Andy Warhol Net Worth - Pulptastic

Publish date: 2024-05-21

What is Andy Warhol’s Net Worth?

Andy Warhol was an American artist and filmmaker who was a pioneering figure of the pop art movement in the 1960s. His net worth at the time of his death was $220 million dollars after adjusting for inflation and the value of his work.

Warhol’s most famous works include “Campbell’s Soup Cans” and “Marilyn Diptych,” and he was also known for his experimental films “Empire” and “Chelsea Girls.” His New York studio, The Factory, was a gathering place for intellectuals, artists, celebrities, and more.

Warhol’s art included painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, silk screen, music, and film. He was a pioneer in computer-generated art and founded Interview Magazine. He authored several books, including “Popism: The Warhol Sixties” and “The Philosophy of Andy Warhol.”

Warhol lived openly as a gay man before the gay liberation movement and is credited with creating the term “15 minutes of fame.” Some of his more well-known paintings include Campbell’s Soup Cans, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis. Warhol passed away on February 22, 1987, at 58 years old from a cardiac arrhythmia following gallbladder surgery.

Early Life and Career

Andy Warhol was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1928 to Austrian-Hungarian immigrants. He attended Schenley High School and later studied commercial art at the Carnegie Institute of Technology, where he graduated with a BFA in pictorial design in 1949.

After college, Warhol moved to New York City and began his career in magazine illustration and advertising. He gained recognition for his “blotted line” technique while working as a designer for the shoe manufacturer Israel Miller. Warhol had his first solo show in 1952 and participated in his first group exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in 1956.

Warhol’s Rise to Fame in the 1960s

Andy Warhol achieved great fame in the 1960s, particularly for his early adoption of screen printing in his paintings. One of his most iconic works, “Big Campbell’s Soup Can with Can Opener (Vegetable),” was first exhibited at the Wadsworth Atheneum in 1962. Later that year, he exhibited his Marilyn Monroe pieces at Eleanor Ward’s Stable Gallery, further increasing his popularity.

Throughout the decade, Warhol created numerous paintings of American icons such as Marlon Brando, Elizabeth Taylor, Muhammad Ali, and Elvis Presley. He also became known for representing everyday objects such as dollar bills, Coca-Cola bottles, and mushroom clouds. His exhibitions continued to attract attention, including the American Supermarket show at Paul Bianchini’s gallery.

Warhol’s Studio: The Factory

Andy Warhol established his New York studio, The Factory, in the 1960s where he brought together a diverse group of artists, writers, musicians, and more. Among the notable names were Billy Name, Ronald Tavel, Freddie Herko, Ondine, and Brigid Berlin. Warhol also helped cultivate the careers of actors such as Joe Dallesandro, Candy Darling, Edie Sedgwick, Jackie Curtis, Ultra Violet, and Viva, whom he called “superstars.” These performers and other Factory collaborators starred in many of Warhol’s films, including “Eat,” “Harlot,” “Horse,” “Beauty No. 1,” “Chelsea Girls,” and “Tub Girls.” Warhol also produced and managed Nico’s band, the Velvet Underground.

Attempted Assassination of Andy Warhol by Radical Feminist Valerie Solanas in 1968

Valerie Solanas, a radical feminist writer, shot both Andy Warhol and art critic Mario Amaya in 1968 at The Factory. Warhol was severely wounded and barely survived, while Amaya sustained minor injuries. Solanas was arrested the following day and claimed that she shot Warhol because he had too much control over her life.

Warhol’s Career in the 1970s and 1980s

In the 1970s, Warhol had a retrospective exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art and created his iconic portrait of Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong. He grew less productive during the decade, spending much of his time assembling new wealthy patrons for portrait commissions. In 1979, he founded the New York Academy of Art with his friend Stuart Pivar.

Warhol’s critical and commercial success was revived in the 1980s, partly due to his connections with popular young artists like Basquiat, Salle, and Schnabel. He had his final career exhibition in 1987 at the Palazzo delle Stelline in Milan, Italy.

Andy Warhol’s Personal Life and Death

Andy Warhol was openly gay and had relationships with several men, including BillyBoy, Billy Name, Charles Lisanby, Jon Gould, and John Giorno. He was in a 12-year relationship with Jed Johnson. Although he claimed to be a virgin as late as 1980, it is disputed.

Warhol passed away on February 22, 1987, at the age of 58 after a gallbladder operation. He had repeatedly delayed checkups for his gallbladder problems. He is buried in St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Cemetery in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.

Warhol’s Legacy

Andy Warhol’s impact on the art world is immense. His works, which fetch millions at auction, are synonymous with the pop art movement he helped pioneer. They continue to inspire artists worldwide. Multiple retrospective exhibitions, books, and films have been made about his life and work. His hometown of Pittsburgh even established the Andy Warhol Museum. The Warhol Foundation was also founded to support visual arts in the United States.

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