What was Suzanne Somers' Net Worth and Salary?
Suzanne Somers, the American actress, author, and singer, had a net worth of $100 million at the time of her death. Unfortunately, she passed away on October 15, 2023, just one day before her 77th birthday, after battling breast cancer for over two decades.
Q: How did Suzanne Somers gain fame?
Suzanne Somers gained widespread recognition in the late 1970s when she starred as "Chrissy Snow" on the sitcom "Three's Company." Her role on the show earned her a Golden Globe nomination and established her as a prominent television actress. The show reached its peak with 20 million viewers tuning in each week. We'll delve into this further in the following sections.
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Suzanne Marie Mahoney was born on October 16, 1946, in San Bruno, California. Growing up in an Irish-Catholic family with three siblings, Suzanne faced challenges during her childhood. Her father, a heavy alcoholic, verbally abused her throughout her youth. During her teenage years, Suzanne became a cheerleader in high school and got married at the age of 19. That same year, she gave birth to her first child, and the marriage ended three years later.
Career
Suzanne Somers first gained fame in 1969 as a prize model on the show "Anniversary Game" hosted by Alan Hamel. She and Alan started dating and eventually got married in 1977, remaining married until Suzanne's death in 2023.
One of Suzanne's early acting roles was in George Lucas' breakout film "American Graffiti." She continued to land roles in various shows like "The Rockford Files," "The Six Million Dollar Man," and "One Day At A Time." She also had a minor uncredited role in the film "Magnum Force."
In 1977, Suzanne Somers secured a leading role in the sitcom "Three's Company." Her portrayal of a stereotypical dumb blonde made her a sex symbol and immensely popular. The show enjoyed excellent ratings. However, in 1980, Suzanne demanded a substantial increase in her salary to match her co-star John Ritter's earnings of $150,000 per episode. Additionally, she requested a 10% share of the show's profits. Unfortunately, the producers refused her demands and wrote her character off the show. Suzanne subsequently sued the network for damages but was awarded just $30,000.
Discover the Surprising Fortune of TV Legend Chuck Connors – You Won't Believe His Wealth!After "Three's Company," Suzanne Somers faced challenges in finding sitcom roles due to the controversial nature of her departure from the series. However, she made her way back into the sitcom world with "She's the Sheriff" in 1987. She also appeared in several made-for-TV movies. Her breakthrough came with the notable sitcom role in "Step By Step," which ran for seven seasons from 1991 to 1998.
In addition to her acting career, Suzanne Somers has hosted various talk shows, appeared in Broadway productions, and competed on "Dancing with the Stars" in 2015. She has become a prominent figure in pop culture, with references to her made in shows like "South Park" and "Beavis and Butthead."
Three's Company Salary Dispute
In 1977, Suzanne Somers initially earned $5,000 per episode for her role in "Three's Company." By the fifth season, her salary was increased to $30,000 per episode. Suzanne shocked producers and network executives when she demanded the same salary as her male co-star John Ritter – $150,000 per episode, along with a 10% share of the show's profits. Despite her immense popularity and the show's high viewership, the producers chose to write her character off the show. Suzanne sued the network for $2 million but was only awarded $30,000.
Suzanne Somers later reflected on her salary dispute, saying, "I started realizing that this is a business. I'm seeing that the men are being paid four, five, 10 times more, and they're on shows that aren't as successful as mine. When you're a struggling actor or actress, you hang in there in the hopes that you'll be one of the few that scores." She also expressed that her career was temporarily damaged due to the fallout from the failed negotiation.
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Suzanne Somers appeared in Playboy magazine on two occasions, both times featuring nude pictorials. Initially, she posed nude to cover a medical bill after her son was involved in a car accident. Although she had initially denied participating in the shoot, Playboy published the pictures in 1980, disproving her claim. Suzanne sued Playboy and received a settlement of $50,000. She was particularly concerned about her son viewing the pictures and their impact on his well-being.
Despite her anger at the first experience, Suzanne agreed to pose nude for Playboy again four years later. She believed that this time, she could have control over the quality of the photographs. The second nude pictorial was published in 1984. Suzanne's 18-year-old son admitted to viewing the pictures, despite her insistence that he wouldn't want to see his own mother in Playboy.
Personal Life
Suzanne Somers married Bruce Somers at the age of 19, and she later adopted the surname Somers. They had a son named Bruce Jr. in November 1965 and divorced in 1968.
In 1977, Suzanne married Alan Hamel, her co-star from the "Anniversary Game." They remained married until Suzanne's death in 2023.
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In 2000, Suzanne Somers was diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite doctors' recommendation for chemotherapy, she opted for alternative medicine treatments. She initially used a mistletoe extract called Iscador and underwent surgery to remove a cancerous lump. Radiation therapy followed the surgery.
Some medical professionals have criticized Somers for promoting non-traditional cancer treatments. Additionally, Suzanne opposes water fluoridation and strongly supports bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for women's health issues. She discusses many of these views in her self-help books.
Income From ThighMaster
In the early 1990s, Suzanne Somers appeared in infomercials for the ThighMaster, a product she did not own but helped popularize. Her involvement led to immense success, with ThighMaster generating over $100 million in sales. In recognition of her contribution, Suzanne was inducted into the Direct Marketing Response Infomercial Hall of Fame in 2014.
Real Estate
Suzanne owned several impressive properties in Southern California during her lifetime.
Discover the Surprising Fortune of Maurice Benard: How Much Is the Soap Opera Legend Really Worth?In 2008, Suzanne and Alan listed a mansion on 73 acres in Palm Springs for $35 million. After several price reductions, they sold the property for $8.5 million in May 2021. Additionally, they previously owned 480 acres in northern Palm Springs, which they donated to the Coachella Valley Conservation Commission in 2018.
In 1999, Suzanne purchased an oceanfront property in Malibu for $2.3 million. In 2001, she acquired the adjacent lot for $2.35 million, resulting in 190 feet of ocean frontage. After a fire destroyed the homes in 2007, Suzanne and Alan chose not to rebuild and sold the lots in 2016 for $12.03 million. A new mansion was later built on the property and was listed for $40 million in late 2021.
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