Quick Facts of Johnny Weissmuller
| Full Name | Johnny Weissmuller |
| Last Name | Weissmuller |
| Profession | Actor, Athlete |
| Net worth | $2 million |
| Updated | 2024 |
Born in Romania in 1904 and brought to the United States as a baby, Johnny Weissmuller achieved great success in both acting and athletics, leaving a lasting legacy in both domains.
He developed his swimming abilities while growing up in Chicago and went on to become one of the greatest competitive swimmers of the 20th century.
During his incredible career, Johnny won five gold medals at the Olympics, broke 67 world records, and won a bronze in water polo at the 1924 Games.
How much was the Net worth of Johnny Weissmuller?
At the time of his death in 1984, Johnny Weissmuller, an actor and competitive swimmer of Austrian-Hungarian-American descent, was worth $2 million (after accounting for inflation).
Weissmuller’s Milestone Moments in Swimming
Johnny Weissmuller was an exceptional athlete, especially in water polo and swimming. His accomplishments included 52 national titles, five gold medals from the Olympics, a bronze in water polo, and an amazing 67 world records in swimming.
Among his noteworthy accomplishments were breaking the five-minute barrier in the 440-yard freestyle and being the first swimmer to break the minute mark in the 100-meter freestyle. He also won the Chicago Marathon twice and shown his versatility by taking part in the pentathlon and open water races.
The Associated Press named Weissmuller the best swimmer of the first half of the 20th century, but his skills went beyond the water. He enjoyed playing golf, surfing, sailing, and diving, among other sports. In addition, he was the first inductee and founding chairman of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, immortalizing his tremendous contributions to swimming.
From Athlete to Hollywood Star
Hollywood took notice of Weissmuller’s athletic prowess and cast him as an Adonis in a musical movie. But what really made him famous was his famed portrayal of Edgar Rice Burroughs’s mythical jungle hero, Tarzan.
Weissmuller played Tarzan in twelve different films between 1932 and 1948, solidifying his reputation as the archetypal version of the character. Most notably, he invented the sound that came to represent Tarzan—the impromptu cry.
Johnny As Tarzan
After playing Tarzan, Weissmuller went on to do adventure movie roles, where he played the comic strip character Jungle Jim. He appeared in sixteen Jungle Jim movies and a television show during the 1940s and 1950s, demonstrating his continued popularity in the genre.
After retiring from the theater in the late 1950s, Weissmuller moved to Florida to run a swimming pool company and aggressively advocate for water safety, especially for young people.
Weissmuller died in Mexico in 1984, leaving behind a lasting legacy as a movie and sports hero. Millions of admirers across the world are enthralled and motivated by his achievements to both fields, which have cemented his legacy as a trailblazing character in jungle movies and an iconic figure of athleticism and entertainment.
The Romantic Saga of Johnny Weissmuller
Five marriages were entered by Johnny Weissmuller during his lifetime. Of his romances, the most well-known and turbulent was with the Mexican actress Lupe Vélez.
Their union began in 1933 and ended in 1939 amid a flurry of controversy and public altercations. Called “Tarzan and the Mexican Spitfire” by the press, their relationship came to represent ardor as well as conflict.
Weissmuller’s last spouse was Maria Gertrude Baumann, with whom he got married in 1963 and lived together until his death in 1984.
Charitable Causes & Involvements
Johnny Weissmuller distinguished himself during his life by his commitment to altruistic causes. He traveled the world, carrying out charitable work that involved founding and maintaining children’s hospitals in places like Istanbul and Madrid.
One of his most notable deeds was giving all of his Olympic medals and several trophies to the Special Olympics in 1976 so that they could use them for their fundraising displays.
Weissmuller also actively promoted exercise and a good diet, putting his name to cocktail lounges, health food stores, and a building company that specialized in swimming pools. His enduring legacy was anchored by his unshakable dedication to philanthropy and the promotion of well-being.
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