Net Worth Ranker
What Was Gene Wilder’s Net Worth?
At the time of his death on August 29, 2016, Gene Wilder, the celebrated American stage and screen actor, director, screenwriter, and author, possessed a net worth estimated at $20 million. This figure represents the culmination of a multifaceted career spanning several decades, encompassing his work in film, television, writing, and various other creative pursuits.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born Jerome Silberman on June 11, 1933, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Gene Wilder’s initial foray into acting was prompted by his mother’s illness. Encouraged to make her laugh, the eight-year-old Wilder embarked on a path that would eventually lead to comedic stardom. He formally began studying acting at age 13 for two years. His mother sent him to Black-Foxe, a military institute in Hollywood. Later, he performed as Balthasar in a production of “Romeo And Juliet” at age 15. Wilder graduated from Washington High School in Milwaukee in 1951. He furthered his education at the University of Iowa, where he studied Communication and Theater Arts and graduated in 1955. Subsequently, he was accepted into the Bristol Old Vic Theater School in Bristol, England. Following six months in England, Wilder returned to the U.S., resided with his sister in Queens, and enrolled at the HB Studio. After serving two years in the U.S. Army as a medic in Pennsylvania, he relocated to New York City, undertaking various jobs to support his acting studies.
At the age of 26, Jerome Silberman adopted the stage name Gene Wilder, embarking on a pursuit of roles in off-Broadway and Broadway productions. His first professional acting role materialized in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he portrayed the Second Officer in “Twelfth Night.” Capitalizing on his fencing training in Bristol, he also contributed as a fencing choreographer. Wilder’s dedication to his craft led him to study with Berghof and Uta Hagen for three years. Subsequently, he studied with Lee Strasberg. Wilder’s talent gradually gained recognition, leading to his casting as Billy Bibbit opposite Kirk Douglas in the 1963-1964 run of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.”
Breakthrough and Box Office Success
A pivotal moment occurred in 1963 when Wilder met actress Anne Bancroft during a production of “Mother Courage and Her Children.” Bancroft introduced him to her boyfriend, Mel Brooks. This introduction laid the foundation for a fruitful collaboration. Brooks cast Wilder in “The Producers”. The film, which went on to become a cult classic, earned Brooks an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and garnered Wilder a nomination for Best Supporting Actor. In 1969, Wilder took on a leading role in “Start the Revolution Without Me,” filmed in Paris.
Following the success of “The Producers,” Wilder’s career trajectory ascended rapidly. He secured roles in iconic comedies, including the lead in “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory”. Although not an immediate commercial triumph, the film gained popularity over time, earning Wilder a Golden Globe nomination. In 1974, he co-wrote and starred in “Young Frankenstein”. This film was commercially successful, and Wilder and Brooks received Best Adapted Screenplay nominations at the Oscars. Simultaneously, Wilder accepted the role of the Fox in the musical film adaptation of “The Little Prince.” In 1975, he also wrote, directed, and starred in “The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes’ Smarter Brother”. This was not as successful commercially.
Wilder’s decision to join Mel Brooks’ “Blazing Saddles” in 1974 further solidified his status as a comedic icon. He then starred in four films alongside Richard Pryor: “Silver Streak” (1976), “Stir Crazy” (1980), “See No Evil, Hear No Evil” (1989), and “Another You” (1991). “Another You” marked Pryor’s final starring role and Wilder’s last appearance in a feature film. Wilder’s later work encompassed TV movies and guest appearances in TV shows. In April 1991, he was inducted into the Wisconsin Performing Arts Hall of Fame.
In 1994, Wilder starred in the NBC sitcom “Something Wilder”. It received poor reviews and lasted only one season. Wilder concluded his screen career in 2003 with two episodes of NBC’s “Will & Grace,” earning him an Emmy award for Outstanding Guest Actor on a Comedy Series. After retiring from acting, Wilder pursued writing, publishing a memoir and several novels. He also explored painting as a creative outlet.
Personal Life and Real Estate
Wilder’s personal life was marked by several marriages. He married Mary Mercier on July 22, 1960, and divorced in 1965. He married Mary Joan Schutz in October 1967, adopting her daughter Katharine. This marriage ended after seven years, and Katharine became estranged from Wilder. His marriage to Gilda Radner, of “Saturday Night Live” fame, occurred on September 14, 1984, in the South of France. Radner passed away on May 20, 1989, after battling ovarian cancer. Wilder remarried Karen Webb in September 1991.
Wilder ventured into real estate, purchasing a home on Chalon Road in Bel Air, Los Angeles, in 1976 for $300,000. He sold the home in 2007 for $2.7 million. In 2013, the property was acquired by Elon Musk for $6.75 million. Musk later sold the home to Gene Wilder’s nephew for $7 million, financing a significant portion of the purchase. However, the nephew encountered financial difficulties, leading to foreclosure proceedings initiated by Musk.
Factors Contributing to Net Worth
Gene Wilder’s $20 million net worth was derived from various income streams throughout his career. His prominent roles in box office hits such as “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory”, “Young Frankenstein,” and “Blazing Saddles” generated substantial earnings. As a writer and director, Wilder also benefited from royalties and profit participation in his projects. His collaborations with Mel Brooks, in particular, proved to be financially lucrative. His appearances on television, including “Will & Grace”, and his later career as an author, added to his overall wealth.
