As one of the most talked-about figures, Henry Fonda has built a significant fortune. Our team analyzed the latest data to provide a clear picture of their income.
What Was Henry Fonda's Net Worth?
Henry Fonda was an American actor who had a net worth equal to $20 million at the time of his death in 1982 (after adjusting for inflation). Henry Fonda's career spanned five decades in Hollywood and on Broadway. On the big screen, he gained acclaim for his performances in such films as "Jezebel," "Young Mr. Lincoln," "The Grapes of Wrath," "The Lady Eve," "My Darling Clementine," "12 Angry Men," "Once Upon a Time in the West," and "On Golden Pond," the lattermost of which earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor. Henry was the father of actorsJane FondaandPeter Fonda.
Film Career in the '30s and '40s
Career Beginnings on Stage
Fonda reunited with Ford in 1940 to play Tom Joad in the film adaptation of "The Grapes of Wrath." For his performance, Henry received his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Also in 1940, he starred in "Lillian Russell," "The Return of Frank James," and "Chad Hanna." The next year, Fonda appeared in his second and third comedies with Barbara Stanwyck: "The Lady Eve" and "You Belong to Me." His subsequent credits included "The Male Animal," "Rings on Her Fingers," "The Big Street," and "Immortal Sergeant." Henry had two of his most lauded roles in the Westerns "The Ox-Bow Incident" and "My Darling Clementine." He finished the decade with such films as "The Fugitive," "Daisy Kenyon," "On Our Merry Way," and "Fort Apache."
In 1935, Fonda made his film debut opposite Janet Gaynor in "The Farmer Takes a Wife," based on the eponymous Broadway play in which he had previously starred. The same year, he had starring roles in "Way Down East" and "I Dream Too Much." Henry's career continued to take off with such films as "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine," "The Moon's Our Home," "Spendthrift," "Wings of the Morning," "You Only Live Once," "Slim," and "That Certain Woman." In 1938, he earned strong reviews for his performance oppositeBette Davisin the romantic drama "Jezebel." The same year, he starred oppositeBarbara Stanwyckin the screwball comedy "The Mad Miss Manton." Fonda closed out the '30s with "Jesse James," "Let Us Live," "The Story of Alexander Graham Bell," and his first two collaborations with director John Ford: "Young Mr. Lincoln" and "Drums Along the Mohawk."
He was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960 for Motion Picture at 1601 Vine Street. He was married five times, including to Margaret Sullivan, Frances Seymour Brokaw, Susan Blanchard, and Afdera Franchetti. Henry Fonda passed away on August 12, 1982, at 77 years old.
Fonda began his acting career on stage at the age of 20, performing at the Omaha Community Playhouse. There, he appeared in such shows as "You and I" and "Merton of the Movies." Henry eventually decided to move to the East Coast, where he continued to act onstage and became a member of the summer stock company the University Players, based in Massachusetts. After performing in the play "The Jest," he left the Players in 1932 and moved to New York City. There, Fonda became roommates with fellow actor and future Hollywood starJames Stewart.
Henry Fonda was born on May 16, 1905, in Grand Island, Nebraska. He was the son of William and Herberta, and he was raised in Omaha. Although he was a shy child growing up, he excelled at running, skating, and swimming, and was active in the Boy Scouts. Fonda did part-time work at his father's printing plant, and he later worked at the local phone company after school. A formative event occurred in 1919 when he witnessed the lynching of Will Brown during the Omaha race riot, an incident that sparked his awareness of prejudice in America. For his higher education, Henry went to the University of Minnesota as a journalism major but did not complete his degree.
Ultimately, Henry Fonda's financial journey is a testament to their success.
Disclaimer: All net worth figures are estimates based on public data.
