Debbie Reynolds Net Worth: Books & Cars
Debbie Reynolds, often known as “America’s Sweetheart,” was an actress, singer, and entrepreneur from the United States with a net worth of $85 million.
She was born on April 1, 1932, with the name Mary Frances Debbie Reynolds in El Paso, Texas.
Not many know, but her father worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad as a carpenter, whereas her mother raised her in a strict Nazarene church.
Further moving on, she also got a big appreciation for her performance as Helen Kane in the movie Three Little Words.
Her breakthrough role as Kathy Selden in Singing in the Rain was her first leading role in 1952.
On the contrary, Debbie, her debut pop music album, was released in 1959.
Her performance as Brown in a biographical movie of Molly Brown earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
For those who don’t know, Molly Brown was among those who actually persuaded the crew members of lifeboat no. 6 to go back to 1912 Titanic’s sinkage debris field in search of any survivors.
Reynolds received the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in January 2015.
Moreover, she was awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2016.
Surprisingly, her career lasted nearly 70 years.
Tragically, Reynolds died on December 28, 2016, one day after her daughter, actress Carrie Fisher, died of a stroke.
Quick Facts
Let us have a look at some of her details in brief.
| Full Name | Mary Frances Debbie Reynolds |
| Known as | Debbie Reynolds |
| Date of birth | April 1, 1932 |
| Place of birth | El Paso, Texas, U.S. |
| Died On | December 28, 2016 (aged 84) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Resting Place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, California, U.S. |
| Spouse | Richard Hamlett( m. 1984 – 1996)
Harry Karl (m. 1960- 1973) Eddie Fisher (m. 1955- 1959) |
| Children | 2 (Carrie Fisher, Todd Fisher) |
| Father’s name | Raymond Francis Reynolds |
| Mother’s name | Maxine Harmon |
| Siblings | 1 (William Reynolds) |
| Gender | Female |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
| Education | Burbank High School, John Burrough High School |
| Hair color | Blonde |
| Eye color | Grey |
| Height | 1.57 m |
| Weight | 58 kg |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession |
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| Years active | 1948- 2016 |
| Net worth | $85 million |
| Social media | Twitter, Facebook |
| Last Update | November, 2024 |
Debbie Reynolds Net Worth & Income
Debbie Reynolds’s net worth was reported to be $85 million at the time of her death.
She was the highest-paid female performer on television in the late 1960s and 70s.
Sadly, her second and third husbands put her in a lot of financial trouble, and she ended up being bankrupt.
Fortunately, in the latter two decades of her life, she was able to turn her financial situation around.
She was able to keep ownership of several properties in Los Angeles.
Further, she continued to write a weekly advice piece for a syndicated publication.
She made the most of her money by selling her belongings, acting, and performing.
Net Worth of Debbie Reynolds in Different Currencies
Mentioned below is her net worth calculated in different currencies.
| Currency | Net Worth |
| Euro | € 71,867,925 |
| Pound Sterling | £ 61,684,075 |
| Australian Dollar | A$ 113,248,710 |
| Canadian Dollar | C$ 105,780,375 |
| Indian Rupee | ₹ 6,347,137,000 |
| BitCoin | ฿2,442 |
Debbie Reynolds’s Lifestyle
Lifestyle
Reynolds spent the first eight years of her life in Texas in Depression-era poverty.
Debbie Reynolds went through much grief in her life, but she didn’t let it destroy her.
On the top, Reynolds’s marriage seemed to fail her, but motherhood saved her.
Keeping that aside, Reynolds was a cabaret performer as well.
Besides, she used to work in the clothing department in her leisure time.
From her life’s beautiful journey, she taught us many lessons as not everybody is strong enough to endure the pain she did.
Apart from that, no wonder her witty nature and charismatic aura won uncountable hearts and indeed earned the title of “America’s Sweetheart.”
Debbie Reynolds: Houses, Cars
Houses
First and Foremost, she owned a Beverly Hills mansion worth at least $20 million.
Reynolds moved to the Canyon in 2000 and spent roughly $1 million for a three-bedroom Spanish-style home, given that it was next to her daughter’s home.
Although the two homes of the mother-daughter duo in the Canyon community were purchased separately, they are now sold as a single estate.
Second, it’s a commonplace to own a home in Malibu with a celebrity pedigree; after all, it is known as ‘Billionaires Beach.’
Reynolds also owned the house on Pacific Coast Highway; in addition, she herself designed it back in 1965.
However, the Marshalls bought the five-bedroom, four-bathroom residence from Reynolds in 1981,
Meanwhile, several years after selling the two-story property, she contacted the couple, expressing her want to repurchase it.
Third, Debbie Reynolds’s California ranch is sat on the 44-acre property.
The main house on the ranch is 7,800 square feet and has six bedrooms.
It includes a big living area with a fireplace, also a spacious kitchen with a home theatre.
In addition, Reynolds is said to have bought the Palm Springs home in 1963 solely for her parent’s usage.
The family-owned the property for over 20 years until being sold for $79,500 in 1987.
Likewise, the 1,225-square-foot home is in the Racquet Club Estates neighborhood.
It’s now for sale for $665,000.
Cars
This American beauty represented the movie-star car enthusiast, regularly driving her bright red Ford T-Bird.
Reynolds bought the vehicle 1962 Facel Vega new in 1963 and kept it until 1975.
Later, she sold her Facel Vega to Charles Walters, a Hollywood director, in 1975.
She also owned Rolls-Royce, but sadly as mentioned earlier, she had to sell it, including her homes, as her husband lost everything in gambling.
As a result, she would occasionally sleep in her Chevrolet Impala.
Reynolds’s last vehicle was a 1994 Cadillac Seville, which had not been driven in a long time.
This glamorous lady spent her hard-earned money, especially on the cars of her dreams.
Above all, it is worth mentioning that most of her belongings, including her several homes, numerous cars, iconic dresses, and even her dance studio, got auctioned off in early 2019.
Debbie Reynolds Movies, Investments, Endorsements & Book Publications
Movies
Following the movies mentioned below are some of her best-known works.
- Singin’ in the Rain
- Tammy and the Bachelor
- The Unsinkable Molly Brown
- My Six Loves
- The Catered Affair
- Divorce, American Style
- The Tender Trap
- Susan Slept Here
- The Pleasure of His Company
- The Rat Race
Furthermore, Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, a documentary about her life, was released in 2016.
It turned out to be her final cinematic performance; the film broadcast on HBO on January 7, 2017.
Nevertheless, she would always be remembered as Hollywood’s icon and legend.
Investments
Reynolds had several business interests, including owning a dancing studio.
She was also the owner of the Las Vegas Hotel and Casino.
She rapidly transformed the property into a showcase for her priceless memorabilia collection.
Endorsements
In the 1960s, Debbie was featured in the Golden Lux advertisement.
Unilever created the LUX brand, a global brand, and is leading the market in most countries such as India, Thailand, Brazil, and South Africa.
She was also the brand representative for the 1964 Lustre Creme Shampoo.
She appeared in many of its advertisements under the tagline ‘A shampoo so rich you only need to apply once!’
Book Publications
Debbie: My Life, her first autobiography, was published in 1988.
Debbie Reynolds recounts her career as a movie actress, her troubled marriages to Eddie Fisher and Harry Karl.
Finally, she found her eventual happiness with real estate developer Richard Hamlett.
This is a vivid story of Hollywood’s golden period, the price paid for achievement, and a survivor’s victory.
In 2013 she released Unsinkable: A Memoir, her second autobiography.
Hollywood Icon Debbie Reynolds talks about the highs and lows of her career as an actress during the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Moreover, she discusses her deep connection with Elizabeth Taylor and personal information of her marriages and family life with Carrie and Todd Fisher.
Debbie Reynolds, “America’s Sweetheart,” continues her story of grief, hope, and survival from her debut memoir, Debbie: My Life, where she left off.
Previously, she, along with Bob Thomas, published her book If I knew then in October 2011.
This book was all about a look at the true, sometimes traumatic life of this ever-smiling superstar.
Last but not least, her fourth book, Make Em Laugh, was released in November 2016.
In this, Debbie recalls late-night companions and some of the greatest comedians of all time, as well as tales of marriage, parenthood, and children, from both the big and small screens.
Nothing is off-limits as Debbie discusses her sex life, family conflict, and even a few family secrets.
To summarize, this collection demonstrates the consummate talent of a beloved entertainer who truly understands how to Make Em Laugh.
Charity
She was the president of The Thalians, a mental-health activist organization.
In 1955, Reynolds, along with Jack Haley Jr., Hugh O’Brien, and other rising stars, created a charity and named it after the goddess of comedy, Thalia.
Moreover, the Thalians have raised almost $30 million in nearly 60 years.
Similarly, Reynolds opened the Debbie Reynolds Studio in North Hollywood in 1979 to give dancers a safe place to practice and take professional training.
The dance studio was occupied with then-unheard-of amenities, including free parking, a coffee area, dressing rooms, baths, and large rehearsal rooms with pianos.
Reynolds also belonged to the International Order of Job’s Daughters.
Career
She won the Miss Burbank beauty pageant in 1948.
Warner Bros. talent scouts were the first to notice Reynolds in the same beauty contest she won.
Later on, she joined MGM during the 1950s, and she was a regular in their film musicals.
Her song “Aba Daba Honeymoon,” featured in the film Two Weeks with Love (1950), was the first soundtrack recording to become a top-of-the-charts gold record, peaking at number three on the Billboard charts.
She co-starred in the musical Bundle of Joy with her then-husband, Eddie Fisher, in 1956.
In 1973, Reynolds starred as Charlotte in the Hanna-Barbera animated musical Charlotte’s Web.
She portrayed Bobbi Adler on Will & Grace from 1999 to 2006.
In brief, she was a true Hollywood icon, having worked in the entertainment industry for almost sixty years.
Also, you might like to read about 1960s legendary singer Diana Ross and her net worth.
Some Interesting Facts about her
- Despite efforts to turn her Dance Studio into a museum, it was demolished in 2019 after being auctioned off.
- Lucille Ball, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Bette Midler, Cher, Usher, Mariah Carey, and Johnny Depp are certainly among the celebrities who have performed at her dance studio.
- Debbie never resented Elizabeth Taylor for her being the reason Eddie Fisher, her first husband, left her. She believed and even stated in one of her interviews in 1983 that a man does not leave a woman for another unless he genuinely desires to do so.
FAQs
Did Debbie Reynolds die from a broken heart?
Debbie’s son Todd Fisher said that his mother just showed her love for her daughter in her own way. Moreover, his mother and sister, actress Carrie Fisher, were buried together after a combined burial.
How much money did Debbie Reynolds make on her auction?
With around 22.8 million dollars in the sale, the auction certainly set a new record for any memorabilia auction of its sort.
Was Debbie Reynolds pregnant during singing in the rain?
No, she was not pregnant during that time. In fact, when she took the Singin’ in the Rain job, she had just given birth a few months before.
