How Much is Redd Foxx Worth?
Although Redd Foxx was an internationally popular actor, who got numerous awards for his play (including Golden Globe), his net worth was estimated at -$3, 5 million to the moment of his death.
The reason was Redd Foxx taxes problems. He failed to pay taxes from 1983 till 1986. As a result, one day IRS confiscated the major part of Redd Foxx property. They took 7 actor’s cars and almost all precious things from his house. The famous comedian literally was left with one bed after IRS visit.
Thus, the actor Redd Foxx had become quite poor to the moment of his death. But it doesn’t mean that he was not high-paid.
The actor’s salary per movie roles and comedy shows, which mostly were held in Las Vegas, reached the highest mark. He was a real star, who could boast with roles in cult movies and TV series of those times, such as “Sanford and Son”, “Cotton Comes to Harlem”, “Norman… Is That You?” etc.
In 1986 the comedian even hosted his own TV program “The Redd Foxx Show”, the sitcom, which consisted of 13 half an hour episodes.
Redd Foxx main source of wealth was his job of an actor. But he had an extensive income from the other source too. Redd sold his records all over the world. The comedian recorded more than 50 humorous albums, and they were popular among American and Europeans citizens in 1970s and 1980s.
Being on his career peak, Redd Foxx enjoyed a huge salary, which he spent for numerous cars and houses, which were situated all over USA. But he lost the major part of his income in 1977, when ABC series “Sanford and Son”, where Redd Foxx played the leading part, was closed.
From that moment Redd Foxx career took off, his earnings decreased, but his lifestyle remained bohemian. That led him to bankruptcy in 1983 and then to tax issues with IRS.
Redd Foxx Bio and Career
John Elroy Sanford, widely known as Redd Foxx, was born in St. Louis, MO in 1922. The boy was in a kindergarten age, when his father left the family. From that moment Redd Foxx mother worked 18 hours per day to feed her sons John (Redd Foxx) and Fred.
As the popular comedian confessed, he had had a talent to produce original jokes since childhood. He left school at the age of 13 to monetize that talent – Redd Foxx joined the band “Bon Bons”, which performed in Chicago and other US cities.
Finally, Redd Foxx settled in New York, where he joined the work of a dishwasher with performing as a stand-up comedian in the clubs. In early 1950s he got an opportunity to record his first comedian albums. That was the first big step to wealth and popularity, made by Redd Foxx.
His next step was made in early 1970s, when he won the role in the series “Sanford and Son”. In the series Redd Foxx portrayed Fred Sanford – the name he took from his brother.
The sitcom has become unbelievably popular, and Redd Foxx net worth was growing like a mushroom after rain. But he lost most part of his wealth in middle 1980s and died poor. He spent all his money for cars, houses and cocaine – the actor used drugs openly, and very often did it in front of his colleagues, while filming some new project.
By the way, Redd Foxx death was as ironic as the comedian himself. He was busy at the set of “The Royal Family” – TV series, produced by Eddie Murphy. While filming one of the episodes, Redd Foxx fell down and screamed with pain. His colleagues laughed at first, as they thought, it was one of the comedian jokes. But it turned out, the actor had a heart attack. He died in October, 1991.
House
Redd Foxx was married four times. He married his fourth wife, Ka Ho Cho, three months before his death.
The actor bought a number of luxurious houses in various cities of USA, including Los Angeles and Las Vegas, but they were seized by IRS. He had 7 cars, too.
The internationally popular comedian spent his last years in a small ranch-style house in Las Vegas. The one-story building with the walls of a sand color looked quite ordinary, so it was hard to believe that a celebrated actor used to live there.
