What Is Rita Moreno’s Net Worth?
Rita Moreno, a multifaceted actress, dancer, and singer whose career has spanned over seven decades, has accumulated a net worth of approximately $10 million. This financial standing is the result of a prolific career across various entertainment mediums, including film, television, and theater. While the precise breakdown of her net worth across these areas isn’t publicly detailed, it’s a culmination of earnings from acting roles, performances, and other ventures over her extensive career.
Early Career and Film Roles
Born Rosa Dolores Alverío Marcano on December 11, 1931, in Humacao, Puerto Rico, Rita Moreno’s journey began with her mother, Rosa María, a seamstress, and her father, Francisco José Alverío, a farmer. Moving to New York City with her mother at a young age, she quickly immersed herself in the world of dance, taking lessons from a Spanish dancer. By the age of 11, Moreno was already contributing her voice to Spanish-language dubs of American movies. At 13, she made her Broadway debut in “Skydrift,” catching the eye of Hollywood talent scouts. During this early period, she lived in Valley Stream, Long Island, laying the foundation for her future career.
Moreno’s film career officially began in 1950, during Hollywood’s Golden Age. That year, she appeared in three movies, including the MGM musicals “The Toast of New Orleans” and “Pagan Love Song.” In 1952, she played silent film star Zelda Zanders in Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen’s musical comedy “Singin’ in the Rain.” Throughout the 1950s, Moreno worked steadily, appearing in films such as “The Fabulous Señorita,” “Fort Vengeance,” “Latin Lovers,” “Jivaro,” “Untamed,” “The Vagabond King,” and “The Deerslayer.” Despite the volume of work, Moreno often felt typecast in stereotypical Hispanic roles, with her supporting role as a Burmese concubine in “The King and I” being a notable exception.
A significant milestone in Moreno’s career came in 1961 when she played Anita in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical “West Side Story.” The film won ten Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actress for Moreno. While specific salary details for her role in “West Side Story” aren’t publicly available, the prestige and recognition from the award undoubtedly contributed to her career trajectory and subsequent earning potential. Following this, she starred in “Summer and Smoke” and “Cry of Battle,” before taking a brief hiatus from Hollywood. She returned in 1969 with three films: “The Night of the Following Day,” “Popi,” and “Marlowe.” Moreno’s film credits in the 1970s included “Carnal Knowledge” and “The Ritz.” In the 1990s, she appeared in films like “Age Isn’t Everything,” “I Like it Like That,” “Angus,” and “Slums of Beverly Hills.” Her more recent film credits include “Blue Moon,” “Piñero,” “Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks,” “Remember Me,” and Steven Spielberg’s 2021 remake of “West Side Story.” Specific financial details regarding her earnings from these later film roles are not publicly disclosed, but they have contributed to her overall net worth.
Television Career
In the 1950s, Moreno appeared on television programs such as “Fireside Theatre,” “China Smith,” “General Electric Theater,” “Cavalcade of America,” “Climax!,” “Father Knows Best,” and “Trackdown.” In the following decade, her credits included “Richard Diamond, Private Detective,” “Zorro,” “Adventures in Paradise,” “Burke’s Law,” and “Run for Your Life.” One of Moreno’s most memorable television roles was as a main cast member on the PBS children’s program “The Electric Company” from 1971 to 1977. She played characters such as Pandora, Otto, and Millie. Also in the 1970s, Moreno appeared on “The Muppet Show,” earning an Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program. She received another Emmy the following year for her guest-starring role on “The Rockford Files.” Specific financial details from her work on “The Electric Company” and “The Muppet Show” are not publicly available, but these roles undoubtedly contributed to her income during that time.
In the 1980s, Moreno was a series regular on the ABC sitcom “9 to 5,” based on the film of the same name. She also made guest appearances on shows such as “The Love Boat,” “The Cosby Show,” “The Golden Girls,” and “Miami Vice.” In the 1990s, Moreno continued to guest-star on numerous shows and lent her voice to the animated series “Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?,” playing the titular character. Also in that decade, Moreno played Sister Pete on the HBO prison series “Oz,” which ran until 2003. Following this, she appeared in episodes of “American Family,” “Strong Medicine,” “The Guardian,” “Law & Order,” “Ugly Betty,” and “In Plain Sight.” From 2011 to 2013, Moreno had a main role on the sitcom “Happily Divorced.” She later had a main role on the remake of the sitcom “One Day at a Time,” playing the matriarch of a Cuban-American family. Moreno’s other credits include voice roles on the animated series “Nina’s World” and “Elena of Avalor.” Contract details and specific salary information for many of these television roles aren’t publicly accessible, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact earnings from these projects. However, her consistent presence on television has significantly contributed to her overall net worth.
Theater Career and Personal Life
On stage, Moreno appeared in Broadway productions such as “Last of the Red Hot Lovers,” “Gantry,” and “The Ritz.” For “The Ritz,” she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress. Later, Moreno was in a female version of “The Odd Couple” that played in Chicago. Specific earnings from these theater roles are not publicly available, but her Tony Award win undoubtedly added to her professional reputation and earning potential. In 1965, Moreno married cardiologist Leonard Gordon, who was also her manager. The pair remained together until Gordon’s passing in 2010. Together, they had a daughter named Fernanda. On top of her EGOT, Moreno has received many honors, including multiple lifetime achievement awards, a Presidential Medal of Freedom, and a Peabody Award. These accolades contribute to her overall brand and image, which can indirectly impact her earning potential.
It is important to note that net worth figures are often estimates based on publicly available information and may not reflect a person’s true financial situation. Factors such as investments, real estate holdings, and private financial arrangements are often not disclosed, making it challenging to calculate an exact net worth. While specific details about Rita Moreno’s investments and real estate holdings are not publicly available, these assets likely contribute to her overall net worth of $10 million. The $10 million figure is an estimation.