Mary Jane West was born on the 17th August 1893 in Brooklyn, New York City USA, and was an actress, screenwriter, playwright and singer, known to the world for her controversial plays “SEX” (1926), and “The Drag”, among many other successful acts. Credited as the most controversial personality in the entertainment industry during her time, Mae left a deep mark on the next generations of sex symbols, including Marilyn Monroe and many others. She passed away on the 22nd November 1980 in Los Angeles, California at 87 years old. Mae’s career started in 1907 and ended in 1978.
Have you ever wondered how rich Mae West was, at the time of her death? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that West’s net worth was as high as $20 million, an amount earned through her more than successful career in the entertainment industry.
Mae West Net Worth $20 Million
Mae was the eldest serving child born to Patrick West and Matilda Delker, of German, Scottish and Irish ancestry. Her childhood was marred by frequent moves as the whole family lived in several parts of Woodhaven, Williamsburg and Greenpoint.
Mae was thrown into entertainment from an early age, performing at the local church when five years old, only to start making appearances in amateur shows two years later. She continued with talent contests and won numerous prizes, before she started performing professionally in the Hal Clarendon Stock Company in vaudeville when she was 14 years old. From then until her death, Mae rose to stardom through Broadway appearances and later on television.
Her first Broadway appearance was in 1911, in the play “A La Broadway” as Maggie O’Hara. She then featured in the play “Vera Violetta” in 1912, but until 1918 and the part of Mayme Dean in the play “Sometime”, Mae was somewhat unknown. After that particular role she emerged as a rising star, and soon started writing her own material which resulted in “SEX”, premiered on 26th April 1926. She ended-up in prison for the play, as it was against the social morals of the time, sentenced 10 days for “corrupting the morals of youth”. Time in prison did well for Mae, as her popularity grew at enormous speed. and away of all boundaries. She continued with her own plays, such as “The Drag” which was also later banned, as it dealt with homosexuality and wasn’t accepted by many theaters, then she created the character Diamond Lili, and toured extensively with several later revivals from the late ‘20s to early ‘50s. She also wrote “Sextette” in 1961, which premiered at the Edgewater Beach Playhouse, and was years later made into a film.
In the early ‘30s, Mae decided to try her luck on screen, and signed a contract with the Paramount Pictures. Her first screen role was as Maudie Triplett in the comedy “Night After Night” in 1932, starring George Raft, Constance Cummings and Wynne Gibson. Although her role was minor, Mae stole the show, and was immediately given the lead role in the comedy drama “She Done Him Wrong”, with Cary Grant and Owen Moore. She continued as a star in Paramount films, such as in “I’m No Angel” (1933), “Belle of the Nineties” (1934), and “Go West Young Man” (1936). In the early ‘40s she decided to take a break from screen roles, but not before she starred in “My Little Chickadee” (1940), and “The Heat’s On” (1943), with Victor Moore, William Gaxton and Lester Allen.
She was again banned from public by mostly religious groups for her extensive use of sexuality for profit, which forced her into the music business, and she released eight studio albums from the mid-50s until her death; some of them include “Way Out West” (1966) and “Great Balls of Fire” (1972) among many others, which also added to her wealth.
She also focused more on writing, and published a number of books including her autobiography “Goodness Had Nothing to Do with It”, which was first published in 1959 and then re-published in 1970.
Mae returned to screen in 1970 in the role of Leticia Van Allen in the comedy film “Myra Breckinridge”, and before her death appeared also in “Sextette” (1978), based on her play from 1961.
Regarding her personal life, Mae was married to vaudevillian Frank Wallace from 1911 until 1942. She became known for her relationships and affairs, but from 61 years of age until her death she lived with Chester Rybinski, one of her muscle men, who was 30 years younger than her. Chester later changed his name to Paul Novak.
Mae suffered a stroke in August 1980, and spent her last days at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles. Her body was entombed at the family mausoleum at Cypress Hills Abbey, Brooklyn.
