Brigitte Bardot, the screen siren whose portrayals of free-spirited talents made her the pride of France before turning her back on film satire to become an animal rights activist in 1973, has died at the age of 91, according to French media and The Associated Press.
He died at his home in St. Tropez, his foundation said in a statement. “The Brigitte Bardot Foundation announces with great sadness the passing of its Founder and President, Madame Brigitte Bardot, a world-renowned actress and singer, who decided to leave her distinguished career to devote her life and energies to animal welfare and her Foundation,” the statement read, as reported by NBC News.
Also read: French actor Brigitte Bardot, famous for And God Created Woman, dies at the age of 91
Brigitte Bardot’s net worth
Bardot wrote And God Created Woman, The Truth and Viva Maria! She achieved international fame with her performance in , which later earned her a BAFTA nomination. She later moved away from acting to become a leading animal rights advocate, declaring in 1973, “I give my youth and beauty to men; I give my wisdom and experience to animals,” as reported by The Mirror US.
According to Express US, throughout her lifetime, Bardot amassed a substantial fortune of between $65 million to $100 million through her famous film roles, modeling contracts, and valuable property investments. During the 1960s, Bardot was one of the world’s highest-paid actresses, earning $350,000 for Viva Maria, approximately $3.66 million in today’s dollars. Her 1966 memoir, Initials BB, reportedly grossed an additional $4 million.
His primary residence in St. Tropez, La Madrague, was purchased in 1958, valued at no less than $23 million. According to The Mirror US, he also owned Le Castellet, a medieval hilltop estate near Cannes, which was listed for sale in 2020 for about $6.5 million.
Also read: ‘France is being invaded’: When Brigitte Bardot was repeatedly fined for anti-Muslim comments
Often called a “neo-Nazi”, Bardot faced several legal challenges over statements inciting racial hatred. He was found guilty in cases related to immigration, Islam and his comments on the ritual slaughter of animals by Muslims in France.
As a result, she faced six penalties, with the largest penalty coming in 2020 when she was ordered to pay €20,000 ($23,500) for describing residents of Reunion Island as “degenerate savages” with “wild genes,” The Mirror US reported. In total, Bardot paid a fine of between €50,000 and €55,000 ($59,000 to $65,000) for racist offences.