Dean Martin Net Worth - Pulptastic

Publish date: 2024-07-26

What was Dean Martin’s Net Worth?

Dean Martin, the American singer, actor, and comedian, had a net worth of $30 million at the time of his death in 1995. He was famous for his comedy work with Jerry Lewis, his comedic variety show “The Dean Martin Show,” and his membership in “The Rat Pack,” which included Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Humphrey Bogart.

Early Life and Career

Dean Martin, born Dino Paul Crocetti in Ohio in 1917, grew up speaking Italian and faced bullying due to his broken English. He dropped out of high school and worked various odd jobs, including as a boxer, before moving to New York City to pursue a career in show business. He began singing with local bands under the name “Dino Martini” and eventually changed his name to Dean Martin on the advice of bandleader Sammy Watkins. Martin got his big break with the Ernie McKay Orchestra and went on to perform in New York City in the fall of 1943.

Martin and Lewis: From Atlantic City to Hollywood

In 1945, Martin met Jerry Lewis at the Glass Hat Club. A year later, they debuted on stage in Atlantic City and became popular for their lighthearted slapstick and vaudeville comedy. Their success led to jobs elsewhere including a run at New York’s Copacabana Club. In 1949, they gained traction after appearing in the comedy musical film “My Friend Irma.” Their performance caught the eyes of NBC executives who then approached the pair about being on a comedy radio show. Despite NBC’s investment in the show, the pair’s comedy was visually oriented, and it didn’t translate as well on radio. They nevertheless received lucrative sponsorships from Chesterfield cigarettes and Anacin. In 1950, the pair made their television debut on “The Colgate Comedy Hour,” and they appeared in sixteen films together from the years 1949 and 1956. They parted ways in 1956 due to creative differences and diverging goals.

Dean Martin’s Acting Career and the Rat Pack

In the late 1950s, Martin started to establish himself as a dramatic actor, appearing in films such as “The Young Lions” and “Some Came Running,” which was nominated for Academy Awards. He also continued to build on his singing career and hosted his own variety show, “The Dean Martin Show,” from 1965 to 1974, earning a Golden Globe Award for his work.

Martin was part of the Rat Pack, a group of friends that included Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop. They frequently appeared in films and performed together, known for their shows in Las Vegas. Though Lawford was eventually replaced by Humphrey Bogart, the group reunited for a comedy tour in 1987 after growing apart in the 1970s.

Marriages and Health

Dean Martin was married three times. His first marriage to Elizabeth Anne McDonald ended in divorce after four children together. He married Dorothy Jean Biegger later in 1949 and had three children before they divorced in 1973. His final marriage to Catherine Hawn lasted three years but did not result in any new children.

Unfortunately, Martin was a heavy smoker throughout his life and was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1993. Although surgery was an option to prolong his life, he declined. By early 1995, he stopped appearing in public, and he eventually died of respiratory failure on Christmas Day in 1995. In honor of his legacy, Ohio Route 7, which passes through his hometown, was renamed Dean Martin Boulevard in 1997.

Dean Martin’s Real Estate Investments

In the 1970s, Dean Martin bought a property in Beverly Hills for $120,000, which he expanded to 12,000 square-feet. The home was sold three years after his death in 1995 for $1.35 million. In 2003, it was sold again for $2 million. The property was eventually torn down, and a modern mansion was built on the lot, which is currently listed for sale for $28 million.

Dean’s mid-century modern home in Palm Springs was sold by his estate in 1996 for $205,000.

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