What Is Ruth Etting’s Net Worth and How She Ruled 1930s Entertainment?
What is Ruth Etting’s net worth, and how did she rise to become one of the most celebrated entertainers of the 1930s? Known as “America’s Sweetheart of Song,” Ruth Etting wasn’t just a beautiful voice—she was a pioneer in the entertainment industry during the Jazz Age. Her career spanned recordings, stage performances, radio, and early Hollywood films.
But while her star power once brought her fame and fortune, the twists of her personal life and the limits of the industry in her era shaped the final outcome of her wealth and legacy. To understand her net worth, you have to dive into the story of a woman who dominated her time and left an indelible mark on American music.
Who Was Ruth Etting?
Ruth Etting was born on November 23, 1896, in David City, Nebraska. After her mother’s death, she was raised by her grandparents and later studied art in Chicago. But it wasn’t painting that would define her life—it was her voice. While working as an artist, she started singing in clubs and quickly caught the attention of music promoters. Her smoky, expressive vocals were perfectly suited for the jazz-infused pop songs of the 1920s and 1930s.
Etting’s career exploded in the 1920s as she began recording hits that would become standards, including “Shine On, Harvest Moon,” “Button Up Your Overcoat,” and the classic torch song “Ten Cents a Dance.” She performed in the Ziegfeld Follies, starred in multiple Broadway revues, and transitioned into film as talkies gained popularity. She became one of the first recording artists to successfully bridge the gap between music, radio, and movies.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Ruth Etting became a symbol of the era. Her voice embodied the spirit of jazz and the emotional depth of blues. She helped define the role of female singers in the music industry, paving the way for countless women who came after her.
Ruth Etting’s Net Worth at Her Peak
At the height of her fame during the late 1920s and early 1930s, Ruth Etting was earning substantial income by the standards of the time. Exact financial records are hard to come by, but estimates suggest that she earned between $3,000 and $5,000 per week from performances, recordings, and appearances during her peak—an incredible sum during the Great Depression.
Adjusted for inflation, that kind of weekly income would equal over $50,000 to $90,000 today. She was considered one of the highest-paid female entertainers of her time, right up there with stars like Helen Morgan and Fanny Brice. Her radio appearances were sponsored by major brands, and her name was regularly listed among top billings in major publications. She also received film contracts that further padded her income, including work with studios like Warner Bros. and Paramount.
In total, her career earnings over a decade could have reached several hundred thousand dollars—a fortune in the pre-World War II era.
How Ruth Etting Made Her Money
Recording and Music Sales
Ruth Etting recorded more than 60 tracks with Columbia Records and RCA Victor, which helped establish her as a household name. Back in the day of 78 RPM records, a hit could sell tens of thousands of copies, and Etting had multiple hits. Songs like “Love Me or Leave Me” and “Mean to Me” not only resonated with audiences but became enduring standards covered by future artists for generations.
While royalties during her era weren’t as robust or well-structured as they are today, Etting still earned decent residuals from her recordings—especially when combined with publishing and performance fees.
Live Performances and Radio
Live stage performances and vaudeville tours were among her biggest income sources. She performed in sold-out theaters across the U.S., often sharing the stage with major orchestras and jazz bands. Her voice was made for radio, and she became a regular performer on national broadcasts, where she earned thousands of dollars per appearance.
Big radio programs of the time offered prime-time exposure and serious paychecks, and Etting’s talent kept her in demand. Her voice also appeared in sponsored ad spots, lending her style to popular products and brands of the era.
Film Appearances and Acting Roles
As the film industry transitioned from silent pictures to sound, Etting jumped into the movies. She appeared in musical shorts and full-length features during the 1930s. Some of her notable screen appearances include Roman Scandals (1933) and several short musical films designed to showcase her singing.
Though she wasn’t a box office draw in the way that full-time film actresses were, her roles gave her additional income and expanded her brand beyond the airwaves and records. Studios often paid well for popular recording artists to sing on screen, which boosted both her visibility and her wallet.
Financial Setbacks and Personal Struggles
Despite her fame and income, Ruth Etting’s financial story is not without hardship. Her marriage to gangster and manager Martin “Moe the Gimp” Snyder became a point of public and personal turmoil. Snyder was controlling and reportedly abusive, and although he helped shape her early career, he also alienated potential collaborators and mishandled aspects of her finances.
Their messy separation culminated in a highly publicized scandal when Snyder shot Etting’s lover, Myrl Alderman, in 1938. The incident led to court battles and intense media scrutiny. Though Etting and Alderman later married, the damage to her public image and professional momentum was already done. She retired from public life in the 1940s and never fully regained her previous success.
As a result of these struggles and her early exit from the spotlight, much of the wealth she had built was likely spent or diminished by the end of her life.
What Would Her Net Worth Be Today?
If you were to calculate Ruth Etting’s net worth at her peak and adjust for inflation, estimates would place her fortune somewhere between $5 million and $10 million in today’s dollars. She was one of the few female entertainers of the Jazz Age who earned enough to live luxuriously—but she also faced challenges that eroded that wealth over time.
She didn’t benefit from modern royalties or intellectual property protections, and her posthumous earnings were likely limited. Still, her recordings remain in circulation, and her music continues to earn modest revenue through streaming and licensing.
Ruth Etting’s Legacy and Influence
Ruth Etting’s influence extends far beyond her lifetime. In 1955, her life story was dramatized in the film Love Me or Leave Me, starring Doris Day as Etting and James Cagney as Moe Snyder. The movie reintroduced her to a new generation and cemented her place in music history.
She’s remembered as one of the great voices of early American pop music, and her emotional, jazz-infused singing style paved the way for artists like Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. Even though her net worth may not rival today’s chart-topping stars, her legacy as a pioneer in entertainment is priceless.
Ruth Etting may have been “America’s Sweetheart of Song,” but she was also a savvy performer who knew how to make her voice—and her story—resonate for decades. Her financial success, while impacted by personal misfortune, still stands as a testament to what talent, timing, and resilience can achieve.
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