Susan George Net Worth: From Acting Star to Savvy Business Woman

Susan George's impressive net worth shows her incredible experience from beloved actress to smart businesswoman. The 75-year-old star earned fame through her roles in iconic films like "Straw Dogs" (1971), "Dirty Mary Crazy Larry" (1974), and "Mandigo" (1975). She built her wealth through smart career choices over decades.

The prominent actress Susan George's financial success reaches way beyond the reach and influence of Hollywood. Life took a difficult turn in 2010 when doctors diagnosed her husband Simon MacCorkindale with bowel cancer. George showed amazing strength during this time.

Her business skills shine through her world-class stud farm, Georgian Arabians.

The farm has produced more than 117 foals and houses some of the world's finest Arabian pure-bred horses. The sort of thing I love about George's financial experience is how it differs from other entertainment figures.

Take Lauralee Bell, for example, who has built a fortune of around $200 million. This piece explains how Susan George runs her empire today and the different ways she built her wealth.

What is Susan George’s Net Worth?

Susan George's current net worth sits at around $9 million, according to several financial sources. Her five-decade career in entertainment and business has built this impressive wealth.

Estimated figures and sources of income

Susan George built her wealth through multiple revenue streams over her career. She started acting at age four and has appeared in more than 45 films and TV productions. Her career took off with controversial roles in films like "Straw Dogs" that boosted her earning potential.

The real money came from ventures outside the film industry. Her Arabian horse stud farm, Georgian Arabians, started in the 1990s and became her biggest money maker. The farm has produced 117 foals and houses some of the world's finest Arabian horses.

She proved her business skills through several ventures:

  • Property investments across England
  • Sales from her book "Susan George: A Life in High Definition"
  • Regular royalties from her film work
  • Select public speaking and appearances

How her wealth compares to other actresses

Today's Hollywood A-listers often have net worths above $100 million, making George's $9 million seem modest. But for a British actress who worked mainly in the 1960s-1980s, this shows remarkable financial success.

George's wealth stands out compared to her peers who stuck only to acting. Her smart move into horse breeding earned international recognition and helped grow her wealth even after she stepped back from regular acting.

Many actresses relied only on film earnings, but George created lasting income streams. She took a smart approach to managing her money that set her apart from others who struggled after their acting careers peaked.

British actresses from her era who switched from acting to business often did better financially. George ranks among the most successful of this group, having moved beyond the unpredictable world of entertainment.

Acting Career That Built the Foundation

Susan George's wealth started with her acting career when she was just four years old. She appeared in television plays and commercials, which helped her build the foundation for her future success.

Early start and training

Susan was born in 1950 and started her professional life at the Corona Theater School. Her talent showed early – she had already acted in eleven television plays and many commercials by age 12.

The young actress appeared in popular shows like The Dickie Henderson Show (1962), ITV Television Playhouse, and Swallows and Amazons. She made her stage debut at 12 in a West End production of The Sound of Music, which proved her ability to perform across different media.

Key roles in Susan George movies

The 1970s saw Susan become a familiar face on British television screens. She landed her first starring film role at 17 in The Strange Affair (1968) opposite Michael York.

Her filmography grew to include:

  • Spring and Port Wine (1970) alongside James Mason
  • Fright (1971) for director Peter Collinson
  • Straw Dogs (1971) with Dustin Hoffman – her international breakthrough
  • Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry (1974) – a major commercial success
  • Mandingo (1975) – another box office hit

Her role as Amy Sumner in Straw Dogs "catapulted her to international stardom" and opened doors to profitable American film opportunities that boosted her earning potential.

Awards, recognition, and earnings from film

The success of Straw Dogs led Susan to spend much of the 1970s working in the United States, where she earned higher salaries as her popularity grew.

Her talent earned her a Saturn Award nomination for Best Actress in The House Where Evil Dwells (1983). She also won the Best Actress award at the Virgin Islands Film Festival and Italy's Valentino award.

Susan expanded her career in the 1980s by moving into production. She co-produced Stealing Heaven (1988) with her husband Simon MacCorkindale, which showed her business skills extended beyond acting.

Beyond Acting: Business and Personal Ventures

Susan George built her wealth through entrepreneurial ventures in the equestrian world, though her acting career set the stage for her success.

The stud farm and equestrian business

Susan and her husband Simon MacCorkindale bought a run-down sheep and cattle farm eighteen years ago. They turned it into Georgian Arabians, a thriving stud farm that breeds Arabian horses. Susan has helped deliver around 110 foals over 25 years and now keeps more than 20 horses at her Exmoor property.

The farm reached its peak in 2012 when her stallion, SG Imagine, became the British National Champion Stallion. This victory came with mixed emotions, just two years after Simon passed away. Georgian Arabians has grown from a hobby to a successful business and now houses some of the world's best purebred Arabian horses.

Real estate and property investments

The stud farm in Somerset's Exmoor region stands as Susan's main real estate investment. She has thought about moving closer to London as new film opportunities have emerged.

Somerset's beauty comes with isolation, and she hopes to find "a young couple to take on our dream and continue the legacy". This property decision shows her business sense in matching lifestyle with career opportunities.

Public appearances and media projects

Susan has expanded beyond horses and property through several media ventures. She showed her photography skills with "The Spirit Of Equus," an acclaimed exhibition at Petley Fine Art in London that later moved to Harrods.

She returned to television in 2018 with the BBC series "The Real Marigold Hotel". Her autobiography remains a work in progress, having "dramatic change in shape and content over recent years". She also runs "My Things & Others," a shop at her farm that sells celebrity items to support charity.

Personal Life, Legacy, and Current Status

Susan George's wealth tells a story of deep love and heartbreaking loss. Her personal life has substantially shaped her financial path over the years.

Marriage to Simon MacCorkindale

Susan George tied the knot with British actor Simon MacCorkindale on October 5, 1984. The couple chose a private ceremony in Fiji and later celebrated with family in Berkshire, England.

Their marriage lasted 26 years until MacCorkindale passed away on October 14, 2010. The couple's bond grew stronger through cooperative work that led them to co-produce "Stealing Heaven" in 1988.

Simon MacCorkindale net worth and shared assets

MacCorkindale's fight against cancer took a heavy toll on the couple's savings. The couple searched for every possible treatment after his bowel cancer diagnosis in 2010. They tried chemotherapy, homeopathy, macrobiotic diets, and spiritual healing.

The couple owned a 50-acre Exmoor property. They turned their sheep and cattle farm into a successful Arabian horse stud.

Susan George now: where she lives and what she does

Susan lives in her Somerset farmhouse but thinks about moving to a smaller place from her five-bedroom home in Exmoor National Park. She runs Georgian Arabians successfully and has bred 90 Arabian foals across 19 years.

She created "Lasting Life – The Simon MacCorkindale Legacy" in 2016 to help cancer patients. BBC's "The Real Marigold Hotel" marked her public comeback in 2018.

Her influence and legacy in British cinema

Susan's impact reaches way beyond the reach and influence of film. She holds prestigious memberships in British Actors Equity and Screen Actors Guild. She remains a life member of The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences and BAFTA.

Her role as President of the British Arab Horse Society and Honorary President of The Horse of the Year Show proves she became more than just an actress in British cultural life.

Conclusion

Susan George's net worth of $9 million shows her impressive rise from child actress to smart businesswoman. Her career spans five decades, and she showed great versatility. She started with breakthrough roles in "Straw Dogs" and "Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry" before growing her financial interests well beyond Hollywood.

Many actresses from her era struggled with money after their peak years, but George made smart moves to diversify her income. Her Georgian Arabians stud farm stands as her biggest success outside acting. The farm has produced over 110 foals in its 25-year history and earned its place as a prestigious breeding program for Arabian horses.

On top of that, her business skills shine through her real estate investments, media projects, and charity work. She lost her husband Simon MacCorkindale in 2010, yet showed incredible strength by growing her business empire and starting a cancer charity in his memory.

Susan George has become much more than a former actress. She's now a respected name in the equestrian world and remains a cultural icon. Her memberships in prestigious organizations like BAFTA and the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences prove she has surpassed her film career achievements.

Her experience offers valuable lessons about lasting success in entertainment. Instead of depending only on acting roles, she created multiple income sources that still generate wealth today. Her $9 million net worth is evidence of both her on-screen talent and sharp business sense throughout her remarkable career.

FAQs

Q1. What is Susan George's estimated net worth?

Susan George's net worth is estimated to be approximately $9 million, accumulated through her acting career and various business ventures.

Q2. How did Susan George transition from acting to business?

After a successful acting career, George ventured into the equestrian world by establishing Georgian Arabians, a thriving stud farm breeding Arabian horses, which became her primary source of income.

Q3. What was Susan George's most notable film role?

Her breakthrough role came in the 1971 film "Straw Dogs," which catapulted her to international stardom and opened doors to lucrative opportunities in American cinema.

Q4. How has Susan George diversified her income streams?

Beyond acting and horse breeding, George has invested in real estate, authored an autobiography, receives ongoing royalties from her film catalog, and makes selective public appearances.

Q5. What charitable work is Susan George involved in?

In 2016, George established "Lasting Life – The Simon MacCorkindale Legacy," a charity supporting cancer patients, in memory of her late husband.

Access Knowledge Responsibly and Ethically

Join Paywall Bypass to unlock premium content with integrity. Explore transparent, ethical ways to access valuable information and support content creators.

LEARN MOre