This year marks 50 years since the original Charlie's Angels premiered on TV and introduced the "crime-fighting ladies of the '70s" genre.
The show, which aired from 1976 to 1981, first starred John Forsythe as the voice of the titular "Charlie," with Farrah Fawcett, Jaclyn Smith and Kate Jackson playing the "Angels."
Farrah left the series after its first season and was then replaced by Cheryl Ladd, who became an instrumental part in continuing the show's success alongside Kate and Jaclyn.
The show has spawned an entire franchise, including two movies from the early aughts, a short-lived reboot series in 2011, and another film version in 2019. But hey, who can ever forget the one that started it all!
Over the past five decades, each of the series' leads has gone on to even bigger and greener pastures, pursuing illustrious careers in and out of show business. Take a look at their net worths in ascending order (spoiler alert: all compiled from multiple reports, since exact figures are harder to accurately ascertain)...
© Getty ImagesJohn Forsythe
John Forsythe's career spanned an impressive six decades, beginning with his tenure as a bit player for Warner Bros. in 1943. Some of his most notable movie appearances include It Happens Every Thursday (1953) and The Trouble with Harry (1955), plus the 2000s Charlie's Angels movies.
Beyond the Charlie's Angels series, John had a TV career that included several long-running hits like Bachelor Father and the soap Dynasty, the latter of which won him two Golden Globes. He also worked as a producer, owned and raced thoroughbred horses, and spent his time managing an art gallery that he owned in his later years. He passed away in 2010 at the age of 92, with his net worth being a reported $5 million at the time of his death.
© Getty ImagesKate Jackson
Kate Jackson, now 77, began her career in summer stock before achieving notice for her TV debut with the show Dark Shadows in 1970. She then appeared in The Rookies for four years before landing her Charlie's Angels part. That success continued with the show Scarecrow and Mrs. King, which earned her an Emmy nomination. Kate intermittently appeared in TV movies and on the big screen throughout her career, but her 2007 appearance in an episode of Criminal Minds remains her last acting role to date.
She created Shoot The Moon Productions with her ex-husband David Greenwald in the 1980s. While her net worth is also estimated at $5 million, it's worth noting that in 2010, she sued her financial advisor for allegedly causing her "financial ruin," claiming $3 million in damages (the case was later settled).
© Getty ImagesCheryl Ladd
Cheryl Ladd, now 74, got her big break when she replaced Farrah in Charlie's Angels, parlaying that success into a career both on screen and in the recording booth. Cheryl has released five total studio albums, and released the top 40 hit "Think it Over" in 1978. She also released a children's book in 1996 and made her Broadway debut in 2000, but TV remains her biggest earner.
She appeared in several TV movies and series throughout the '80s and '90s, landing a lead role in the short-lived show One West Waikiki. Cheryl landed the recurring role of Jillian Deline in the show Las Vegas, which aired from 2003 to 2008. She appeared in shows like NCIS and The People v. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story, and even participated in Dancing with the Stars season 31. Cheryl is now worth an estimated $12 million.
© Getty ImagesFarrah Fawcett
Farrah Fawcett was one of the most popular movie and TV stars of the 20th century, bolstered especially by her perception as one of the ultimate "sex symbols" (her red swimsuit print remains one of the best-selling pin-ups of all time). Still, she showed her capable chops as an actress several times with performances in movies like The Burning Bed (1984), Small Sacrifices (1989) and The Apostle (1997).
Farrah also appeared in popular shows like Spin City and The Guardian in the 2000s. In 2009, she passed away aged 62 following a battle with anal cancer, bequeathing most of her $4.5 million estate at the time to her son Redmond. A large portion of her wealth is attributed also to not only her work as a producer, but her art collection, which included an Andy Warhol portrait valued at over $12 million. At the time of her death, Farrah was reportedly worth $25 million.
© Getty ImagesJaclyn Smith
Jaclyn Smith, now 80, parlayed her Charlie's Angels success into a variety of film and TV roles, especially TV projects like The Bourne Identity, Christine Cromwell and Nightmare in the Daylight. She also continues to act, last appearing in an episode of Doctor Odyssey in 2025. However, her success can mainly be attributed to her business acumen.
In 1985, Jaclyn launched her own collection of women's clothing at Kmart, a pioneer in the space due to her ability to launch and own a brand in her name rather than endorsing an existing line, which was more prevalent at the time. That brand expanded into home furnishings, perfumes, wigs, and more lifestyle products and apparel. Thanks to her extremely lucrative business ventures, Jaclyn's net worth is valued between a whopping $150-$200 million.
