Audrey Hepburn Net Worth - Pulptastic

June 13, 2024

What was Audrey Hepburn’s Net Worth?

Audrey Hepburn, the British-Dutch actress, fashion icon, and humanitarian, had a net worth of $55 million at the time of her death in 1993. Adjusted for inflation, that’s equivalent to $100 million today. She passed away at the age of 63 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest female screen legends of Hollywood’s Golden Age.

After starting out in minor roles on stage and in film, Hepburn skyrocketed to fame in her role in the 1953 romantic comedy “Roman Holiday,” for which she won an Academy Award for Best Actress. She went on to star in other iconic films like “Funny Face,” “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” and “Charade.”

Toward the end of her life, Hepburn devoted much of her time to UNICEF as a Goodwill Ambassador, demonstrating her commitment to humanitarian causes.

Audrey Hepburn’s Early Life and World War II

Audrey Hepburn was born in 1929 in Brussels, Belgium, to a Dutch noblewoman and a British national. She grew up in shelter and privilege, becoming fluent in multiple languages. However, her parents’ divorce and the outbreak of World War II significantly impacted her life.

Hepburn attended the Arnhem Conservatory in the Netherlands from 1939 to 1945. Her family was significantly impacted by the German invasion of the Netherlands, with her uncle executed for his part in the resistance and her half-brother deported to a labor camp in Berlin.

Hepburn volunteered at a hospital and danced to raise money for the Dutch resistance during the war. She also suffered from respiratory problems, anemia, and malnutrition-related edema during the Dutch famine of 1944.

Audrey Hepburn’s Early Career

After World War II, Hepburn moved to Amsterdam and took ballet lessons. She made her film debut in “Dutch in Seven Lessons” and later moved to London on a ballet scholarship. Due to her small stature, she turned to acting and took on small roles in films before landing a substantial supporting role in “The Secret People.” She also performed on stage in musical revues and won a Theatre World Award for her performance in “Gigi.”

Audrey Hepburn’s Rise to Fame

In 1953, Audrey Hepburn starred in her first leading role in the romantic comedy “Roman Holiday” opposite Gregory Peck. She won an Oscar, BAFTA, and Golden Globe Awards for her performance, becoming the first female actor to achieve this recognition for a single role. Following this success, Hepburn signed a seven-picture contract with Paramount and went on to star in the hit 1954 film “Sabrina,” which earned her another Oscar nomination and a BAFTA win. She also won a Tony Award for her performance in the fantasy play “Ondine” in the same year.

Throughout the rest of the 1950s, Hepburn continued to star in popular films such as “War and Peace,” “Funny Face,” and “Love in the Afternoon,” which also featured Gary Cooper and Maurice Chevalier. In 1959, she received her third Oscar nomination for her role as Sister Luke in “The Nun’s Story.”

Audrey Hepburn’s Career Highlights

Audrey Hepburn reached new heights in her career with her portrayal of Holly Golightly in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” in 1961. She also starred in “The Children’s Hour” and “Charade” in the same year, earning her third BAFTA for Best Actress. In 1964, she starred in “Paris When It Sizzles” and the film adaptation of “My Fair Lady,” which won eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Throughout the remainder of the 60s, Hepburn starred in several films, such as “How to Steal a Million,” “Two for the Road,” and “Wait Until Dark,” which earned her fifth and final Oscar nomination.

Audrey Hepburn’s Later Career and Legacy

Following 1967, Hepburn shifted her focus to family life and acted sporadically. She appeared in movies such as “Robin and Marian,” “Bloodline,” and “They All Laughed,” and made her final film appearance in Steven Spielberg’s “Always” in 1989.

Hepburn also worked on two other projects: the PBS documentary series “Gardens of the World with Audrey Hepburn,” which earned her a posthumous Emmy Award in 1993, and the spoken word album “Audrey Hepburn’s Enchanted Tales,” which won her a posthumous Grammy Award.

Audrey Hepburn’s legacy as an actress and humanitarian continues to live on, inspiring generations of fans and admirers.

Audrey Hepburn’s Humanitarian Work

Throughout her life, Audrey Hepburn was involved with UNICEF, beginning in the 1950s when she narrated two radio programs for the organization. In 1989, she became a Goodwill Ambassador and frequently traveled to impoverished communities in South America, Africa, and Asia. Her work earned her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992, and she was posthumously honored with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Today, a statue of Hepburn can be found at the UNICEF headquarters in New York in recognition of her contributions.

Audrey Hepburn’s Personal Life and Passing

Audrey Hepburn was engaged to James Hanson in 1952 but called off the marriage due to her career. Later, she married American actor Mel Ferrer in 1954 and divorced in 1968. In 1969, she wed Italian psychiatrist Andrea Dotti, with whom she had one son, Luca. The marriage ended in 1982 due to infidelity by both parties. Hepburn was in a relationship with Dutch actor Robert Wolders until her passing.

In 1992, Hepburn returned to Switzerland from Somalia and began experiencing abdominal pain. A laparoscopy in the US revealed long-term cancer, and she underwent surgery and chemotherapy. She returned home to Switzerland and spent her final days in hospice care. She passed away in her sleep in 1993.

Audrey Hepburn’s Legacy

Audrey Hepburn continues to be renowned globally for her Hollywood glamour, star power, and humanitarian efforts. She was ranked third on the American Film Institute’s list of the Greatest Female Stars of All Time in 1999. Hepburn’s son, Sean Ferrer, established the Audrey Hepburn Children’s Fund in her honor, while UNICEF created the Audrey Hepburn Society, which has raised almost $100 million to support major UNICEF donors.