Net Worth Ranker
What Is Ali MacGraw’s Net Worth?
Ali MacGraw, a celebrated American actress, has accumulated a net worth of approximately $4 million. This financial standing reflects her successful career in film and television, coupled with other ventures and endorsements over the years.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born Elizabeth Alice MacGraw on April 1, 1939, in Pound Ridge, New York, to commercial artists Frances and Richard MacGraw, Ali’s early life laid the foundation for her future success. She attended Rosemary Hall in Greenwich, Connecticut, and later Wellesley College in Massachusetts, gaining a strong educational background. MacGraw’s career began in 1960 at Harper’s Bazaar magazine, where she worked as a photographic assistant to the iconic fashion columnist Diana Vreeland for six years. Her role involved assisting in the preparation and execution of fashion shoots, contributing to the visual narrative of the magazine. Following her time at Harper’s Bazaar, MacGraw transitioned to Vogue, where she worked as a fashion model and photographer’s stylist. During this period, she earned approximately $20 to $30 per hour, which was a substantial amount for a stylist in the early 1960s. Her responsibilities included coordinating outfits, ensuring models looked their best, and collaborating with photographers to create visually appealing content. Her modeling and styling work at Vogue provided her with valuable experience in the fashion industry, which later aided her transition into acting. MacGraw also gained exposure through television commercials, including advertisements for Polaroid and International Paper, which paid her around $500 to $1,000 per commercial, further supplementing her income and increasing her public profile.
Film Career: From “Goodbye, Columbus” to “Just Tell Me What You Want”
MacGraw’s acting career took off in 1968 with a minor role in the neo-noir film “A Lovely Way to Die.” However, it was her starring role in the 1969 romantic dramedy “Goodbye, Columbus,” based on the Philip Roth novella, that marked her breakthrough. For her performance as Brenda Patimkin, she won a Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer – Actress. Sources indicate that her salary for “Goodbye, Columbus” was around $15,000, a significant amount for a newcomer at the time. This role not only garnered her critical acclaim but also significantly boosted her visibility in the film industry.
The year 1970 was pivotal in MacGraw’s career, as she starred in “Love Story,” a film that catapulted her to superstardom. In “Love Story,” MacGraw portrayed Jenny Cavilleri, a working-class liberal arts college student who falls in love with Oliver Barrett IV, an upper-class college athlete played by Ryan O’Neal. The film was a monumental commercial success, grossing over $106 million in the United States and Canada. It became one of the highest-grossing films of all time and received seven Academy Award nominations, including one for MacGraw for Best Actress. Despite not winning the Oscar, her performance earned her widespread recognition and solidified her status as a leading actress. MacGraw’s salary for “Love Story” was reportedly $75,000, plus a percentage of the film’s profits, which substantially increased her earnings as the film became a blockbuster.
Following the success of “Love Story,” MacGraw starred in the 1972 heist thriller “The Getaway,” directed by Sam Peckinpah and co-starring Steve McQueen. “The Getaway” was another major box-office hit, grossing over $36 million. MacGraw’s salary for this film was significantly higher than her previous roles, reportedly reaching $250,000, reflecting her increased star power and market value. This role not only provided her with financial gains but also allowed her to work with renowned director Sam Peckinpah and co-star Steve McQueen, further enhancing her professional reputation.
After a hiatus from acting, MacGraw reunited with Peckinpah for the 1978 action road comedy “Convoy,” co-starring Kris Kristofferson. “Convoy” was another commercial success, grossing over $45 million. MacGraw’s salary for this film was around $300,000, continuing her trend of earning substantial fees for her roles. In 1979, she starred opposite Dean Paul Martin in the romantic drama “Players,” about a woman who has an affair with a young tennis player. MacGraw’s salary for “Players” was approximately $200,000. Her final starring film role came in 1980 with Sidney Lumet’s comedy “Just Tell Me What You Want,” adapted by Jay Presson Allen from her novel of the same name. MacGraw’s salary for this film was reportedly $250,000. Throughout the 1990s, MacGraw had brief roles in films such as “Natural Causes” and “Glam,” and she appeared as herself in the documentary “Get Bruce!” These smaller roles likely provided additional income in the range of $20,000 to $50,000 per appearance.
Television and Stage Career
On television, MacGraw first appeared in the highly successful 1983 miniseries “The Winds of War,” based on the Herman Wouk book. She starred as Natalie Jastrow, with Robert Mitchum playing the main protagonist, Victor Henry. MacGraw’s salary for “The Winds of War” was reportedly $75,000 per episode, which significantly contributed to her income, given the series’ popularity and length. Two years later, MacGraw played Lady Ashley Mitchell in 14 episodes of the ABC primetime soap opera “Dynasty.” Her role in “Dynasty” earned her approximately $40,000 per episode, adding to her earnings. She had fewer acting roles on television afterward, except for parts in television films like “Survive the Savage Sea” and “Gunsmoke: The Long Ride,” which typically paid around $50,000 to $100,000 per role.
In the 1990s and into the 21st century, MacGraw hosted segments for the Encore Love Stories premium cable network, earning approximately $2,000 to $5,000 per segment. In 2006, MacGraw made her Broadway debut in a production of the play “Festen,” playing a dysfunctional matriarch. Her salary for “Festen” was around $5,000 to $8,000 per week, depending on ticket sales and performance reviews. A decade later, she reunited with her “Love Story” co-star Ryan O’Neal to star in a production of the play “Love Letters.” Her salary for “Love Letters” was similar to that of “Festen,” around $6,000 per week.
Yoga and Animal Rights Advocacy
A devotee of Hatha yoga, MacGraw created a yoga video with Erich Schiffmann entitled “Ali MacGraw Yoga Mind and Body.” The video became a bestseller, credited with boosting interest in yoga in the United States. Sales of the video generated substantial income for MacGraw, with royalties and profits estimated to be in the range of $100,000 to $200,000 over the years. MacGraw is a lifelong animal rights advocate and has worked with organizations such as PETA and Animals Asia. While her advocacy work is primarily voluntary, her involvement with these organizations has enhanced her public image and potentially opened doors to endorsement opportunities.
Personal Life and Real Estate
In 1960, MacGraw married her first husband, banker Robin Hoen, whom she had met while in college. The pair divorced in 1962. MacGraw went on to have a series of relationships before marrying her second husband, film producer Robert Evans, in 1969. They had a son named Josh before divorcing in 1972 amid MacGraw’s public affair with actor Steve McQueen, whom she married the following year. After divorcing McQueen in the summer of 1978, MacGraw dated several famous men, including Warren Beatty, Fran Tarkenton, Rick Danko, and Peter Weller.
In the late 1990s, Ali MacGraw purchased a five-acre property in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which has been her primary residence since then. The property, located in the upscale area of Santa Fe, was purchased for approximately $800,000 and is estimated to be worth over $1.5 million today. The house includes multiple bedrooms, horse facilities, and panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. In 1991, she published her autobiography “Moving Pictures,” which revealed her struggles with sex addiction and alcoholism. The book generated substantial income for MacGraw, with royalties and profits estimated to be in the range of $500,000 to $700,000 over the years.
