Net Worth Ranker
What Was Burgess Meredith’s Net Worth?
At the time of his death on September 9, 1997, Burgess Meredith, a multifaceted actor and director with a career spanning seven decades, had a net worth estimated at $5 million. This valuation reflected his extensive work across various entertainment mediums, including film, television, theater, and radio.
Burgess Meredith’s Diverse Career and Earnings
Meredith’s career encompassed a wide array of roles and projects, each contributing to his overall financial standing. While specific details of his earnings from individual projects are not publicly available, his consistent work in prominent roles across different media suggests a steady accumulation of wealth over time.
Theater Career: Meredith’s early career was rooted in theater, where he gained recognition for his performances in productions such as “Winterset” (1935) and “The Threepenny Opera.” While exact salary figures from his theater work are not publicly accessible, starring roles in successful Broadway productions would have provided a substantial income during that era. For example, in 1935, Meredith had his career breakthrough as the star of Maxwell Anderson’s Broadway play “Winterset”. Also that year, Burgess gained recognition for his roles in “The Barretts of Wimpole Street” and “Flowers of the Forest.” In the 1940s, Meredith acted in another production of “Liliom,” this time as the titular character.
Film Career: His transition to film brought further opportunities for financial gain. Notable roles in films like “Of Mice and Men” (1939), where he played George Milton, and later, his Academy Award-nominated performance in “The Day of the Locust” (1975), would have commanded significant salaries. Additionally, his role as Mickey Goldmill in the “Rocky” film franchise (1976 onwards) further solidified his financial stability.
Television Career: Meredith’s television work included narrating “The Big Story” (1955-1958) and playing the Penguin in the “Batman” series in the 1960s. While specific figures are unavailable, these roles in popular television shows would have contributed significantly to his income during those periods. In the early 1970s, Meredith was in episodes of “Room 222,” “Mannix,” and “McCloud,” and he starred in the science-fiction fantasy series “Search.”
Directing and Writing: In addition to acting, Meredith also directed and wrote films, providing additional income streams. His directorial efforts, such as “The Man on the Eiffel Tower” (1950) and writing contributions to “The Yin and the Yang of Mr. Go,” would have added to his overall earnings, although specific figures are not available.
Burgess Meredith’s Real Estate and Personal Life
Malibu House: For over two decades, Burgess Meredith owned an oceanfront mansion in Malibu’s exclusive Malibu Colony gated community. The property featured 50 feet of ocean frontage. Two years after his death, in July 1999, his estate sold the home for $4 million. That’s the same as around $7.5 million in today’s dollars.
Personal Life: Burgess Meredith was married four times throughout his life. His first marriage was to Helen Derby from 1933 to 1935, followed by actress Margaret Perry from 1936 to 1938. He was then married to actress Paulette Goddard from 1944 to 1949, with whom he starred in a few movies. His final marriage was to Kaja Sundsten in 1950, and they remained together for 46 years until his death. Burgess and Kaja had two children, Jonathan and Tala.
Burgess Meredith’s $5 million net worth at the time of his death was a culmination of his earnings from a diverse and successful career in acting, directing, and writing. His work in theater, film, television, and radio all contributed to his financial success and legacy in the entertainment industry.
