Michael Landon's net worth at the time of his death on July 1, 1991, was estimated to be $40 million. This substantial wealth significantly exceeded that of his co-stars from "Little House on the Prairie."
Sources of His Wealth
- Bonanza: Landon achieved initial fame and built foundational wealth starring as Little Joe Cartwright on this iconic Western series for 14 years (1959-1973).
- Little House on the Prairie: Portraying Charles Ingalls, Landon starred in, wrote, directed, and produced this highly successful NBC drama from 1974 to 1983. His dual role as star and key creative significantly boosted his earnings.
- Highway to Heaven: Following "Little House," Landon co-created, wrote, produced, directed, and starred in this inspirational drama, which ran for 5 seasons (1984-1989), further solidifying his financial standing.
Contrast with Co-Stars
Landons $40 million fortune dwarfed the net worth of his fellow cast members. For instance, reports estimated the combined net worth of the actors portraying the "Ingalls sisters" (Melissa Gilbert, Melissa Sue Anderson, Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush) to be between $1 million and $5 million at the time of the referenced report.
