What was Raquel Welch's Net Worth?
Raquel Welch, the American actress, singer, model, and businesswoman, had a net worth of $40 million at the time of her death in February 15, 2023, at the age of 82. Welch became an iconic sex symbol in the 1970s after her role in the movie One Million Years B.C. She had a diverse acting career with roles in feature films, TV films and shows, and Broadway theatre, breaking the mold of the typical blonde bombshell sex symbol that dominated Hollywood in the 1950s.
Early Life
Raquel Welch, originally named Jo Raquel Tejada, was born on September 5th, 1940, in Chicago. Her father was from Bolivia, and her mother was of English descent. She spent her formative years in San Diego, where she won various beauty pageant titles, including Miss San Diego. After graduating high school with honors, she attended San Diego State College on a theater scholarship. However, she left theater classes after getting a job as a weather forecaster on the local news channel.
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Early Career
Welch's first major film role came in the sci-fi film Fantastic Voyage in 1966, where she played one of the doctors on a mission to save an ill diplomat by entering his body. However, it was her starring role in the British film One Million Years B.C. that solidified her status as a sex icon, thanks to her iconic prehistoric bikini.
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Despite being recognized as a sex symbol, Welch aimed to be taken seriously as an actress and chose controversial roles to break free from the stereotype. For example, in the Western film 100 Rifles (1968), she had an interracial love scene with NFL fullback turned actor Jim Brown. However, her most notable controversial role was in the film Myra Breckinridge (1970), where she portrayed a transsexual character challenging social norms. Although the film received negative reviews, Welch earned praise for her daring performance.
Throughout the 70s, Welch enjoyed fame and accolades, earning a Golden Globe in 1975 for her role in The Three Musketeers. She was also named the Most Desired Woman of the 70s by Playboy Magazine. Despite some critical failures, she continued to work in both films and television.
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Unfortunately, a legal dispute with MGM in 1982 negatively impacted Welch's big screen career. Although she won the lawsuit, the limitations it placed on her opportunities led her to focus on small screen and theater roles instead. She found success in television movies, earning another Golden Globe nomination for her role in the film Right to Die (1987). In the 2000s, Welch had a significant film role in Legally Blonde (2001).
Personal Life
Throughout her life, Welch was married and divorced four times. Her first husband was her high school sweetheart, and her second husband was her first agent, Patrick Curtis. After her second marriage ended, she entered a relationship with French director André Weinfeld before marrying him in 1980. Her final marriage was to pizzeria owner Richard Palmer in 1999, which ended in divorce in 2003. Welch had two children from her first marriage: Damon and Tahnee Welch.
In addition to her show business career, Welch worked as a model and spokesperson for Foster Grant sunglasses and established a successful wig business. She launched her own line of wigs in 1998, which has expanded throughout the years and remains available today. Her forward-thinking interest in wigs has since become popular among celebrities and fashion enthusiasts.
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Regarding real estate, in 1997, Welch bought a home in Beverly Hills, California, for $2 million from comedian Jeff Foxworthy. After a significant renovation, she sold the property in 2005 to reality television surgeon Dr. Robert Rey for $4.5 million. In 2001, she purchased a second Beverly Hills mansion, which served as her primary residence until her passing, estimated to be worth $4-5 million.
All net worths mentioned are based on public sources and estimates. While we strive to provide accurate information, please note that they are subject to change and welcome any corrections or feedback.
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