Gene Wilder Net Worth (Money & Salary)

Breakthrough and Success

During a 1963 performance of “Mother Courage and Her Children,” Gene met actress Anne Bancroft, who connected him with her then-boyfriend, later husband, Mel Brooks. A strong friendship blossomed between Wilder and Brooks, leading Brooks to cast him in the film he was writing, “The Producers.” The film ultimately became a cult classic, earning Brooks an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and garnering Wilder a nomination for Best Supporting Actor. In 1969, Wilder moved to Paris to take on a leading role in “Start the Revolution Without Me.”

Following “The Producers,” Wilder swiftly transitioned into a sought-after talent in Hollywood, appearing in several legendary comedies, including his eccentric title role in “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate

Factory.” Although it was not a commercial success at first, the film eventually cultivated a cult following and earned Gene a Golden Globe nomination.

His subsequent significant role came when he both wrote and starred in the 1974 film “Young Frankenstein,” which would further shape Wilder’s career and develop a dedicated fan base. “Young Frankenstein” proved to be a commercial hit, leading to nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay for both Wilder and Brooks at the Oscars, although they lost to Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo for their rendition of “The Godfather Part II.” While focused on scripting “Young Frankenstein,” Gene received an offer for the role of the Fox in the musical adaptation of “The Little Prince.” He also took on the roles of writer, director, and star for the 1975 production “The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes’ Smarter Brother,” which unfortunately did not achieve substantial commercial success.

(Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images)

It was the spur-of-the-moment choice to participate in Mel Brooks’ 1974 comedy “Blazing Saddles” that would significantly impact Wilder’s career, propelling him into the comedy elite. Gene collaborated with comedian Richard Pryor in four films: “Silver Streak” (1976), “Stir Crazy” (1980), “See No Evil, Hear No Evil” (1989), and “Another You” (1991). Notably, “Another You” marked Pryor’s final leading role and represented Wilder’s last appearance in a feature film. Afterward, Wilder’s work largely consisted of television movies and occasional guest spots on TV shows. In April 1991, he was inducted into the Wisconsin Performing Arts Hall of Fame. In 1994, Gene starred in the NBC sitcom “Something Wilder,” which received negative reviews and was canceled after just one season. He concluded his on-screen career in 2003 with guest appearances in two episodes of NBC’s “Will & Grace,” for which he won an Emmy award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. In his later years, Wilder shifted his focus from acting to writing, producing a memoir and several novels, and he also dedicated time to painting.

Personal Life

Wilder’s first marriage was to Mary Mercier on July 22, 1960, but they divorced in 1965. He then wed Mary Joan Schutz in October 1967, adopting her daughter, Katharine. Their marriage ended after seven years, during which Katharine suspected Gene of having an affair with his “Young Frankenstein” co-star, Madeline Kahn. Eventually, Gene became estranged from Katharine.

Wilder later married the eccentric and beloved Gilda Radner, known for her work on “Saturday Night Live,” until her tragic passing. Their paths crossed while filming Sidney Poitier’s “Hanky Panky.” At that time, Radner was married to guitarist G.E. Smith, but she and Wilder formed a deep bond. Their friendship blossomed, leading Radner to divorce Smith in 1982. Gene and Gilda began living together, ultimately marrying on September 14, 1984, in the South of France. They aspired to start a family, but due to several miscarriages experienced by Radner, the couple faced challenges, as doctors struggled to identify the underlying issues. Gilda later began suffering from severe fatigue and pain in her upper legs and received a diagnosis of ovarian cancer in October 1986, which she fought for the next year and a half. After a brief period of remission, her cancer returned in May 1989 and had spread. Gilda Radner passed away on May 20, 1989. In the wake of his loss, Wilder became an advocate for cancer awareness and treatment, establishing the Gilda Radner Ovarian.

In Los Angeles, the Cancer Detection Center and co-founding Gilda’s Club, which originated in New York but has now expanded to multiple branches across the United States, were among Gene Wilder’s notable efforts. In September 1991, he remarried Karen Webb.

On August 29, 2016, at the age of 83, Gene Wilder passed away due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease.

Real Estate

Gene acquired a home on Chalon Road in Bel Air, Los Angeles, for $300 thousand in 1976. He later sold this property in 2007 for $2.7 million. Then, in 2013, the home was bought by billionaire Elon Musk for $6.75 million. Musk’s residence was situated directly across from a large mansion he had inhabited for many years. In 2020, he shocked many by declaring his intent to sell all his homes and physical possessions, including Wilder’s former residence. Elon insisted that the buyer of Wilder’s property must agree to limit any changes to it, as he believed that Gene’s magical charm deserved to be maintained. Ultimately, the property was sold to Gene Wilder’s nephew for $7 million, with the nephew making a $300,000 down payment and financing the remaining amount through a $6.7 million personal loan from Elon. Unfortunately, roughly two years later, the nephew found himself significantly behind on his debt obligations, prompting Elon to take action and begin foreclosure proceedings.