Net Worth Ranker
What Was Peter Fonda’s Net Worth?
At the time of his death in 2019, Peter Fonda, a prominent figure in American cinema as an actor, director, author, and producer, had a net worth estimated at $40 million. This figure represents the culmination of a career spanning several decades, marked by significant contributions to film and television.
Early Career and Rise to Fame
Peter Fonda’s journey began on February 23, 1940, in New York City. As the son of the legendary Henry Fonda and socialite Frances Ford Seymour, he was born into a family deeply rooted in the entertainment industry. He attended the Fay School in Southborough, Massachusetts, and later graduated from the Westminster School in Connecticut in 1958. His initial foray into acting involved studying in his father’s hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, where he attended the University of Nebraska and was recruited to the Omaha Community Playhouse by Marlon Brando’s mother. In 1960, Fonda relocated to New York and joined the Cecilwood Theatre. Early recognition came from his performance in “Blood, Sweat and Stanley Poole” on Broadway.
During the early 1960s, Fonda started making guest appearances on television shows, including “Wagon Train,” “Naked City,” and “The Defenders.” His first film role was in “Tammy and the Doctor” (1963), where he starred alongside Sandra Dee. That same year, he secured a supporting role in the World War II drama “The Victors,” for which he won a Golden Globe Award for “New Star of the Year”. His early television career also included appearances on “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour” and “12 O’Clock High”. By 1964, he secured his first leading role in the romantic drama “The Young Lovers,” after starring in “Lilith” with Gene Hackman and Warren Beatty.
“Easy Rider” and Subsequent Projects
Peter Fonda achieved his most significant artistic triumph with the 1969 independent road movie “Easy Rider,” which he co-wrote, produced, and starred in alongside Dennis Hopper. The film, made on a budget of under $400,000, grossed $60 million, making it one of the most profitable films of its time. For his contributions to the screenplay, Fonda received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay, shared with Dennis Hopper and Terry Southern. The financial success of “Easy Rider” significantly boosted Fonda’s net worth at that time.
Following “Easy Rider,” Fonda appeared in “The Last Movie” (1971), also directed by Dennis Hopper. In the same year, he directed his own Western film, “The Hired Hand,” in which he also played the lead role. In 1973, he directed the science fiction film “Idaho Transfer” and co-starred in “Two People” with Lindsay Wagner. Fonda transitioned to action roles in 1974 with “Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry,” followed by “Open Season,” “Race with the Devil,” “92 in the Shade,” “Killer Force,” and “Futureworld,” a sequel to “Westworld.” He also reunited with Roger Corman on “Fighting Mad.” At the end of the decade, Fonda directed and starred in “Wanda Nevada,” which also featured his father, Henry Fonda. While specific financial details for each of these projects are not publicly available, they collectively contributed to his income and net worth.
Career in the 1980s and 1990s
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Fonda remained active in both film and television. He starred in the spy thriller “The Hostage Tower.” In 1981, he appeared in the action comedy film “The Cannonball Run,” playing a biker, a nod to his earlier motorcycle films. The next year, he co-starred in “Split Image” alongside James Woods and Karen Allen. Other notable credits from the 1980s include the Japanese film “Daijōbu, My Friend,” the horror films “Dance of the Dwarfs” and “Spasms,” the made-for-television movie “A Reason to Live,” the action drama “Certain Fury,” and “The Rose Garden,” co-starring Liv Ullman and Maximilian Schell. In the 1990s, Fonda wrote and starred in the action film “Enemy,” followed by roles in “Family Express” and “South Beach.” He also took supporting roles in independent films, such as “Deadfall,” “Molly & Gina,” and the vampire movie “Nadja.” In 1997, he achieved critical acclaim for his performance in “Ulee’s Gold,” earning an Oscar nomination for Best Actor and winning a Golden Globe. The following year, he won another Golden Globe Award for his role in the television film “The Passion of Ayn Rand.” The consistent flow of roles throughout these decades helped sustain and likely increase Peter Fonda’s net worth.
Later Career and Final Projects
In the 2000s, Fonda continued to work in the film industry, appearing in “South of Heaven, West of Hell,” “Wooly Boys,” “The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things,” and the remake of “3:10 to Yuma.” He also lent his voice to a character in the video game “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.” In 2002, he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Fonda’s film credits in the 2010s included “The Trouble with Bliss,” “Smitty,” “Copperhead,” “House of Bodies,” “The Ballad of Lefty Brown,” and “You Can’t Say No.” His final two films, “The Magic Hours” and “The Last Full Measure,” were released posthumously in 2019. These later projects, while potentially smaller in scale compared to “Easy Rider,” contributed to his ongoing income.
Real Estate Holdings
For over three decades, Peter Fonda owned a ranch in Paradise Valley, Montana. The value of this property would have been a significant component of his overall net worth, although the exact details of its purchase price and current valuation are not publicly available.
Personal Life and Final Years
Peter Fonda was married three times. His first marriage was to Susan Brewer in 1961, with whom he had two children, Justin and Bridget. They divorced in 1974. In 1975, he married Portia Rebecca Crockett, and they divorced in 2011. His final marriage was to Margaret DeVogelaere, with whom he remained until his death from lung cancer in 2019. At the time of his death, his net worth was estimated to be $40 million, reflecting his successful career and various assets.
