The author of multiple best-selling books, an actress known for superhit roles in That Girl and Free to Be… You and Me, also social activist Margaret Julia Thomas, known as Marlo Thomas, has a net worth of more than $150 million by 2025.
In the article below, you will explore how Marlo Thomas generated a substantial amount of net worth with her late husband Phil Donahue, who died at the age of 88 in 2024 and also explore her early life, education, career, and source of income.
Marlo Thomas Personal Details
| Name | Margaret Julia Thomas |
| Date of Birth | November 21, 1937 |
| Age | 87 years |
| Birth Place | Deerfield, Michigan |
| Parents | Danny Thomas and Rose Marie Cassaniti. |
| Spouse | Late Phil Donahue |
| Children | 0 |
| Profession | Actress, Producer, Social Activist |
| Siblings | Terre, Tony Thomas |
Early Life and Education
Marlo was born in Detroit in an entertainment industry family on November 21, 1937, as the eldest child of comedian Danny Thomas and Rose Marie Cassaniti. She spent her early life days in Beverly Hills, California, with her parents and siblings.
The television industry background of her father, Danny Thomas, eased the way for Marlo to step into the industry as she debuted first from the regional theaters in the lead role of Barefoot in the Park.
Marlo completed her high school degree from Marymount High School and later graduated with a teaching degree from the University of Southern California in 1959.
Career
The entertainment background of Marlo and her father, Danny Thomas, added more motivation to Marlo to pursue a career in the industry as Marlo received many offers from an early age.
She appeared in numerous television shows in her early career days, like Ben Casey, My Favorite Mortion, Bonanza, Arrest, and Trial. Still, she officially entered the regional theaters with Mike Nicols’s American romantic comedy Barefoot in the Park, starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda, directed by Gene Saks in 1965.
Marlo drew that crowd’s attention in 1966 with her role as an independent, career-oriented woman, Ann Marie, in the American television sitcom That Girl, which ran for 5 years with 5 different seasons and 136 episodes.
Marlo won the Golden Globe award for her brilliance in That Girl.
Thomas appeared in numerous movies during her career. She debuted with the 1970 American drama movie Jenny, in which she played the role of a young girl named Jenny. In 1997, she played Sanny Cramer in the movie Thieves, which was about a newly married couple who split up in an attempt to rediscover their sanity.
Numerous other movies, like In the Spirit in 1990, The Real Blonde in 1997, and Starstruck in 1998, have added light to the acting career of Marlo Thomas.
Personal Life
Marlo Thomas is married to a well-known media personality, Phil Donahue; he is also the host of the famous talk show The Phil Donahue Show. They got married on May 21, 1980, after meeting on the talk show.
The couple does not have biological children of their own, but they are parents to five children from Phil’s previous marriage to Margaret Cooney.
The names of Phil Donahue’s children are:
- Michael Donahue
- Kevin Donahue
- Daniel Donahue
- Mary Rose Donahue
- Late James Donahue (Death: 2014)
Marlo had fulfilled the responsibility as stepmother to 5 kids while the couple shared 44 years of married life before Phil died in 2024.
Philanthropy
More than just acting and writing, Marlo is known as a social activist for her philanthropic nature in children’s health and education, carrying the legacy of her comedian father through Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a non-profit medical organization headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, founded in 1962 by Danny Thomas.
Marlo is the national outreach director of the St Jude Hospital, and she has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about childhood cancer around the world and rescued and treated the children suffering from the cancer. Marlo is following her father’s footprint so that no children will die of cancer.
She also contributed actively to nuclear disarmament, racial justice, and gender equality. Marlo promoted gender equality, influencing young kids through her book Free to Be… You and Me.
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Awards and Achievements
Marlo Thomas has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to entertainment and her philanthropic activities as a social activist. Here are some of her most notable achievements and the reasons behind them
1. Presidential Medal of Freedom (2014)
Marlo received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014 from Barack Obama for her active contribution to gender equality and children’s health and for her contribution from the non-medical corporation St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
2. Golden Globe Award
Marlo won the Golden Globe Award in 1967 for the Best TV Star—Female for the 1966 superhit American sitcom ‘That Girl,‘ where she was portrayed in the character of an independent, strong, career-driven young girl.
3. Emmy Awards
Marlo Thomas has won four Emmy Awards for her outstanding contributions to television.
She was awarded her first Emmy Award in 1980 for her Outstanding Children Special for her Special TV program, Be Free… You and Me, which promoted gender equality and encouraged children to grow up in modern culture.
She won her second Emmy award in 1988 for the sequel to Be Free… You and Me, which promoted peace and understanding while featuring the context of the collaboration between American and Soviet children.
Marlo made it count three in 1988 after she was awarded for her powerful performance in the TV movie Nobody’s Child while portraying the character of a woman struggling with mental illness in a psychiatric institution.
She was awarded the Daytime Emmy Award for her excellent performance in a Children’s Special in 1995—Marlo Thomas and Friends: Thanks & Giving All Year Long, which has supported St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
4. Other Awards
Marlo has received several other awards in her life, as she was awarded a Grammy Award in 1973 for her famous project Free to Be… You and Me, Peabody Award next year in 1974 recognizing her contribution to children’s education and social values.
She was honored for her kindness and humanitarian efforts in raising funds for the treatment of children suffering from cancer in her St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by the Jefferson Award for Public Service in 1980.
Similarly, the Helen Caldicott Award in 2006 and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for her charity work and advocacy for American society, the Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 1992 for her contribution to television and entertainment, the Congress Horizon Award in 2003, and the National Women’s Hall of Fame Induction in 20214 are her notable awards and achievements.
Marlos Thomas Net worth and source of Income
Marlo had generated a substantial amount of money, and at present, Marlo Thomas net worth is more than $150 million by 2025, which is the combined net worth of her late husband, Phil Donahue. However, she is well known for her charity and philanthropic activities and has contributed a lot. Here are the sources of income that contribute to Marlo Thomas net worth.
1. Television and Film Career and Producer
Marlo had generated a big portion of her net worth from her career as an actress in television shows and films.
Marlo’s famous American television sitcom That Girl, from 1966 to 1971, contributed well to her net worth during the early days of her career, while numerous movies she played like Jenny, Spirit, The Real Blonde, and Starstruck have contributed well to her net worth.
2. Books Royalties
Marlos has published several books alongside her acting career and philanthropic activities. Here are some of the notable books she published.
- Free to Be… You and Me in 1974)
- Free to Be… A Family 1987
- The Right Words at the Right Time” (2002):
- The Right Words at the Right Time, Volume 2: Your Turn! in 2006
- Thanks & Giving: All Year Long in 2004
- Growing Up Laughing: My Story and the Story of Funny in 2010
- It Ain’t Over… Till It’s Over: Reinventing Your Life and Realizing Your Dreams Anytime, at Any Age in 2014
- What Makes a Marriage Last: 40 Celebrated Couples Share with Us the Secrets to a Happy Life in 2020
The exact figures of the royalties of each book are not publicly available. However, everyone is aware of the achievements she has made throughout her writing career are well known to all.
3. Royal Estate Investments
Multiple reports claim the couple has made big transactions in the past over their real estate properties. The Westport Connecticut Estate purchased by the couple was reportedly sold for more than $25 million.
Multiple other real estate properties were also sold in 2013 for around $20 million, which shows the couple’s interest in the royal estate activities.
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All the information above presented is based on public data available on Marlo Thomas. Any sort of correction is accepted from the comment box or the email ID.