Sir Alfred Hitchcock KBE was an English film producer, director, and scriptwriter who had a lofty net worth of $200 million. Having directed over 50 films over a 60-year career, Alfred is regarded as one of the best filmmakers of his generation. He had a moniker “Master of Suspense” or “Hitch”
He began his journey in the film industry in 1919 as a title card designer for Islington Studios. In 1922, he was hired as an assistant director for the movie “Woman to Woman.”
In 1925, his first work as a film director “The Pleasure Garden” was released. Since that film, he has directed several movies such as Real Window (1954), Vertigo (1958), North by Northwest (1959), and The Birds (1963).
Alfred’s movies are known for their smooth blend of suspense and humor. He is known for using repeat actors and actresses in his movies, including the likes of Grace Kelly, Jimmy Stewart, Ingrid Bergman, and Cary Grant.
Sir Alfred Hitchcock KBE passed away on April 29, 1980, in his Bel Air home in Los Angeles, California. Kidney failure was revealed as the cause of his death.
At the time of his death, Alfred Hitchcock’s net worth was around $65 million, which is valued at $200 million in today’s market.
| Full Name | Alfred Jospeh Hitchcock |
| Place of Birth | Leytonstone, Essex, England |
| Date of Birth | August 13, 1899 |
| Age | 80 Years |
| Date of Death | April 29, 1980 |
| Gender | Male |
| Nationality | United Kingdom |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.7 m) |
| Occupation | Actor, Film Producer, Film Director, Editor, Writer, Screenwriter |
| Net Worth | $200 Million |
Early Life and Biography
Alfred Joseph Hitchcock was born on the 13th day of August 1899 in Leytonstone, Essex, England. His parents named him after his father’s brother.
Alfred had an older brother William and sister Ellen and was the youngest of them all. They were raised in a Roman Catholic family. Alfred’s parents owned a grocery shop close to their home in Leytonstone.
Alfred’s family moved to Limehouse when he was 6. His parents ran two stores; a fish-and-chips and a fishmongers’ shop. When he was 11, the family relocated to Stepney.
Alfred had various experiences during his childhood that he would never forget. One of them was when his father had him locked in a police cell for his misbehavior. That event must have humiliated him and brought him a lot of emotions, including the guilt of being a criminal and his phobia of the police.
Alfred Hitchcock attended various schools, including the Howrah House Convent, the Wode Street School, and St. Ignatius College. Additionally, he had night classes at the London County Council School of Engineering and Navigation.
He lost his father in 1914. After the death of his father, Hitchcock began working at the Henley Telegraph and Cable Company to make some money to support his mother and the entire family.
While having night classes at the London County Council School of Engineering and Navigation, he switched courses regularly. Some of the courses he took were art history, engineering, painting, political science, and economics.
Career
At the age of 18, he received a C3 classification in the First World War but was said to be excused because of his weight. In 1917, Alfred joined the Royal Engineers’ cadet regiment. He had a knack for creative writing, which he developed at the end of World War I.
He got his first job at Henleys, a local cable company shortly after its launch in 1919. He was the editor and business manager of “The Henley Telegraph.” Later, he was promoted and shifted to the advertising department, where he served as a copywriter and designer of print ads.
Alfred wrote short stories, mostly filled with suspense for the firm. Some of his publications are “Gas,” “What’s Who,” “Fedora,” and “The Woman’s Part.” His short stories and contribution to Henleys contributed to the success of the company.
At the end of 1919, Hitchcock became the title card designer at Islington Studios. There, he worked on various silent films, switching roles as a co-writer, art director, and production manager.
In 1922, Hitchcock was hired as an assistant film director at Michael Balcon’s movie, which was eventually released as Gainsborough Pictures.
In 1925, Balcon hired Hitchcock to direct the film “The Pleasure Garden.” He was assisted by Reville, who was the movie’s assistant director and editor.
Alfred Hitchcock directed his first successful suspense thriller film titled “The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog” in 1926. The story around the film was based on the serial killings in London. Initially, the film’s producer shelved the film project but its release in 1927 brought commercial success.
Alfred’s tenth movie “Blackmail” was released in 1929. In 1934, the film “The Man Who Knew Too Much” was released. “The 39 Steps” and “The Lady Vanishes” were released in 1935 and 1938 respectively.
In 1939, Hitchcock signed a seven-year deal with David O. Selznick, which saw him switch to Hollywood. The first Hollywood movie he ever made was the 1940’s “Rebecca.” The movie won him an Oscar award for Best Picture and a nomination for the Best Director Academy Award.
Alfred Hitchcock continued his excellent run of psychological and suspense-thrilled movies in Hollywood. Some of his classics include;
- Spellbound.
- Notorious.
- The Prude’s Fall.
- The Blackguard.
- Woman to Woman.
- The White Shadow.
- Strangers on a Train,
- Dial M for Murder.
- Real Window.
- Vertigo.
- The Ring.
- The Birds.
- North by Northwest.
- Frenzy
- To Catch a Thief.
He received nominations for the Best Director Award at the Oscars for “Lifeboat” (1944), “Spellbound” (1945), “Real Window,” and “Psycho.” In the mid to late 1950s, Alfred became a citizen of the United States.
Later, he started hosting, directing, and producing the “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” series, which went aired over 268 episodes until 1962. He won a Golden Globe award for this project in 1958.
The thriller “Vertigo” is named one of the best films of all time in numerous publications. The 1958 movie starred Kim Novak and Jimmy Stewart. Alfred and Stewart won awards courtesy of the movie at the San Sebastián International Film Festival.
Hitchcock has been directly involved in the production and directing of some of his best films in the world. Some of his best works “North by Northwest” (released in 1959), “Psycho” (released in 1960), and “The Birds” (released in 1963).
In 1960, Alfred Hitchcock received two stars (one for film and the other for TV) on the Holywood Walk of Fame. He received five Academy Award nominations. In 1968, he won the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award. He also received the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1972.
Some of the last films he produced include; Frenzy (released in 1972) and 1976’s Family Plot. Besides film production, Hitchcock is credited for writing or co-writing movies like 1925’s “The Prude’s Fall,” 1927’s “The Ring,” and 1931’s “The Skin Game.”
Hitchcock won eight Laurel Awards over his career. He also won lifetime achievement awards from different film associations such as the Directors Guild of America, the BAFTA Awards, and the American Film Institute.
Some of Alfred Hitchcock’s films that have been inducted into the National Film Registry include Psycho, The Birds, Rebecca, North by Northwest, and Rear Window.
Personal Life
Alfred Hitchcock met his wife Alma Reville while working on the movie “Woman to Woman.” They tied the knot in 1926 and in 1928, they had a daughter named Patricia.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Death and Legacy
Alfred Hitchcock died on April 29, 1980, in his Bel Air home in Los Angeles, California, United States. He died of kidney failure and was laid to rest the following day at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Beverly Hills.
His remains were cremated after the service. In May 1980, Hitchcock’s ashes were scattered across the Pacific Ocean. The Academy Film Archive in Hollywood is responsible for keeping the Alfred Hitchcock Collection, which is a huge library of Alfred’s work as a filmmaker, producer, and director.
The Alfred Hitchcock Collection in Hollywood has the 16mm film shot on his home movies and film sets. BFI’s British Films list in 1999 ranked “The 39 Steps” and “The Lady Vanishes” at number #4 and #35 respectively.
AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies list in 2007 ranked “Vertigo” at 9th, “Psycho” at 14th, “Rear Window” at 48th, and “North by Northwest” at 55th.
In 2008, AFI released a list of the top 10 mystery movies. The list featured four Hitchcock’s films including; Vertigo, which was ranked 1st, Rear Window (3rd), North by Northwest (7th), and Dial M for Murder (9th).
Alfred Hitchcock Net Worth
Alfred Hitchcock’s current net worth is estimated to be roughly $200 million. His biggest paycheck from his career came from the 1960 film “Psycho.”
Alfred deferred his salary in exchange for 60% of the film’s profits, which was a smart, shrewd move. The hit film’s revenue at the time was $15 million, which is worth $120 million today.
Though dead, Alfred Hitchcock’s legacy lives on due to his amazing collection of film works. He excelled as a scriptwriter, film director, and producer. His impressive catalog will make his net worth surge in the coming years.