What Was Ingrid Bergman's Net Worth?
Ingrid Bergman, the remarkable Swedish actress, had a net worth of $6 million at her death in 1982. Adjusted for inflation, that is equivalent to around $20 million today.
Bergman enjoyed an illustrious career spanning five decades, which began in Sweden and later blossomed in Hollywood. She is best known for her roles in iconic films such as "Murder on the Orient Express," "Autumn Sonata," and "Under Capricorn."
Throughout her career, Bergman accumulated numerous awards, including three Academy Awards: Best Actress for "Gaslight" (1944) and "Anastasia" (1956), and Best Supporting Actress for "Murder on the Orient Express" (1974). She also won two Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, and several Golden Globe Awards. Some notable Golden Globe wins include Best Actress in a Motion Picture for "Gaslight" (1945) and "The Bells of St. Mary's" (1946), and Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie for "A Woman Called Golda" (1983).
Bergman passed away from breast cancer in London on August 29, 1982, coincidentally on her 67th birthday. She was cremated, and her ashes were scattered off the west coast of Sweden, with a portion placed next to her parents' ashes in Stockholm.
Early Life
Ingrid Bergman was born on August 29, 1915, in Stockholm, Sweden, to Justus Samuel Bergman and Frieda Henriette August Louise Bergman. Her father was Swedish, while her mother was German. Ingrid grew up in Sweden but also spent summers in Germany, becoming fluent in German. She was an only child; her older siblings died in infancy. When Ingrid was just two years old, her mother passed away. Later, her father sent her to a prestigious girls' school in Stockholm and enrolled her in voice lessons, hoping she would become an opera singer.
Tragically, when Ingrid was 14, her father died of stomach cancer. She then lived with her paternal aunt Ellen, who sadly died of heart disease six months later. Subsequently, Ingrid moved in with her maternal aunt Hulda and uncle Otto, who had five children of their own.
Bergman harbored a passion for the arts, inspired by her father. She won a scholarship to the Royal Dramatic Theatre School, attended earlier by Greta Garbo. However, after her first summer break, she left the school to work in films full-time, having been offered a job by a Swedish film studio.
Career
Bergman's film debut was as an extra in the 1932 film "Landskamp." Over the next few years, she acted in eleven Swedish films before turning 25. Her big break in the United States came in 1939 with the English-language remake of her Swedish film "Intermezzo," produced by David O. Selznick. This film's success catapulted her into the limelight, and in 1941, she starred in "Adam Had Four Sons," "Rage in Heaven," and "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." In 1942, she appeared in the classic film "Casablanca."
In 1943, Bergman starred in "For Whom the Bell Tolls," and her excellent performance in "Gaslight" (1944) earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress. Her roles in "The Bells of St. Mary's" (1945) opposite Bing Crosby and Alfred Hitchcock's "Spellbound" further solidified her reputation.
Bergman continued to collaborate with Hitchcock, starring in "Under Capricorn" (1949) and with Italian director Roberto Rossellini in "Stromboli" (1950), "Europa '51" (1952), and "Viaggio in Italia" (1954). Though not initially successful, her work with Rossellini has since gained much admiration.
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In the mid-1950s, Bergman returned to Hollywood, starring in Jean Renoir's "Elena and Her Men" (1956) and the French adaptation of "Tea and Sympathy." Her role in "Anastasia" (1956) earned her another Academy Award. She continued to work steadily, starring in "Indiscreet" (1958) and "The Inn of the Sixth Happiness." She was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. Bergman remained active in both screen and stage productions into the 1960s and 1970s, with notable works including "Murder on the Orient Express" and "A Woman Called Golda."
Personal Life
In July 1937, 21-year-old Bergman married dentist Peter Lindstrom. They had one daughter named Friedel. Lindstrom eventually became a neurosurgeon, but their marriage was strained due to Bergman's career. Despite his disapproval of Hollywood, Lindstrom managed Bergman's finances and accepted her affairs. However, her affair with Italian director Roberto Rossellini caused a scandal, especially after their son Renato was born in 1950. Bergman divorced Lindstrom and married Rossellini by proxy in May 1950. The couple had twin daughters – Ingrid and Isabella Rossellini – in 1952. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1957.
In December 1958, Bergman married Lars Schmidt, a theatrical entrepreneur. Despite their busy schedules, the couple stayed close even after their divorce in 1975. In 1974, Bergman discovered a lump in her breast while performing in "The Constant Wife" in London. After undergoing surgery, cancer was confirmed. Despite a few final performances, she retired to her London apartment. Bergman passed away on her 67th birthday, August 29, 1982. Her memorial service was held at Saint Martin-in-the-Fields church, attended by 1,200 mourners. Her ashes were scattered into the sea around Dannholmen, Sweden.
