Leonard Bernstein had a more than impressive net worth before he died three decades ago, in 1990. How rich was he and what did he die of?
People born within 1910 and early 1990s witnessed the works of legendary Leonard Bernstein.
He was a composer, pianist, music educator, author, humanitarian, and the first American conductor to receive international acclaim.
Leonard Bernstein revolutionized the role of a conductor not only in the world at large, due to his passionate involvement with social justice issues and his belief that through music peace and understanding could be achieved, but also with his approach to musical interpretation and performance, as demonstrated in the relationships he forged with his musicians.
Not only was he famous at his time, but he was a successful personality in the entertainment industry and he has the net worth to prove it. In this article, while we look inside his fortune, we’ll dive into his cause of death. Read on for more.
Profile Summary
| Celebrated Name: | Leonard Bernstein |
| Net Worth: | $10 million |
| Profession: | Conductor, Composer, Pianist, Teacher, Writer, Music Director |
| Full Real Name: | Leonard Bernstein |
| Date of Birth: | August 25, 1918 |
| Birthplace: | Lawrence, Massachusetts, United States |
| Died: | Oct 14, 1990 (72 years old) |
| Gender: | Male |
| Nationality: | American |
What was Leonard Bernstein’s net worth?
At the time of his death in 1990, Leonard Bernstein was a multi-millionaire. He had an estimated net worth of $10 million. He accrued his fortune for his works as an American conductor, composer, pianist, music educator, author, and humanitarian.
Leonard graduated from Harvard University in 1939, and later joined the New York Philharmonic, according to his official website.
Leonard got his big break in 1943 when he filled in for Bruno Walter during a Carnegie Hall performance. After wowing the audience, and making the cover of the local paper, Leonard’s career flourished.
His best-known works are the musicals On the Town (1944; filmed 1949), Wonderful Town (1953; filmed 1958), Candide (1956), and the very popular West Side Story (1957; filmed 1961), written in collaboration with Stephen Sondheim and Jerome Robbins.
According to music critic Donal Henahan, Bernstein was “one of the most prodigiously talented and successful musicians in American history”. He was the recipient of many honors, including seven Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, 16 Grammy Awards including the Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Kennedy Center Honor.
When he was not composing and conducting, Bernstein enjoyed skiing, playing tennis, and engaging in all manner of word games, especially cutthroat anagrams.
What happened to Leonard Bernstein and how did he die?
On October 14, 1990, Leonard Bernstein was pronounced dead at age 72. He died in The Dakota, New York, United States.
At the time of his death, his physician was present who revealed details on what actually happened to him.
According to his physician, Dr. Kevin M. Cahill, Bernstein died of a heart attack brought on by ”progressive emphysema complicated by a pleural tumor and a series of pulmonary infections,” as he had described the conductor’s condition earlier in the week.
Per Wikipedia, he was buried at the Green-Wood Cemetery, New York, United States.
During his lifetime, people found Bernstein deeply inspiring — despite his behavior and his struggles with alcoholism and addiction. His opinions really meant something, even when they were controversial.
A new Netflix movie titled Maestro, documents his life, achievement and love life.
A new Netflix movie, titled Maestro, is set to be released about the the composer. Bradley Cooper is starring as Leonard Bernstein in the film, Maestro, which is set to stream on Netflix following its theatrical release on November 22.
The movie chronicles the life of the legendary composer, who was married to actor Felicia Montealegre.
In the movie, Carey Mulligan stars as the Chilean actor, who had a complex relationship with her composer husband.
In addition to leading the cast, Bradley serves as a producer and co-writer for the film. The Silver Linings Playbook star previously explained that he was grateful for the chance to bring Maestro to life after years of work.
“It’s been four and a half years in the making and I feel very grateful,” he said during an appearance on the Smartless podcast. “I just did all this research about this incredible family, the Bernsteins, and Felicia Montealegre, [Leonard’s] wife.” Bradley went on to explain that the music in the Maestro adds to its magic, comparing it to his work on the Oscar-winning movie, A Star Is Born.