What Is Camille Cosby's Net Worth?
Camille Cosby is an influential American manager, producer, author, and philanthropist with a net worth of $20 million. Camille is notably the wife of comedian Bill Cosby, who inspired the character of Clair Huxtable on "The Cosby Show" (1984–1992). As a seasoned business manager for Bill, she heads COC Productions and C&J Productions.
In 1987, Camille directed the video documentary "Bill Cosby: 49." She has produced several significant projects, including the TV series "Obkb" (2010–2012). She authored the books "Television's Imageable Influences: The Self-Perception of Young African-Americans" (1994) and "The Other Side of Color: African American Art in the Collection of Camille O. and William H. Cosby Jr." (2001).
Early Life
Camille Olivia Hanks was born on March 20, 1944, in Washington D.C. Her mother, Catherine, worked in a nursery, and her father, Guy, was a chemist at Walter Reed General Hospital. Growing up in Norbeck, Maryland, Camille attended Catholic schools St. Cyprian's and St. Cecilia's Academy. She later enrolled at the University of Maryland to study psychology, where she met Bill Cosby and left college at 19 to marry him. Camille returned to education, earning a master's degree in 1990 and a Ph.D. in 1992 from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She also received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Howard University in 1987.
Career
Known as a "shrewd businesswoman," Camille has been integral to Bill Cosby's career success. Bill himself mentioned in a 1988 "Ebony" interview, "People would rather deal with me than with Camille. She's rough to deal with when it comes to my business." Camille appeared in a 1986 episode of "The Cosby Show" and had an uncredited role in the 1999 TV movie "Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years," which she also executive produced. Her production credits span projects like "No Dreams Deferred" (1994), "Bill Cosby: Mr. Sapolsky, with Love" (1996), "Ennis' Gift" (2000), "Sylvia's Path" (2002), and "Fat Albert" (2004).
She wrote the foreword for books such as "Our Family Table: Recipes and Food Memories from African-American Life Models" (1993), "Dear Success Seeker: Wisdom from Outstanding Women" (2009), and "The Man from Essence: Creating a Magazine for Black Women" (2014). Additionally, she co-edited "A Wealth of Wisdom: Legendary African American Elders Speak" (2004) and co-founded the National Visionary Leadership Project in 2001.
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Personal Life
Camille married Bill Cosby on January 25, 1964. They have four daughters, Erika (born 1965), Erin (born 1966), Ensa (born 1973), and Evin (born 1976), and a son, Ennis (born 1969). Tragically, Ennis was murdered in 1997, and Ensa passed away in 2018 from renal disease. Camille once penned a column for "USA Today" titled "America Taught My Son's Killer to Hate Blacks." She is also related to actor Tom Hanks, sharing a distant relation to Abraham Lincoln.
Despite accusations against Bill Cosby for drugging and sexually assaulting women, Camille remained supportive, stating in 2014 about Bill's kindness and humor. She was subpoenaed for depositions in the defamation lawsuit filed by Bill's accusers and invoked spousal privilege on several questions. When Bill was convicted in May 2018, Camille protested, releasing a statement that critiqued the legal handling as "mob justice." The Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned his conviction in June 2021 due to due process violations.
Philanthropy
Camille Cosby is highly dedicated to charitable causes. She has been involved with organizations such as The United Negro College Fund, Operation PUSH, the National Council of Negro Women, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and the National Rainbow Coalition, earning the National Coalition of 100 Black Women's Candace Award in 1992. Her generous donations include $2 million to St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, contributing to scholarships, and multiple contributions to educational institutions like Central State University, Fisk University, Meharry Medical College, Bethune-Cookman University, and Spelman College. Spelman named the Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby Academic Center in her honor in 1996.
Real Estate
In 1983, Bill and Camille Cosby purchased an 1800-built home in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, for $225,000. The 5,835 square foot house, featuring five bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms, is situated on a three-acre lot. They also own a sprawling 21-acre estate in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts.
