Let’s talk about Penny Marshall. She was a genius, a trailblazer, and, oh yeah, she left behind a pile of cash that would make a cartoon character dizzy. When she died in 2018, her net worth was estimated at $45 million. Not bad for a girl from the Bronx who started as a secretary.
The Laverne & Shirley Pay Day
You remember her as Laverne DeFazio. That adorable, tough-as-nails bottle-capper on “Laverne & Shirley”. That show was a monster hit. By the final seasons, she and Cindy Williams were pulling in $100,000 per episode, each. That’s not chump change—that’s a tiny fortune in the 1970s.
But here’s the kicker. Penny didn’t just act. She directed. She was the first woman to direct a film that grossed over $100 million. That film was “Big” with Tom Hanks. And then she did it again with “A League of Their Own”. Talk about a double whammy.
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The Real Money Moves
Directing “Big” changed everything. That movie made $151 million in the U.S. alone. Penny got a hefty paycheck upfront, plus backend points. That means she got a cut of every single ticket sold, long after the popcorn was stale.
Then came “Awakenings” with Robin Williams and Robert De Niro. It was nominated for an Oscar. She didn’t win, but her bank account sure did. Directing those A-list stars meant her fee skyrocketed.
Penny Marshall, Actress and Oscar-Nominated Director, Dies at 75 | Decider
And don’t forget “Riding in Cars with Boys” and “The Preacher’s Wife”. Even when the movies weren’t giant hits, she still got paid like a boss.
Real Estate: The Penny Palace
Penny owned a huge, iconic home in Los Angeles. It was a renovated Swiss-style chalet, but she made it a museum of kitsch. She had a life-sized model of a Woolworth’s lunch counter in her kitchen. Seriously. You could sit on a stool and order a milkshake.
That home alone was worth around $10 million. She also had a ranch and a New York City apartment. She didn’t just collect cash; she collected houses. And she filled them with oddball treasures, like a collection of bowling shirts.
'Laverne & Shirley' star, 'Big' director Penny Marshall dies
The Quirky Stockpile
Here’s what makes this story juicy. Penny wasn’t a spender on yachts or private jets. She spent on weird stuff. She had a giant collection of Pez dispensers and vintage board games. She once bought a 1950s-era fire truck just because.
She also owned the rights to “Laverne & Shirley” and other shows she produced. Those syndication checks keep on coming, even after you’re gone. It’s like a ghost earning a residual check every time someone watches a rerun at 2 a.m.
The Overnight Success (That Took 20 Years)
Penny didn’t start rich. She was a single mom working as a secretary. She took an acting class on a whim. Then she got a bit part on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” as a wacky secretary. That led to “Laverne & Shirley”.
“Laverne and Shirley’s” Penny Marshall dead at 75 | HeraldNet.com
But she was terrified of directing at first. The studio said, “Hey, you should direct an episode.” She said, “I don’t know how!” So she studied. She watched John Cassavetes films. She became a natural behind the camera and never looked back.
The Final Tally
When Penny died at 75, her net worth was $45 million. But here’s the funny thing: she didn’t care about the money. She said in interviews, “I just want to make people laugh.” And she did—while also making a fortune.
She left a chunk of her estate to charity, including the Autism Science Foundation. Her son, Tracy, got a nice inheritance. But the real inheritance for us? The movies. The shows. The memory of her raspy laugh and her baseball cap.
'Laverne & Shirley' Actor Penny Marshall Dead At 75
Why This Topic Is Just Fun
Let’s be real. Talking about dead celebrities’ money feels a little weird. But Penny Marshall’s story is the opposite of stuffy. It’s a tale of a tough broad from the Bronx who didn’t follow the rules. She smoked cigars. She wore sneakers on red carpets. She told the boys’ club to shove it.
And she got paid for it. Not just in dollars—but in respect. Her net worth is just a number. But it’s a number that screams: “I did it my way.” And can you think of a more fun fact than that?
So next time you watch “Big” or hear the “Schlemiel! Schlimazel!” chant, remember: that woman was laughing all the way to the bank. And she probably paid for it with a vintage Pez dispenser.