What was Julia Child's Net Worth?
Julia Child was an American chef, author, and television personality with a net worth of $50 million at the time of her death in 2004, adjusted for inflation. Her debut cookbook, 1961's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking," revolutionized the American culinary landscape by popularizing French cuisine. She published 16 additional cookbooks and the memoir "My Life in France," which was released posthumously in 2006. Julia starred in numerous TV shows, including the Emmy-winning "The French Chef" (1963–1973), "In Julia's Kitchen with Master Chefs" (1995–1996), and "Julia & Jacques Cooking at Home" (1999–2000). In 2009, Meryl Streep portrayed Julia in the film "Julie & Julia," directed by Nora Ephron.
Early Life
Julia Carolyn McWilliams was born on August 15, 1912, in Pasadena, California. Her mother, Julia Weston, was the daughter of Massachusetts lieutenant governor and Weston Paper Company founder Byron Curtis Weston. Her father, John McWilliams, Jr., was a Princeton University graduate and a land manager. Julia had two siblings: a younger brother, John, and a younger sister, Dorothy. She attended Polytechnic School and Katherine Branson School, excelling in basketball, tennis, and golf during her youth. After high school, Julia majored in history at Smith College, graduating in 1934. She didn't begin to learn cooking until her thirties, inspired by her future husband Paul, who was known for his sophisticated palate.
Career
Post-college, Julia moved to New York City, where she worked as a copywriter for W. & J. Sloane. In 1942, she joined the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) as a typist. Julia's career in OSS saw her rise to a top-secret researcher under General William J. Donovan. She contributed significantly to the development of shark repellent, ensuring the safety of underwater OSS explosives—a concoction still in use today. For her services, she received the Emblem of Meritorious Civilian Service.
Julia attended the prestigious Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris, honing her skills under master chefs like Max Bugnard. Joining the women's cooking club Le Cercle des Gourmettes, she met Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle, with whom she co-authored the seminal "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" in 1961.
Following the success of this cookbook, Julia wrote numerous articles and columns, notably for "The Boston Globe." Her other notable cookbooks include "The French Chef Cookbook" (1968), "Baking with Julia" (1996), and "Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home" (1999). In 1962, a cooking demo on a Boston TV station led to her own show, "The French Chef", which debuted in 1963 on WGBH and aired 201 episodes over ten seasons. She later starred in other popular shows such as "Julia Child & Company" (1978–1979) and "Dinner at Julia's" (1983–1984).
In 1981, Julia co-founded the American Institute of Wine & Food to elevate the quality and appreciation of both. Three of Julia's TV shows were filmed in her Cambridge, Massachusetts kitchen, which she donated to the Smithsonian Institution in 2001.
Personal Life
Julia married Paul Cushing Child on September 1, 1946. The two met in Kandy, Ceylon, while working for the OSS. After residing in Washington, D.C., and later in Paris for Paul's U.S. Foreign Service role, they moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts, following his retirement. Paul passed away in 1994. In 1995, Julia established The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and Culinary Arts to continue her educational legacy.
Death and Legacy
Julia Child passed away from kidney failure on August 13, 2004, in Montecito, California, just before her 92nd birthday. Her ashes were placed in the Neptune Memorial Reef near Key Biscayne, Florida. In 2014, she was honored with a "Celebrity Chefs Forever" stamp by the U.S. Postal Service.
Awards and Nominations
Julia won numerous accolades, including three Primetime Emmy nominations and one win for "The French Chef" (1966). She earned two Daytime Emmys and two additional nominations, along with a Peabody Award (1965) and the National Book Award for "Julia Child and More Company" (1980). Julia received France's Legion of Honor in 2000, the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2003, and was posthumously inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 2007. She received honorary doctorates from several universities, including Harvard, Brown, and Johnson & Wales.
