Steve Martin Net Worth: How the Comedy Legend Built His Fortune
Steve Martin is an American comedian, actor, writer, and musician who has a net worth of $140 million. As you’ll see in the paragraphs below, outside of his significant acting paychecks, Steve Martin owns an art collection that is worth at least $50 million and real estate in California that is worth a combined $30+ million.
Steve Martin has been cracking people up with his brand of intelligent humor since the late 1960s. He won his first Emmy at the age of 23 as a writer for “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.” From there, he went on to write for “The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour” and “The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour,” among other programs. He moved out from behind the camera in 1969 and thus began a long and very successful career as a performer.
Who is Steve Martin?
Steve Martin is a famous American comedian, actor, filmmaker, musician, and author. He got fame as a well-known writer of a book named “The Smothers Brother Comedy Hour” in the 1960s.
Steve Martin Early Life
Steve Martin was born Stephen Glenn Martin on August 14, 1945, in Waco, Texas. He grew up with his mother, Mary, father, Glenn (a real estate salesman), and sister, Melinda, in Inglewood and Garden Grove, California. Steve Martin attended Garden Grove High School, where he was on the cheerleading squad, and he had a job selling guidebooks at Disneyland from 1955 to 1958.
He enjoyed spending time at Disneyland’s Main Street Magic Shop and began working at Fantasyland’s magic shop in 1960. At the age of 18, Steve Martin began performing music, magic, and comedy at Knott’s Berry Farm. After graduating from high school, he took drama and poetry courses at Santa Ana College before transferring to UCLA to study theater in 1967. While attending college, Steve Martin performed at local clubs, and he dropped out of UCLA when he was 21.
Steve Martin Stand-Up Comedy Career
In 1967, Nina Goldblatt, Martin’s former girlfriend, submitted his work to Mason Williams, the head writer of “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.” Williams hired Steve Martin to be a writer, and the writing staff won an Emmy for Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy, Variety, or Music in 1969. Steve Martin also made his first TV appearance on the show (1968) and went on to write and perform for “The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour” from 1971 to 1973.
Beginning in the mid-1970s, he frequently appeared on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” “The Gong Show,” “The Muppet Show,” and “Saturday Night Live.” His stand-up comedy albums, “Let’s Get Small” (1977) and “A Wild and Crazy Guy” (1978), went platinum and earned Steve Martin two Grammys. “A Wild and Crazy Guy” included the song “King Tut,” which hit #17 on the “Billboard” Hot 100 chart and has sold more than a million copies. He also released “Comedy Isn’t Pretty” in 1979 and “The Steve Martin Brothers” in 1981.
Steve Martin Film Career and Box Office Success
Although originally a stand-up comedian, Steve Martin went on to act and became a box-office star. His first major break was as a co-writer and actor in the 1979 hit The Jerk. The film was a massive success that established Steve Martin as a comedic actor capable of carrying a film.
In the following decades, he appeared in several other popular films, including Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), Father of The Bride (1991), and The Pink Panther (2006). These films were critical and box-office successes that increased his net worth.
Writing and Producing Success
Steve Martin is also a successful writer and producer. Some of his screenplays include Roxanne (1987), for which he won a Writers Guild of America Award. His writing extends beyond film; Steve Martin has also written best-selling books and plays.
He wrote a commercially successful memoir titled Born Standing Up, which chronicles his stand-up years. Novels like Shopgirl and An Object of Beauty are other works of his writing. Writing and producing have added to Steve Martin’s artistic repertoire and wealth. He has continued to create content across various mediums and earn income from those creative outlets.
Steve Martin $50 Million+ Art Collection
Steve Martin is a renowned art collector. For decades, not much was known of the collection. However, his art collection is worth between $50 – $100 million.
He made his first significant purchase in the late 1960s, which was a painting by Los Angeles-based artist Ed Ruscha. By the late 1980s, he was picking up pieces at prices in the single-digit millions. Today, Steve Martin’s art collection reportedly features works by
- Edward Hoppe
- Pablo Picass
- Roy Lichtenstein
- Willem de Kooning
- David Hockney
- Georges Seurat
- Francis Bacon
- Lucian Freud
Steve Martin Real Estate Investment
In January 1995, Steve Martin paid $3.175 million for a home in Beverly Hills. The 7,000-square-foot home was built in 1939 and features multiple structures surrounding a large lawn with a pool and outdoor entertaining area. Today, his main property is worth at least $10 million.
Villa Au Soleil St. Barts
Perched in the hills of St. Barts, overlooking the Caribbean, the stunning 180-degree view of the surrounding landscape is one of the reasons Mr. Martin purchased the home in 2008. St. Barts is known for being one of the more private Caribbean islands, and it has become a favorite of paparazzi-averse celebrities everywhere. Consequently, they have rented the home to a host of other luminaries when they are not there. The house has four bedrooms and an open-plan living room space. There is also a formal dining room. It features floor-to-ceiling windows, multiple skylights, and bright colors. There is an infinity pool, a sun deck, multiple terraces, and a private garden. Steve put the villa on the market for $11 million in 2013 and sold it for an undisclosed sum in 2015.
Awards and Honors
Steve Martin has won several awards for his work, including 5 Grammys, 2 People’s Choice Awards, 2 Writers Guild of America awards, an Emmy, a Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, and a Kennedy Center Honor. He also received an honorary Academy Award in 2004.
Steve Martin Personal Life
Steve Martin was married to actress Victoria Tennant from 1986 to 1994. In 2007, he wed writer Anne Stringfield. The couple welcomed a daughter in December 2012, making him a first-time dad at the age of 67.
FAQs
What is Steve Martin’s net worth?
Steve Martin has a net worth of $140 million, which comes from his acting, writing, stand-up comedy, music, and art collection.
What are Steve Martin’s most famous movies?
Some of his most popular films include The Jerk (1979), Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), Father of the Bride (1991), and The Pink Panther (2006).
When did Steve Martin start his career?
Steve Martin began his entertainment career in the 1960s as a writer for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour before transitioning to stand-up comedy and acting.
What awards has Steve Martin won?
He has won 5 Grammys, 2 Writers Guild of America Awards, an Emmy, a Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, and a Kennedy Center Honor.
Does Steve Martin still perform stand-up comedy?
Although he stepped away from traditional stand-up comedy in the 1980s, he occasionally performs, particularly in musical comedy acts with Martin Short.
Conclusion
Steve Martin has had an illustrious career spanning multiple decades, excelling in stand-up comedy, film, writing, and music. With a net worth of $140 million, his success is evident in his career achievements, art collection, and real estate investments. His influence continues to be felt in entertainment and beyond.
