Net Worth Ranker
What Is Joan Fontaine’s Net Worth?
At the time of her death on December 15, 2013, Joan Fontaine, the celebrated British-American actress, had a net worth of $40 million. This substantial wealth accumulated through a decades-long career in film, television, and stage, positioning her as one of Hollywood’s Golden Age luminaries. Her financial success was intrinsically linked to her acclaimed performances and strategic career choices.
Fontaine’s Early Career and Rising Net Worth
Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland, later known as Joan Fontaine, was born on October 22, 1917, in Tokyo City, Japan. Her early life included a brief period living in Japan before moving to California with her mother and sister, Olivia de Havilland. Though specific financial details about her early life are unavailable, her formal education at Los Gatos High School and later at the Tokyo School for Foreign Children set the stage for her future career.
Fontaine’s acting career commenced in 1935 with “No More Ladies,” where she was credited as Joan Burfield. Her early roles, including “A Million to One” in 1937, helped her gain recognition within the industry. Securing a contract with RKO Pictures marked a significant step in her career, leading to her first major role in “The Man Who Found Himself” in 1937. Her performances in films like “You Can’t Beat Love,” “Music for Madame,” and “A Damsel in Distress” further solidified her presence in Hollywood, although detailed financial figures for these early contracts remain undisclosed.
During the late 1930s, Fontaine starred in several comedies and adventure films, including “Maid’s Night Out,” “Blond Cheat,” “Sky Giant,” “The Duke of West Point,” and “Gunga Din.” These roles increased her visibility and contributed to her growing income. Unfortunately, exact salary figures or contract details from this period are not publicly accessible.
Peak Career in the 1940s and Academy Award Success
The 1940s proved to be a transformative decade for Joan Fontaine, significantly boosting her net worth. Her role in Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rebecca” in 1940 earned her an Academy Award nomination and widespread acclaim, while the film won Best Picture. This recognition substantially increased her market value. In 1941, she starred in Hitchcock’s “Suspicion,” winning the Academy Award for Best Actress. This prestigious award undoubtedly led to higher-paying roles and endorsements. Though specific monetary details of her contracts for “Rebecca” and “Suspicion” are not publicly available, it is reasonable to infer that these successes significantly enhanced her financial status.
Following her Academy Award win, Fontaine starred in “This Above All” in 1942 and “The Constant Nymph” in 1943, earning another Academy Award nomination for the latter. She also played the lead in “Jane Eyre” during this period. Her increased fame allowed her to command higher salaries for each film, furthering her financial accumulation. Details regarding the exact figures she earned for these films remain private.
In 1944, Fontaine starred in “Frenchman’s Creek,” another adaptation of a Daphne du Maurier novel. By 1945, she played the titular role in “The Affairs of Susan.” Her subsequent roles in “From This Day Forward” and “Ivy” (the first film produced by her company, Rampart Productions) expanded her influence and income streams. Founding Rampart Productions suggests a move towards greater control over her career and earnings, although the specific financial outcomes of this venture are not fully documented.
Joan Fontaine’s activity remained high in 1948, with roles in “Letter from an Unknown Woman,” “The Emperor Waltz,” “You Gotta Stay Happy,” and “Kiss the Blood Off My Hands.” These roles demonstrated her versatility and maintained her status as a leading actress. The consistent workload undoubtedly contributed to her growing net worth, although detailed financial data for each project is not accessible.
Career Transition and Continued Success in the 1950s and 1960s
In the 1950s, Joan Fontaine starred in “September Affair” and “Born to Be Bad” in 1950, followed by “Darling, How Could You!” in 1951. She also appeared in “Something to Live For” in 1952 and played Rowena in “Ivanhoe.” The variety of roles kept her relevant and ensured a steady income stream. Further roles in “Decameron Nights,” “Flight to Tangier,” and “The Bigamist” in 1953, and “Casanova’s Big Night” in 1954, added to her earnings, though specific contractual details from this period remain private.
Fontaine’s career continued with roles in “Serenade” and “Beyond a Reasonable Doubt” in 1956, followed by “Island in the Sun,” “Until They Sail,” and “A Certain Smile.” As the film industry evolved, Fontaine adapted by diversifying into television and theater while maintaining her presence in film. Precise financial figures for these roles are not available, but they contributed to her overall net worth.
In the 1960s, Fontaine appeared in fewer films, focusing more on television, theater, and radio. Her role in the science-fiction film “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea” was a notable success. She also starred in “Tender is the Night” and the British horror film “The Witches.” This shift reflected a strategic adjustment to the changing entertainment landscape. While specific financial gains from her 1960s work are not fully documented, these ventures sustained her income.
Television and Stage Career
Joan Fontaine’s foray into television began in the 1950s, with appearances in anthology series like “Four Star Playhouse,” “The 20th Century Fox Hour,” and “General Electric Theater.” These appearances broadened her audience and supplemented her income. In the 1960s, she featured in episodes of “Checkmate,” “The Dick Powell Show,” “Wagon Train,” “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour,” and “The Bing Crosby Show,” further increasing her visibility. Exact earnings from these television roles are not publicly available, but they undoubtedly contributed to her financial stability.
After a break from television, she returned in 1975 with an episode of “Cannon” written specifically for her. Later, in 1978, she had a supporting role in the television film “The Users.” In 1980, her guest role on “Ryan’s Hope” earned her a Daytime Emmy Award nomination. Over the following years, she appeared in episodes of “Aloha Paradise,” “The Love Boat,” “Bare Essence,” and “Hotel,” and starred in the television film “Dark Mansions” and the miniseries “Crossings” in 1986. Her final on-screen appearance was in the 1994 television film “Good King Wenceslas.” While detailed financial records of her television work are not accessible, these roles sustained her income in her later years.
Fontaine’s stage career commenced with a West Coast production of “Call it a Day” in 1935. She made her Broadway debut in “Tea and Sympathy” in 1954, followed by “A Severed Head” a decade later. In 1967, she acted in “Dial M for Murder” in Chicago, and in 1968, she starred in “Forty Carats” on Broadway. Continuing her stage work in the 1970s, she also toured reading poetry. The income from her stage performances, though not precisely documented, contributed to her overall financial well-being.
Personal Life and Marital History
Joan Fontaine’s personal life, marked by multiple marriages, could have had indirect implications on her net worth through potential settlements or shared assets. Her first marriage was to actor Brian Aherne, lasting from 1939 to 1945. She later married actor and producer William Dozier, with whom she had a daughter, Deborah, before divorcing in 1951. Her third marriage was to writer and producer Collier Young from 1952 to 1961, and her fourth to Sports Illustrated golf editor Alfred Wright Jr. from 1964 to 1969. The financial details of these divorces are not publicly available, but such settlements can sometimes impact an individual’s net worth.
In 1951, Fontaine informally adopted a Peruvian girl named Martita. While this act of generosity would not directly increase her net worth, it demonstrates how she chose to allocate her resources. While additional details of personal life and habits are unavailable, it can be inferred that her lifestyle as a successful actress contributed to her overall financial management and lifestyle choices, ultimately impacting her net worth trajectory.
Joan Fontaine’s Net Worth Legacy
Joan Fontaine’s $40 million net worth at the time of her death reflects a lifetime of accomplishments in the entertainment industry. While exact details of individual contracts, investments, and assets remain private, her career trajectory – from early film roles to Academy Award wins, television appearances, and stage performances – provides a clear picture of how she accumulated her wealth. Although she is no longer with us, her contributions to film and television continue to be celebrated, and her financial legacy serves as a testament to her success.
