What was Greta Garbo’s Net Worth?

Greta Garbo, the Swedish-American actress, had a net worth of $32 million at the time of her death in 1990, which is equivalent to around $70 million today. She was known for her understated performances and portrayal of tragic characters, and is considered one of the greatest female stars of classic Hollywood cinema. After retiring from acting in the 1940s, Garbo spent her time collecting art and investing in stocks, with her combined portfolio worth millions of dollars at the time of her passing.

Garbo was born Greta Gustafsson in Stockholm, Sweden in 1905, and worked various jobs as a teenager before starting her acting career. She moved to New York City in the mid-1920s, and starred in several silent films, becoming one of the biggest attractions at the box office in the 1930s. Garbo earned three Oscar nominations for her roles in “Anna Christine”, “Romance”, and “Ninotchka”, and appeared in a dozen more films, including “Anna Karenina” and “Camille”.

Garbo retired from film in 1941 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen a decade later. She never married or had children, but had a brief romance with co-star John Gilbert. Garbo battled breast cancer during the 1980s, and passed away in 1990 from renal failure and pneumonia.

Greta Garbo’s Childhood and Early Life

Greta Garbo was born on September 18, 1905 in Stockholm, Sweden. Her parents were Anna Lovisa and Karl Gustafsson. Her father worked as a laborer while her mother worked at a jam factory. She grew up in a small flat in the city’s working class district with her two older siblings, Sven and Alva.

Growing up, Garbo was not interested in school but participated in theater from a young age. She finished school at 13, which was typical for working class girls at the time. Her father became ill and passed away when Garbo was 14. She began working as a soap-lather girl in a barber shop and later in a department store.

Greta Garbo’s Career in Hollywood

Greta Garbo began her career as a fashion model in department stores and landed roles in film commercials. She caught the attention of director Erik Petschler, who cast her in his short comedy, “Peter the Tramp.” She then studied at the Royal Dramatic Training Academy in Stockholm before being recruited to play the principal part in Mauritz Stiller’s play, “The Saga of Gosta Berling.” Stiller became her mentor, helping her train as an actress and managing various aspects of her career.

Garbo was eventually connected with Louis B. Mayer of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and was asked to come to Hollywood to work in silent films. She landed a screen test with MGM Studios and was prepped for stardom by enrolling in English lessons, having her teeth fixed, and putting her on a diet. She appeared in nine silent films, including “Torrent” and “The Tempest,” in which she received rave reviews for her performance and was propelled to stardom.

Garbo then began transitioning to sound film and starred in “Anna Christie,” which was the highest-grossing film of the year. She starred in “Mata Hari” and “Grand Hotel,” which were MGM’s highest-earning films of each year. After her contract with MGM expired in 1932, she returned to Sweden and did not come back to the US until she renegotiated her contract for more money. She went on to star in “Camille” and “Ninotchka,” receiving Academy Award nominations for both performances.

Garbo retired from acting at the age of 35 and focused on art collecting and investing.

Greta Garbo’s Personal Life

Greta Garbo never married or had children, living alone for most of her adult life. Her most famous romance was with co-star John Gilbert, but she backed out of numerous proposals. She had a publicized relationship with conductor Leopold Stokowski, but it is unclear if it was romantic. Other stars like Erich Maria Remarque and Cecil Beaton have claimed to have had romantic relationships with Garbo.

Garbo’s biographers suggest that she was bisexual and had relationships with women such as Mercedes de Acosta and Mimi Pollak.

Garbo died in 1990 at the age of 84 due to pneumonia and renal failure. She is buried in a cemetery near her native Stockholm.

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