S Marvelous, ‘S Gershwin” in 1972 and “Tuesdays with Morrie” in 2000. He also earned more than 20 Golden Globe nominations, winning for “Some Like It Hot” (1960), “The Apartment” (1961), “Avanti!” (1973), the Cecil B. DeMille Award (1991), the Special Award for Ensemble Cast for “Short Cuts” (1994), and “Inherit the Wind” (2000). His BAFTA Awards included wins for “Some Like It Hot” and “The Apartment” for Best Foreign Actor, and “The China Syndrome” for Best Actor. These awards not only recognized his talent but also enhanced his marketability, thereby positively impacting his net worth.
Throughout his career, Jack Lemmon received Lifetime Achievement Awards from various prestigious organizations, including the American Comedy Awards (1991), American Film Institute (1988), Chicago International Film Festival (1992), Hollywood Film Awards (1999), Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards (2000), National Board of Review (1986), Screen Actors Guild Awards (1990), and ShoWest Convention (1993). He was posthumously inducted into the Online Film & Television Association Hall of Fame in 2002 and received Kennedy Center Honors in 1996. His star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, awarded in 1960, stands as a lasting tribute to his legacy.
Jack Lemmon’s Personal Life
Jack Lemmon married actress Cynthia Stone on May 7, 1950, and they had a son, Chris, born in 1954. The couple divorced in 1956. On August 17, 1962, he married actress Felicia Farr, and they had a daughter, Courtney, in 1966. Jack was also stepfather to Felicia’s daughter Denise. Jack Lemmon’s personal life, while private, provided a foundation of stability that allowed him to focus on his demanding career. Although the specific details of his divorce settlement with Cynthia Stone are not publicly available, it is reasonable to assume that this event had some financial impact.
Jack Lemmon was known for his love of golf and often played in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am at California’s Pebble Beach Golf Links. During the 1970s, he struggled with alcohol to cope with stress, and in 1976, he was fined for DUI. He overcame his alcohol dependence in the early 1980s. Details about his daily routines and personal habits are sparse, but his dedication to his craft and his ability to maintain long-term professional relationships with figures like Walter Matthau and Billy Wilder highlight his character and work ethic.
Jack Lemmon’s career achievements, combined with smart financial decisions, contributed to his $25 million net worth at the time of his passing. On June 27, 2001, Jack Lemmon passed away at the age of 76 due to complications related to cancer. He was buried at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, where fellow stars Marilyn Monroe and Walter Matthau are also buried. His funeral was a private ceremony attended by stars like Shirley MacLaine, Sidney Poitier, Gregory Peck, and Kirk Douglas.
