Net Worth Ranker
What Was Angela Lansbury’s Net Worth?
At the time of her death in October 2022, Dame Angela Lansbury, a celebrated British-American actress and singer, possessed a net worth of $70 million. This substantial wealth reflected her incredibly long and diverse career, spanning over eight decades and encompassing film, television, and stage performances. Lansbury’s financial success was a testament to her enduring talent and widespread appeal across multiple generations of audiences.
Angela Lansbury’s Career and Earnings
Lansbury’s career began in the “Golden Age” of Hollywood, where she quickly made a name for herself with roles in films like “Gaslight” in 1944, where at the age of 17, she earned $500 per week. Her early success led to a contract with MGM, but according to observers, she was often miscast in mediocre roles. Despite this, she continued to work steadily in film, radio, and theatre.
She achieved significant recognition for her roles in the musical “Mame” in the mid-1960s and “Gypsy” in the 1970s. Her stage career continued to flourish with her appearance in “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” towards the end of the ’70s. Her continuous roles in a variety of films throughout the ’80s only improved her popularity and appeal.
One of the most significant contributors to her net worth was her role as Jessica Fletcher in the television series “Murder, She Wrote.” The series aired 264 episodes over 12 seasons, from 1983 to 1996. It became the longest-running detective drama in television history. This long run ensured Lansbury a consistent income stream for over a decade. While specific salary details for “Murder, She Wrote” are not publicly available, it is safe to assume that she commanded a substantial salary for her leading role in such a successful and long-running series. Industry experts estimate her peak earnings from the show to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars per episode, significantly boosting her overall net worth.
Her voice work as Mrs. Potts in Disney’s 1991 animated film “Beauty and the Beast” stands out as a particularly iconic and lucrative role. Voice acting royalties, combined with merchandise sales related to the film, would have further added to her earnings. From the late ’90s onwards, Lansbury returned to theatre, continuing to appear in various television series. In 2019, she returned to Broadway once again with a production of “The Importance of Being Earnest”. Even late in her career, Angela had a cameo as herself in the 2022 film “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” demonstrating her continued presence in the entertainment industry.
Angela Lansbury’s Real Estate Holdings
Angela Lansbury’s real estate investments also played a role in her overall net worth. She owned an apartment in New York City near Central Park, purchased in 2006 for $2 million. This property, located in a prime Manhattan location, likely appreciated significantly in value over the years, contributing to her asset base. In 2006, Lansbury purchased her apartment one block south of Central Park for $2 million.
Lansbury owned a substantial residence in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. The Brentwood mansion, purchased with her husband Peter Shaw in 1985 for $925,000, served as her primary residence for many years. In March 2023, her estate listed the Brentwood mansion for just under $5 million, highlighting the considerable appreciation in value over nearly four decades. This real estate holding represented a significant portion of her total net worth.
Other Assets and Investments
While details about Angela Lansbury’s specific investments are not publicly available, it can be assumed that she held a diversified portfolio of assets, including stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments. Given her long and successful career, it’s likely that she had professional financial advisors managing her wealth to ensure long-term financial security. Lansbury accumulated an impressive real estate portfolio during her life. She owned an apartment in New York City that lies one block south of Central Park, which she purchased in 2006 for $2 million. She also owned an extensive residence in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. She purchased the Brentwood mansion with her husband, Peter Shaw, for $925,000 in 1985. In March 2023, Angela’s estate listed her Brentwood mansion for a shade under $5 million.
Key Milestones Contributing to Angela Lansbury’s Net Worth
Several key milestones in Angela Lansbury’s career significantly boosted her net worth:
- 1944: Her role in “Gaslight” marked her breakthrough.
- 1983-1996: Her starring role in the TV series “Murder, She Wrote” ensured her consistent income.
- 1991: Her voice acting as Mrs. Potts in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” became iconic.
Personal Life and Choices Impacting Net Worth
In 1945, at the age of 19, Angela married actor Richard Cromwell, who was 35. However, they divorced in 1946. In 1949, she remarried to actor Peter Shaw, and they remained married for 54 years until his death in 2003. In the 1960s, Angela discovered that her children had become addicted to drugs as teenagers. In order to set her children straight, Angela relocated the entire family to County Cork in Ireland. In the end, both of her kids became clean.
