In today’s time, it will be difficult to find someone who is not aware of The Famous Marilyn Monroe. Often regarded as the ‘Blonde and seductive beauty’, her image is well-known all over the world. American actress, singer, and model Marilyn Monroe has won over the entire Hollywood with her sensuousness and susceptibility. her death was tragic though- she was found dead at her apartment, naked. The cause of death was due to an overdose of barbiturates. ‘Sex Symbol of the 1950s and 1960s’ Merilyn Monroe succumbed to the pressures created by the Hollywood Industry at the mere age of thirty-six. If you are a fan of Marilyn Monroe, then this article is especially for you! Here you will know about Marilyn Monroe, her personal life, and, Marilyn Monroe net worth.
| NAME | MARILYN MONROE |
| FULL NAME | NORMA JEANE MORTENSON |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1ST JUNE, 1926 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, US |
| DIED ON | 4TH AUGUST, 1962 (AGED 36) |
| CAUSE OF DEATH | BARBITURATE OVERDOSE |
| BURIAL PLACE | WESTWOOD VILLAGE MEMORIAL PARK CEMETRY |
| ALSO KNOWN AS | NORMA JEANE BAKER |
| OCCUPATION | ACTRESS, MODEL, SINGER |
| YEARS ACTIVE | 1945-1962 |
| SPOUSES | JAMES DOUGHERTY (MARRIED IN 1942, DIVORVCED IN 1946)
JOE DIMAGGIO (MARRIED IN 1954, DIVORCED IN 1955) ARTHUR MILLER (MARRIED IN 1956, DIVORCED IN 1961) |
| PARENTS | CHARLES STANLEY GIFFORD (FATHER)
GLADYS PEARL BAKER (MOTHER) |
| SIBLINGS | BERNIECE BAKER MIRACLE (HALF-SISTER) |
| WEBSITE | www.marilynmonroe.com
|
Marilyn Monroe Net Worth
According to our sources and some research work, we have found that Marilyn Monroe net worth is approximately $370,000 ($3.5 million) which is around $7.8 million in today’s economy. Though we do not have any concrete information about Marilyn Monroe net worth, it is known that she did not earn that much during her working days. It is said that she did not even have enough money for a proper funeral. Many reports also suggest that she was a kind-hearted person and she donated most of her clothes, pieces of jewelry, and money to her friends and her employees. Thus, Marilyn Monroe net worth ranged from 3.5 million dollars to 7.8 million dollars over the years according to different sources.
Early Life & Education
Born on 1st June 1926, Marilyn Monroe was raised in twelve foster homes and one orphanage in Los Angeles, California. In short, she did not know the identity of her father till the age of a teenager. Her mother was a film cutter who was also, mentally unstable. Marilyn Monroe lived a very poor life as a child since her mother did not have enough money to take care of her. In 1934, Monroe’s mother was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Marilyn Monroe’s family friend Grace Goddard took custody of her upbringing.
Marilyn Monroe was sexually abused at one of her foster homes and was mentally ill-treated in school too. Her classmate referred to her as a boy as she looked straight from top to bottom with no curves. Marilyn Monroe always wanted to be an actress. She loved watching movies and could watch them over long periods. At the trifling age of sixteen, she left high school and got married to her first husband, James Dougherty. According to sources, she did not want to go back to the orphanage so she married James.
Before getting married to James Dougherty, Marilyn studied at Van Nuys High School in California. Later, Marilyn Monroe studied at the Actors Laboratory Theatre in California, majoring in acting.
Career
Marilyn Monroe net worth is directly proportional to her career. Here we have a few specifics based on several types of research:
Initial Days
1944-1948 (Modelling and First Films)
At the age of eighteen, Marilyn Monroe came across a photographer who praised Monroe for her youth and beauty. He clicked a portrait picture of Marilyn Monroe and this marked the beginning of Monroe’s modeling career. Though her marriage was falling apart, she was strong-minded to make her career. Her seductive looks and body combined with her confident personality, made her ideal for pin-up photographs.
Initially, Marilyn Monroe’s hair was reddish-brown in color, but she bleached it to become a platinum blonde, later which became her signature hair color. In August 1945, Marilyn Monroe signed a contract with the Blue Book Model Agency. Her big bust gave her a huge sex appeal which made Marilyn Monroe one of the top featured models in advertisements and men’s magazines.
Marilyn Monroe was a very dedicated and hardworking model, and was featured in a total of thirty-three magazine covers like the Pageant, U.S. Camera, Laff, and Peek. Monroe’s pseudonym was Jean Norman. Marilyn Monroe signed an acting contract with an agency called ‘Snivery’ in June 1946.
In 1946 itself, Marilyn Monroe was signed by Darryl F. Zanuck for a six-month contract. Marilyn spends this time of her life at Fox, trying to learn acting, dancing, and singing. Her contract at the Snivery Agency was renewed in February 1947 and she got part in movies like Dangerous Years (1947). Ben Lyon, a 20th Century Fox executive, renamed her as ‘Marilyn Monroe’ from Norma Jean.
Breakthrough Years (1949-1954)
Marilyn Monroe was quite comfortable with her nudity, hence she posted various topless or bikini pictures for artists such as Earl Morgan. Monroe shot a commercial for Pabst Beer. Monroe went through nude photoshoots for artist Tom Kelly.
Marilyn got in contact with the vice-president of William Morris Agency and landed roles in a few movies including two of the best works of Joseph Mankiewic’z: All About Eve (1950) and John Huston’s film noir The Asphalt Jungle (1950).
After these movies, Marilyn Monroe got her big break. People started loving her and sending her fan letters. She was declared “Miss Cheesecake of 1951” by Stars and Strips which was an army newspaper. Monroe got herself into a scandal because of a nude photoshoot in March 1949. She publicly claimed her photographs which helped her gain public sympathy. During this scandal, Marilyn Monroe was featured on the cover of one of the best-selling magazines- “Life” where she was denoted as “Talk of the Bollywood!” Columnist of newspaper Hedda Hopper renamed her “Box Office Smash” from “Cheesecake Queen”
In 1952, Marilyn Monroe continued during films based on her sex appeal. She even wore the most revealing clothes during events such as the Miss America Pageant parade. In 1952, gossip columnist Florabel Muir called Marilyn Monroe the “It Girl” of 1952.
Rising Star Marilyn Monroe
Some of Marilyn Monroe’s performances are brilliant and iconic, which helped her become one of the rising stars of the Hollywood industry. Some of her iconic performances include:
- Marilyn Monroe in Niagara (1953), which dwelt on her sex appeal
- Marilyn Monroe performed on the song “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” in Gentleman Prefer Blondes (1953)
- Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable, and Lauren Bacall in How to Marry a Millionaire, her biggest box office success of 1953.
List of Awards and Nominations of Marilyn Monroe:
| YEAR | AWARD | FILM | CATEGORY | RESULT |
| 1951 | HENRIETTA AWARD | – | BEST YOUNG BOX OFFICE PERSONALITY | WON |
| 1952 | PHOTOPLAY AWARD | – | FASTEST RISING STAR OF 1952 | WON |
| 1952 | LOOK AWARD | – | MOST PROMISING FEMALE NEWCOMER OF 1952 | WON |
| 1953 | HENRIETTA AWARD | – | WORLD FILM FAVORITE: FEMALE | WON |
| PHOTOPLAY AWARD | – | MOST POPULAR FEMALE STAR | WON | |
| 1954 | PHOTOPLAY AWARD | GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES AND HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE | BEST ACTRESS | WON |
| 1956 | BAFTA AWARD | THE SEVEN-YEAR ITCH | BEST FOREIGN ACTRESS | NOMINATED |
| GOLDEN GLOBE AWARD | BUS STOP | BEST MOTION PICTURE ACTRESS IN COMEDY OR MUSICAL | NOMINATED | |
| 1958 | BAFTA AWARD | THE PRINCE AND THE SHOWGIRL | BEST FOREIGN ACTRESS | NOMINATED |
| DAVID DI DONATELLO AWARD | THE PRINCE AND THE SHOWGIRL | BEST FOREIGN ACTRESS | WON | |
| 1959 | CRYSTAL STAR AWARD | THE PRINCE AND THE SHOWGIRL | BEST FOREIGN ACTRESS | WON |
| LAUREL AWARD | THE PRINCE AND THE SHOWGIRL | TOP FEMALE COMEDY PERFORMANCE | FOURTH PLACE | |
| 1960 | LAUREL AWARD | SOME LIKE IT HOT | TOP FEMALE COMEDY PERFORMANCE | SECOND PLACE |
| GOLDEN GLOBE AWARD | SOME LIKE IT HOT | BEST MOTION PICTURE ACTRESS IN COMEDY OR MUSICAL | SECOND PLACE | |
| 1962 | HENRIETTA AWARD | – | WORLD FILM FAVORITE: FEMALE | WON |
Marilyn Monroe’s Net Worth Over the Years
| NET WORTH AT DEATH | $7 MILLION |
| PEAK NET WORTH | $30 MILLION |
| BANK BALANCE | $100,000 |
| REAL ESTATE ASSETS | $2.5 MILLION |
1. At the time of her death, Marilyn Monroe net worth was around $800,000 (According to some sources)
2. Accustomed to inflation, Marilyn Monroe net worth is approximately around $7.8 million in today’s time.
3. Main source of Marilyn Monroe’s income came from movies and television shows which was almost around $3 million.
4. She spends most of her life earnings on a lavish lifestyle and donations.
5. After settling costs, Marilyn Monroe net worth inflated to $370,000.
Sources of Income of Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe net worth depended on her source of income which mainly came from the television shows and movies she worked in.
This is the list of movies in which Marilyn Monroe worked:
| YEAR | TITLE | ROLE |
| 1947 | DANGEROUS YEARS | EVIE |
| 1948 | SCUDDA HOO! SCUDDA HAY! | BETTY |
| LADIES OF THE CHORUS | PEGGY MARTIN | |
| 1949 | LOVE HAPPY | GRUNION’S CLIENT |
| 1950 | A TICKET TO TOMAHAWK | CLARA |
| THE ASPHALT JUNGLE | ANGELA PHINLEY | |
| ALL ABOUT EVE | MISS CLAUDIA CASSWELL | |
| THE FIREBALL | POLLY | |
| RIGHT CROSS | DUSKY LE DOUX | |
| 1951 | HOME TOWN STORY | IRIS MARTIN |
| AS YOUNG AS YOU FEEL | HARRIET | |
| LOVE NEST | ROBERTA STEVENS | |
| LET’S MAKE IT LEGAL | JOYCE MANNERING | |
| 1952 | CLASH BY NIGHT | PEGGY |
| WE’RE NOT MARRIED! | ANNABEL JONES NORRIS | |
| DON’T BOTHER TO KNOCK | NELL FORBES | |
| MONKEY BUSINESS | LOIS LAUREL | |
| O. HENRY’S FULL HOUSE | STREETWALKER | |
| 1953 | NILGARA | ROSE LOOMIS |
| GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES | LORELEI LEE | |
| HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONIARE | POLA DEBEVOISE | |
| 1954 | RIVER OF NO RETURN | KAY WESTON |
| THERE’S NO BUSINESS-LIKE SHOW BUSINESS | VICTORIA HOFFMAN | |
| 1955 | THE SEVEN-YEAR ITCH | THE GIRL |
| 1956 | BUS STOP | CHERIE |
| 1957 | THE PRINCE AND THE SHOWGIRL | ELSIE MARINA |
| 1959 | SOME LIKE IT HOT | SUGAR CANE KOWALCZYK |
| 1960 | LET’S MAKE LOVE | AMANDA DELL |
| 1961 | THE MISFITS | ROSLYN TABER |
Box Office Ranking
- 1953- 6th (No. 1 Female Star)
- 1954- 5th (No. 1 Female Star)
- 1955- 11th
- 1956- 8th (No. 1 Female Star)
- 1959- 20th (No. 1 Female Star)
This is the list of television series in which Marilyn Monroe worked:
| YEAR | TITLE | ROLE |
| 1953 | THE JACK BENNY PROGRAM | MARILYN MONROE |
| 1954 | THE BOB HOPE SHOW | MARILYN MONROE |
| 1955 | PERSON TO PERSON | MARILYN MONROE |
| 1962 | PRESIDENT KENNEDY’S BIRTHDAY SALUTE | MARILYN MONROE |
Real Estates of Marilyn Monroe
The first property owned by Marilyn Monroe independently was The Brentwood property, which was originally built in 1929. After the hit of Gentlemen Prefer Blonde, Monroe bought the lavish 2,900-square-foot Spanish house for a hefty amount of $75,000 in the early 1960s.
After the flourishment of the Snow LLC, Marilyn Monroe bought a house worth $7.25 million. (We do not have any concrete proof of the last evidence.)
From our research we came to know that 75% of Marilyn Monroe’s intellectual property along with her real estate was left for her acting coach Lee Strasberg and the remaining 25% was left for her psychiatrist from New York, Dr. Marianne Kris.
Most Favorite Brands of Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe’s most loved brands were from American designers James Galanos and Ceil Chapman. She also liked and wore clothes by Lanvin.
Conclusive Insights
I would like to conclude my article by saying that Marilyn Monroe did not receive the appreciation that she deserved when she was alive. She died due to a lack of care and love from her loved ones and family. She was divorced thrice in her lifetime because nobody supported her when she made the bold decisions. I hope you liked my blog and it is relevant to your search.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What was Marilyn Monroe net worth at peak?
Ans) $30 Millions
2) How much money did Marilyn Monroe make in her lifetime?
Ans) Approximately $3.5 Million at the time of her death which equates to around 7 million today.
3) Who owns the rights to Marilyn Monroe?
Ans) ABG
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