Suzanne Somers was a beloved actress, author, and entrepreneur who left a lasting impact on popular culture. She was known for her role as Chrissy Snow on the hit TV show Three’s Company, and later became a successful businesswoman and author.
As of her passing in October 2023, her net worth was estimated at $100 million. This blog will explore how Suzanne Somers achieved such financial success, the key factors that contributed to her wealth, and how her career evolved over the years.
Key Points:
- Suzanne Somers was known for her role in Three’s Company and her business ventures, especially the ThighMaster.
- Despite a rocky career start, Suzanne built her wealth through television, books, and entrepreneurial ventures.
- She became a household name not just for her acting, but also for her advocacy in health and wellness.
What Contributed to Suzanne Somers’ Net Worth?
Suzanne Somers’ net worth of $100 million came from various sources, ranging from her acting career to her successful business ventures. The key to her success was her ability to adapt and diversify her career. Let’s take a look at how different aspects of her life contributed to her impressive fortune.
Acting Career: The Start of a Star
Suzanne Somers’ breakthrough came in 1977 when she joined the cast of Three’s Company as Chrissy Snow. This sitcom, which became a cultural phenomenon, skyrocketed Suzanne to fame. She was earning $30,000 per episode by the fifth season, and by today’s standards, that salary would be equivalent to approximately $95,000 per episode. However, her financial journey took a drastic turn when she demanded equal pay to her co-star, John Ritter, who was earning $150,000 per episode. Suzanne requested not just the same salary but also 10% of the show’s profits.
When the producers denied her requests, Suzanne was written off the show, marking a tough period in her acting career. Despite the setback, Suzanne Somers remained resilient and found success again with other television roles, including Step by Step, a family sitcom that aired from 1991 to 1998.
Key Insight: Her **salary dispute on “Three’s Company” was a significant turning point in Suzanne’s career, showing her belief in equal pay and establishing her as a determined businesswoman in the entertainment industry.
Entrepreneurial Ventures: ThighMaster and Beyond
Suzanne Somers didn’t just rely on her acting career to build her wealth. In the early 1990s, she became the face of the ThighMaster, a fitness product that revolutionized infomercials. Although she didn’t own the ThighMaster, Suzanne was heavily compensated for promoting it. The product became immensely popular, generating over $100 million in sales. Suzanne’s association with the ThighMaster was one of the defining moments of her entrepreneurial career.
Additionally, Suzanne’s interest in alternative medicine led her to write several best-selling books on health, wellness, and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. These ventures, along with her involvement in wellness products, helped her maintain a strong financial position.
Note: Suzanne’s entrepreneurial journey demonstrates how pivoting to business ventures outside acting can lead to substantial wealth accumulation.
Writing and Authoring Books
Aside from her acting career, Suzanne Somers became a well-known author. She penned numerous books, many of which were focused on health, wellness, and alternative medicine. These books gained popularity, especially among readers interested in natural healing. Some of her most notable books include “The Sexy Years”, which became a bestseller and delved into her views on bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.
Her books helped her establish a reputation as an advocate for alternative medicine, a cause she became passionate about after battling breast cancer for years. In addition to her books, Suzanne was a vocal supporter of non-traditional cancer treatments, which further elevated her public profile.
Reminder: Suzanne’s success as an author is a testament to how celebrities can leverage their fame to impact areas beyond entertainment, such as health and wellness.
How Did Suzanne Somers Manage Her Finances?
One of the key reasons Suzanne Somers accumulated significant wealth was her strategic approach to managing her finances. She understood the importance of diversification, which is why she branched out into various business ventures, such as wellness products and writing books. Moreover, Suzanne was shrewd in her real estate investments, owning multiple properties in desirable locations, including Palm Springs and Malibu.
Real Estate Ventures
Suzanne’s real estate portfolio included several impressive properties in Southern California. At one point, she and her husband, Alan Hamel, owned a sprawling 73-acre estate in Palm Springs. Over the years, they listed the property at different prices, ultimately accepting an offer of $8.5 million in 2021. Additionally, Suzanne owned oceanfront property in Malibu, which she sold for $12 million after a fire destroyed the homes on the property.
Table 1: Real Estate Overview
| Property Location | Purchase Price | Final Sale Price |
| Palm Springs Mansion | N/A | $8.5 million |
| Malibu Oceanfront Lots | $4.65 million | $12 million |
These real estate investments allowed Suzanne and her family to generate significant returns, further boosting her wealth.
Key Insight: Suzanne’s real estate strategy helped her accumulate wealth outside of her core acting and business ventures.*
Was Suzanne Somers’ Career Affected by Her Controversial Past?
Suzanne Somers’ career wasn’t without controversy. In addition to her salary dispute with the producers of Three’s Company, Suzanne also had a complicated relationship with Playboy. She posed nude for the magazine twice, despite initially being reluctant. Her first Playboy shoot was published in 1980, and Suzanne later sued the magazine after it published the photos without her consent.
Though Suzanne was upset with the magazine, she later posed again in 1984, believing she could take control of the situation. This bold move was part of her strategy to regain public attention during a time when her career was in decline.
Table 2: Playboy Pictorial Timeline
| Year | Event | Suzanne’s Reaction |
| 1980 | First nude shoot | Sued Playboy for publishing without consent |
| 1984 | Second nude shoot | Felt in control, used it to regain career momentum |
Her decision to pose again helped her regain visibility in the media and propelled her back into the spotlight. Despite the controversy, Suzanne continued to be a force in the entertainment industry.
Conclusion
Suzanne Somers’ journey to building a $100 million fortune is a testament to her perseverance, adaptability, and entrepreneurial spirit. While her acting career gave her an initial boost, it was her ventures in business, writing, and wellness that solidified her wealth. By diversifying her career, Suzanne not only overcame challenges but also built a lasting legacy. Her legacy is not just about the wealth she accumulated but the influence she had on alternative medicine and women’s health.
Her journey proves that with hard work, vision, and determination, one can overcome setbacks and achieve great success.
FAQ’s
1. What was Suzanne Somers’ net worth at the time of her death?
At the time of her death in 2023, Suzanne Somers had a net worth of $100 million, which she accumulated from her acting career, books, and business ventures like the ThighMaster.
2. How did Suzanne Somers make her money?
Suzanne Somers made her money primarily from her acting roles in shows like Three’s Company and Step by Step, as well as from her business ventures, including the ThighMaster, and her books on health and wellness.
3. What role made Suzanne Somers famous?
Suzanne Somers became famous for her role as Chrissy Snow on the sitcom Three’s Company, where she starred from 1977 to 1981.
4. What was Suzanne Somers’ controversial Playboy shoot about?
Suzanne Somers posed nude for Playboy twice, once in 1980 and again in 1984, despite initially being reluctant. The first shoot was published without her consent, leading her to sue the magazine.
5. Did Suzanne Somers own the ThighMaster?
No, Suzanne Somers did not own the ThighMaster, but she was heavily compensated for promoting it and played a key role in making the product a success, generating over $100 million in sales.
Michael K