What was Doris Day's net worth and salary?
Doris Day was an American actress, singer, real estate mogul, and animal rights activist who had a net worth of $200 million at the time of her death in 2019.
Doris Day stands as one of America's most versatile and beloved entertainers of the 20th century. Rising to prominence first as a big band singer in the 1940s, she successfully transitioned to become one of Hollywood's top box office stars of the 1950s and 1960s. Known for her wholesome image and sunny disposition, Day excelled in both musical films and romantic comedies, forming a particularly memorable on-screen partnership with Rock Hudson. Beyond entertainment, she became a pioneering animal rights activist, establishing the Doris Day Animal Foundation and advocating for animal welfare causes. Her achievements include over 650 recorded songs, 39 films, and numerous accolades, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Day's influence on American popular culture remained significant long after she retired from show business.
Doris Day died on May 13, 2019, at the age of 97. She spent the majority of her final years living in Carmel, California, on a seven-acre estate that also served as an animal rescue.
Early Life
Born Doris Mary Ann Kappelhoff in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1922, Day initially dreamed of becoming a dancer. Her aspirations were cut short by a devastating car accident that severely injured her leg when she was 14. During her recovery, she discovered her singing talent while listening to the radio and taking vocal lessons. She soon began performing on local radio programs and with local bands, adopting the stage name Doris Day at the suggestion of a bandleader who thought Kappelhoff was too unwieldy for marquees.
Singing Career
Day's breakthrough came when she joined Les Brown's Band of Renown in 1945, recording her first hit, "Sentimental Journey," which became an anthem for soldiers returning from World War II. Her voice, described as "pure and warm," led to a successful recording career spanning decades. She demonstrated remarkable versatility, excelling in various genres, from jazz standards to popular hits. Among her most famous songs was "Que Sera, Sera," which won an Academy Award and became her signature tune.
Acting Career
Hollywood beckoned in 1948 when Day made her film debut in "Romance on the High Seas." She quickly became one of Warner Bros.'s most bankable stars, appearing in musicals like "Calamity Jane" and "The Pajama Game." Her career evolved beyond musicals to sophisticated comedies, with "Pillow Talk" (1959) earning her an Oscar nomination. Her on-screen chemistry with Rock Hudson in films like "Pillow Talk," "Lover Come Back," and "Send Me No Flowers" created one of Hollywood's most successful partnerships. She later transitioned to television with "The Doris Day Show" (1968-1973).
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Loss/Regain Of Fortune
In the late 1960s, after decades of an amazing career, Doris assumed she was extremely wealthy. Unfortunately, upon the death of her husband, Martin Melcher, in 1968, Doris learned that Melcher and a business partner had squandered more than $20 million of her money. Even worse, they actually left her $500 thousand in debt. That's the equivalent of wasting $140 million and leaving her $4 million in debt, adjusting to today's dollars.
Doris' son, Terry Melcher, a very successful and wealthy music executive, swooped in to secure her assets and save her estate from financial ruin. To boost her finances, she agreed to star in "The Doris Day Day Show," a sitcom that had a very successful five-year run. Terry and Doris were eventually able to get her finances in order and retain a valuable real estate portfolio that included houses in Malibu, Beverly Hills, and several extremely valuable hotels. It took 10 years, but Doris did eventually receive a $27 million judgement against her former business managers. That's the same as around $80 million today. Unfortunately, by that point, the business manager was destitute and unable to pay much of the judgment at all. Doris did receive some money from various insurance companies, but nowhere near the amount she had lost.
(Photo by Paul Harris/Getty Images)
Charles Manson Connection
In 1968, Doris's son Terry was introduced to Charles Manson via Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys. At the time, Terry was living in a large mansion on Cielo Drive in the Hollywood Hills with his then-girlfriend Candice Bergen. Manson visited Terry at the Cielo house a number of times before their friendship ended after Terry grew wary of the aspiring singer.
Soon after cutting ties, Terry and Candice moved out of the Cielo Drive, and the home's owner leased it to director Roman Polanski and his girlfriend, Sharon Tate. On August 9, 1969, Manson's followers murdered Tate and several of her house guests at the mansion. There has long been speculation that Manson thought Melcher and Bergen still lived at the property, and this was revenge for rejecting his music. It was later clear that Manson knew Melcher and Bergen were no longer living there but that anyone who could afford such a nice house would make an adequate victim for his maniacal plans.
Personal Life
Day's personal life contrasted sharply with her sunny public image. She endured four marriages, with her third husband, Martin Melcher, causing particular hardship by squandering her earnings and posthumously committing her to a television series without her knowledge. She also suffered the loss of her only child, Terry Melcher, a successful music producer who died in 2004. Despite these challenges, Day maintained her characteristic resilience and optimism.
Entrepreneurial Pursuits
Following her entertainment career, Day became a successful businesswoman and activist. She was the majority owner of the Cypress Inn in Carmel, California, making it one of the first pet-friendly hotels in the U.S. Her most significant venture was the Doris Day Animal Foundation, established in 1978, which continues to provide grants to animal welfare organizations. Through this foundation, she lobbied for animal rights legislation and funded programs for animal rescue and veterinary care. Day lived her final years in Carmel-by-the-Sea, where she continued her animal advocacy work until her death in 2019 at age 97, leaving behind a legacy that extended far beyond her entertainment career.
