Charles Bronson Net Worth

What was Charles Bronson’s Net Worth and Salary?

Charles Bronson, the American actor known for portraying tough characters like gunfighters and vigilantes, had a net worth of $65 million at the time of his death. His career spanned from the 1950s until the 1990s, and he was the highest-paid actor in the world in the early 1970s.

Bronson’s breakout role came in 1960 in “The Magnificent Seven” alongside Steve McQueen. He continued to be a familiar face in ensemble action/adventure movies like “The Great Escape”. He became a solo star in “Death Wish”, leading to sequels and other action movies. Today, Bronson remains a cult favorite among movie fans.

Charles Bronson died on August 30, 2003 at the age of 81. He was married three times and left behind four children.

Early Life and Military Service

Charles Bronson, born Charles Dennis Buchinsky on November 3, 1921 in Ehrenfeld, Pennsylvania, was the eleventh child in a family of fifteen. His father, Valteris Bucinskis, changed his name to Walter Buchinsky upon moving to the United States from Lithuania, and his mother’s parents were also from Lithuania. Growing up in a coal mining town, Bronson did not speak English fluently. When his father passed away when he was ten years old, Bronson began working in the coal mines to support his family. The family struggled during the Great Depression.

Despite the challenges, Bronson became the first member of his family to graduate from high school. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces in 1943 during World War II and served as an aerial gunner in Guam. Bronson flew 25 missions and was wounded in combat, receiving a Purple Heart for his service.

Charles Bronson’s Career

After World War II, Bronson worked various jobs before joining a theatrical group in Philadelphia. He moved to New York City to pursue theater before heading to Hollywood in 1950. His early roles were either uncredited or credited as Charles Buchinsky. In 1954, he changed his surname to Bronson after an agent suggested the idea. He appeared in various films and TV series throughout the latter half of the 1950s, including “The Magnificent Seven” and “General Electric Theater,” for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award.

In 1967, he landed a leading role in “The Dirty Dozen,” which became a box office success. However, Bronson was unsatisfied with his roles and moved to Europe, where he found success in films like “Once Upon a Time in the West” and “Rider on the Rain,” which won a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film. He returned to the United States and booked major roles, including his most famous role in “Death Wish” at age 52. He continued to star in films throughout the 1980s and made his final film and television appearances in the “Family of Cops” trilogy from 1995 to 1999.

Personal Life and Legacy

Charles Bronson was described as shy and introverted, often holding grudges against those who did not pay attention to him until he was famous. He was married twice, first to Harriet Tendler with whom he had two children and then to English actress Jill Ireland, with whom he had seven children. They worked together on fifteen films until Ireland’s death in 1990. Bronson married his third wife, Kim Weeks, in 1998. In his final years, his health deteriorated after a hip replacement surgery. Bronson died at age 81 in August of 2003 in Los Angeles. His tough guy persona and authentic strength in his roles earned him many fans in Hollywood, and he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1980.

Charles Bronson’s Career Earnings and Forward-Thinking Negotiations

Charles Bronson was the highest-paid actor in the world at the peak of his career, earning $1 million for each of his movies such as “The Stone Killer”, “Chino”, “Death Wish” and “St. Ives”. He earned $1.5 million for “Death Wish II” and $2 million for “10 To Midnight” in 1982, equivalent to $5 million today. Additionally, Bronson negotiated large gross points on some of his movies.

In 1975, Bronson signed a deal with Warner Brothers which entitled him to 10-15% of gross receipts from movie ticket sales and film rentals. This was particularly forward-thinking as film rentals were virtually non-existent at the time. As the VHS rental market exploded in the 80s, the Bronson estate sued Warner Brothers in 2011, claiming improper accounting related to his 1975 revenue-share deal.

Charles Bronson’s Net Worth and Generous Donation

When Charles Bronson died in 2003, his net worth was estimated to be $45 million, equivalent to $65 million today. His wife inherited $1.6 million and an $8 million Malibu mansion, while his children received a $5 million Vermont beach house and a $5 million Bel Air mansion, which was later sold for $20 million in 2014.

In an unexpected turn of events, a stranger named Audrey Knauer left her $300,000 estate to Bronson in 1999, despite having never met him. Knauer’s family contested the will in court, but their efforts were in vain. Bronson donated the money to Knauer’s favorite charity, the Louisville public library.

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