Dame Maggie Smith, the globally celebrated actress, reportedly left a substantial fortune following her death at 89. With a career spanning 64 years in the acting world, she amassed a wealth running into millions.
According to Equity Atlas, the mother of two had accumulated a net worth of $40 million (£31.4m) by 2024, reflecting her distinguished career filled with critically acclaimed performances. Her off-screen roles also contributed to her wealth.
The Daily Mail reported in 2021 that Dame Maggie earned over £2.3 million, potentially linked to her role in Downton Abbey, marking it as one of her most financially successful years. Downton Abbey: A New Era, released in 2021, was the second spin-off feature film based on the ITV series.
Since its inception in 2010, Dame Maggie has been a vital part of the Downton Abbey narrative, consistently portraying the matriarch Violet Crawley with grace. She also made millions from other aspects of her career.
The accounts of Dame Margaret Cross Productions – the actress’s company – showed a profit of £1.6 million. This figure is after accounting for £1.6 million in bills, according to the Daily Mail, reports the Mirror.
Dame Maggie Smith first stepped onto the stage at a mere 17 years of age, swiftly capturing the limelight in London’s West End before taking her talents across to Broadway. In addition to a varied television career, she etched an unforgettable place in pop culture as the sharp-tongued Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films, propelling her to global stardom alongside a young Daniel Radcliffe.
Venerated by those who remembered her vast range of earlier work, Dame Maggie won over a new legion of fans, affirming her standing as a top-tier star. Her continued presence on screen, most notably through the beloved series Downton Abbey during the 2010s, kept her in the public eye.
The List has named her the richest member of the Downton Abbey ensemble, and it is thought that her sons, Chris Larkin, aged 57, and Toby Stephens, aged 55, will inherit her fortunes.
After her marriage to Robert Stephens, with whom she has two sons, came to an end in 1975, Dame Maggie found love again the same year with playwright Beverley Cross. Their union lasted until his passing in 1998.
Later indulging in the delights of grandmotherhood, she reportedly used her wealth to support her grandchildren’s education. Dame Maggie captured attention once more when she referred to the substantial earnings from her role in Harry Potter as “her pension” during a conversation with The Daily Telegraph back in 2014.
Dame Maggie Smith: A Celebration is on ITV1 tonight at 8.35pm.