Many fans are curious about Walter Matthau's financial success in April 2026. Our team analyzed the latest data to provide a clear picture of their income.

What Was Walter Matthau's Net Worth?

Walter Matthau was an American actor who had a net worth of $10 million at the time of his death in 2000. Among his best-known films are "A Face in the Crowd," "The Bad News Bears," "The Fortune Cookie," "Grumpy Old Men," "Charade," "The Sunshine Boys," and "Hopscotch." Onstage, Matthau originated the role of Oscar Madison in Neil Simon's Broadway play "The Odd Couple."

In 1963, Matthau had a memorable role oppositeCary GrantandAudrey Hepburnin the romantic comedy mystery film "Charade." The same year, he starred in the comedy "Island of Love." Walter was in three films in 1964: "Ensign Pulver," "Goodbye Charlie," and the Cold War thriller "Fail Safe." Following his role in another thriller, "Mirage," Matthau starred alongsideJack Lemmonin the 1966 black comedy "The Fortune Cookie," directed by Billy Wilder. For his performance as shyster attorney William H. Gingrich, Walter won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He subsequently starred in "A Guide for the Married Man." In 1968, Matthau reunited with Jack Lemmon for "The Odd Couple," based on the Neil Simon play in which Walter also starred. He reprised his role as Oscar Madison for the film. Matthau closed out the '60s with roles in "The Secret Life of an American Wife," "Candy," "Cactus Flower," and "Hello, Dolly!"

Matthau made his feature film debut as the antagonist of the 1955 Western "The Kentuckian." He was in another Western, "The Indian Fighter," the same year. Walter subsequently had starring roles in Nicholas Ray's 1956 drama "Bigger Than Life" and Elia Kazan's 1957 satire "A Face in the Crowd." After appearing in the noir "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue," he played the villain in the musical drama "King Creole," starringElvisPresley. Matthau went on to appear in such films as "Voice in the Mirror," "Ride a Crooked Trail," and "Onionhead." In 1959, he starred in the crime film "Gangster Story," which he also directed. This was followed by "Strangers When We Meet," "Lonely Are the Brave," and "Who's Got the Action?"

Matthau served with the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. With the Eighth Air Force, he was a radioman-gunner. He also flew missions across Europe while based at RAF Old Buckenham in Norfolk, England. Walter ended his service with the rank of Staff Sergeant.

For "The Fortune Cookie," Walter won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor. He was nominated for another Golden Globe for "The Odd Couple" in 1968 and for a BAFTA Award for "The Secret Life of an American Wife" the same year. He was also nominated for a BAFTA Award for "Hello, Dolly!" and for an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for "Kotch." He won a BAFTA Award and was nominated for a Golden Globe for "Pete 'n' Tillie" and won another BAFTA Award for "Charley Varrick." Matthau was nominated for another Golden Globe for "The Front Page," and he earned a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination for "The Sunshine Boys." He was nominated for a BAFTA Award for that role and for "The Bad News Bears." He was again nominated for Golden Globes for "Hopscotch" and "First Monday in October." He was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1982 at 3657 Hollywood Blvd. Walter Matthau passed away on July 1, 2000, from a heart attack at 79 years old.

Walter Matthau was born on October 1, 1920, on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City. He was the son of Jewish immigrant parents. His father, Milton, was an electrician originally from Ukraine, while his mother, Rose, was a garment sweatshop worker from Lithuania. In his youth, Matthau went to a Jewish sleepaway camp called Tranquility; there, he acted in productions the camp would stage on Saturday evenings. For his education, Walter went to Seward Park High School.

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Disclaimer: All net worth figures are estimates based on public data.