Charlton Heston's Fortune May Not Have Gone To His Family

Since Hollywood's inception, there have been many great actors who have graced the big screen. From our modern-day stars like Denzel Washington and Leonardo DiCaprio to the giants of the silver screen like Clark Gable and Jimmy Stewart, many talented men have created some of history's favorite films. While it appears glamorous, the movie industry is not an easy one to become successful in. However, if you do manage to make it big, the payoff can be enormous. A perfect example is Hollywood icon Charlton Heston.

Over the course of his decades-long career, Charlton Heston starred in many movies, including some of Hollywood's biggest blockbusters. Due to his successful career, at the time of his death on April 5, 2008, his net worth was an estimated $40 million (per Celebrity Net Worth). This is especially impressive considering when he passed away at the age of 85, he had been retired for years. Because Heston left behind such a large estate, it's fair to wonder who inherited all of his assets.

According to Britannica, Charlton Heston was born John Charles Carter on October 4, 1923 in Evanston, Illinois. He reportedly picked up his interest in acting after he randomly decided to audition for his high school play. The acting experience he gained in high school eventually resulted in a college scholarship to Northwestern University before moving to New York, where he got his start on Broadway.

Heston married fellow actress Lydia Marie Clark Heston in March 1944, and the two remained together until his death in 2008 (per the Chicago Sun-Times). During the couple's 60-year union, they had two children — a son named Fraser and a daughter named Holly. In addition to his family, Heston was also active in politics later in his life, going from one end of the political spectrum to the other. Heston also served as president of the National Rifle Association from 1998 to 2003.

Charlton Heston's acting career truly began in 1947 when he appeared on Broadway in a production of "Antony and Cleopatra" (per Britannica). He then made the transition from Broadway to television before making the leap to the big screen. Heston's first movie role was in a film called "Dark City" in 1950. His performance in the film caught the eye of one of Hollywood's most influential and legendary directors, Cecil B. DeMille, who cast him in his movie "The Greatest Show on Earth." It eventually won an Oscar for best picture.

Following his performance in an Oscar-winning film, Heston's career took off. He went on to star in films such as "Touch of Evil," "Ben- Hur," "Will Penny," and "Planet of the Apes." Heston reprised his role of Marc Antony in both "Julius Ceasar" and "Antony and Cleopatra," but he is most well known for his role in one of the most iconic films of all time. Indeed, his portrayal of Moses in "The Ten Commandments" solidified his status as a Hollywood legend. The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won for best effects. It was also nominated for multiple other awards, including Heston's nod for best actor at the Golden Globes.

While it is a bit unclear where all of Charlton Heston's financial assets ended up, we know where some of his assets went. The first of these is Charlton Heston's incredible home. Though he was a prolific actor and active in politics, Heston was also known for his interest in real estate. Following the completion of "Ben-Hur," Heston set out to build the home of his dreams in Beverly Hills, California (per Celebrity Net Worth). He enlisted the services of renowned architect William S. Beckett, who then constructed the home. It later became known as '"the house that Ben-Hur built." Once his home was complete, Heston lived at this residence for the rest of his life.

Following his death, Heston's home reportedly passed to his family (per Realtor). After his wife Lydia moved out of the residence, his family decided in 2015 to put the 10,000-square-foot mansion up for sale. It was eventually purchased for $12.2 million by French director Luc Besson. In addition to the family home, some of Heston's awards are now with his children (per the Chicago Tribune). His Academy Awards were reportedly kept on a table in his study during his lifetime. Following his death, Heston's son Fraser now has his father's Oscar for best actor that Heston won for "Ben-Hur." His daughter Holly now has Heston's Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, which he received for his humanitarian work with various charitable causes.