Net Worth Ranker
What Is Ernest Borgnine’s Net Worth?
At the time of his death on July 8, 2012, Ernest Borgnine, the celebrated American film and television actor, had an estimated net worth of $15 million. This considerable wealth was amassed over a career spanning more than six decades, marked by memorable performances in both film and television.
Ernest Borgnine’s Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born Ermes Effron Borgnino on January 24, 1917, in Hamden, Connecticut, Ernest Borgnine’s journey to acting success began after his service in the US Navy. Following his discharge, he found factory work unfulfilling. Encouraged by his mother, he pursued acting, studying at the Randall School of Drama and later joining the Barter Theatre in Virginia. His theatrical debut came in 1947 with “State of the Union,” followed by “The Glass Menagerie.” In 1949, he made his Broadway debut in “Harvey,” setting the stage for his eventual transition to film and television.
Borgnine’s Film Career: From Breakthrough Roles to Oscar Glory
Borgnine’s first foray into film occurred in 1951 with roles in “China Corsair,” “The Whistle at Eaton Falls,” and “The Mob.” His early film appearances were followed by parts in “Treasure of the Golden Condor” and “The Stranger Wore a Gun” in 1953. However, it was his portrayal of the brutal Staff Sergeant James R. “Fatso” Judson in the 1953 Best Picture winner “From Here to Eternity” that brought him widespread recognition. This role led to his casting as villains in films like “Johnny Guitar,” “Vera Cruz,” and “Bad Day at Black Rock.”
A significant turning point in Borgnine’s career came in 1955 with the romantic drama “Marty.” His performance as the kind-hearted butcher earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor, and the film also won Best Picture. Following this success, Borgnine appeared in numerous films, including “Run for Cover,” “The Last Command,” “The Square Jungle,” “Jubal,” “The Catered Affair,” “Three Brave Men,” “The Vikings,” “Torpedo Run,” and “The Rabbit Trap.” While specific financial details for each of these roles are not publicly available, it’s understood that his roles from the 1950’s significantly contributed to Ernest Borgnine’s Net Worth.
Continued Film Success Throughout the Decades
The 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s saw Borgnine’s film career continue to flourish. His 1960s credits included “Pay or Die,” “Black City,” “Barabbas,” “The Flight of the Phoenix,” “The Oscar,” “The Dirty Dozen,” “Ice Station Zebra,” and “The Wild Bunch.” The 1970s saw him in “Willard,” “The Trackers,” “The Poseidon Adventure,” “Hustle,” “Shoot,” “Crossed Swords,” “Convoy,” and “The Black Hole.” In the 1980s, he appeared in “Super Fuzz,” “High Risk,” “Escape from New York,” “Young Warriors,” “Spike of Bensonhurst,” and “Laser Mission.” Unfortunately, specific salary details for these roles are unavailable for verification.
Even in his later years, Borgnine maintained a steady presence in film. His 1990s credits included “Any Man’s Death,” “Gattaca,” “BASEketball,” “Mel,” and “Abilene.” In the 2000s, he appeared in “Hoover,” “11’09″01 September 11,” “The Long Ride Home,” “Strange Wilderness,” “Red,” “Another Harvest Moon,” and “Night Club.” Borgnine’s final film performance was in 2012 in “The Man Who Shook the Hand of Vicente Fernandez,” where he played Rex Page. Again, specific salary details are difficult to verify.
Television Career: McHale’s Navy and Beyond
Simultaneous with his film career, Borgnine also made strides in television. His television debut was in 1951 with appearances on “Captain Video and His Video Rangers.” Subsequently, he secured roles in episodes of shows like “The Lone Wolf,” “Navy Log,” “Wagon Train,” and “Laramie.”
His breakthrough television role came in 1962 when he starred as Lieutenant Commander Quinton McHale on the ABC sitcom “McHale’s Navy,” a role he played until 1966. While specific salary details for “McHale’s Navy” are not publicly available, the show’s popularity undoubtedly contributed to his income during that period. From 1976 to 1977, he starred in the crime series “Future Cop.” He also starred in the television film “Fire!”
In 1979, Borgnine received an Emmy Award nomination for his performance in the television film adaptation of “All Quiet on the Western Front.” From 1984 to 1986, he starred as Dominic Santini on the action military drama “Airwolf.” Like his earlier television work, the exact figures are unavailable, but these regular roles would have added to his financial stability.
Continuing his prolific television career, Borgnine appeared in multiple television film sequels of “The Dirty Dozen.” From 1995 to 1997, he had a main role on the NBC sitcom “The Single Guy.” Notably, he voiced the character Mermaid Man on the animated series “SpongeBob SquarePants” from 1999 to 2012, appearing in numerous episodes. He was also in many television films in the 2000s, including “A Grandpa for Christmas,” “The Wishing Well,” and “Love’s Christmas Journey.” In 2009, Borgnine received an Emmy nomination for his guest role in the final season of the medical series “ER.” While the specific financial details of his voice acting and guest appearances are not publicly known, it’s clear that Borgnine continued to earn income from television work throughout his later years.
Personal Life, Marriages, and Real Estate
Borgnine was married five times throughout his life. His first marriage was to Rhoda Kemins in 1949, with whom he had a daughter named Nancee. They divorced in 1958. In 1959, he married actress Katy Jurado, divorcing in 1963. His marriage to singer Ethel Merman in 1964 lasted only 42 days. From 1965 to 1972, he was married to Donna Rancourt, with whom he had three children: Christopher, Diana, and Sharon. In 1973, Borgnine married businesswoman Tova Traesnaes, and they remained together until his death in 2012.
For many years, Ernest Borgnine and Tova Borgnine maintained residences in both Beverly Hills, California, and West Chester, Pennsylvania, where Tova was a QVC entrepreneur. After Ernest’s death, Tova listed their Beverly Hills home, which Ernest had owned for over six decades, for $3.4 million. In February 2013, Jason Bateman and his wife Amanda Anka purchased the property for $3 million. This real estate transaction provides insight into the value of one of Ernest Borgnine’s assets at the time of his death, which indirectly affects Ernest Borgnine’s Net Worth. While the specific details of other real estate holdings or investment properties are not publicly available, it is plausible that Ernest Borgnine owned other valuable assets that also contributed to his Net Worth of $15 million.
