Sammy Davis, Jr. Net Worth -

What was Sammy Davis, Jr.’s Net Worth?

Sammy Davis, Jr. was an American entertainer and performer who had a net worth of $5 million at the time of his death in 1990.

Despite his success, Davis faced financial struggles due to multiple marriages and four children, as well as owing $7 million to the IRS at the time of his death.

Davis was known as “Mr. Show Business” and was a talented singer, dancer, musician, actor, and impressionist. He was nominated for a Tony award for his performance in “Golden Boy” on Broadway and appeared in numerous films and TV shows, including “Porgy and Bess,” “Ocean’s 11,” and “The Cannonball Run.”

However, Davis passed away at age 64 from throat cancer, leaving behind a complicated estate that was subject to legal battles.

Early Life and Career

Sammy Davis, Jr. was born on December 8, 1925, in Harlem, New York City. His parents were vaudeville dancers who split up when he was 3 years old. His father took custody of him and taught him to dance, along with Will Mastin, his godfather. They performed as the Will Mastin Trio, and Davis landed his first film role at age 7.

Military Service

Davis was drafted into the military at 18 and served in the Army during World War II. He suffered abuse from white soldiers, resulting in broken noses. He was reassigned to the Special Services branch and performed for the troops. He was discharged in 1945 with the rank of private and received two medals.

Sammy Davis Jr.’s Career Highlights

Sammy Davis Jr. recorded blues songs for Capitol Records in 1949 and found success with his impressions in 1951. He released his debut studio album in 1955 and starred in “Mr. Wonderful” on Broadway the following year. Davis became a member of the Rat Pack in 1959 and performed in Las Vegas and in films with the group. He also appeared on Canadian television and starred on Broadway in 1964. Davis released hit singles in the 1960s and 1970s and guest-starred on several TV shows. He sponsored the Sammy Davis Jr. National Liver Institute in 1985 and published three autobiographies throughout his life, with the last one released posthumously in 2000.

Sammy Davis, Jr.’s Personal Life

In 1957, Sammy Davis, Jr. was in a relationship with actress Kim Novak, but due to concerns about racist backlash, he was threatened by mobsters close to the president of Columbia Pictures, Harry Cohn. As a result, Davis offered singer Loray White $25,000 to marry him, promising to dissolve the marriage after a year. They wed in 1958 and divorced in 1959. Davis went on to marry Swedish-born actress May Britt in 1960 and adopted two sons before their divorce in 1968. He then married dancer Altovise Gore in 1970 and adopted a son in 1989. Davis also lost his left eye in a car accident in 1954 and converted to Judaism in 1961.

Despite being a Democrat, Davis became friends with Richard Nixon and endorsed him at the Republican National Convention in 1972. He also traveled to Vietnam to entertain the troops during the Vietnam War and was involved in the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, taking part in the March on Washington and helping to integrate nightclubs in Miami Beach and Las Vegas.

Sammy Davis Jr.’s Estate and Legacy

In 1989, Sammy Davis Jr. was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor that caused him to lose his ability to taste food and feel a tickle in his throat. Despite doctors recommending a laryngectomy, Davis opted for chemotherapy and radiation, eventually leading to the removal of his larynx. Sadly, he passed away two months later on May 16, 1990.

Davis left an estate worth an estimated $4 million to his widow, Altovise. However, he owed $7 million to the IRS, and Altovise was held liable for his debt as she had co-signed his tax returns. To pay off the debt, she auctioned off Davis’s real estate and possessions. She reached a settlement with the IRS in 1997, and after her death in 2009, their son Manny became the executor of the estate and majority-rights holder of his father’s creative works.

Sammy Davis Jr.’s Beverly Hills Mansion

In the 1970s, Sammy Davis Jr. purchased a 1.25-acre property in Beverly Hills that included an 11,000 square-foot home and guest house. He resided there until his passing. Six months after his death, his family put the mansion on the market for $4.25 million. The property features a stunning pool, large living spaces, and beautiful views of the city. Take a tour of the home through the linked video.

Accolades and Awards

Sammy Davis Jr. was posthumously awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001. One of his popular songs, “What Kind of Fool Am I?” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002. He received several nominations for his music, including Male Solo Vocal Performance, Record of the Year, and Pop Male Vocalist.

Davis also received recognition for his work in television and entertainment. “Sammy Davis Jr.’s 60th Anniversary Celebration” won an Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy in 1990. He was also nominated for “The Swinging World of Sammy Davis Jr.,” “One Life to Live,” and “The Cosby Show.” The American Guild of Variety Artists named him Man of the Year in 1961, and he received the NAACP Spingarn Medal Award in 1968.

Sammy Davis Jr. received several other honors throughout his career, including a Special Citation Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 1974 and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. He also received a Kennedy Center Honor in 1987 and was inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame, the Las Vegas Walk of Stars, the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame, and the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.

In 1981, Sammy Davis Jr. was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Literature from Atlanta University.