Claudia Cardinale Net Worth.
Claudia Cardinale, one of the defining stars of European cinema, passed away on September 23, 2025, at the age of 87. At the time of her death, the Italian actress had an estimated net worth of $10 million, earned from a career spanning more than six decades and more than 150 films.
From Tunis to Stardom
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Born Claude Joséphine Rose Cardinale on April 15, 1938, in Tunis to Sicilian parents, Cardinale grew up speaking French and Sicilian rather than Italian. At just 18, she reluctantly entered a beauty pageant and won the title of “the most beautiful Italian girl in Tunisia.” Her prize, a trip to the Venice Film Festival, changed her life forever.
Within a year, Italian producer Franco Cristaldi signed her to his studio. She quickly rose to fame with her breakout role in Big Deal on Madonna Street (1958).
Breakthrough Roles & International Fame
The early 1960s marked Cardinale’s breakthrough. She starred in Federico Fellini’s surreal classic 8½ (1963) and Luchino Visconti’s lavish epic The Leopard (1963), performances that cemented her as an international star.
By 1964, she crossed over into Hollywood with Blake Edwards’ The Pink Panther, and in 1968, she delivered one of her most iconic roles as Jill McBain in Sergio Leone’s western masterpiece Once Upon a Time in the West.
Her filmography also includes Werner Herzog’s Fitzcarraldo (1982), which showcased her versatility and staying power on screen.
Strength and Resilience
Behind her glamorous career was a story of resilience. As a teenager, Cardinale endured trauma that shaped her early life, raising her son Patrick while navigating the challenges of a male-dominated film industry.
Her personal life was equally complex. Though she married Cristaldi in 1966, she later distanced herself from the relationship, calling it restrictive. She later found lasting partnership with director Pasquale Squitieri, with whom she had a daughter, Claudia.
Later Life & Humanitarian Work
Cardinale continued working into her 70s and 80s, particularly in French cinema. Beyond acting, she became a passionate advocate for women’s rights and environmental causes. In 2000, she was appointed a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.
In 2023, the Museum of Modern Art in New York honored her with a 23-film retrospective, further cementing her legacy as one of Europe’s greatest screen icons.
Legacy
Known as “Italy’s girlfriend” during her heyday, Claudia Cardinale brought both allure and authenticity to her roles. She stood alongside contemporaries like Sophia Loren and Gina Lollobrigida, but carved her own path—balancing sex-symbol glamour with strength and depth.
Her estimated $10 million net worth reflects not just her film success but also her ability to remain relevant across generations. Her death in 2025 marked the end of an era, but her work continues to inspire and influence filmmakers and audiences worldwide.