Still Successful: These Celebrities From The Past Are Millionaires Today
Movies, television, and music can transport us back in time. Just think about the enjoyment we've received from watching or listening to our favorite actors and musicians throughout the years. Here's a gallery of celebrities from decades past whose work you probably recall. Many of the stars you're about to read about are still in the public eye while others have retreated to more private lives, but they all share one thing in common: they're sitting pretty with their finances now. See if your favorite celebrities made the list.
Cybill Shepherd: $40 Million
A former model, Cybill Shepherd got her start in Hollywood when film director Peter Bogdanovich saw her photo on the cover of a 1970 issue of Glamour magazine. He cast her in The Last Picture Show, which was a critical and box office hit. From there, Shepherd went on to star in The Heartbreak Kid and Taxi Driver, as well as TV shows like Moonlighting, Cybill, and The L Word.
With a string of awards and nominations to her name, it's no surprise that Cybill Shepherd, now 70, has accumulated a vast personal fortune. She's estimated to be worth $40 million.
Jack Nicholson: $400 Million
Here's Johnny! Veteran Hollywood actor Jack Nicholson has had a career spanning more than six decades. With a resume boasting so many iconic films such as The Shining, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Easy Rider, Five Little Pieces, As Good as It Gets, A Few Good Men, Anger Management, and many more, it's no wonder that he's built an impressive net worth.
Estimates put his personal fortune around $400 million. Nicholson's astonishing art collection represents at least $100 million of that total. He's been collecting art since the 1960s and owns works by famous artists like Matisse, Picasso, Warhol, Rodin, Botero, and Modigliani.
Erik Estrada: $4 Million
Most recognizable for his co-starring lead role as "Ponch" Poncherello in the 1970s-1980s police drama TV series CHiPs, Erik Estrada later became a reserve police officer in real life! His career has also included work in Spanish-language telenovelas, infomercials, reality television shows, and voiceover acting.
Today, Estrada lives in Hollywood Hills, California, with his wife Nanette Mirkovich. He's a member of the Blue Knights motorcycle club and the Loyal Order of Moose fraternal and service organization. His net worth is estimated to be $4 million.
Pam Grier: $10 Million
The Foxy Brown star, now in her 70s, is still going strong today. Called "cinema's first female action star" by director Quentin Tarantino, Grier's most recent acting credits include The L Word, This Is Us, Smallville, and Bless This Mess. She first entered the showbiz scene in the 1970s, with roles in blaxploitation films like Scream, Blacula, Scream! and The Big Doll House.
Her net worth is an impressive $10 million. Grier, who is a cancer survivor, spends much of her time at her Colorado ranch.
Judd Nelson: $8 Million
A member of the "Brat Pack," Judd Nelson shot to fame in the 1980s with roles in The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo's Fire. He later branched out to the small screen in shows like Suddenly Susan, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and Empire.
Today the actor, producer, and screenwriter has a net worth of $8 million. In an interview with TODAY, Nelson, now 60 years old, talked about his role as a teenage criminal in The Breakfast Club. He said, "I'm now that kid's dad," about the character and also admitted that he never guessed that the film would have endured in popularity the way it has.
Jennifer Grey: $10 Million
Although the 1980s films Dirty Dancing and Ferris Bueller's Day Off are Jennifer Grey's most recognizable acting credits, she has continued to work in the years that followed. With roles in television series, made-for-TV movies, and on Broadway, she's proven her endurance in the industry.
Today, Grey is 60 years old and has a net worth of $10 million. She and her husband, actor/director Clark Gregg, live in Venice, California.
Harrison Ford: $230 Million
Even though he famously earned just $10,000 for playing Han Solo in the original 1977 installment of the Star Wars series, Harrison Ford vastly boosted his income over the years. In fact, playing Indiana Jones in the beloved franchise made him one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood. It doesn't hurt that he's also been in other mega-hits like The Fugitive, Blade Runner, and Clear and Present Danger, which all helped contribute to his estimated $230 million net worth.
Today, the Academy Award-nominated actor enjoys piloting in his spare time and provides emergency helicopter services around his ranch in Jackson, Wyoming. Ford is also involved in several charitable causes near and dear to his heart.
Dolly Parton: $500 Million
Now in her 70s, Dolly Parton is one of the most beloved celebrities in America. The singer, songwriter, actress, author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist has been turning out hit country songs for more than 40 years.
Some of her most well-known songs are "Jolene," "9 to 5," and "I Will Always Love You," but her entire catalog contains a staggering number of hits. In 1998, Nashville Business listed her as the wealthiest country-music star. She's also incredibly generous with her money and most recently donated $1 million to research efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, her net worth is $500 million.
Gene Hackman: $80 Million
Now retired from acting, Gene Hackman saw much success during his 50+ year career: he won four Golden Globes, two Academy Awards, two BAFTAs, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. He first achieved critical acclaim with a supporting role in the 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde. Other acting credits include I Never Sang for My Father, The French Connection, Young Frankenstein, Superman, Hoosiers, Get Shorty, The Royal Tenenbaums, and many more.
Hackman is also an accomplished writer, having authored a book called Payback at Morning Peak. He also co-authored three historical fiction novels. Today, his net worth is $80 million.
Al Pacino: $165 Million
Best known for his iconic roles in Scarface and The Godfather, Al Pacino has won an Academy Award for Best Actor, two Tony Awards, and an Emmy over his five-decade career. Other credits include Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, Cruising, Glengarry Glen Ross, The Scent of a Woman, and most recently, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
All of this success has contributed to Pacino's jaw-dropping $165 million personal fortune. Never married, the actor has three adult children. He lives in a $34 million home tucked away in Hollywood Hills.
Stevie Nicks: $75 Million
Stevie Nicks has been mesmerizing fans with her singing and songwriting skills since the early 1970s. Rolling Stone named her one of the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time, and she's also the only woman to have been inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Nicks' solo career and her work with the band Fleetwood Mac led to more than forty top 50 hits and 140 million records sold. As a result, she's built quite a lot of wealth -- $75 million. That's a pretty penny for the "Gold Dust Woman."
Tommy Lee Jones: $85 Million
It might surprise fans to learn that acting isn't the only thing Tommy Lee Jones excels at. Long before becoming a successful actor and director, he played football at Harvard University and was named as a first-team All-Ivy League selection. After graduating, he decided to pursue acting and the rest is history.
First rising to fame in The Fugitive, Jones went on to appear in many other award-winning films like Under Siege, Men in Black, and No Country For Old Men. His net worth stands around $85 million. Residing just outside San Antonio, Texas, Jones also owns properties in Florida and Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Robert De Niro: $500 Million
One of the best-known method actors in Hollywood's history, Robert De Niro is also one of the most celebrated. In addition to a slew of distinguished awards including a Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, he's also received a Presidential Medal of Freedom for his contributions.
De Niro's acting credits are numerous, with titles such as Taxi Driver, Bang the Drum Slowly, The Godfather Part II, The Deer Hunter, Once Upon a Time in America, Awakenings, Wag the Dog, and many others. As a result, his vast net worth of $500 million should be no surprise.
Jane Fonda: $200 Million
Barbarella actress Jane Fonda might be as well known for her activism as for her Hollywood career, but that doesn't take away from her success as a film star. Fonda first rose to fame in the 1960s and her acting credits include Klute, Julia, The China Syndrome, and Monster-in-Law. She also has the highest-selling VHS of all time, Jane Fonda's Workout.
Much of Fonda's staggering $200 million personal fortune comes from family money. Her late father was the famous actor Henry Fonda. She also received an estimated $70 million when she and her former husband, media mogul Ted Turner, divorced in 2001.
Barbra Streisand: $400 Million
Barbra Streisand is one of the most recognizable names on any list of celebrities. And with a net worth estimated at $400 million, she's also one of the wealthiest. But long before becoming an iconic singer, actress, and filmmaker with a slew of awards to her name, the Funny Girl star was a college drop-out.
The 78-year old is "the only act in history to have a No. 1 album in six consecutive decades," per Forbes. "Babs," as she's known to some fans, lives in a $100 million mansion in Malibu, California.
Robert Duvall: $70 Million
With seven Academy Awards, seven Golden Globes, and a whole bunch of nominations for other awards, Robert Duvall has certainly made his mark on Hollywood during his impressive six-decade career. The actor, now nearing his 90s, also received the National Medal of Arts.
With roles in exemplary films like To Kill a Mockingbird, The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, Apocalypse Now, Days of Thunder, Lonesome Dove, The Handmaid's Tale, and many others, Duvall has understandably built quite a fortune. He's estimated to be worth $70 million.
Cher: $360 Million
The "Goddess of Pop," Cher could sing "I've Got Loot, Babe" (instead of "I've Got You"), as she's estimated to be worth $360 million. The singer has been going strong since first becoming famous in 1965 as part of the husband-wife duo Sonny & Cher. She's also a television personality and a fashion icon. In addition to these talents, Cher is also a highly-accomplished actress with an Academy Award to prove it.
In addition to several other properties, Cher owns a $45 million mansion in Malibu, California. A generous philanthropist, she runs The Cher Charitable Foundation and supports a variety of causes.
Richard Dreyfuss: $5 Million
Actor Richard Dreyfuss rose to fame when he starred in a ton of popular films through the 1970s to the 1990s, with titles like Jaws, American Graffiti, Stand by Me, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and What About Bob? on his impressive resume. In 1978, he won the Academy Award for Best Actor (for The Goodbye Girl).
Dreyfuss has approximately $5 million to his name now, although his net worth used to be higher. "I was never good with money," he explained in a 2016 DailyMail interview. "I spent too much and didn't think about the consequences," although that's changed now. He's been in some critically-acclaimed works since then, including the 2018 hit Book Club, so we're confident he'll build that net worth up again.
Cyndi Lauper: $30 Million
American singer, songwriter, actress, and activist Cyndi Lauper has sold 50 million records worldwide over her four-decade career. She's So Unusual, released in 1983, was the first debut album by a female artist to achieve four top-five hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Lauper's successful music career, boosted by her impressive four-octave singing range, has helped the star amass a $30 million personal fortune.
Cyndi Lauper has been an advocate for LGBT rights her entire career and is the founder of True Colors United, a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing the issue of youth homelessness in the United States.
Drew Barrymore: $125 Million
Born into Hollywood royalty, Drew Barrymore has more than proven herself as a talented actress. From her first film role in 1982's in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, she's received accolades for her work and later co-founded a production company called Flower Films.
With credits in Charlie's Angels, Donnie Darko, and Grey Gardens, and several other business ventures (including a clothing line and cosmetics brand!), it's not surprising that the 45-year old star is worth $125 million today. She lives in Los Angeles with her daughters, Olive and Frankie.
Robert Redford: $170 Million
Once considered Hollywood's golden boy, Robert Redford was part of the industry for over 60 years before his retirement at the age of 82. Known for his films during the '70s and '80s, Redford became a household name due to his work in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
In 2014, Time magazine declared Redford as one of the most influential people in the world. And it seems as though the title stands true years later, as the ex-actor is a huge advocate for LBTGQ+ rights and environmental issues, as well as Native American rights. Otherwise, he's living a life of leisure with his $170 million.
Clint Eastwood: $375 Million
Since his Western films in the '60s, Clint Eastwood has been steadfast in Hollywood, expanding his talents from acting to directing major motion pictures. And because he decided to be in front and behind the camera, it's easy to see how Eastwood was able to rake in the big bucks.
But his $375 million didn't just come from his time in Hollywood. Eastwood is a businessman, owning the Mission Ranch Hotel and Restaurant in California as well as the Tehama Golf Club. Oh, and let's not forget his many properties all over California, including Pebble Beach, Sherman Oaks, Tiburon, and Studio City.
Michael Douglas: $300 Million
Even though Michael Douglas grew up in the shadow of his father, Kirk, the young actor had to make it on his own to prove he deserved to be in the industry. And he did, starring in multiple films, starting his career in the 1969 CBS Playhouse special "The Experiment" and moving on to being included in the blockbuster hit Avengers: Endgame.
One of his more notable contributions to the industry was One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, where he worked as the producer. With his extensive body of work, it's safe to say the Oscar-winner has more than earned the $300 million in his bank account.
Sir Anthony Hopkins: $160 Million
Starting off as a stage performer, Sir Anthony Hopkins quickly found his footing in Hollywood, becoming a household name for many years. Many agree that his stardom came in 1991 when he portrayed the antihero Hannibal Lector in the film Silence of the Lambs. The part won Hopkins an Academy Award.
But, if his stage days are any indication, Hopkins is interested in many sides of art, including musical composition. In 2016, The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra of England even performed some of his original work. It's safe to say this actor worked very hard to earn his $160 million.
Warren Beatty: $70 Million
If you spoke the name Warren Beatty during the '60s and '70s, women everywhere would stop what they were doing and turn their heads. Thankfully, he had the talent to back up his good looks. And throughout his career, of which spans over six decades, Beatty's been nominated a total of 15 times!
Some of his more famous films include Bonnie and Clyde, Heaven Can Wait, and Reds. Beatty is now worth a nice amount of money -- a solid $70 million, to be exact!
Dustin Hoffman: $50 Million
Dustin Hoffman is one of those talented actors who was able to stay relevant throughout his entire career. Making a name for himself in 1967 with The Graduate, the Hollywood alum was able to steer away from mature content to star in Hook and then the comedic film Meet the Fockers.
The actor has been praised many times over for his talent, something that won him two Academy Awards, Six Golden Globes, two Emmy Awards, along with multiple other accolades. Today, Hoffman is worth around $50 million.
Catherine Deneuve: $75 Million
Catherine Deneuve has had a long career that expanded across many different avenues, including acting, producing, modeling, and singing. The French personality has had a long career, working alongside some big names in the industry, including Luis Buñuel and Roman Polanski. Yet, even with those huge names next to her, Deneuve shot to the top with her role in Repulsion.
From there, she went on to become considered one of the greatest European actresses and "the face of France." Her talent has allotted her to rack in substantial amounts of money, making her net worth $75 million.
Brooke Shields: $25 Million
From a young age, Brooke Sheilds has been making vast amounts of money, starting with her role in an ad campaign for Ivory Soap when she was only 11 months old. From there, Shields has had a love-hate relationship with her fame, but it didn't stop her from landing leading roles.
Now, Shields can be found on television networks such as NBC and CBS. But, she tends to stay out of the Hollywood limelight, preferring her spotlight to come from the Broadway stage. Otherwise, she's most likely enjoying the $25 million that she has saved up from her time in Hollywood.
Lee Grant: $15 Million
Being blacklisted in Hollywood from 1952 until 1964 didn't stop Lee Grant from pursuing her dreams and making it big in the industry. After getting back on-screen after a stage career, Grant wasted no time.
She starred in 71 episodes of the popular soap opera Peyton's Place, and even went on to win an Academy Award in 1976 for Best Supporting Actress. For all the twists and turns Grant's career threw at her, she was still able to make a huge sum of money, totaling $15 million.
Sally Kellerman: $2 Million
Sally Kellerman has a career spanning over 60 years, during which she had the pleasure of bringing some infamous character to the screen. One of her more well-known roles was that of Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan in the film version of M*A*S*H. The role won her an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
With that one job, Kellerman most likely never had to work again, but she went on to work in film throughout the '70s and '80s, accumulating a net worth of $2 million in the process.
Malcolm McDowell: $70 Million
Malcolm McDowell has had a career spanning over 50 years, which typically included him in some sort of villain role. Interestingly, McDowell is probably best known for his controversial roles in the 1968 film if...., the 1979 movie Caligula, as well as A Clockwork Orange.
In more recent years, he's stepped behind the camera and in front of a microphone, doing voiceover work for a series of different projects. You might recognize him as a voice for video games, like Call of Duty: Black Ops III. With that work on his resume, it's no surprise his net worth is now $70 million.
Meryl Streep: $90 Million
Meryl Streep went from being told she would never make it in Hollywood because of her looks to being one of the most successful actresses in the industry. Starting her career in 1977 in her role as Anne Marie in Julia, Streep has nothing but climb the Hollywood ladder straight to the top.
She is known to be one of the most Oscar-nominated actresses in the history of Hollywood, having 21 nominations to her name, winning three. Because of her A-lister status, Streep isn't afraid to negotiate terms and salaries when it comes to film. How else would she accumulate $90 million?
Raquel Welch: $30 Million
Raquel Welch knew she wanted to live a life in show business at the early of seven, when she danced on stage as a young ballerina. Needless to say, she was a woman with a mission, as she became a household name during her illustrious career in Hollywood.
She first came to prominence for her role in the 1966 movie Fantastic Voyage. From there, she gained a contract with Twentieth Century Fox and went on to win a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for her performance in The Three Musketeers. The actress now has a net worth of $30 million.
Valerie Perrine: $6 Million
In 1974, Valerie Perrine became a household name for her role as Honey Bruce, a part she played opposite Dustin Hoffman in Lenny. That role segued into a fine career, landing her roles in films such as Superman, Superman II, and The Electric Horseman.
Starting her career as a controversial actress due to her time a Las Vegas showgirl, Perrine broke boundaries and helped Hollywood break out of their typical actress stereotype. Today, Perrine is suffering from Parkinson's, something that has sidelined her from performing. Hopefully, her $6 million is keeping her busy, though!
Delta Burke: $3 Million
Starting in 1986, Delta Burke became well-known for her role as Suzanne Sugarbaker, the lead character in the CBS sitcom Designing Women. Although that credit is probably one of her more famous, Burke also appeared in other television series throughout the '80s and '90s.
While she isn't really acting today, people will spot her on the arm of her long-time husband, fellow actor Gerald McRaney. She is also a huge advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, stating in an acceptance speech, "in my perfect world there will no longer be the need to give Equality Awards, because equality will simply be."
Carol Kane: $5 Million
Since the 1960s, actress Carol Kane has been gracing television and cinema screens with her unique beauty and talent. People might recognize Kane from her work as Miracle Max's wife, Valerie, in The Princess Bride, a performance which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
Today, Kane is still working hard, adding various projects to her resume, such as the Amazon show Hunters, where she stars alongside a cast that includes Al Pacino and Logan Lerman. With a career spanning at least 60 years, it's no wonder she is now worth $5 million.
Elliot Gould: $20 Million
Elliot Gould has been in Hollywood for many years, making a name for himself for other things aside from marrying Barbra Streisand back in 1963. Starting his career in the '60s, Gould famously went on to become part of the ensemble cast of M*A*S*H.
He also had a reoccurring role on Friends as Monica and Ross' father, Jack Geller. But with all of his on-screen and stage projects, Gould never reached the level of stardom he wanted. Even so, he still made $20 million.
Goldie Hawn: $60 Million
Actress and model Goldie Hawn rose to fame in 1968 while she was on the sketch comedy show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. Then, a year after, she won an Academy Award for Best Actress in the comedy Cactus Flower. Obviously, nothing was stopping this actress from making her way straight to the top of Hollywood.
Over her three-decades-long career, Hawn has appeared in many films and television programs, making her a hot commodity -- and an expensive one! Today, Goldie Hawn has a net worth of $60 million.
Anjelica Huston: $50 Million
Anjelica Huston will forever be ingrained in Hollywood history as the genius who brought Morticia Addams of The Addams Family to life. But outside of that one role, Huston is pretty much Hollywood royalty, becoming a third-generation actor to win an Academy Award, or which she earned for her role in the 1985 film Prizzi's Honor.
And if that wasn't impressive enough, the actress has been able to stay relevant since her first appearance in the 1981 movie The Postman Always Rings Twice, bridging over to the younger generation in films such as John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.
Christopher Walken: $50 Million
Christopher Walken started his career at a young age, honing his comedic skills in various sketch shows. From there, he had an illustrious stage career, moving on to film in 1966 with his role in Barefoot in Athens. From there, the rest, as they say, is history. He kept moving up the ranks in Hollywood for the next 50 plus years.
Today, he's regarded as "one of the most respected actors of his generation," winning countless awards as well as known for being a relatively decent guy. Oh, he also coined the phrase "more cowbell." That alone is worth a few million of his $50 million.