Net Worth Ranker
What Was Donna Douglas’ Net Worth?
At the time of her death on January 1, 2015, Donna Douglas, the American actress best known for her role as Elly May Clampett in “The Beverly Hillbillies,” had a net worth of $500,000. This figure represents her accumulated wealth from a career spanning several decades, including earnings from acting roles, singing, writing, and various business ventures.
Early Career and “The Beverly Hillbillies”
Donna Douglas, born Doris Ione Smith on September 26, 1932, in Pride, Louisiana, embarked on her entertainment career after being crowned “Miss Baton Rouge” and “Miss New Orleans” in 1957. She moved to New York City and began working as a model, appearing in toothpaste commercials and on “The Perry Como Show” and “The Steve Allen Show.” These early appearances led to roles in films like “Career” (1959), “Li’l Abner,” and “Lover Come Back,” as well as guest spots on television shows such as “The Twilight Zone,” “Checkmate,” “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,” and “Adam 12.” Her earnings from these roles, while not publicly documented in specific dollar amounts, contributed to her growing net worth.
Douglas’s career reached its peak when she was cast as Elly May Clampett in “The Beverly Hillbillies” in 1962. The show quickly became a massive success, holding the #1 spot in the United States for its first two years. Although Douglas had been acting for several years, this role propelled her to national fame. It’s worth noting that while specific salary figures for the cast members of “The Beverly Hillbillies” are not readily available, it is reasonable to assume that Douglas received a substantial income during the show’s nine-year run (1962-1971), which significantly boosted her net worth.
During a break from “The Beverly Hillbillies” in the summer of 1966, Douglas took on her first and only starring role in a feature film, “Frankie and Johnny,” alongside Elvis Presley. While the film was commercially successful, it did not lead to further significant film roles for Douglas. No public information on her salary for that role is available. Her portrayal of Elly May Clampett remained her most iconic and financially rewarding role.
Post-“Beverly Hillbillies” Career and Ventures
After “The Beverly Hillbillies” ended in 1971, Douglas pursued various ventures. She obtained a real estate license, although she didn’t remain in the field for long. She then transitioned to a career as a gospel singer and speaker, touring churches, youth groups, schools, and colleges across the United States. Her income from these engagements is not publicly quantified. However, these activities contributed to her financial stability after her time on “The Beverly Hillbillies”.
In addition to her singing and speaking engagements, Douglas recorded several gospel albums starting in 1982 and released a few minor country music records in the 1970s and 1980s. The financial success of these musical endeavors is not precisely documented, but they likely provided her with additional income streams.
Douglas also ventured into writing, publishing a Christian children’s book titled “Donna’s Critters and Kids: Children’s Stories with a Bible Touch,” which included Bible stories featuring animals combined with a coloring book. In 2013, she published a cookbook called “Southern Favorites with a Taste of Hollywood,” featuring recipes from her show-business friends. The financial returns from these books are not known, but they expanded her professional portfolio.
Lawsuits and Legal Matters
Donna Douglas was involved in two notable lawsuits during her later years. In June 1993, she filed a lawsuit against Disney, Whoopi Goldberg, Bette Midler, their production companies, and the Creative Artists Agency, alleging that the film “Sister Act” plagiarized a book called “A Nun in the Closet.” Douglas and her partner, Curt Wilson, claimed to have developed a screenplay from the book and alleged that over 100 similarities existed between the movie and their screenplay. They claimed that the developed screenplay had been submitted to Disney, Goldberg, and Midler three times during 1987 and 1988. Douglas and Wilson declined a $1 million offer to settle the case in 1994, and the judge eventually ruled in favor of Disney and the other defendants. The legal costs associated with this case may have impacted Douglas’s overall net worth.
In May 2011, Douglas filed a lawsuit against Mattel for using her name and likeness without her permission for a Barbie doll based on her character, Elly May. She sought $75,000 in damages. The case was settled on December 27, 2011, with confidential terms. While the outcome of this settlement is unknown, it could have either positively or negatively affected her financial standing depending on the settlement terms and legal fees.
Personal Life and Final Years
Donna Douglas was married twice. Her first marriage was to Roland Bourgeois Jr. in 1949, with whom she had one child. They divorced in 1954. Her second marriage was to Robert M. Leeds, her director on “The Beverly Hillbillies,” in 1971. They divorced in 1980. Details regarding any financial settlements from these divorces are not publicly available.
Douglas’s net worth of $500,000 at the time of her death reflects a career that included significant earnings from “The Beverly Hillbillies,” followed by income from singing, speaking engagements, writing, and potential settlements from legal disputes. While specific financial figures for each of these activities are not publicly available, the combination of these ventures contributed to her overall financial standing.
