Bob Hope Net Worth 2024

What was Bob Hope’s net worth and wage?

Bob Hope was a British-born American comedian, actor, singer, dancer, and writer who had a net worth of $150 million on the time of his loss of life. After adjusting for inflation, that is the identical as round $250 million in immediately’s {dollars}. Bob Hope appeared in over 70 brief and have movies throughout his almost 80-year profession. He additionally hosted the Academy Awards a file 19 instances, appeared on many tv reveals and in theatrical productions, and authored 14 books. Additionally, Hope achieved a lot recognition for the 57 excursions he did for the United Service Organizations, entertaining American army personnel world wide from 1941 to 1991. Bob hope died on July 27, 2003 on the age of 100.

Bob Hope’s Wealth

At numerous factors in his life, his net worth had been estimated to be as much as $700 million, largely due to worthwhile actual property holdings in Southern California. In the early-80s, Forbes estimated his net worth at $200 million. When he heard in regards to the estimate, Bob responded by saying:

“If my property is value over $50 million, I’ll kiss your ass. I imply that.“

This despatched a reporter from Forbes on a mission to guage his property to show or disprove their $200 million unique estimate. In the top, that reporter adjusted the magazines estimate right down to $85 million. Bob didn’t comply with by way of on his promise to kiss a rear. At the time of his loss of life in 2003, his property was value $115 – $150 million.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Bob Hope was born as Leslie Townes Hope in London, England in 1903, the fifth of seven sons. His English father, William, was a stonemason, whereas his Welsh mom, Avis, was an opera singer. When Hope was 4, the family immigrated to the United States, and settled in Cleveland, Ohio. As a child, Hope earned cash by singing, dancing, and performing comedy in public, and likewise took half in lots of beginner expertise contests. Following a quick boxing profession in 1919, he labored as a butcher’s assistant and a lineman, and did a brief stint with the Chandler Motor Car Company. When Hope selected a profession in present enterprise, he signed up for dancing classes alongside along with his girlfriend. During a efficiency of his in 1925, Hope was seen by silent movie comedian Fatty Arbuckle, who subsequently discovered Hope work with a touring troupe. For his performances within the 20s, Hope gained renown as a comedian and dancer on the vaudeville circuit. In 1934, he started acting on the radio, and in 1937, had his first common collection with the “Woodbury Soap Hour” on NBC Radio.

Film Career

In the early 30s, Hope signed a contract with New York’s Educational Pictures to star in six brief movies. Hope was not pleased with the primary movie, “Going Spanish,” and was consequently dropped by the studio. He later signed with Warner Brothers, after which moved to Hollywood and signed with Paramount Pictures. For Paramount, he starred alongside W. C. Fields within the musical “The Big Broadcast of 1938”; it was that movie that featured Hope’s signature tune, “Thanks for the Memory.”

As a star of movie, Hope grew to become finest identified for his massively profitable “Road” films, during which he starred reverse Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour. Seven “Road” movies have been made between 1940 and 1962: “Road to Singapore,” “Road to Zanzibar,” “Road to Morocco,” “Road to Utopia,” “Road to Rio,” “Road to Bali,” and “The Road to Hong Kong,” launched after an 11-year hiatus. Following the top of the collection, Hope starred in such movies as “Critic’s Choice,” with Lucille Ball and Rip Torn; “Call Me Bwana,” with Anita Ekberg; “Eight on the Lam,” with Phyllis Diller and Jonathan Winters; “Cancel My Reservation,” with Eva Marie Saint and Ralph Bellamy; and “A Masterpiece of Murder.”

Television Career

Starting within the 50s, when radio misplaced its recognition to tv, Hope started doing quite a few specials on the NBC tv community. Among his most well-known contributions have been his annual Christmas specials, on which he did performances of favourite songs like “Silver Bells.” In 1970 and 1971, Hope’s Christmas specials have been filmed in Vietnam in entrance of army audiences; each have been seen by greater than 60% of all US households watching tv. Additionally, from 1939 to 1977, Hope hosted the Academy Awards ceremony 19 instances, greater than anybody else in historical past.

Later on, Hope made a visitor look on the sitcom “The Golden Girls.” In 1993, he was a part of his ninetieth birthday tv celebration referred to as “Bob Hope: The First 90 Years,” which received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special. Toward the top of his profession, Hope’s worsening imaginative and prescient made it arduous for him to learn his cue playing cards. In 1996, he introduced the top of his 60-year contract with NBC. Later that 12 months, he aired his remaining tv particular, “Laughing with the Presidents,” on which host Tony Danza helped him current a private retrospective of United States presidents.

United Service Organizations

In 1941 at March Field in California, Hope carried out his first USO present to American army personnel. He continued to journey across the globe to entertain troops for the rest of World War II, and later throughout the Korean, Vietnam, Iran-Iraq, and Persian Gulf Wars. Over the span of half a century, he headlined 57 instances at USO reveals. For his service, Hope was honored with the Sylvanus Thayer Award by the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1968, turning into the primary entertainer to obtain that award. Later, a 1997 act of Congress signed by President Bill Clinton named Hope an Honorary Veteran.

Theatrical Career

On stage, Hope made his first Broadway appearances in 1927 and 1928, taking minor walk-on roles in “The Sidewalks of New York” and “Ups-a-Daisy.” He returned to Broadway in 1933 to star in a a lot greater half, enjoying Huckleberry Haines within the musical “Roberta.” This was adopted by roles within the musicals “Say When,” the 1936 “Ziegfeld Follies,” and “Red, Hot and Blue,” costarring Ethel Merman and Jimmy Durante. Later, in a 1958 manufacturing of “Roberta” in St. Louis, Missouri, Hope reprised his function as Huckleberry Haines.

Personal Life

In 1933, Hope married his first spouse, Grace Louise Troxell, who was his vaudeville associate; they divorced solely a 12 months later. He subsequently met and started a relationship with performer Dolores Reade, though whether or not or not the 2 ever married stays some extent of a lot debate. Together, Hope and Reade adopted 4 youngsters: Linda, Tony, Kelly, and Eleanora.

They additionally owned a 23,366-square-foot mansion in Palm Springs.

Hope stayed in comparatively good well being all through his outdated age. However, in 2000 on the age of 97, he was hospitalized for gastrointestinal bleeding. The subsequent 12 months, he spent round two weeks within the hospital with pneumonia. In 2003, on the age of 100, he handed away from pneumonia issues at his house. Later, his stays have been interred on the newly constructed Bob Hope Memorial Garden on the San Fernando Mission Cemetery.

Toluca Lake Mansion

Bob and Dolores owned an condo in New York City and mansions in Palm Springs in Toluca Lake, California.

From 1937 till Hope’s passing, they resided in a 15,000 sq. foot mansion situated at 10346 Moorpark Street in Toluca Lake, California. The 5+ acre property has 10 bedrooms, 17 bogs and a one-hole golf course. The Hope family bought this house in 2015 for $15 million. It popped up on the market once more in May 2022 for $29 million. It lastly bought in March 2023 for $26 million. Here is a video tour:

Palm Springs Mansion

In Palm Springs Bob and Dolores owned a 23,366 sq. foot mansion that was designed by famed architect John Lautner. At one level the property was being privately shopped round for $50 million. In 2014 the property formally got here to market with a $34 million asking value. In November 2011 billionaire Ron Burkle bought the 6+ acre property for $13 million.