What Was Bob Newhart's Net Worth?
Bob Newhart was an American actor and comedian who had a net worth of $65 million at the time of his death in 2024. Bob Newhart first gained prominence in the 1960s with his comedy albums, particularly "The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart," which became a bestseller and earned him Grammy Awards.
Newhart's television career took off with "The Bob Newhart Show" (1972-1978), on which he played psychologist Dr. Robert Hartley. He followed this success with "Newhart" (1982-1990), set in a Vermont inn. Both sitcoms were hugely popular and showcased his dry wit and impeccable timing.
Throughout his career, Bob made numerous guest appearances on various TV shows and in films. He won an Emmy for his recurring role on "The Big Bang Theory" and appeared in movies like "Elf" and "Catch-22."
Early Life
George Robert Newhart was born on September 5, 1929, in Oak Park, Illinois. Raised alongside three sisters, Bob attended Catholic schools in the Chicago area as a young boy, and after graduating from St. Ignatius College Prep in 1947, he attended Loyola University of Chicago. He departed university in 1952 with a bachelor's degree in business management.
After leaving college, Bob was drafted into the United States Army. Although he served during the Korean War, he never left the United States and served as a personnel manager. After being discharged in 1954, he went to law school but did not finish his degree.
Early Career
After leaving the military, Newhart worked as an accountant and as a clerk at an unemployment office. He later became an advertising copywriter for a film and television producer. He and a co-worker passed the time by making long phone calls to each other, talking about insane scenarios. The pair sent recordings of these calls to radio stations, but his co-worker eventually left to work in New York – prompting Newhart to develop his comedic style on his own.
His friend Dan Sorkin later showed Bob's recordings to Warner Bros. Records, who signed him in 1959. Newhart then adjusted his comedy routine so that he could perform it live at nightclubs and delved into the world of stand-up comedy. However, his audio recordings were definitely his strong suit, and in 1960, "The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart" became the first comedy album to reach the top spot on the charts. Newhart then followed up with six more successful comedy albums throughout the 60s and continued to release further albums well into the 21st century.
After making a name for himself as a comedian, Bob Newhart was given his own NBC variety show called "The Bob Newhart Show." Although it only lasted for one season, the show was well-received. Throughout this period, Newhart appeared on a range of other variety shows, such as "The Dean Martin Show," "The Ed Sullivan Show," and "The Judy Garland Show."
Newhart also found success in the world of film, starting with a role in the war movie "Hell is for Heroes." Towards the end of the 1960s, Bob booked another role in the film "Hot Millions." During the '70s, he appeared in movies like "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever," "Cold Turkey," "Catch 22," and the animated film "The Rescuers."
In 1972, "The Bob Newhart Show" debuted. The series aired six seasons through 1978 and made him a household name.
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In 1982, a new sitcom called "Newhart" debuted. In the show, Bob played an innkeeper in Vermont. "Newhart would go on to become extremely popular. During its 8-year run, the show was nominated for several Emmys and is today considered a classic.
After "Newhart" ended in 1990, he returned once again with a sitcom called "Bob." Although this effort received strong reviews, it never had a large audience and was canceled after two seasons.
His most prominent role during the '90s was in the film "In & Out," in which he played a school principal. Newhart then gained new exposure in the 2000s with a role in "Elf" alongside Will Ferrell, and he followed up in 2011 with a role in "Horrible Bosses."
Further Ventures
In 1995, Newhart joined several investors to acquire the radio station KKSB in Santa Barbara. He later sold the radio station to Santa Barbara Broadcasting.
Relationships
In 1963, Bob Newhart married Ginnie Quinn, the daughter of actor Bill Quinn. They eventually had four children together and raised them as Roman Catholics.
Health Issues
After years of heavy smoking, Bob was admitted to the hospital in 1985 and was subsequently treated for polycythemia. After this health scare, Newhart quit smoking.
Death
Bob Newhart died on July 18, 2024, at the age of 94. President Joe Biden said of Newhart's death, "Today, we mourn the loss of Bob Newhart, a comedy legend and beloved performer who kept Americans laughing for decades."
Real Estate
In 1990, Bob spent $4.2 million to buy a 1.4-acre compound in Bel Air, California – the equivalent of $8 million today after adjusting for inflation. In 2013, he put this residence on the real estate market for $15.5 million. He finally found a buyer in 2016, selling the property for $14.5 million. Just one year after the sale, the buyer (a Canadian real estate developer) demolished Bob's 9,000-square-foot mansion and listed the nearly 60,000-square-foot empty lot for $26 million. In November 2017, the empty lot found a new buyer for $17.65 million.
