published on August 05, 2024 in blog

Bob Hope Net Worth - Pulptastic

What was Bob Hope’s net worth and salary?

Bob Hope, a British-born American comedian and actor, had a net worth of $150 million at the time of his death. Adjusted for inflation, this is equivalent to around $250 million today. Over his nearly 80-year career, he appeared in over 70 films, hosted the Academy Awards a record 19 times, and authored 14 books. He was also known for his 57 tours with the United Service Organizations, entertaining American military personnel across the globe from 1941 to 1991. Bob Hope passed away on July 27, 2003 at the age of 100.

Bob Hope’s Net Worth Throughout His Life

Bob Hope’s net worth was estimated to be as high as $700 million at various points in his life, largely due to his valuable real estate holdings in Southern California. Forbes estimated his net worth to be $200 million in the early 80s, which Bob vehemently denied, stating that he would kiss someone’s rear if his estate was worth over $50 million. A Forbes reporter evaluated his estate and adjusted the estimate down to $85 million, but Bob still did not follow through on his promise. At the time of his death in 2003, his estate was worth between $115 and $150 million.

Bob Hope’s Early Life and Career

Bob Hope was born in London, England in 1903 and immigrated to the United States with his family when he was four years old. As a child, he performed in amateur talent contests and earned money by singing, dancing, and performing comedy in public. After a brief boxing career and various jobs, he decided on a career in show business and gained renown as a comedian and dancer on the vaudeville circuit in the 1920s. He began performing on the radio in 1934 and had his first regular series with the “Woodbury Soap Hour” on NBC Radio in 1937.

Bob Hope’s Film Career

In the early 30s, Hope signed a contract with New York’s Educational Pictures to star in six short films. After being dropped by the studio, he signed with Warner Brothers and later moved to Hollywood to sign with Paramount Pictures. For Paramount, he starred in “The Big Broadcast of 1938,” which featured his signature song, “Thanks for the Memory.”

Hope became best known for his successful “Road” movies, in which he starred opposite Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour. Seven “Road” films were made between 1940 and 1962. Following the end of the series, Hope starred in several other films including “Critic’s Choice,” “Call Me Bwana,” “Eight on the Lam,” “Cancel My Reservation,” and “A Masterpiece of Murder.”

Bob Hope’s Television Career

Starting in the 50s, Hope began doing numerous specials on the NBC television network. He became famous for his annual Christmas specials, which he performed in front of military audiences in Vietnam. From 1939 to 1977, Hope hosted the Academy Awards ceremony 19 times, more than anyone else in history. He also made a guest appearance on “The Golden Girls” and was part of his 90th birthday television celebration, which won an Emmy Award. Towards the end of his career, his worsening vision made it hard for him to read cue cards. In 1996, he announced the end of his 60-year contract with NBC and aired his final television special, “Laughing with the Presidents,” on which he presented a personal retrospective of United States presidents.

Bob Hope’s USO Shows and Honors

In 1941, Bob Hope performed his first USO show at March Field in California for American military personnel. He continued to entertain troops around the world during World War II, as well as the Korean, Vietnam, Iran-Iraq, and Persian Gulf Wars. He headlined 57 times at USO shows over the span of 50 years. Hope was honored with the Sylvanus Thayer Award by the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1968, becoming the first entertainer to receive the award. In 1997, a congressional act signed by President Bill Clinton named Hope an Honorary Veteran.

Hope’s Broadway Career

Bob Hope made his Broadway debut in 1927 and 1928 with minor walk-on roles in “The Sidewalks of New York” and “Ups-a-Daisy.” He returned to Broadway in 1933 to star in a bigger part in the musical “Roberta,” playing Huckleberry Haines. Hope went on to star in several other musicals including “Say When,” the 1936 “Ziegfeld Follies,” and “Red, Hot, and Blue” with Ethel Merman and Jimmy Durante. In 1958, he reprised his role as Huckleberry Haines in a production of “Roberta” in St. Louis, Missouri.

Bob Hope’s Personal Life and Death

In 1933, Hope married his first wife, Grace Louise Troxell, who was his vaudeville partner; they divorced only a year later. He subsequently met and began a relationship with performer Dolores Reade, although whether or not the two ever married remains a point of much debate.

Together, Hope and Reade adopted four children: Linda, Tony, Kelly, and Eleanora. They also owned a 23,366-square-foot mansion in Palm Springs.

Hope stayed in relatively good health throughout his old age. However, in 2000 at the age of 97, he was hospitalized for gastrointestinal bleeding. The next year, he spent around two weeks in the hospital with pneumonia. In 2003, at the age of 100, he passed away from pneumonia complications at his home.

Later, his remains were interred at the newly constructed Bob Hope Memorial Garden at the San Fernando Mission Cemetery.

Bob and Dolores’ Real Estate Holdings

Bob and Dolores owned an apartment in New York City and mansions in Palm Springs in Toluca Lake, California. From 1937 until Hope’s passing, they resided in a 15,000 square foot mansion located at 10346 Moorpark Street in Toluca Lake, California. The 5+ acre property has 10 bedrooms, 17 bathrooms and a one-hole golf course.

The Hope family sold this home in 2015 for $15 million. It popped up for sale again in May 2022 for $29 million. It finally sold in March 2023 for $26 million. Here is a video tour:

Palm Springs Mansion Designed by John Lautner Sells for $13 Million

Billionaire Ron Burkle purchased Bob and Dolores’ 23,366 square foot mansion in Palm Springs for $13 million in November 2011. The estate, which was designed by famed architect John Lautner, was privately shopped around for $50 million before officially coming to market in 2014 with a $34 million asking price. The 6+ acre property boasts stunning views and luxurious amenities.