How Clint Howard Achieved a Net Worth of $4 Million

Clint Howard began acting when he was only three years old and so far has over 200 credits. For someone who has been in the show business for nearly 60 years, you would expect that Clint Howard’s net worth would be hundreds of millions, but it is only $4 million. Compared to his older brother, Ron Howard, who is also an actor and film director, Howard has not made as much as wealth because Ron’s net worth is about $200 million. Funny enough, the two have been in the entertainment industry for nearly the same period. The younger brother barely talks about his undertakings, but we were able to know how he has managed to achieve the $4 million from our research. Let’s take you through Howard’s journey from being a child actor to writing a memoir.

Meant and Mentored To be an Actor

Howard comes from a family of actors. According to Ron’s interview with Tulsa World, their parents met in 1948 in Oklahoma University. Their father, Rance, was determined at the age of 12 to be an actor, specifically a singing cowboy. Rance’s mother knew he could not sing, thus convinced him to go to the university and study. Their mother, Jean, on the other hand, was bent on becoming an actress, so she went to New York to study acting.

Unfortunately, she was hit by a truck and nearly died, so she went to OU after recovering. After Rance and Jean met in 1948, they were married in 1949 while working with a children’s theater tour company. Together, they made history in their respective families for being the first to study arts in OU. Their respective careers made connections in the entertainment industry, which would lay the foundation for their children’s future.

Jean gave birth to Ron in 1954, and five years later, Howard was born. By then, Ron had already become a child star through his credited film role “The Journey” in 1959. Earlier in 1956, he had been cast in “Frontier Woman” but was not credited. In 1960, Ron was in “The Andy Griffith Show,” and Howard joined him from 1962 to 1964; the younger brother played Leon in five episodes. As her children became child stars, Jean put aside her acting career to focus on her sons.’ Both Rance and Jean were so involved in their sons’ careers, and Ron recalled that their parents never had to hire a legal guardian. Looking back, the two are grateful to their parents for helping them navigate the tricky show business.

Reaping from His Acting

Being on “The Andy Griffith Show” did not make Howard a rich kid, but at least it set him on the path to becoming a child actor. According to Cheatsheet, Don Knotts, one of the main actors, made $1,250 per episode, as starting salary. His manager, Sherwin Bash, was regretful that Knotts acted on the series but had nothing to show for it in the five years. Whatever amount Howard was paid was enough to keep the young child motivated to continue his acting career.

In 1966, he made a guest appearance in “Star Trek: The Original Series.” He recounted to Star Trek how the shooting process was; where they wanted to shave his head, but he preferred not to because he attended a public school. His father had ensured that Howard was prepared for the role, so he memorized the lines despite being only seven years old. His acting must have been outstanding because later, he appeared in the Star Trek sequels. While the main cast like Nimoy received $1,250 per episode, others such as James Dohan and DeForest Kelly were paid $850. The supporting cast was paid $140 for each day they were on set, so it is safe to conclude that Howard got a few hundred dollars from his roles.

Regardless of the pay, Howard did not seem to mind. As reported by Disc Dish, the actor said that what keeps him going is knowing he has gainful employment, and he always looks forward to the call asking for his social security number to give him a paycheck. Therefore, he does not choose whatever movies to star in, be they horror or comedy, big-budget or small-budget; if he is getting paid, that is all that matters. He added that the only difference is that, of course, big-budget productions pay more and provide better craft service. Hence due to him not being picky about the types of films he is cast in, he is proud of his more than 200 credits.

Book Deal Could Increase His Net Worth

Howard and his brother Ron were inspired to write a book titled “The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family” when their father died in 2017. According to USA Today, the brothers reflected upon their lives and realized that their childhood might have appeared normal, but it was not. Ron, who has evolved from being a child actor to a celebrated director, says that his upbringing informs his decisions as a father, husband, and filmmaker.

Since some of Ron’s children have also taken the same career path, the memoir could guide other parents whose kids are in show business. His daughter wrote the book’s foreword; the book is expected to be released on October 12, 2021. On the other hand, Howard disclosed that writing the book with his brother is a beautiful experience, and it helped him realize how much he took his parents’ presence for granted. Through the book deal negotiated by Mauro DiPreta, Howards could earn an impressive sum. According to Career trend, authors who become best-sellers can earn royalties depending on the number of books sold. Usually, the royalties of a standard contract also rely on the selling price such that if it becomes a New York Bestseller, authors can pocket tens of thousands in the first week; as more books sell, the income of the author increases. Given that Ron is great at telling stories through film directing, the book is bound to be a best-seller, and Howard will make a lucrative amount from its sales.