Dame Maggie Smith reportedly left behind a huge sum following hear death aged 89. The globally renowned actress had a career spanning 64 years in the acting industry, accumulating a fortune worth millions of pounds.
The mother-of-two reportedly amassed a net worth of $40 million (£31.4m) by 2024, according to Equity Atlas. This figure is a testament to her illustrious career marked by critically acclaimed performances. Her wealth was also supplemented by her off-screen roles.
In 2021, the Daily Mail reported that Dame Maggie earned over £2.3 million, possibly linked to her role in Downton Abbey, marking it as one of the most prosperous years in her career. Downton Abbey: A New Era in 2021 was the second instalment of the spin-off feature films based on the ITV series.
Dame Maggie had been an integral part of the Downton Abbey saga since its inception in 2010, continuing to portray the matriarch Violet Crawley with dignity. She also made millions from other aspects of her career, reports the Irish Star.
The accounts of the actress's company - Dame Margaret Cross Productions - showed a profit of £1.6 million. This figure comes after accounting for £1.6 million in bills, as per the Daily Mail.
Dame Maggie first tread the boards at just 17 years old, gracing the West End and later Broadway, while also branching out into television roles. She became revered for her role as the sarcastic Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter series alongside a then-fledgling Daniel Radcliffe, was catapulted into international fame through this unforgettable performance.
Already held in high esteem by older generations for her myriad of outstanding portrayals, Dame Maggie successfully endeared herself to newer audiences, solidifying her status as an A-list celebrity. She remained a regular fixture in the limelight thanks to her pivotal role in the hit series Downton Abbey throughout the 2010s.
According to The List, she has been crowned the highest net worth individual among the Downton Abbey cast. Maggie's sons, Chris Larkin, 57, and Toby Stephens, 55, are expected to inherit her estate.
Following her split from Robert Stephens, the father of her two sons, in 1975, Dame Maggie discovered love anew with playwright Beverley Cross, tying the knot within the same year. Their marriage endured until his death in 1998.
Subsequently embracing the joys of 'grannyhood', it is reported that she generously directed her wealth to aid in her grandchildren's academic pursuits. Dame Maggie made headlines in a 2014 chat with The Daily Telegraph when she famously referred to her substantial Harry Potter earnings as "her pension".
Dame Maggie Smith: A Celebration is on ITV1 at 8.35pm.