Robert Blake’s Net Worth 2024

The net worth of Robert Blake is estimated to be -$3 million at the time of his death in March 2023.

Robert Blake was an American actor, best known for his roles in 'In Cold Blood', 'Barretta', and 'Lost Highway'. Born on September 18, 1933, the actor passed away on March 9, 2023.

Robert Blake's net worth once ranged between $10 million and $15 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. In 2001 after being accused of killing his second wife, Bonnie Lee Bakley, he underwent a series of trials and was ultimately found not guilty. However, Robert was found liable for his wife's death after a wrongful death lawsuit was filed against him in California and suffered serious financial repercussions as a result.

Personal Information

What is Robert Blake's Net Worth?

The estimated net worth of Robert Blake at the time of his death on March 9, 2023, was -$3 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Robert Blake declared bankruptcy in 2006, shortly after being mandated to pay a $30 million settlement to Bonnie Lee's estate. He listed liabilities totaling $3 million. The actor was the subject of a lien filed by the state of California in 2010 for unpaid back taxes totaling $1,110,878. Robert also owed a lot in legal fees. In light of these monetary difficulties, Blake thought about going back into the entertainment industry. However, he declared that he would not be going back to Hollywood when he was 85 years old because he felt "half-dead." He had a career that was among the longest in Hollywood history.

Sources of Income

The majority of Robert Blake's income came from his acting career and occasional productions; however, his salary is unknown. He did make money from endorsements and advertisements, but the amount is unknown.

Robert made his film debut at the age of six in "Bridal Suite." He then rose to fame after appearing in the MGM short film series "Our Gang." Blake was cast as a First Native boy in the "Red Ryder" western TV series as a result of his numerous appearances there. He began acting in films like "The Black Rose" and "Black Hand" by the age of 17. Blake was enlisted in the US Army in 1950. Blake appeared in movies like "The Purple Gang" and "Pork Chop Hill" after making appearances in a number of Western TV shows like "26 Men" and "The Cisco Kid." His career significantly advanced in 1967 after he was cast as the star of the movie "In Cold Blood." The 1975 release of "Baretta" marked the beginning of his most iconic role. Robert gained notoriety for sayings like "Don't do the crime if you can't do the time" while portraying a plainclothes police detective.

After "Baretta" ended in 1978, Blake continued to make appearances in films like "Money Train" and "Lost Highway," as well as TV shows like "Blood Feud" and "Hell Town."

Robert’s Relationship with Bonnie Lee

In 1999, Robert started dating Bonnie Lee Bakley. According to Celebrity Net Worth, she dated Blake at the same time that she was dating Christian Brando, Marlon Brando's son.

She informed Christian and Robert that the child was theirs when she found out she was pregnant. After a DNA test revealed the child belonged to Robert, the couple married in 2000.

Bonnie Lee’s Death and Legal-Financial Issues

Blake and Bakley went to a restaurant close to their Studio City residence in 2001. Robert claimed to have left a gun inside the eatery when he left and then came back to the establishment from his parked car. Blake claimed that while he was inside the restaurant, his wife was shot. The weapon that Robert claimed to have left in the restaurant was later discovered by police, and they came to the conclusion that it could not have been the murder weapon.

Robert was detained in 2002 on suspicion of killing his wife. His bodyguard was also detained for allegedly participating in the plot. A California civil court determined that Blake was responsible for a wrongful death claim brought by the estate of Bonnie Lee in 2005. Robert allegedly tried to hire them to kill his wife, according to a retired stuntman and one other person who came forward with the claim.

Blake entered a not-guilty plea after being given the death penalty. Robert was found not guilty following his release on bail. Simply put, the court was unable to connect him to the murder weapon, and at the time of the incident, he had no gunpowder on his hands. Many members of the public believed that there was insufficient evidence to convict him, and LA District Attorney Stephen Cooley referred to the jury's decision as "incredibly stupid."

His wife's death was found to be his fault after a wrongful death lawsuit was brought by Bakley's three children. He was required to pay a $30 million settlement, though this amount was ultimately reduced to $15 million. Robert Blake declared bankruptcy in 2006, not long after receiving a judgment requiring him to make a $30 million settlement payment to Bonnie Lee's estate. In order to collect $1,110,878 in unpaid back taxes, the state of California filed a lien against the actor in 2010.

Real Estate Assets

According to Celebrity Net Worth, in 1983, Blake purchased a property in Studio City. Later, a number of other people bought this property. In 2001, he listed the house for $1,000,000 on the market. There are seven bedrooms and nearly 5,000 square feet of living space in the house.

In 2003, not long after Blake was freed on a $1.5 million bail, an actress by the name of Alexandra Kingston listed the house for $1.6 million. The house was eventually sold by Kingston for $1.5 million. The renowned property changed hands once more in 2018, this time for $3.35 million, which was $400,000 more than the asking price.

He was last seen in Plymouth, England, at the time of his passing.