How much was Marilyn Monroe really worth? Find out her astonishing net worth.

What was Marilyn Monroe's net worth and Salary?

Marilyn Monroe, the American actress, model, and singer, had a net worth of $800 thousand at the time of her death in 1962. Adjusted for inflation, that is approximately $7 million in today's dollars. Throughout her career, Monroe earned a little under $3 million from film salaries, which is equivalent to around $24 million before taxes when adjusted for inflation. However, she was known for her lavish spending habits, often splurging on others as well as herself, buying luxurious jewelry, clothes, and other items.

With more than 30 acting credits to her name, Marilyn Monroe was a blonde bombshell who starred in several notable films including "How to Marry a Millionaire" (1953), "There's No Business Like Show Business" (1954), "The Seven Year Itch" (1955), "Bus Stop" (1956), "The Prince and the Showgirl" (1957), and "Some Like It Hot" (1959).

In the mid-1950s, Monroe launched her own production company, Marilyn Monroe Productions, in collaboration with photographer Milton Greene. She served as an executive producer on the film "The Prince and the Showgirl." Monroe's contributions to the entertainment industry earned her the sixth spot on the American Film Institute's list of the 50 greatest female American screen legends. She was also recognized as one of the "100 Most Significant Americans of All Time" by the Smithsonian Institution.

Tragically, Marilyn Monroe's life was cut short in August 1962 when she passed away from a barbiturate overdose at the age of 36. While her death was officially ruled as a probable suicide, suspicions of foul play surround the circumstances of her untimely demise.

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Estate Value and Ownership

Following the settlement of various costs and estate fees, Marilyn Monroe's net worth was estimated to be around $370,000 based on her will, which was filed in Los Angeles County after her death. As stated in the will, $10,000 was allocated to both her half-sister and her longtime personal assistant, while $5,000 was set aside in an educational trust fund for her assistant's child. Additionally, a $100,000 trust fund was established for her mother.

Marilyn Monroe bequeathed her physical property to her beloved acting coach, Lee Strasberg, who had served as a surrogate parent to her throughout her life. Lee, along with his first wife Paula, maintained a close relationship with Monroe. In addition to the physical property, Lee Strasberg inherited 75% of Monroe's intellectual property rights, also known as her "residual estate."

The remaining 25% of her intellectual property rights went to Monroe's therapist, Dr. Marianne Kris.

Upon Dr. Kris's death in 1980, her 25% stake in Monroe's intellectual property was gifted to the Anna Freud Centre for the Psychoanalytic Study and Treatment of Children in London.

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After Paula Strasberg's passing in 1966, Lee Strasberg remarried Anna Mizrahi, a Venezuelan-born actress. Anna, who was only 23 at the time of Monroe's death, became the owner of 75% of Marilyn Monroe's estate when Lee passed away in 1982. Anna turned Monroe's licensing rights into a highly successful business, securing deals for thousands of products and endorsements with renowned companies such as Mercedes-Benz, Revlon, Absolut Vodka, and Coca-Cola. As a passionate animal welfare advocate, Anna also restricted the licensing and marketing of photos featuring Monroe wearing fur.

Anna eventually partnered with the celebrity management company CMG to further market Marilyn Monroe. According to court records from a lawsuit, Anna earned "more than $7.5 million in licensing revenue" between 1996 and 2000 alone. In January 2011, Anna sold her 75% stake in Monroe's estate to Authentic Brands Group for an estimated $20-$30 million.

As part of her involvement with Monroe's estate, Anna Strasberg purchased a home in Marilyn's Brentwood neighborhood, situated just seven minutes away from Monroe's former residence. The estimated value of Anna's home today is $7-10 million.

Real Estate

Marilyn Monroe's most valuable asset was a home located in L.A.'s Brentwood neighborhood at 12305 5th Helena Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90049. This property was the only home that Monroe owned during her lifetime. She purchased it in January 1962 for $77,500, with the down payment borrowed from her ex-husband, Joe DiMaggio. The purchase was made through a 15-year mortgage, with monthly payments of $320.

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Following her death, the value of the home was appraised at $90,000. Over the next few decades, multiple owners occupied the property. In 1994, it was sold for $995,000, and in 2021, it was sold for $7.25 million. Sadly, in 2023, a neighbor acquired the home and began demolishing it, marking the end of its former glory.

Early Life

Marilyn Monroe, originally named Norma Jeane Mortenson, was born on June 1, 1926, in Los Angeles, California. Her mother, Gladys Pearl Baker, had two children from a previous marriage before leaving her abusive husband, who later kidnapped the children. Marilyn was unaware of her half-sister's existence until she turned 12, as her half-brother had tragically passed away in 1933. Gladys married Martin Edward Mortensen in 1924, but they separated shortly after; although Mortensen's name was listed on Monroe's birth certificate, it was generally believed that he was not her biological father. Gladys faced mental health issues and financial struggles, which led to Marilyn becoming a ward of the state after her mother experienced a breakdown. Monroe spent her formative years in foster homes where she encountered sexual abuse, causing her to become withdrawn and develop a stutter. In 2022, DNA testing confirmed Charles Stanley Gifford, a co-worker of Gladys, as Marilyn's biological father.

After residing at the Los Angeles Orphans Home for some time, Marilyn's mother's friend, Grace Goddard, became her legal guardian in 1936. However, after Grace's husband, Doc, molested Marilyn, she lived with various relatives, as well as with friends and relatives of the Goddards. In 1938, she moved in with Ana Lower, Grace's aunt, and attended Emerson Junior High School, where she contributed to the school newspaper as a writer. Monroe returned to the Goddard home in 1941 and enrolled at Van Nuys High School. However, due to California child protection laws, Marilyn was unable to accompany the family when Doc's company relocated them to another state. To avoid returning to the orphanage, Monroe married the son of their neighbors and dropped out of school. The couple then moved to Santa Catalina Island in 1943.

Early Career

After working at the Radioplane Company, Marilyn Monroe met photographer David Conover, which led her to quit her job and pursue a career in modeling. She began modeling for Conover and his associates, eventually signing with the Blue Book Model Agency in 1945. Monroe's modeling career took off as she appeared on the covers of various men's magazines and advertisements. To enhance her public image, she opted to dye her hair blonde. By 1946, Monroe had graced the covers of more than 30 publications. In June 1946, she signed with an acting agency and caught the attention of Darryl F. Zanuck, the head executive of 20th Century-Fox. Zanuck offered her a six-month contract that paid $150 per week. At this point, Monroe adopted the stage name Marilyn Monroe and began taking acting, dance, and singing lessons. After her contract was renewed, she made her film debut in "Dangerous Years" (1947) and "Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!" (1948). As part of her development as an actress, Monroe attended classes at the Actors' Laboratory Theatre, although some of her teachers doubted her potential due to her shyness. In August 1947, Fox declined to renew her contract. However, Marilyn signed with Columbia Pictures in March 1948 and appeared in the film "Ladies of the Chorus" (1948), although her contract with Columbia was not extended.

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Success

Marilyn Monroe's breakthrough in the film industry came through her involvement with William Morris Agency vice president Johnny Hyde. Hyde helped her secure roles in the 1950 films "All About Eve" and "The Asphalt Jungle" and negotiated a seven-year contract with 20th Century-Fox. She continued to star in films throughout the early 1950s, including "Let's Make It Legal," "As Young as You Feel," "Home Town Story," "Love Nest," "Clash by Night," "We're Not Married!," "Don't Bother to Knock," and "Monkey Business" in 1951 and 1952. In 1952, Monroe received the accolade of the "best young box office personality" from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. The thriller film "Niagara" in 1953 further cemented her status as a sex symbol in Hollywood. That same year, she captivated audiences with her performances in the musical comedy "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and the romantic comedy "How to Marry a Millionaire." Monroe's popularity grew, and she even appeared on the cover and centerfold of the first issue of "Playboy" magazine, despite her lack of consent for the publication to use her images. In 1954, she starred in the musical "There's No Business Like Show Business," followed by "The Seven Year Itch" in 1955, which featured the iconic "subway grate scene" that infuriated her then-husband Joe DiMaggio. Monroe's talents extended beyond acting, and she began taking private acting lessons with Lee and Paula Strasberg in Manhattan in 1955. After a brief hiatus to focus on her marriage to Arthur Miller, she returned to the screen with "Bus Stop" (1956) and "The Prince and the Showgirl" (1957). In 1959, she starred in "Some Like It Hot," which earned her critical acclaim and contributed to her status as one of Hollywood's most significant figures. She continued to work in films, including "Let's Make Love" (1960) and "The Misfits" (1961), which became her final film. Monroe also made a memorable appearance on "President Kennedy's Birthday Salute" in 1962, just months before her death. She was in the midst of filming "Something's Got to Give" when she passed away. The film was initially halted due to her illness but was later resumed with a different lead actress.

Personal Life

Marilyn Monroe's personal life was marked by several marriages and romantic relationships. She wed James Dougherty, a 21-year-old when she was 16 years old, in June 1942. They divorced in 1946. Monroe then married the retired baseball player Joe DiMaggio on January 14, 1954. However, their marriage was tumultuous, with DiMaggio displaying jealous and controlling behavior. Monroe filed for divorce just nine months after their wedding. Her third marriage was to playwright Arthur Miller on June 29, 1956; they divorced in 1961.

Monroe was linked romantically to notable figures such as Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, President John F. Kennedy, and Robert F. Kennedy. Rumors suggest that she had plans to remarry Joe DiMaggio on August 8th, 1962, coincidentally the day of her funeral. Monroe faced struggles with depression and drug addiction, receiving hospitalization for a barbiturate overdose in the late 1950s. In 1961, she underwent surgery for endometriosis and a cholecystectomy, and she spent time in a mental asylum. Joe DiMaggio intervened and facilitated her early release.

Death and Funeral

Marilyn Monroe's life came to an untimely end in the early morning hours of August 5, 1962. Her housekeeper, Eunice Murray, noticed light coming from Marilyn's bedroom and discovered that the door was locked. After calling Marilyn's psychiatrist, Ralph Greenson, they broke into the room through a window and found Monroe's lifeless body on her bed, surrounded by empty pill bottles on her bedside table. Hyman Engelberg, her physician, arrived and pronounced her dead. The Los Angeles Police Department was notified, and her time of death was estimated to be between 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. the previous night. A toxicology report revealed significant amounts of pentobarbital and chloral hydrate in her blood and liver, ruling out the possibility of an accidental overdose. Marilyn Monroe's funeral took place on August 8th at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, where she was entombed at the Corridor of Memories. Joe DiMaggio was involved in arranging the funeral and had six roses delivered to her crypt three times a week for the next 20 years.

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Monroe's death, initially ruled as a probable suicide by Thomas Noguchi, the "Coroner to the Stars," continues to be shrouded in speculation and unanswered questions. Joe DiMaggio Jr., Marilyn's stepson, claimed to have spoken to her on the night of her death and stated that she seemed to be in good spirits. There were also peculiarities surrounding the actions and statements of individuals close to Monroe at the time. Suspicion arose from the delay in reporting her death to the police, with claims that permission was sought first from 20th Century Fox's publicity department. Additionally, Murray's inconsistent statements, including the timing of when she awoke, raised eyebrows. Despite the prevalent belief that Marilyn consumed over 50 pills, no water glass was found in her room, and the water supply to her room had been turned off due to remodeling. Notably, no residue of pills was discovered in her stomach. Officer Jack Clemmons, part of the investigating team, later hinted at the possibility of foul play, stating that he suspected she had been murdered. Marilyn's death has been linked to various individuals and organizations, including Robert Kennedy, the FBI, the CIA, Jimmy Hoffa, and Sam Giancana. DiMaggio himself expressed his belief that Marilyn's death was not a suicide and that he knew who was responsible but chose to keep it quiet.

Awards and Nominations

Throughout her career, Marilyn Monroe received recognition for her talents. She was nominated for four Golden Globe Awards and won World Film Favorite – Female in 1954 and 1962. She also won Best Actress – Comedy or Musical for her role in "Some Like It Hot" in 1960. Monroe's performance in "The Prince and the Showgirl" earned her awards such as the David di Donatello Award for Best Foreign Actress and the Crystal Star Award. She was nominated for a BAFTA Award for her role in "The Prince and the Showgirl" as well as for "The Seven Year Itch." Monroe received a Golden Laurel Award for Top Female Comedy Performance in "The Seven Year Itch." Her performance in "Some Like It Hot" earned her an Audience Award and Golden Train Award for Best Actress at the 1959 Faro Island Film Festival. In 2013, Marilyn Monroe was posthumously inducted into the Online Film & Television Association Hall of Fame, and she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.