Fess Parker Net Worth

What was Fess Parker's Net Worth?

Fess Parker was an American actor who had a net worth of $100 million at the time of his death. Fess Parker was best known for starring as the titular frontiersman in the ABC serial "Davy Crockett" and the NBC series "Daniel Boone." Between the two, he starred on the short-lived ABC sitcom "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." Parker also acted in many films, including "The Great Locomotive Chase," "Westward Ho the Wagons!," "Old Yeller," "The Light in the Forest," and "Smoky."

As we detail in the next section, Fess used his acting fortune to launch an extremely successful second career as a real estate developer and vineyard owner.

Winery and Vineyards

Outside of acting, Fess built a significant business empire in California's Santa Barbara County. In the 1980s, he acquired approximately 714 acres in the Santa Ynez Valley, which formed the foundation of his real estate ventures. He eventually expanded his holdings by several thousand more acres.

His most notable properties included:

• Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard: Established in 1989, spanning over 300 acres of vineyards producing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and other varietals.
• Hospitality properties: The luxury Fess Parker Wine Country Inn in Los Olivos and the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton (formerly Fess Parker's DoubleTree Resort) on Santa Barbara's waterfront.
• Commercial developments: The 23.5-acre Fess Parker Studio site in Santa Barbara and numerous commercial buildings throughout the area.
• Ranch properties: Including the 2,200-acre Foxen Canyon Ranch and other substantial land holdings in the region.

After his death in 2010, his family continued to operate these businesses, with son Eli and daughter Ashley Parker Snider taking leadership roles. The Parker family businesses remain significant contributors to Santa Barbara County's wine and tourism economy, combining hospitality, wine production, and real estate development into a cohesive brand built on Fess Parker's legacy.

At the time of his death in 2010, Fess Parker's net worth was likely between $80 million and $120 million, built primarily through savvy real estate investments and successful wine and hospitality ventures after his Hollywood career.

Parker's most valuable asset was his 50% ownership in the Fess Parker DoubleTree Resort in Santa Barbara, a 360-room beachfront property on 23.5 acres. Comparable resorts suggest the hotel's full value was $80–100 million, giving Parker's share an estimated worth of $40–50 million. He also owned a 714-acre vineyard estate and winery in Los Olivos, producing up to 70,000 cases annually. The land, facilities, and brand strength brought the winery's estimated value to $15–25 million.

One of Parker's most significant transactions occurred just weeks after his passing: the sale of the 1,390-acre Camp Four ranch in Santa Ynez to the Chumash tribe for an estimated $40 million, based on county assessor records. Additional holdings included the Fess Parker Wine Country Inn, a 21-room boutique hotel in Los Olivos (~$5 million), and several residences and undeveloped parcels in the Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Barbara, likely worth several million more.

Fess Parker in 2000 (Photo by Paul Harris/Online USA)

Early Life and Education

Fess Parker Jr. was born on August 16, 1924 in Fort Worth, Texas and was raised on a farm in Tom Green County. During World War II, he enlisted in the US Navy to become a pilot, but was rejected for being too tall at 6 '6″. Eventually, he was transferred to the US Marine Corps as a radio operator. Following his discharge in 1946, Parker enrolled at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. After one year there, he transferred to the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied history. Parker graduated from UT in 1950 and went on to graduate school at the University of Southern California. He graduated from USC with his MA in theater history.

Film Career

In the early 1950s, Parker had uncredited roles in the comedy films "Harvey" and "No Room for the Groom." His first credited film role was in the 1952 Western "Untamed Frontier." After that, Parker became a contract player at Warner Bros. Studios, where he had small parts in such films as "Springfield Rifle," "Island in the Sky," "The Bounty Hunter," "Them!," and "Battle Cry." He also appeared in brief roles in some films for other studios, including "Take Me to Town" for Universal and "Dragonfly Squadron" for Allied Artists. Following his breakthrough on television in Disney's "Davy Crockett" in the mid-1950s, Parker became a contract star for Disney. He went on to star in three Disney films in 1956: "The Great Locomotive Chase," "Westward Ho the Wagons!," and "Davy Crockett and the River Pirates." The next year, he played the family patriarch in Robert Stevenson's hit adaptation of the novel "Old Yeller." Parker's final role for Disney was in the 1958 Western "The Light in the Forest," based on the novel by Conrad Richter. He subsequently moved to Paramount Pictures, where he appeared in "The Hangman," "The Jayhawkers!," and "Hell is for Heroes." Parker's last films on the big screen were the 1966 Westerns "Smoky" and "Daniel Boone: Frontier Trail Rider."

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Television Career

Following guest roles on the shows "Dragnet," "Annie Oakley," and "Death Valley Days," Parker had his breakthrough role as the titular frontiersman in the Disney serial "Davy Crockett," which aired in five parts on ABC from 1954 to 1955. He starred alongside Buddy Ebsen, who played Crockett's friend George Russell. The series was a massive hit with audiences, sparking a consumerist bonanza that saw Americans purchase over $300 million worth of coonskin caps, bubble gum cards, and other merchandise. After the end of "Davy Crockett," Parker mostly focused on his film career. He returned to the small screen in 1962 to star on the ABC sitcom "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," based on the classic 1939 film of the same name. Parker played the role originally played by James Stewart. Ultimately, the show only lasted for a single season. Parker went on to star in an episode of "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" in late 1963. The next year, he began starring as the titular frontiersman on the NBC series "Daniel Boone." The show became one of the highest-rated on television at the time, and ran for six seasons through 1970. In addition to his starring role, Parker directed some of the show's episodes. After turning down the titular role in the police drama series "McCloud" and starring in the failed sitcom pilot "The Fess Parker Show" in 1974, Parker retired from acting.

Personal Life and Death

From 1960 until his passing, Parker was married to Marcella Rinehart. Together, they had two children named Fess III and Ashley.

On March 18, 2010, Parker passed away at his home in Santa Ynez, California. His body was interred in the Santa Barbara Cemetery.

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