Dina Merrill
- Net worth $500 million
- Birthday December 29, 1923
- Status Married
- Country United States
- Ethnicity American
- Source(-s) of wealth Actor, Businesswoman, Philanthropist
How much is Dina Merrill Worth? Dina Merrill Net Worth in 2026
Dina Merrill’s net worth at the time of her death was reportedly about $500 million, though estimates vary. She was an American actress, businesswoman and philanthropist, the only child of Post Cereals heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post and E. F. Hutton co-founder Edward Francis Hutton. Merrill died on May 22, 2017, at age 93.
| Net worth | $500 million (estimated, at the time of death) |
|---|---|
| Estimated annual income | Mainly family inheritance, investments, board work and acting income during her lifetime |
| Born | December 29, 1923, New York City |
| Died | May 22, 2017, East Hampton, New York (aged 93) |
| Country | United States |
| Occupations / sources of wealth | Actress, businesswoman, philanthropist, heiress |
| Known for | Films such as Desk Set and Operation Petticoat; heiress to the Post Cereals fortune |
What was Dina Merrill’s net worth?
Dina Merrill’s net worth at the time of her death in 2017 was reportedly about $500 million. It rested largely on inherited wealth from her mother and father, who founded E. F. Hutton, along with investments, board positions and her acting and business career. Estimates vary and this is an approximation.
Legacy and estate
- Awards: received the Women’s International Center Living Legacy Award in 1994 and a lifetime achievement award from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in April 2005.
- Business: with her third husband, Ted Hartley, she merged their company Pavilion Communications with RKO in 1991 to form RKO Pictures.
- Public service: served as a presidential appointee to the board of trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, as a trustee of the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center and as a vice president of the New York City Mission Society.
- Her film and television work, including Desk Set and Operation Petticoat, remains available to new audiences.
How Dina Merrill made money
- Inheritance: the Post Cereals and E. F. Hutton fortunes from her parents.
- Acting: film, stage and television roles from 1945 through 2009.
- Board seats: she joined the board of E. F. Hutton & Co. in 1980 and stayed on through the Lehman Brothers acquisition for over 18 years.
- RKO Pictures: formed in 1991 with Ted Hartley.
Career timeline
- 1923: born Nedenia Marjorie Hutton in New York City.
- 1945: makes her stage debut in The Mermaids Singing.
- 1957: makes her feature film debut in Desk Set.
- 1959 to 1963: films include Operation Petticoat, Butterfield 8, The Sundowners and The Courtship of Eddie’s Father.
- 1968: plays the villain Calamity Jan in Batman.
- 1980: joins the board of E. F. Hutton & Co.
- 1983: appears in the Broadway revival of On Your Toes.
- 1988: appears in Caddyshack II.
- 1991: merges Pavilion Communications with RKO to form RKO Pictures.
- 2003: last listed feature film, Shade.
- 2005: receives a lifetime achievement award from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
- 2017: dies on May 22.
Early life and background
Dina Merrill was born Nedenia Marjorie Hutton in New York City, the only child of Marjorie Merriweather Post, the Post Cereals heiress, and Edward Francis Hutton, a Wall Street stockbroker. She attended Miss Porter’s School and spent one term at George Washington University before enrolling at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.
She began acting on advice from a family member and took the stage name Dina Merrill, borrowing from Charles E. Merrill. She also studied at HB Studio under Uta Hagen.
Personal life
Dina Merrill was married three times: to Stanley M. Rumbough Jr. from 1946 to 1966, to actor Cliff Robertson from 1966 to 1986, and to Ted Hartley from 1989 until her death. She had four children.
Dina Merrill net worth FAQ
What was Dina Merrill’s net worth when she died?
Dina Merrill’s net worth at the time of her death in 2017 was reportedly about $500 million. It rested largely on inherited wealth from her mother and father, who founded E.
How did Dina Merrill make money?
Dina Merrill built her wealth through inherited family fortunes, investments, board positions, acting and her business interests, including RKO Pictures with Ted Hartley.
When did Dina Merrill die?
Dina Merrill died on May 22, 2017 in East Hampton, New York, at age 93.
Where is Dina Merrill from?
She was born in New York City on December 29, 1923.
What is Dina Merrill remembered for?
She is remembered for films such as Desk Set and Operation Petticoat, her business work with RKO Pictures and her philanthropy, including service on the Kennedy Center board.
How is Dina Merrill’s net worth estimated?
The figure is an estimate compiled from public reporting, company valuations and deal and earnings figures. It is approximate and can change as new information emerges.
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How we estimate net worth
Our estimates are based on public reporting, company valuations, and deal and earnings figures all compiled in an internal valuation model. They are approximate, and figures change over time as new information emerges.
Last updated: October 2026.