Shirley MacLaine Net Worth - Pulptastic

August 28, 2024

What is Shirley MacLaine’s net worth and Salary?

Shirley MacLaine, a film and theater actress, singer, dancer, activist, and author, has a net worth of $50 million. She has had a successful six-decade-long career, receiving numerous awards and nominations for her work. MacLaine won an Oscar for Best Actress in 1984 for her role in “Terms of Endearment”.

Aside from her acting career, MacLaine is an advocate for civil rights, liberties, and spiritual understanding. She is also a prolific writer, with nine international bestsellers that mostly focus on her spiritual beliefs and Hollywood career. In 2012, she received the 40th AFI Life Achievement Award, the highest honor for a career in film, from the American Film Institute.

MacLaine was in an open marriage with businessman Steve Parker until their divorce in 1982. They had one daughter together and both had affairs with other people.

Early Life and Career of Shirley MacLaine

Shirley MacLean Beaty was born in Richmond, Virginia in 1934 to parents Ira Owens Beaty and Kathlyn Corinne. Her father was a psychology professor, public school administrator, and real estate agent, while her mother was a drama teacher. Shirley’s younger brother is actor/writer/director Warren Beatty. During her school years, Shirley practiced ballet and often played the boys’ roles due to her height. She was also a cheerleader and active in theater during high school. In her senior year, Shirley achieved success on Broadway in the chorus of “Oklahoma”.

Shirley MacLaine’s Career Highlights

After graduating in 1953, Shirley returned to Broadway and was cast in the dancing ensemble of the Broadway production of “Me and Juliet” (1953-1954).

MacLaine had roles in “Martin and Lewis” (1955) and “Around the World in 80 Days” (1956), for which she received her first Academy Award nomination, as well as a Golden Globe nomination.

Shirley was nominated for the 1975’s Documentary Feature Oscar for her documentary film “The Other Half of the Sky: A China Memoir”, which detailed the experiences of women in China.

Billy Wilder’s “The Apartment” (1960), where MacLaine starred as Fran Kubelik, received ten Academy Award nominations, winning Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Art Direction, and Best Film Editing.

In 1977, MacLaine was nominated for an Oscar as the Best Actress in a Leading Role for her role in “The Turning Point.” In 1978, Shirley was awarded the Women in Film Crystal Award for outstanding women who, through their endurance and the excellence of their work, have helped to expand the role of women within the entertainment industry.

In 1983, Shirley starred in the comedy-drama film “Terms of Endearment”. The movie was an enormous success, grossing over $108 million at the US box office. It was the second-highest-grossing film of 1983. The film received eleven nominations at the 56th Academy Awards, winning five, including Best Picture. Shirley also earned her first Academy Award for her performance – in the Best Actress category.

On television, Shirley appeared in the miniseries “Out on a Limb”, “The Salem Witch Trials” and “These Old Broads”, which was written by Carrie Fisher and co-starred Elizabeth Taylor, Debbie Reynolds, and Joan Collins.

In 2008, Shirley starred in the movie “Coco Chanel”, a production based on the life of Coco Chanel. The role earned her Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominations. Shirley also appeared in the third and fourth seasons of the acclaimed British drama “Downton Abbey” as Martha Levinson.

Marriage, Affairs, and Family

Shirley MacLaine married businessman Steve Parker in 1954. They had one daughter named Sachi and reportedly maintained an open relationship, both enjoying affairs on the side.

MacLaine is the godmother to journalist Jackie Kucinich, daughter of former Democratic U.S. Representative Dennis Kucinich.

Difficult Reputation

Shirley MacLaine was known for being difficult to work with. Actor Anthony Hopkins once described her as “the most obnoxious actress I have ever worked with.”

Physical Altercation

In 1963, MacLaine reportedly punched Hollywood Reporter reporter Mike Connolly in the mouth after becoming angry about something he had written regarding a contractual dispute with producer Hal Wallis.

Shirley MacLaine’s Beliefs in Aliens and UFOs

Shirley MacLaine has been vocal about her beliefs in aliens and UFOs. She claimed that her daughter Sachi’s father is an astronaut named Paul who cloned Steve Parker. In her book “Sage-ing While Age-ing,” she shared her personal encounters with aliens. During a 2011 episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” Shirley spoke about witnessing multiple UFO incidents above her New Mexico ranch.

Shirley MacLaine’s New Mexico Properties

Shirley MacLaine listed her 7,450-acre ranch, known as “Plaza Blanca Ranch,” for $18 million in April 2014, which she bought in the mid-1990s for an undisclosed amount. The property features a 9,000 square-foot main house and is still owned by MacLaine. She chose the listing price because “nine is the number of completion” (1 + 8 = 9). Additionally, in 2005 she purchased a 6,000 square-foot home on a 5-acre plot nearby, which she gave Oprah a tour of in 2011.