Shirley Temple was a well-known child star of the 1930s. Her talent and charm won over people all over the world. Shirley Temple’s massive success in movies is shown by how much money she has. Shirley Temple net worth shows that she was one of Hollywood’s biggest stars for a long time.
From “Stand Up and Cheer!” to “The Little Colonel” and “Curly Top,” she played some of the most beloved characters of all time. In this piece, we’ll look at how she made a big difference in money and what legacy she left behind.
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Shirley Temple Net Worth
When Shirley Temple died, it was thought she had a net worth of about $30 million. This was made possible by the money she made from her many movie roles and ads.
She made a lot of money from her role in the movie Fort Apache: $110,000. She was also paid $2,500 weekly for her work in Since You Went Away. Shirley Temple’s fantastic earnings from films and ads and her parent’s work to ensure she got fair pay for her ability and image rights made her net worth so high.
Early Life
Shirley Jane Temple was born in Santa Monica, California, on April 23, 1928. Her mother, Gertrude Temple, was a stay-at-home mom, and her father, George Temple, worked at a bank. After that, the family moved to an area in Los Angeles called Brentwood. Shirley Temple had Dutch, English, and German roots, among others.
Shirley Temple’s mother saw that she was good at dancing, so in September 1931, she put her in Meglin’s Dance School in Los Angeles. There, she was found by Charles Lamont, who was in charge of hiring for Educational Pictures. Temple hid in the studio behind a piano, but Lamont saw her and asked her to try out. He gave her a deal in 1932 because he thought she was good.
Shirley signed a deal for a ten-minute comedy show called “Baby Burlesks” in 1932. After her performance, she was given a 20-minute comedy show, which received positive reviews.
In 1933, she was cast in “To the Last Man,” an action-romance film, and was paid $150 per week, about $3,000 today. Her mother got a job as her hairdresser and now makes about $500 weekly.
In 1934 Shirley Temple got a big break when she was cast in “Stand Up and Cheer,” a Fox Film. Her parts kept getting bigger and bigger, and then she started doing comedies and musicals like “Baby, Take a Bow” and “Bright Eyes.”
When she was a child actress, she also played in family-friendly movies and musicals, as well as other parts that were at odds with her fairy-like appearance.
Shirley Temple’s skill and charm started to shine during these early years, paving the way for her future success as one of Hollywood’s most loved child stars.
Career
Shirley Temple caught the eye of author Jay Gorney while she was dancing. This led to her big break in Stand Up and Cheer! Fox Film Corporation gave her a deal for two weeks. Fox execs were struck by Temple’s charm, which helped her become a star.
Temple’s low-budget movies were a mix of comedy, drama, singing, and dancing. Names like “Curly Top” and “The Littlest Rebel” showed her popularity. She played cute figures who brought families together and overcame problems like in old-fashioned fairy tales.
Wee Willie Winkie shows how her success led to more significant spending and praise from critics. The Independent Theatre Owners Association liked how Temple’s fame spread to popular culture. She was in movies like Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm and Little Miss Broadway.
The head of 20th Century Fox, Darryl F. Zanuck, thought Temple could change from a kid star to a young actor. She was picked for Susannah of the Mounties instead of The Wizard of Oz, which hurt how well she did at the box office. Temple’s career continued with a picture by Salvador Dal and movie roles.
She was in The Blue Bird and Young People in 1940. Temple signed with MGM after leaving 20th Century Fox but encountered problems, including a fight with director Arthur Freed. She returned to Hollywood in 1944 and signed a deal with David O. Selznick. She starred in popular movies like Since You Went Away during the war.
By the end of the 1940s, Temple’s movies weren’t doing as well, and Selznick told her she should consider going abroad. She tried out for a role on Broadway and stopped making movies in 1950.
Shirley Temple’s Career Continues
Temple had a radio show on CBS called “Junior Miss.” It began on March 4, 1942, and she played the primary role. Procter & Gamble paid for the show based on stories by Sally Benson. Gordon Hughes was in charge of the show, and David Rose was in the order of the music.
Shirley Temple’s Storybook was a popular TV show she hosted and presented from January 1958 to September 1961. It retold fairy tales. There were problems with the special effects, the sets, and the show’s schedule. It was changed and renamed “The Shirley Temple Show” in September 1960. Still, it ended in September 1961 because there were too many other shows.
Temple was a guest star on other shows and played a social worker in a 1965 pilot that was never shown. She later hosted award shows and was an adviser for a TV show based on her book. Because the TV show was so famous, Shirley Temple’s toys and books of fairy tales were made and sold in the hundreds of thousands.
Temple was a member of the California Republican Party and was involved in it. She stood for Congress in 1967 but lost. She was a part of the Commonwealth Club of California, and in 1984, she was the club’s president. After she lost her bid for Congress, she worked in foreign service. She was a member of the United Nations General Assembly.
She was made the U.S. ambassador to Ghana and later became the first woman in charge of protocol. During the Velvet Revolution, Temple was also the U.S. ambassador to Czechoslovakia. She was on the boards of several businesses and groups.
Personal Life
In 1945, Temple married Army Air Corps Sergeant John Agar. They had a girl, but in 1949 they split up. Then, in 1950, she married a Navy intelligence officer Charles Aiden Black. They were married for fifty-four years and had two children. Black died in 2005.
Temple was killed on February 10, 2014, at age 85. She had problems with Chronic Pulmonary Obstructive Disease, which worsened her health. Alta Mesa Memorial Park is where she was laid to rest.
Real Estate
Until her death, Shirley Temple lived in Woodside, California, for a long time. At the time of her death, her house was worth about $5 million.
In the 1940s, when Shirley turned 12, her father gave her a beautiful 9.54-carat blue diamond. The diamond cost $7,210 to buy.
Shirley loved the diamond and kept it with her for the rest of her life. After she died in 2014, her estate sold the diamond to a private buyer in 2016. People thought it was worth between $25 million and $35 million.
FAQs
How did Shirley Temple get to be so rich?
Shirley Temple made most of her money from her excellent acting job in movies, where she got a lot of money for her roles.
Did Shirley Temple have a signature look or style?
Shirley Temple’s ringlet curls were her trademark. She wore frilly, feminine outfits and a big hair ribbon.
Was Shirley Temple involved in any charitable or philanthropic work?
Shirley Temple did volunteer work. She supported UNICEF and the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Conclusion
Shirley Temple net worth shows how successful she was and how much she affected the entertainment business. She became among the highest-earning child stars of all time because of her ability, charm, and striking movie presence.
