The world is still attempting to commercialize Marilyn Monroe 60 years after her passing. As a talented actress in comedies like ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’ and ‘Some Like It Hot’, Monroe was a stunning bombshell of a celebrity. She experienced multiple marriages, affairs with powerful people, and mental health issues during her turbulent personal life.
Parties have always been vying for control of her reputation and identity both during her life and long after her death. ‘The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes’ explores all of the mysteries and secrets that surrounded Monroe during the height of her stardom. It is evident from the documentary that the celebrity was attempting to discover her true identity apart from her public persona. In the end, though, the attempt by the world to claim possession of her persisted. So, how much wealth did she come to possess in her career that was tragically cut short?
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The Mysterious Passing Of Marilyn Monroe
It has been 60 years since Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her bed in her Brentwood home on August 5, 1962. Her hand was dangling over the phone. Years of rumors about whether one of Hollywood’s biggest actors’ unexpected death from an overdose was a suicide, an accident, or something more sinister followed her death have rocked the media. She took on new projects and posed for publications like Vogue and Cosmopolitan in the months prior to her passing.
The Los Angeles County coroner’s office concluded that the actor died from acute barbiturate poisoning, or an overdose of sleeping pills, following an inquiry. Since there was no sign of wrongdoing, Monroe’s death was classified as “likely suicide.” Since then, the actor’s passing has been clouded in mystery and conspiracy, largely because Monroe was known to have had relationships with both the brother and the then-attorney general of the United States, John F. Kennedy. Throughout her life, Monroe was a mystery. Her passing is currently being handled quite similarly.
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How Wealthy Was Marilyn Monroe At The Time Of Her Death?
At the time of her passing in 1962, Marilyn Monroe, an American actress, model, and singer, had a net worth of $800,000. In today’s money, after accounting for inflation, that is equivalent to around $7 million. Marilyn made slightly less than $3 million in film salaries throughout the course of her career, which is equivalent to almost $24 million before taxes after accounting for inflation. She wasn’t very frugal with money, excessively splurging on acquaintances, family members, and employees in addition to purchasing expensive jewelry, clothing, and other stuff for herself.
According to the will that was filed in Los Angeles County when Marilyn passed away, her total net worth was reduced to about $370,000 after paying down different settlement costs and estate fees. $10,000 was left in Norma Jeane Mortenson’s will for both her long-time personal assistant and her half-sister. Additionally, $5,000 was saved in a trust fund for her assistant’s child’s education. A $100,000 trust fund was created in the will for her mother.
Lee Strasberg, Monroe’s adored acting teacher, received a bequest of her material possessions. Marilyn was raised by Lee and his first wife Paula. All of her life, they were quite close. More crucially, Lee Strasberg also obtained 75% of her residual estate, or intellectual property rights while the remaining 25% went to her therapist Dr. Marianne Kris. Four years after Monroe, in 1966, Paula Strasberg passed away. After a year, Lee wed Anna Mizrahi, a 28-year-old actress of Venezuelan descent.
When Monroe passed away, Anna was only 23. When Lee passed away in 1982, Anna inherited 75% of Marilyn Monroe’s estate. By securing agreements for thousands of goods and endorsements with businesses like Mercedes-Benz, Revlon, Absolut Vodka, and Coca-Cola, Anna transformed Monroe Licensing into a flourishing empire. Marilyn Monroe, a lady Anna Strasberg very likely never met, would become one of the highest-paid deceased celebrities on earth, netting her tens of millions of dollars in the process.
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