Max Baer Jr is an American former actor, screenwriter, businessman, producer, and director who has a net worth of $ 50 million. He is better known for portraying Jethro Bodine in The Beverly Hillbillies. Max made his fortune through several ventures, including filmmaking, screenwriting, and real estate.
Acting Career
Max Baer Jr ventured into the acting industry in the early 1960s. He made guest appearances in a few shows, including Maverick, Cheyenne, 77 Sunset Strip, and Sugarfoot. However, achieved national and international fame after landing the role of Jethro Bodine. He appeared on the show until its cancellation in 1971.
After the show ended, he appeared in several films and television shows. For instance, in 1974, he produced and appeared in the film Macon County Line. The film grossed $ 30 million. It was very profitable given that it had a budget of just $ 225,000. He later retired from acting, focusing on other things while also trying to spend more time with his family.
Personal Life
Max Baer Jr married twice in his life. He first married Joanne Hill in 1966. However, they divorced five years later. Afterwards, he got into a relationship with model Chere Rhodes, who was 40 years his junior. They were together up to 2008 when Rhodes took her own life.
Real Estate
Besides acting, Max Baer Jr ventured into real estate to continue growing his fortune. For instance, in 2003, he bought a property in Bellevue, Washington, for $4.3 million. Four years later, he sold the property for 8.5 million, making over 4 million in the process. Initially, Max Baer Jr wanted to demolish the property and then build a mansion and a casino. However, local opposition and other legal issues made him reconsider his decision.
Max also bought a property in Nevada in the 1970s. It is unclear if he sold this property or if he is still the owner of the property. In 1999, he purchased a property in Las Vegas for $190,000. Over the years, he has been trying to list the property for sale, but he has yet to sell it.
Gambling Industry
In the early 1990s, after noticing that tourists were paying to have a tour of Ponderosa Ranch, which was the center stage of the Bonanza show, Max realized that he would make money from “The Beverly Hillbillies” themed attractions. As such, he bought licensing rights for the show and installed slot machines in various casinos. He made a lot of money from these slot machines.
Max is a great businessman. After realizing how much money he was making from the slot machines. He thought of expanding his business. In 2003, he wanted to change his Wal-Mart property to a casino, but he faced several challenges that hindered his ambition.
Wrap Up
In conclusion, Max Baer Jr has a fortune of 50 million dollars. He made most of this money through his acting career and various business ventures. It is likely that his fortune will keep growing, given that he is engaged in money-making ventures.
