Carol Burnett: A Legendary Career And Personal Journey

How Much Is Carol Burnett’s Net Worth?

Let me tell you about Carol Burnett, a woman who has spent over six decades lighting up the entertainment world. With a net worth of $45 million, Carol Burnett is more than just a number on a spreadsheet. She’s a trailblazer, a comedian, a singer, and an actress who’s left an indelible mark on American television. Her work has been nothing short of extraordinary, and her show, "The Carol Burnett Show," aired from 1967 to 1978, setting the bar high for variety sketch programs. Not only was she the first woman to helm a variety show, but she also paved the way for countless women in comedy. That’s some serious legacy right there.

Burnett’s accolades speak volumes about her talent and impact. Six Primetime Emmy Awards, one Grammy Award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005, and the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2013—these honors are just a glimpse of her immense contributions. In 2019, the Golden Globes introduced the Carol Burnett Award, an accolade honoring outstanding contributions to television, with Burnett herself being the first recipient. She’s not just an icon; she’s a legend who continues to inspire.

Carol Burnett’s Early Beginnings

Born on April 26, 1933, in San Antonio, Texas, Carol Creighton Burnett grew up surrounded by the world of entertainment. Her mother worked as a publicity writer for movie studios, while her father managed a cinema. However, her childhood wasn’t all glitz and glamour. Both her parents struggled with alcoholism, leaving her to be raised primarily by her grandmother. By the late 1930s, her parents had divorced, and Burnett moved to Hollywood, where she lived with her grandmother in a boarding house alongside her half-sister, Chrissie.

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Music played a big role in Burnett’s early life. Her grandmother was a trained musician, and her mother played the ukulele, sparking Carol’s fascination with music and singing. Trips to the movie theater with her grandmother ignited her love for film, and she even worked at a movie theater as a young girl. After high school, Burnett was given an anonymous envelope containing $50, which covered one year of tuition at UCLA. Initially reluctant to study acting as a prerequisite for her dream of becoming a playwright, she soon discovered her passion for performing and the joy of connecting with an audience.

Carol’s determination didn’t stop there. She appeared in numerous university theater productions and set her sights on New York, where she dreamed of starring in a musical. Her big break came when a mysterious benefactor offered her an interest-free loan of $1,000 to make the trip. Unfortunately, her father passed away from complications related to alcoholism during this time, but Burnett’s resolve only grew stronger.

Breaking Into the Entertainment Industry

Carol Burnett’s journey to stardom wasn’t easy. During her first year in New York, she struggled to book acting jobs. But persistence paid off when she landed a minor role in "The Paul Winchell and Jerry Mahoney Show" in 1955. She followed this with a role in the sitcom "Stanley" and began gaining notoriety through live performances in New York’s nightclubs and cabarets. One of her most memorable performances was "I Made a Fool of Myself Over John Foster Dulles," which caught the attention of none other than US Secretary of State John Dulles himself.

Burnett’s career continued to soar as she appeared in various Broadway musicals, game shows, and variety shows like "Pantomime Quiz" and "The Gary Moore Show." Her performance on the latter earned her an Emmy Award, boosting her star power significantly. From that point forward, Burnett headlined shows and theater productions, proving that her talent was here to stay.

The Rise of "The Carol Burnett Show"

In 1967, Carol Burnett launched her iconic variety show, "The Carol Burnett Show." Running for 11 years, the program became a cultural phenomenon, winning 23 Emmy Awards and cementing Burnett’s place in television history. The show featured everything from musical numbers and parodies to audience interaction and her famous "Tarzan yell." Burnett’s comedic brilliance and versatility made her a beloved figure in households across America.

After the show ended, Burnett continued to shine in films and television series. Some of her most memorable roles include performances in "The Four Seasons," "Seasons of the Heart," "Noses Off," and the voice role in "Horton Hears a Who." She also appeared in TV shows like "All My Children," "Desperate Housewives," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," and "Hawaii Five-O." Burnett even graced Broadway stages with productions like "Moon Over Buffalo" and "Putting It All Together." By the 2010s, she chose to step back from the limelight, focusing on her personal life.

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Love and Relationships

Burnett’s personal life has been as rich and varied as her career. In college, she met her first husband, Dan Saroyan, whom she married in 1955 but divorced in 1962. In 1963, she tied the knot with TV producer Joe Hamilton, with whom she had three children. Their marriage ended in 1984, partly due to their daughter’s struggles with drug addiction. In 2001, Burnett found love again with Brian Miller, a drummer for the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, who happens to be 23 years her junior.

Carol Burnett’s Real Estate Ventures

Carol Burnett’s real estate portfolio tells a story of luxury and style. In 1999, she purchased an ocean-view home in Montecito, California, for $2 million. After extensive renovations, including a stunning kitchen makeover, the 5,000-square-foot house became her dream home. When Oprah Winfrey bought a home in Montecito for $50 million in 2001, it sparked what journalists called "the Oprah effect," leading to inflated home prices in the area. Burnett listed her Montecito home for $36 million but ultimately decided to keep it.

In 2008, Burnett sold her luxurious 2,000-square-foot Trump Tower apartment in New York, which overlooked Central Park, for $5.58 million. She also bought an apartment on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles for $1.2 million in 2002, listing it for sale in 2022 for $4.2 million before selling it for $3.7 million in 2023. In the early 1990s, Burnett purchased an 8-acre property in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she built a magnificent 7,500-square-foot mansion. Featured on the cover of Architectural Digest in 1996, the mansion was later expanded to 9,500 square feet and listed for $6 million in 2021.