Net Worth Ranker
What Is Buster Keaton’s Net Worth?
At the time of his death on February 1, 1966, Buster Keaton’s net worth was estimated to be $1 million. Considering inflation, that is equivalent to approximately $10 million in 2025. This valuation reflects his earnings from a prolific career spanning vaudeville, silent films, and later works in sound films and television.
Buster Keaton’s Earnings and Career Highlights
Buster Keaton, born Joseph Frank Keaton on October 4, 1895, in Piqua, Kansas, began his career as a child performer in his family’s vaudeville act, “The Three Keatons.” While specific financial details from his early vaudeville days are not available, his transition to silent films marked a significant turning point in his earnings. In the 1920s, at the peak of his career, Keaton earned $3,500 per week, which is equivalent to approximately $60,000 per week in 2025, adjusted for inflation. This high income allowed him to invest heavily in his lifestyle and productions.
During this period, Keaton built a home in Beverly Hills at the cost of $300,000, an immense sum at the time, equivalent to about $6 million in today’s money. This investment underscores his success and financial status during the silent film era. Some of Keaton’s most acclaimed works include “The General” (1926), “Sherlock Jr.” (1924), and “Steamboat Bill Jr.” (1928). “The General,” a Civil War comedy-adventure, had a budget of $750,000 provided by United Artists and featured a scene with a locomotive plowing across a burning bridge, making it the most expensive scene in silent film history.
Despite the initial lukewarm reception of “The General,” it has since been recognized as a masterpiece. However, the financial strain led United Artists to limit Keaton’s production opportunities, eventually leading him to sign with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM). At MGM, Keaton’s creative control was significantly reduced. His first film with MGM, “The Cameraman” (1928), was a hit, but the studio’s interference with his creative input led to disagreements. When sound technology was introduced, MGM resisted Keaton’s attempts to make his 1929 film “Spite Marriage” a talkie, impacting his artistic and financial prospects.
In 1931, his comedic talkie “Parlor, Bedroom and Bath” became his most profitable film at MGM. However, the relationship between Keaton and the studio deteriorated. One notable incident occurred in March 1932, when MGM’s co-founder, Louis Burt Mayer, demanded that Keaton work on a Saturday afternoon. Keaton, who had already committed to being the home team mascot at a local college baseball championship, declined. Mayer suspended Keaton’s pay, contributing to the growing tension. Ultimately, Keaton’s contract with MGM was terminated on February 2, 1933. This termination was influenced by his increasing reliance on alcohol and conflicts with studio management.
Later Career and Earnings
After his departure from MGM, Keaton faced financial difficulties and declared bankruptcy in 1934. He then traveled to Paris to star in the independent comedy “Le Roi des Champs-Elysees” and to England for “The Invader.” Upon returning to America, he produced several 20-minute comedy reels for Educational Pictures, earning $2,500 per film. However, financial constraints eventually led to his dismissal from the company.
In 1939, Keaton was contracted by Columbia Pictures to star in two-reel comedies and was re-hired by MGM as a gag writer. This period marked a shift towards lower-paying roles and writing work, reflecting his diminished financial status compared to his peak in the 1920s. In 1950, Keaton began starring in “The Buster Keaton Show” on television station KTTV in Los Angeles. From 1950 to 1965, he made approximately 70 guest appearances on television shows, including an episode of “The Twilight Zone” in 1961. He also starred in films such as “Beach Blanket Bingo” (1964). His final film appearance was in the construction site safety film “The Scribe” (1966), produced by the Construction Safety Associations of Ontario.
Towards the end of his life, Keaton supplemented his income by filming commercials, earning around $100,000 per year, which helped stabilize his finances. Despite the financial setbacks earlier in his career, Keaton’s diverse roles in television and commercials allowed him to maintain a reasonable income during his later years. Keaton’s career is commemorated with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for film and one for television. The International Buster Keaton Society was founded in 1992 to honor his life and work. In 1996, “Entertainment Weekly” ranked Keaton as the 7th greatest film director of all time, and in 1999, the American Film Institute named him the 21st greatest male star of classic Hollywood cinema. These accolades recognize his lasting impact on the film industry, despite the financial challenges he faced.
Throughout his life, Keaton’s personal relationships also influenced his financial stability. His marriage to silent film actress Natalie Talmadge in 1921, which ended in divorce in 1932, contributed to his financial strain. His subsequent marriages to Mae Scriven in 1933 and Eleanor Norris in 1940 further impacted his financial decisions. Ultimately, Keaton’s net worth of $1 million at the time of his death reflects the complex trajectory of his career, marked by periods of high earnings, financial setbacks, and eventual stabilization through diverse roles in film and television.
