Ron Howard Net Worth (Money & Salary)

Discovering Ron Howard’s Net Worth and Salary Information

Delve into the financial world of Ron Howard, the multi-talented American figure in the entertainment industry, with an estimated net worth of $200 million. Back in 1960, at a mere six years old, Ron Howard was already making waves with his role in the iconic sitcom “The Andy Griffith Show.” Later in 1974, he found further success as Richie Cunningham on the beloved television show “Happy Days.”

Transitioning to a behind-the-scenes role, Howard stepped into the director’s chair with his debut film, the low-budget comedy “Grand Theft Auto,” in 1977. From there, he steadily built his reputation as a versatile director, tackling diverse genres and delivering a string of acclaimed films. Some of Howard’s most notable directorial works include the gripping space drama “Apollo 13,” the captivating historical drama “A Beautiful Mind” (earning him an Academy Award for Best Director), and the thrilling adaptation of Dan Brown’s bestseller “The Da Vinci Code.”

Besides his directorial prowess, Howard also made a mark as a producer. Alongside writer/producer Brian Grazer, he co-founded Imagine Entertainment back in 1986. This production powerhouse quickly rose through the ranks, known for its varied and successful portfolio. Imagine’s standout productions encompass a wide spectrum of genres and formats, ranging from the biographical drama “A Beautiful Mind” and the captivating thriller “The Da Vinci Code” to the melodious comedy series “Empire” and the heartwarming TV drama “Parenthood.” Not to forget, the company also brought us the critically acclaimed sitcom “Arrested Development,” for which Ron not only lent his voice as the narrator but also appeared on screen.

Tracing His Roots and Early Years

Enter the world of Ronald William Howard, born on March 1, 1954, in Duncan, Oklahoma. He is the eldest child of Jean Speegle Howard, an actress, and Rance Howard, a director, writer, and actor. His younger sibling, Clint Howard, also found success in the world of acting. The Howard family relocated to Hollywood, California, in 1958, residing there for a significant period before settling in Burbank. Ron completed his education at John Burroughs High School and later pursued studies at the School of Cinematic Arts, University of Southern California, although he did not complete his degree.

A Journey Through His Acting Ventures

Howard’s foray into showbiz commenced at the tender age of five. His earliest credited movie appearance dates back to 1959 in “The Journey,” followed by guest roles in popular series like “The DuPont Show with June Allyson,” “The Twilight Zone,” “Dennis the Menace,” “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis,” and “The Cheyenne Show.” His big breakthrough came in 1960 when he landed the role of Opie Taylor in “The Andy Griffith Show,” a part he played throughout the show’s eight-season run. As a young actor, Howard also featured in films such as “The Music Man” (1962) and “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father” (1963), along with guest appearances on series like “The Eleventh Hour” (1965), “I Spy” (1966), “The Smith Family” (1968), “Daniel Boone” (1971-1972), “M*A*S*H” (1973), and “The Bold Ones: The New Doctors” (1972).

His transition to adult roles began with George Lucas’s seminal film “American Graffiti” in 1973. Subsequently, he became a household name as Richie Cunningham on the hit series “Happy Days” and starred opposite legendary actor John Wayne in the 1976 movie “The Shootist.” Howard’s final major acting reprisal was a nostalgic return to his iconic character, Opie Taylor.In the 1986 TV film “Return to Mayberry,” a reunion of “The Andy Griffith Show” was featured, including his appearances in two TV reunions for the cast of “Happy Days” in 1992 and 2005. His induction into the Television Hall of Fame took place in 2013.

Directing Career

Howard embarked on his directorial journey in 1977 with the low-budget comedy action film “Grand Theft Auto,” followed by several TV movie directorial gigs. His big directorial breakthrough happened in 1982 with “Night Shift,” starring Michael Keaton, Shelley Long, and Henry Winkler. Since then, he has helmed major films like “Splash” (1984), “Cocoon” (1985), “Willow” (1988), “Parenthood” (1989), “Backdraft” (1991), “Apollo 13” (1995), “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (2000), “A Beautiful Mind” (2001), “Cinderella Man” (2005), “The Da Vinci Code” (2006), “Angels & Demons” (2009), “Rush” (2013), “In the Heart of the Sea” (2015), and “Inferno” (2016). In 2008, Howard premiered his film “Frost/Nixon” at the London Film Festival, earning accolades such as the Austin Film Festival’s 2009 Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking Award.

His involvement as director in the Star Wars prequel, “Solo: A Star Wars Story” (2018), began officially in June 2017 when taking over from previous directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who departed due to creative differences with Lucasfilm. Howard’s drama film “Hillbilly Elegy” was released on Netflix in November 2020, based on a book by J.D. Vance and starring Amy Adams and Glenn Close. Additionally, his survival drama “Thirteen Lives” premiered on Prime Video in July 2022. In the same year, Netflix acquired “The Shrinking of Treehorn” from Paramount Pictures, marking Howard’s debut directing an animated feature.

Business Ventures

In 1985, Ron co-founded Imagine Entertainment with Brian Grazer, producing films like “Friday Night Lights” (2004), “8 Mile” (2002), and “Inside Deep Throat” (2005), along with TV shows such as “24”, “Felicity,” and “Arrested Development.” Howard was the brain behind the Fox/Netflix series “Arrested Development,” contributing as producer, narrator, and playing himself in a semi-fictionalized manner. His contributions led to the company receiving the National Medal of Arts in 2003.

Personal Life

Howard tied the knot with Cheryl Alley on June 7, 1975, now known as Cheryl Howard Crew, a writer. They share four children, including Bryce Dallas Howard, an accomplished actress and director.

Real Estate

Property-wise, in 2004, Ron and Cheryl acquired a 3,000-square-foot apartment in New York City’s Eldorado Building for $5.6 million, investing millions more in renovations. They put this apartment up for sale…In 2017, a sale was made for $12.5 million, but the price was later reduced to $11.5 million without finding a buyer, and the apartment remains unsold. They also own a second NYC apartment, purchased for $712,000 in 2002.

The couple sold their 33-acre estate in Greenwich, Connecticut, for $27.5 million in 2014.

Additionally, in 2006, they acquired an ocean-view apartment in Santa Monica, California, for $2.75 million.