Dick Van Dyke’s Net Worth on His 99th Birthday

At 99, Dick Van Dyke has had as long an entertainment career as anyone. "I am so happy that I picked the work I did," the Mary Poppins actor has said. "I am really proud of it." Personal fulfillment aside, Van Dyke's eight decades in show business has also made him a very rich man.

Keep reading to find out how the legendary actor got his start and what his net worth is in 2024.

How did Dick Van Dyke get his start?

Dick Van Dyke got his start in a most unusual way. During World War II, when most young men were being drafted, Van Dyke was denied enlistment for being underweight. He was finally accepted for service—but only as a radio announcer. The Chitty Chitty Bang Bang actor eventually transferred to the Special Services—the entertainment branch of the U.S. military—where he spent his time entertaining troops across the country.

“I became a disc jockey at 17. [Then] my buddy and I came out here [to Los Angeles] in ’47 with a comedy act, and one thing led to another—I never got out of the business,” he explained in an interview with Harry Connick Jr. in 2017.

Related: Dick Van Dyke's Marriage History, Including His 46-Year Age Gap With Wife Arlene Silver 

The comedy act, called Eric and Van — the Merry Mules, toured the nightclub circuit on the West Coast before finally landing a local TV show in Atlanta called The Merry Mules in the 1950s. Soon, Van Dyke began to get noticed as a solo comedian and then as an emcee of a comedy program on WDSU-TV New Orleans Channel 6 (NBC).

A significant turning point came when an old Army friend who was working for CBS recommended Van Dyke to the network, and the future comedy legend was signed to a seven-year contract. He appeared on two episodes of the CBS series The Phil Silvers Show before becoming a comic performer on The Pat Boone Show and The Andy Williams Show.

But his first big break arguably came off-screen, when Silvers writer Aaron Ruben recommended him to director Gower Champion, landing Van Dyke the role of Albert F. Peterson in Bye Bye Birdie on Broadway. The part earned him a Tony and secured him the lead in the Emmy Award-winning The Dick Van Dyke Show, which aired on CBS from 1961 to 1966.

He was officially a household name.

What is Dick Van Dyke's net worth in 2024?

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Dick Van Dyke’s net worth in 2024 is $50 million. Van Dyke has amassed these millions through his legendary work as an actor, comedian, director and producer on both stage and screen.

Is Dick Van Dyke still alive?

You can "Put on a Happy Face," because Dick Van Dyke is still alive as of this writing. The actor turned 99 on Dec. 13, 2024.

In an interview in December 2024, Van Dyke recounted his harrowing rescue from the recent and ongoing Malibu wildfires. “It was coming from the hill, you could see it. And oh my God, and we got out of here. I was trying to crawl to the car, I had exhausted myself, I couldn’t get up. Three neighbors came and carried me out and came back and put out a little fire in the guest house and saved me.”

Related: Dick Van Dyke Reveals Heart-Stopping Moment His Neighbors 'Saved' His Life During Wildfire Escape

How old is Dick Van Dyke?

Dick Van Dyke was born on Dec. 13, 1925, making him 99 at this time.

What is Dick Van Dyke best known for?

Oh my. The iconic actor is known for quite a few roles. He first gained worldwide fame through his role as Rob Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show, which ran from 1961 to 1966. On the big screen, his first film role was in 1963’s Bye Bye Byrdie, in which he reprised a role he first made famous on Broadway. Of course, some fans will know the multi-talented performer from his more family friendly fare, like 1964’s Mary Poppins and 1968’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Related: Dick Van Dyke Shares What Movie Role Did ‘the Most Good’ Amid Battle With Alcoholism

What is Dick Van Dyke doing now?

Despite being 99, Van Dyke shows no signs of slowing down. He recently appeared in the music video for the new Coldplay single “All My Love.” Directed by Spike Jonze and Mary Wigmore, the video was filmed in October 2024 and features Van Dyke reflecting on life, love and the passage of time.

“What is love?” Van Dyke asks. “Boy, they’ve been attacking that question for centuries. I don’t know. It certainly is a feeling of caring about the welfare and the life of the other person as much as you care for yourself.”

Related: Chris Martin Rushes to Dick Van Dyke's Side During Near-Fall on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live'

What movies has Dick Van Dyke been in?

Dick Van Dyke has appeared in a number of projects over his roughly 80-year career. Some of his more recognizable movies are:

• Bye Bye Byrdie (1963)

• Mary Poppins (1964)

• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)

• The Comic (1969)

• Dick Tracy (1990)

• Night at the Museum (2006)

Has Dick Van Dyke won any awards?

You don’t spend 80-plus years in show business and not amass a whole slew of awards! Van Dyke's trophy case includes:

• Four Primetime Emmy Awards

• The Emmy Hall of Fame Award

• Two Daytime Emmy Awards

• One Grammy Award

• One Tony Award

• A Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2012

• The Kennedy Center Honors in 2021

Van Dyke was also inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1995 and into the Disney Legends Hall of Fame in 1998. He also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2016.

Last year, on his 98th birthday, Van Dyke reflected on how his career has revolved around his love of performing. “If I’m not enjoying myself, I’m really bad,” he said. "It’s such a blessing to find a way of making a living that you love, that you’d do for nothing. I feel so sorry for people who hate their jobs. I look forward to going to work every morning.”

Related: Dick Van Dyke's Marriage History, Including His 46-Year Age Gap With Wife Arlene Silver