What is Woody Allen's Net Worth and Salary?
Woody Allen is a famous American screenwriter, film director, actor, comedian, musician, and playwright who has a net worth of $140 million. He is best known for his screwball and somewhat zany romantic comedies. He has received 24 Oscar nominations and won four times (three as a writer and one as a director). His work has also been recognized in Europe, winning awards for his screenplays and films in Spain and France. Allen has also written four books and is an accomplished jazz clarinetist.
Early Life
Heywood "Woody" Allen (born Allan Stewart Konigsberg) was born in Brooklyn, New York, on December 1, 1935. His mother, Nettie, was a bookkeeper at her family's delicatessen, and his father, Martin, was a jewelry engraver and waiter. His family is Jewish, and his grandparents immigrated from Austria and Lithuania. He legally changed his name to Heywood Allen when he was 17 and started calling himself "Woody." He attended New York University to study communication and film but dropped out after failing a class named "Motion Picture Production." He also spent a semester at City College of New York in 1954, studying film.
Early Career
Allen began his career in show business at a young age, writing jokes for "The Herb Shriner Show." He then became a scriptwriter for Ed Sullivan, "The Tonight Show" (before Johnny Carson), and Sid Caesar. He also wrote for "Candid Camera." In 1961, Allen became a stand-up comic, performing in small clubs in Greenwich Village, Manhattan. He released three comedy albums in the 1960s and earned a Grammy nomination for his 1964 comedy album "Woody Allen." He transitioned to Broadway, writing plays such as "Don't Drink The Water" (1966) and "Play It Again, Sam" (1969), both successful with theater audiences.
Film Career
Allen's first film, "What's New, Pussycat?" (1965), saw him writing the screenplay, but he was disappointed with the outcome, leading him to direct every film he wrote thereafter, except for "Play It Again, Sam" (1972). His directorial debut was with "What's Up, Tiger Lily?" (1966). Allen has acted in many of his films, including "Take the Money and Run" (1969).
With over 75 writing credits, 50 directing credits, and nearly 50 acting credits, Allen's filmography is impressive. "Annie Hall," one of his best-known works, starred him and frequent collaborator Diane Keaton, winning four Academy Awards. Other notable films include "Manhattan" (1979), "Hannah and Her Sisters" (1986), and "Midnight in Paris" (2011). Allen himself has highlighted "Stardust Memories" (1980), "The Purple Rose of Cairo" (1985), and "Match Point" (2005) as among his best works. He has won four Academy Awards, nine British Academy Film Awards, the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award for Lifetime Achievement, and a Tony Award nomination.
As of June 2020, Allen has directed 49 feature films and one short film and has written or directed 14 theater productions.
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Other Projects
Beyond film and theater, Allen is a published author. His books include "Getting Even" (1971), "Without Feathers" (1975), "Side Effects" (1980), "Mere Anarchy" (2007), "The Insanity Defense" (2007), and "Apropos of Nothing" (2020). Allen is an ardent jazz fan and clarinetist, playing with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band for the "Sleeper" soundtrack and leading his New Orleans Jazz Band, which has performed at the Carlyle Hotel in Manhattan and toured internationally, including the Montreal International Jazz Festival.
Personal Life
Allen has been married three times. His first marriage was to Harlene Rosen (1956-1959), his second to Louise Lasser (1966-1970), and his third to Soon-Yi Previn (2007-present as of June 2020). He has also had relationships with Stacey Nelkin, Diane Keaton, and Mia Farrow.
Many of the women in his life have appeared in his projects. Lasser starred in "Take the Money and Run" (1969), "Bananas" (1971), and "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask)" (1972). Keaton was in "Play It Again, Sam" (1969) and numerous films like "Sleeper" (1973) and "Manhattan Murder Mystery" (1993). Farrow starred in 13 of Allen's films from 1982 to 1992.
Allen's personal life has included controversy, particularly his relationship with Mia Farrow and her adopted daughter, Soon-Yi Previn. While dating Farrow, she had seven children, including Previn. Farrow adopted another child during their relationship and had Allen's son in 1987. In 1992, Allen announced his love for Previn, which led to a public scandal.
Real Estate
In 1999, Allen sold his long-time New York City duplex for $14 million. He later purchased a $26 million, 4,000-square-foot townhouse on the Upper East Side, featuring a private courtyard and reportedly ten rooms.
