Net Worth Of Elizabeth Taylor 2024
When Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor died in March 2011 at the age of 79, various reports estimated her net worth to be around $600 million to $1 billion. This makes her one of the richest and most successful actresses in Hollywood history.
The majority of Taylor’s wealth came from her wildly successful acting career that spanned over 70 years. However, she also earned significant income from her various business ventures, including several perfume and jewelry lines. Her perfumes earned over $70 million in sales globally.
Additionally, Taylor was famous for her eight marriages, most of which resulted in lucrative divorce settlements. Her final marriage to construction worker Larry Fortensky in 1991 ended in divorce in 1996 with a $5 million settlement.
At the time of her death, the majority of Elizabeth Taylor’s estate, including all her homes, jewelry, art, and other belongings, was left to her four children. Her fortune was divided equally among her sons Michael Wilding Jr. and Christopher Wilding and her daughters Maria Burton and Liza Todd.
Breakdown of Elizabeth Taylor’s Net Worth
Here is a breakdown of the primary sources that contributed to Elizabeth Taylor’s vast wealth of over half a billion dollars:
| Source of Wealth | Estimated Amount |
|---|---|
| Film salary & residuals | $50 million |
| Perfume/fragrance brands | $70 million |
| Jewelry business | $150 million |
| Real estate investments | $100 million |
| Art collection | $150 million |
| Other investments | $50 million |
| Divorce settlements | $30 million |
This equals an estimated total net worth of over $600 million for the iconic star at the time of her passing. The profitability of her perfumes and jewelry brands also left her business empire in good shape to continue generating wealth after her death.
What famous jewelry did Elizabeth Taylor own?
As one of the world’s most glamorous actresses, Elizabeth Taylor amassed an exceptional collection of fine jewelry throughout her life. Some of her most iconic pieces included:
- Krupp Diamond Ring – A 33.19 carat diamond ring gifted to Taylor by Richard Burton in 1968. It was sold at auction for $8.8 million in 2011 after her death.
- La Peregrina Pearl Necklace – An exquisite 16th century necklace featuring one of the most famous pearls in the world. Burton purchased it for Taylor at auction for $37,000 in 1969.
- Elizabeth Taylor Diamond – Originally a gift from Richard Burton, this pear-shaped 69.42 carat diamond ring was valued at over $3-4 million.
- Taj Mahal Diamond – The heart-shaped diamond was given to Taylor by her third husband Mike Todd in 1957. Originally named the “Agra Diamond,” she renamed it the “Taj Mahal Diamond” after seeing the famous landmark in India.
Some other iconic baubles included her Van Cleef & Arpels ruby suite, emerald suite, and personalized charm bracelet, as well as her iconic 33 carat asscher-cut Elizabeth Taylor Diamond ring. Her jewelry collection was valued at over $150 million total.
Most Expensive Pieces Sold at Auction After Her Death
When Christie’s held a landmark multi-day auction of Taylor’s jewelry collection in December 2011, her most expensive pieces included:
| Jewelry Item | Price Realized |
|---|---|
| La Peregrina Pearl Necklace | $11.8 million |
| Elizabeth Taylor Diamond Ring | $8.8 million |
| Taj Mahal Diamond Pendant | $8.8 million |
| Cartier Ruby Suite | $4.2 million |
| Cartier Emerald Suite | $6.6 million |
In total, the auction brought in a record-breaking $137 million for the star’s estate. Her vast jewelry collection stands as one of the most valuable private collections ever owned. Christie’s called it “the greatest private collection of jewelry ever assembled in one place.”
What was Elizabeth Taylor’s most successful perfume?
Elizabeth Taylor launched several incredibly popular perfumes throughout her career, but none more iconic than her famous White Diamonds perfume.
Created in 1991 in partnership with celebrity fragrance company Elizabeth Arden, White Diamonds took advantage of Taylor’s enduring glamour and appeal. With Taylor starring seductively in a series of related print and TV ads, White Diamonds became the world’s top selling celebrity fragrance.
To date it has generated over $1 billion in revenue worldwide, far surpassing any celebrity fragrance released before or since. The floral, amber, sandalwood scent marked one of Taylor’s most profitable business moves ever. Its unprecedented success spawned several flanker fragrances like White Diamonds Lustre, White Diamonds Eau de Toilette and Brilliant White Diamonds. But none matched the fame and acclaim of the original.
At the peak of its popularity in the 1990s, a bottle of White Diamonds was reportedly sold every 30 seconds. Elizabeth Taylor’s perfume empire added tens of millions to her fortune each year up until her death. With its continued endurance and new formulations released in recent years, White Diamonds remains one of the most famous celebrity perfumes of all time.
What real estate did Elizabeth Taylor own?
As one of the wealthiest stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Elizabeth Taylor owned many magnificent homes and properties across the globe during her lifetime.
Her most famous home was Elizabeth Taylor’s Bel Air estate, where she lived for decades:
Elizabeth Taylor’s Bel Air Estate
- Located in Benedict Canyon, Los Angeles
- Spanish Colonial Revival Style
- Over 10,000 square feet
- 8 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms
- Guest homes and pool house
- Lavish gardens
- Sold for $15.9 million after her death
Taylor also owned luxury homes in Palm Springs, Hawaii, London, Paris, and Mexico.
Some other notable properties included:
- Diamond Head Beach Cottage, Honolulu, Hawaii – Taylor owned a Balinese-style three bedroom cottage located right on the sand which she later sold to Don Ho.
Chalet Ariel, Gstaad, Switzerland – Chalet Ariel was Taylor’s ski chalet in the Swiss Alps, which she purchased in 1963.Features included 7 bedrooms, 7 full baths, 4 half baths, tennis court and swimming pool.
Las Compascuas Ranch, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – Taylor bought this 10-bedroom waterfront estate in 1964 and frequently visited with Richard Burton. Totaling over 20 acres, it featured stables, gardens and a private cove.
She also purchased a notable amount of real estate over the years as investment properties beyond her own homes. At the time of her death her global real estate portfolio was valued at over $100 million.
Was Elizabeth Taylor’s estate worth more before or after her death?
Elizabeth Taylor’s estate grew to be worth more after her death than at the very end of her lifetime thanks to astute estate planning and the successful Christie’s auction of her jewelry, fashion accessories and memorabilia.
In her final years, various sources estimated Taylor’s net worth ranged between $600 million and $1 billion. The value was concentrated among her real estate portfolio, jewelry, perfume/fashion brands, and investments.
After her death, the trustees of her estate embarked on several highly profitable enterprise moves:
- Christie’s auction of her iconic jewelry collection brought in a record-shattering $137 million in December 2011.
- Christie’s also held a second auction in 2012 of Taylor’s haute couture pieces along with film costumes and memorabilia raising over $25 million.
- The continued posthumous profits from White Diamonds perfume along with deals to release new Elizabeth Taylor brand fragrances further boosted her estate’s value.
- The trustees licensed Taylor’s name and likeness to continue the success of her personal merchandise business, adding new skin care lines and collaborations with brands like Kate Spade.
Collectively these posthumous enterprise deals helped grow Elizabeth Taylor’s net worth substantially. Today her estate is estimated to be worth $1 billion or more thanks to the ongoing strength of her personal brand and continuing relevance. Her financial legacy is managed by trustees to generously support her AIDS foundation and other charitable causes.
So while Elizabeth Taylor was incredibly rich at the end of her life, her estate grew even more profitable after her death. She joins other savvy celebrities like Michael Jackson whose posthumous earnings also ended up dwarfing the fortunes they accumulated when alive. With no signs of slowing down, the Elizabeth Taylor brand continues piling onto her vast fortune.
Conclusion
In the end, Elizabeth Taylor’s extraordinary fortune reflects the larger-than-life persona she embodied both on-screen and off. From the groundbreaking $1 million contract for Cleopatra that sparked the sexual revolution, to the 69.42 carat diamond ring from husband #5 that matched the proportions of the star herself, everything about Taylor was epic. Though she lived a famously tumultuous life full of health problems and failed marriages, through it all Elizabeth Taylor leveraged her glamour, style and business savvy to amass and maintain her vast wealth.
Her nearly billion dollar empire spanning fine jewelry, world famous perfumes, global real estate, and smart investments stand as reminders of her enduring, eternal fame. Over thirty years after its launch, White Diamonds still racks up over $35 million a year for the House of Taylor. And with continued posthumous deals bringing new accessories, clothing lines, skin care and makeup bearing her likeness, the Elizabeth Taylor brand seems likely to shine on forever like the precious gemstones Burton showered upon his legendary love.
FAQs
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Elizabeth Taylor’s net worth:
How much was Elizabeth Taylor worth at the peak of her career?
At the peak of her career in the 1950s and 1960s, Elizabeth Taylor earned millions for films like Cleopatra, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Though pay transparency was rare in classic Hollywood, estimates put her peak career earnings around $50 million total.
What were Elizabeth Taylor’s biggest money makers after acting?
Outside of acting, Taylor’s White Diamonds perfume empire was by far her most profitable endeavor, earning over $70 million annually. Her jewelry and fashion lines also added tens of millions per year.
Did Elizabeth Taylor really have a billion dollar fortune?
While some estimates put Taylor’s net worth at over a billion dollars before and after her death, more conservative estimates place it around $600 million+ during her lifetime, growing to over $1 billion posthumously thanks to high-grossing estate auctions and ongoing merchandising deals.
How much did Elizabeth Taylor’s movie costumes sell for at auction?
Taylor’s collection of iconic movie costumes was sold at Christie’s in London in 2012 for $3.2 million. The highest price was for her Cleopatra robe at $290,000. Her Cat on a Hot Tin Roof dress sold for $210,000.
