Net Worth Ranker
What Is Farrah Fawcett’s Net Worth?
At the time of her death in June 2009, Farrah Fawcett’s net worth was estimated to be $25 million. This figure includes a conservative valuation of her art collection, a significant portion of her overall wealth.
Components of Farrah Fawcett’s Net Worth
Art Collection: A cornerstone of Fawcett’s net worth was her art collection, highlighted by at least one Andy Warhol portrait. This portrait alone was valued at over $12 million at the time of her death. The existence of a second Warhol portrait sparked a legal dispute after her passing. While both portraits originated from a 1980 session with Warhol, a legal battle ensued over the ownership of the second portrait. In December 2013, a Los Angeles jury ruled in favor of Ryan O’Neal, allowing him to retain the painting, which was valued at $18 million at the time of the trial. By 2018, its appraised value had increased to $24 million, and today, its estimated worth is over $40 million. In addition to the Warhol portraits, Farrah’s art collection was bequeathed to the University of Texas at Austin, her alma mater, as stipulated in her will.
Real Estate: Fawcett was a shrewd real estate investor, acquiring properties that significantly appreciated in value over time. During the peak of her career, she invested in homes in Bel-Air and Malibu. She also invested her earnings from several 1970s movies to acquire trailer parks for senior citizens. By the 1990s, the value of her real estate holdings was estimated at $20 million, equivalent to roughly $40 million in today’s dollars. One of her primary residences was a 5+ acre compound in Bel-Air, assembled through two separate transactions. She acquired the initial 2.8-acre parcel in the 1970s for an undisclosed amount. In 1991, she expanded the property by purchasing the adjacent 2.4-acre lot for $1.7 million (approximately $3.3 million today). In 1999, she sold the main parcel for $2.7 million. The subsequent owners, Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey, bought the 12,000 square-foot home (featuring a movie theater, basketball court, and recording studio) in 2009 for $7 million. After their divorce, they sold it for $9 million in 2015 after initially listing it for $13 million.
Cash and Liquid Assets: Her estate, including cash and other liquid assets, also contributed to her net worth. It’s estimated that the total value of her estate, including both liquid and non-liquid assets, ranged from $20 to $40 million.
Image Rights and Memorabilia: Fawcett’s image rights and memorabilia added to the overall value of her estate.
Farrah Fawcett’s Salary and Earnings
Charlie’s Angels: During the first season of “Charlie’s Angels,” Farrah Fawcett earned $5,000 per episode. After the first season, her salary was increased to $10,000 per episode, equivalent to approximately $44,000 today after adjusting for inflation. Dissatisfied with the salary, she left the show but was contractually obligated to appear as a guest star in subsequent seasons. In 1976, her earnings from 22 episodes totaled $110,000, which is equivalent to about $490,000 today after adjusting for inflation.
Iconic Poster Earnings: In 1976, Farrah Fawcett appeared in a poster that became an iconic image of the 20th century, featuring her in a skin-tight bathing suit. The poster became the best-selling poster of all time, selling over 6 million prints, and significantly boosted her fame. It is estimated that the poster generated around $12 million in revenue, resulting in about $2 million in profits. Fawcett received 40% of the profits, translating to $800,000 in royalties, or approximately $3.6 million after adjusting for inflation. In the same year Farrah made $400,000 in royalties from her poster. That’s the same as $1.8 million.
Farrah Fawcett’s Estate and Will
Farrah Fawcett’s will outlined the distribution of her assets. She bequeathed her art collection to the University of Texas at Austin, including the Andy Warhol portrait(s). She also allocated an undisclosed sum to the Farrah Fawcett Foundation, which supports cancer research and prevention. Additionally, she left $500,000 each to her father and nephew. The bulk of her estate, approximately $4.5 million in cash, was placed in a lifetime trust for her son, Redmond O’Neal, with strict parameters and restrictions managed by a trustee.
