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What was Anne Douglas' net worth? Here's who will inherit Kirk Douglas' widow's fortune and it's not family

Kirk and Anne's legacy will continue to survive for many more years thanks to all the humanitarian work the couple engaged in
UPDATED APR 30, 2021
Actor Kirk Douglas (L) and Anne Buydens (Getty Images)
Actor Kirk Douglas (L) and Anne Buydens (Getty Images)

In less than a week since turning 102, Anne Douglas died peacefully at her Beverly Hills home. As the wife of late Hollywood icon Kirk Douglas, Anne enjoyed an extravagant lifestyle. 

Although Anne is extremely popular as the wife of the Hollywood actor, she also made a name for herself as a producer, occasional actress and a prolific humanitarian. Anne's net worth was reportedly estimated at $1.2 million. But it jumped to a whopping $60 million after her husband Kirk's passing in 2020. But instead of passing on their massive fortune to their children, the glamorous Hollywood couple decided to do something very different with their wealth. Read on to know what they did with their money. 

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American actor Kirk Douglas (1916-2020) and his wife Anne Buydens, wearing a fur collar, at Heathrow Airport in London, England, 10th March 1985. (Getty Images)

Anne Douglas' early life

It might come as a huge surprise to many to learn that Anne's name isn't Anne Douglas, she was actually born as Hannelore Marx in Hanover, Germany, as reported by Your Tango. Her family moved to Belgium when she was still a teenager in order to escape the Nazis. She became a Belgian citizen and completed her education in Belgium and Switzerland. After finishing her studies, she moved to Paris. Her life changed forever when she crossed paths with Hollywood heartthrob Kirk Douglas. 

Marriage with Kirk Douglas and introduction to the affluent lifestyle

Anne's elegance and sophistication clubbed with her 'wicked sense of humor' instantly caught the young Hollywood star's attention. Although Kirk was engaged to actress Pier Angeli when he first met her, he quickly broke off the engagement so that he could pursue Anne. When he first asked her out, she reportedly turned him down. So he instead hired her as his publicist and continued pursuing her.

The actor Kirk Douglas with his wife Anne Buydens and their son Peter Vincent Douglas. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

In an interview with Fox News, he shared, "I couldn’t convince her to go out with me, but I finally convinced her to do my publicity on the film, ‘Act of Love'. I knew it would be strictly business, yet she still fascinated me and I wanted to know all about her. She had a wicked sense of humor, spoke four languages and was the most sophisticated and elegant woman I had ever met. So I fell in love with her."

The couple soon got married in 1954 and had two children together. Her marriage to Kirk opened the doors to an affluent and glamorous lifestyle. She was known for her impeccable style and has been a member of the International Best Dressed List since the 1970s. She was also inducted into the prestigious International 'Best Dressed' List Hall of Fame, which includes some of the most renowned and powerful women across the world such as Queen Elizabeth, Candice Bergen, and Countess Mona von Bismarck.

Anne Douglas' net worth at the time of her death

Anne Douglas and actor Kirk Douglas donated a large portion of their wealth to various humanitarian causes (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

According to Celeb Worth, Anne's net worth is estimated at $60 million! As mentioned above instead of passing it on to their children, the Douglas' decided to donate all their wealth to various humanitarian causes. Anne got into philanthropy after she recovered from breast cancer. Alongside six other survivors, she set up "Research for Women's Cancers" to raise millions of dollars to help finance the research facility at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. 

The couple also started an organization called 'Harry's Haven' to help people with Alzheimer's disease. The organization was named after Kirk's father. They also donated a huge chunk of their wealth to rebuild playgrounds in the LA Unified School District. According to Glamour Fame, Anne once reportedly said, "If I had, but one wish, I think becoming a recognized patron of homeless men and women would be it. I hope together we will be able to alleviate their plight entirely.”  Kirk and Anne's legacy will continue to survive for many more years thanks to all the humanitarian work the couple engaged in.

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