Max Baer Jr Net Worth -

What is Max Baer Jr.’s Net Worth?

Max Baer Jr., best known for his role as Jethro Bodine on “The Beverly Hillbillies,” has a net worth of $50 million. He turned to producing and directing after being typecast in similar roles. Baer directed some of Hollywood’s most financially successful films, including “Macon County Line,” which held the record for highest grossing film per invested dollar until 1999. He also produced and directed “The Wild McCullochs” and “Ode to Billy Joe.” Baer has been involved in the gambling industry and attempted to develop a Beverly Hillbillies-themed hotel and casino in the 2000s.

Early Life and Education

Max Baer Jr. was born on December 4, 1937 in Oakland, California to Mary Sullivan and former world heavyweight champion boxer Max Baer. He has two siblings named James and Maude and is of German Jewish and Irish descent. Baer attended Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento, where he excelled in multiple sports, including winning the junior title at the Sacramento Open golf tournament twice. He went on to attend Santa Clara University for his higher education.

Early Television Career

Max Baer Jr began his acting career on television in the 1960s, making guest appearances on popular shows such as “Maverick,” “Surfside 6,” “Cheyenne,” and “Hawaiian Eye.” He also appeared on “77 Sunset Strip,” “Bronco,” and “Sugarfoot,” among others.

Max Baer Jr’s Rise to Fame on “The Beverly Hillbillies”

In 1962, Max Baer Jr was cast as Jethro Bodine on the CBS sitcom “The Beverly Hillbillies.” The show followed the Clampett family, who moved from a poor backwoods area to Beverly Hills, California. Baer played a relative of the patriarch, Jed Clampett, portrayed by Buddy Ebsen. Other notable actors on the show included Donna Douglas, Irene Ryan, Raymond Bailey, and Nancy Kulp.

“The Beverly Hillbillies” was a massive hit with audiences and ran for nine seasons until its cancellation in 1971. It ranked in the top 20 most-watched television shows for eight seasons, and it was number one during its first two seasons. The show received seven Emmy Award nominations during its run, solidifying Baer’s place in American television history.

Television and Film Work

After “The Beverly Hillbillies,” Baer appeared in “The Birdmen” and produced “Two for the Money.” He also had guest roles on “Love, American Style,” “Fantasy Island,” and appeared in television films like “The Asphalt Cowboy” and “The Circle Family.” In the late 80s, Baer appeared in episodes of “Matt Houston” and “Murder, She Wrote.”

Max Baer Jr’s Career in Film

Max Baer Jr’s first big-screen role was in the 1967 Western “A Time for Killing.” He then ventured into producing, screenwriting, and directing in the 70s. Baer co-wrote the screenplay for the profitable 1974 film “Macon County Line,” which he also produced and acted in. He then wrote, produced, directed, and starred in the 1975 film “The Wild McCullochs.” Baer continued to produce, direct, and act in films such as 1976’s “Ode to Billy Joe,” and his last work as a director was the 1979 comedy “Hometown U.S.A.”

Max Baer Jr’s Failed Attempts at Expanding “The Beverly Hillbillies” Brand

In the early 1990s, Max Baer Jr noticed the success of “Bonanza”-themed attractions and decided to capitalize on the popularity of “Beverly Hillbillies” by buying the sublicensing rights from CBS. He installed 65 “Beverly Hillbillies” slot machines across various casinos in the late 1990s.

In 2003, Baer attempted to create a “Beverly Hillbillies” hotel and casino by redeveloping a former Walmart in Carson City, Nevada. However, building code conflicts prevented the project from moving forward.

Baer later tried to revive his plan on another piece of land in Nevada, where he planned to build a 40,000-square-foot gambling area with slot machines and eateries, as well as a 200-foot-tall mock oil derrick that would spout a flame. However, the project was suspended due to litigation with the developer and Douglas County.

Personal Life

Baer married Joanne Hill in 1966, but they divorced in 1971. Later in life, he was in a relationship with model Chere Rhodes, who was 40 years his junior. They lived together in Lake Tahoe, but Rhodes tragically took her own life in early 2008.