What was George Burns’ Net Worth?

George Burns, an American comedian, actor, writer, producer, and singer, had a net worth of $20 million at the time of his death in 1996. His career spanned radio, television, film, and vaudeville, and he won an Academy Award and Golden Globe for his performance in “The Sunshine Boys.”

Burns and his wife co-starred on “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show” from 1950 to 1958, and after Gracie retired, George starred in “The George Burns Show” from 1958 to 1959. He had over 60 acting credits to his name, including roles in “The Big Broadcast” (1932), “Oh, God!” (1977), and “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” (1978).

Burns also released several albums, wrote 10 books, and earned a Grammy nomination for his single “I Wish I Was Eighteen Again.” He died of cardiac arrest in March 1996 at the age of 100.

Early Life and Career

George Burns was born Nathan Birnbaum on January 20, 1896, in New York City to Jewish immigrant parents from Poland. He helped support his family from a young age by running errands and working odd jobs. Burns got his start in show business by singing with a group of children in a candy shop and later worked at a vaudeville theatre. He adopted the stage name “George Burns” to hide his Jewish heritage and began working with female partners before finding success with Gracie Allen in 1923.

George Burns’ Career Highlights

George and Gracie appeared in several short films in the late ’20s and early ’30s. They co-starred with Fred Astaire in 1937’s “A Damsel in Distress” and with Bob Hope in 1938’s “College Swing.” In 1950, the couple got their own series on CBS, “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show,” which earned eight Primetime Emmy nominations. After Allen’s retirement, Burns starred on “The George Burns Show” from 1958 to 1959, and from 1964 to 1965, he played himself on the ABC series “Wendy and Me,” which he also created.

George earned critical acclaim and two major awards for the 1975 film “The Sunshine Boys,” then he played God in 1977’s “Oh, God!,” 1980’s “Oh, God! Book II,” and 1984’s “Oh, God! You Devil.” He guest-starred on “The Muppet Show” in 1977, and the following year, he co-starred with the Beatles in “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” playing Mr. Kite. George appeared in the films “Just You and Me, Kid” (1979) and “Going in Style” (1979) and the TV movie “Two of a Kind” (1982), and in 1985, he hosted “George Burns Comedy Week” on CBS. In 1988, he starred in the film “18 Again!,” which was based on his 1980 hit “I Wish I Was 18 Again.” In the ’90s, Burns guest-starred as himself on “The Golden Palace” (1993) and “Phenom” (1994), and he made his final film appearance in 1994’s “Radioland Murders.”

Marriages and Losses

George Burns married dancer Hannah Siegel in 1917, but they divorced a year later. He then married Gracie Allen in 1926 and they adopted two children. They remained together until Gracie’s death in 1964, which devastated George. He slept on her side of the bed afterwards to feel closer to her.

George also suffered the loss of his close friend Jack Benny in 1974. He gave a eulogy at the funeral, stating how much he would miss him and that he couldn’t imagine life without him.

George Burns’ Life and Legacy

George Burns was a legendary comedian who lived to be 100 years old. He was honored throughout his life by the city of Los Angeles, with roads named after him and his wife, Gracie Allen. Burns continued to drive until he was 93 years old, and even signed a contract with Caesars Palace to perform on his 100th birthday. However, he was unable to perform due to health issues. Burns passed away at his Beverly Hills home on March 9, 1996, just 49 days after his 100th birthday. His funeral took place at Glendale’s Wee Kirk o’ the Heather church, and he was buried alongside Gracie Allen at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery.

Awards and Honors

George Burns was a decorated entertainer who won numerous awards throughout his career. In 1976, he won an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role and a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical for “The Sunshine Boys.” He also received three Primetime Emmy nominations, winning “Outstanding Performance in Informational Programming” for “A Conversation with…” in 1990.

Burns won a Grammy for Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Recording for “Gracie – A Love Story” in 1991, and he earned a Best Country Vocal Performance, Male nomination for “I Wish I Was Eighteen Again” (1981) and a Best Comedy Album nomination for “An Evening With George Burns” (1992). He also received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the American Comedy Awards, British Comedy Awards, Publicists Guild of America, and Screen Actors Guild Awards.

He was inducted into the Online Film & Television Association Hall of Fame in 2005 and received Kennedy Center Honors in 1988. Burns was named Male Star of the Year at the 1975 Golden Apple Awards and earned two Saturn Award nominations from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, winning Best Actor for “Oh, God!” in 1978. He also took home the prize for Best Actor for “Going in Style” at the 1980 Venice Film Festival.

George received three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, for television (1960), motion picture (1960), and live performance (1984). He and Gracie were inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1988.

George Burns’ Beverly Hills Home

George Burns lived in a Beverly Hills home that he built for $79,000 for 60 years. The home included a pool and a pool house. After his death, the home was sold for more than $2 million.

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