With a career that spanned over seven decades and a vast body of work in the comedic entertainment industry, there’s no doubt that the late Betty White had a glorious career.
Betty Marion White is an American actress best known for her comedic work on numerous television sitcoms, notably The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls.
It was saddening to me when I heard of her death on the last day of 2021, but I found solace when I thought about her immense contributions to humanity.
In this article, we’ll explore Betty White’s net worth, acting career, and how she built her wealth.
Plus, find out how we can coach you to grow your net worth FREE.
What was Betty White’s net worth?
Betty White’s net worth was approximately $75 million.
Who is Betty White?
Betty Marion White was an American actress and comedian. She lived from January 17, 1922, to December 31, 2021.
She was born in Oak Park, Illinois, U.S., and was the only child of housewife Christine Tess (née Cachikis) and lighting company executive Horace Logan White.
Schooled jn Beverly Hills, Betty attended Horace Mann Elementary School and Beverly Hills High School, graduating from the latter in 1939.
She started a professional acting job at Bliss Hayden Little Theatre. She also volunteered for the American Women’s Voluntary service after the Second World War.
Betty White’s Career highlights
After the war, Betty struggled to close deals with movie studios, so she started looking for radio jobs.
She appeared on Blondie, The Great Gildersleeve, and This Is Your FBI. She was also offered her radio show titled — The Betty White Show
In 1952, White started hosting Hollywood Television shows after the departure of AI Jarvis. The same year, she co-founded Bandy Productions with writer George Tibbles and Don Fedderson, a producer.
Betty White appeared as Vicki Angel on the ABC sitcom Date with the Angels from 1957 to 1958. In July 1959, she made her professional stage debut in a week-long production of Third Best Sport at the Ephrata Legion Star Playhouse in Pennsylvania.
From 1961 to 1975, White appeared on the game show Password as a celebrity guest. She married the show’s host, Allen Ludden, in 1963.
She appeared on the show’s updated versions, Password Plus, Super Password, and Million Dollar Password.
The Game Show Queen
White made frequent game show appearances on What’s My Line? (starting in 1955), To Tell the Truth (in 1961, 1990, and 2015), I’ve Got a Secret (in 1972–73), Match Game (1973–1982), and Pyramid (starting in 1982).
She made her feature film debut as fictional Kansas senator Elizabeth Ames Adams in the 1962 drama Advise & Consent in 2004.
White made several appearances in the fourth season (1973–74) of The Mary Tyler Moore Show as the “man-hungry” Sue Ann Nivens.
In 1983, she became the first woman to win a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host for the NBC entry Just Men. Due to the amount of work she did on them, she was deemed the “First Lady of Game Shows.”
White starred in The Golden Girls’ debut in 1985. After the show ended in 1992, White played Nylund on the spin-off series The Golden Palace, which ran for one season.
In 2010, White became more famous after participating in a humorous Super Bowl commercial in which she was tackled during a recreational football game.
She became the oldest host of the comedy show, Saturday Night Live when she featured in May 2010.
White appeared in several other movies. She penned the memoirs Here We Go Again: My Life in Television (1995) and If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won’t) 2011.
How did Betty White build her wealth?
- Acting and voice-over work
- Advertising and brand endorsements
- Profits from television shows and movies
- Collectibles and property sales
- Book sales
- Music
- Merchandise sales
- Social media presence
- Retirement accounts and dividends
FAQs
What awards has Betty White won?
Betty White achieved numerous accolades during her acting and comedic career. She has been awarded five Primetime Emmys, a Grammy Award, and many others.
Here’s a list of a few of her awards:
- American Comedy Awards
- Winner — Funniest Female Performer in a TV Series (1987): The Golden Girls
- Winner — Funniest Female Guest Appearance in a TV series (2000): Ally McBeal
- Emmy Awards
- Winner — Outstanding Supporting Actress in a comedy series (1976): The Mary Tyler Moore Show
- Winner — Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (1986): The Golden Girls
- Daytime Emmy Award/ Regional Emmy Award
- Winner — Outstanding Game Show Host (1983): Just Men
- Winner — Los Angeles Emmy Award for Outstanding Personality (1952): Life with Elizabeth.
- Grammy Awards
- Winner — Best Spoken Word Recording (2011): If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won’t).
What charities has Betty White donated to?
Betty White has supported the following charities:
- American Heart Association
- American Humane Association
- American Stroke Association
- Autism Speaks
- Desmond Tutu Peace Center
- Elton John AIDs Foundation
- Everyone Matters
- Farm Sanctuary
- Awestruck animal charities
What investments has Betty White made?
She made real estate investments while she was alive. Her estate has been estimated at $75 million.
What Is the Betty White Challenge?
#BettyWhiteChallenge raised about $12.7 Million on Facebook and Instagram.
In honor of Betty’s enduring love for animals, fans suggested the Betty White Challenge be held on January 17, 2022, which would have been her 100th birthday. The event asked people to donate $5 to animal rescues or shelters in her name.
Posts about the challenge went viral through the hashtag #BettyWhiteChallenge, creating an informal, giant crowdfunding campaign. Rather than a specific organization, the challenge targeted a cause.
The challenge was held early this year too.
What type of products has Betty White endorsed?
She endorsed Snickers in one of the greatest celebrity endorsements in Super Bowl history. Also, she championed animal rights and endorsed her favorite animal charities.
Takeaway
For more than seven decades, Betty White’s impact was felt on the faces of movie and comic lovers around the globe. Although she is no longer with us, her legacy lives on as one of the best female entertainers.
If Betty inspires you to make the world a better place, we’re right there with you. We do this by coaching entrepreneurs as they build high-integrity businesses that make them very, very wealthy.
In fact, we’re on a mission to make one million new millionaires by 2028. We’d love YOU to be one of them!
That’s why we created this FREE course that will help you grow your net worth. Join us and let’s get started!
