Pink Panther actress Elke Sommer net worth: 20 million fortune, love for painting; How husband’s death changed her final months

Elke Sommer became one of Hollywood's recognisable faces during the 1960s, sharing the screen with stars such as Peter Sellers, Paul Newman and Dean Martin. She enjoyed a decades-long career in film, television and later as a painter. But besides her screen appearances, Sommer also made headlines for a multimillion-dollar legal win and a valuable Los Angeles property. The German-born actress, best known for playing Maria Gambrelli in the Pink Panther film A Shot in the Dark, died on October 28, 2026, at age 85, at her home in Bel Air, Los Angeles.

Elke Sommer's estimated net worth

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Sommer had an estimated net worth of $20 million at the time of her death. However, the figure is an estimate from a celebrity wealth tracking website and has not been independently confirmed by financial disclosures or her estate. Her career lasted more than six decades, during which she made her fortune. She appeared in over 100 film and TV productions, worked in Hollywood and European cinema and later had a parallel career as an artist.

Elke Sommer's breakthrough in Hollywood came with the 1963 film The Prize, opposite Paul Newman. Her performance earned her a Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer. A year later, she appeared alongside Peter Sellers in A Shot in the Dark, playing a maid suspected of murder. She also starred in films such as The Wrecking Crew, The Art of Love, And Then There Were None and the British comedy Carry On Behind.

$3.3 million legal victory against Zsa Zsa Gabor

One of the biggest financial developments in Elke Sommer's life came from a defamation lawsuit involving actress Zsa Zsa Gabor and her husband, Frédéric Prinz von Anhalt. The dispute followed comments published in German media in 1990, which included claims that Sommer was broke and earned money by selling hand-knitted sweaters. She challenged the statements in court, seeking $10 million in damages.

In 1993, a jury awarded Sommer $3.3 million in damages. The judgment was later upheld by a California appeals court in 1995. The Associated Press reported that the dispute became one of the memorable episodes of Sommer's life outside the film industry. However, the legal award should not be treated as her total wealth or assumed to have remained intact until her death.

Inside Elke Sommer's Los Angeles home

Elke Sommer also owned a substantial property in Los Angeles. According to Celebrity Net Worth, she listed her home for $10.75 million in March 2022. The approximately 4,000-square-foot residence was built in 1941 and featured four bedrooms, five-and-a-half bathrooms and a library with an antique carved-stone fireplace. The property also had a swimming pool, tennis court and a separate guesthouse. There is no publicly confirmed information establishing whether the property was sold or what it was ultimately worth at the time of her death.

From Hollywood actress to painter

As Elke's acting appearances became less frequent, she devoted more time to painting. Her colourful artwork was exhibited in galleries in Europe and the United States. She also hosted a television series, Painting with Elke Sommer, in 1985. The Associated Press described her as a star of 1960s Hollywood comedies and espionage films, noting her work alongside some of the industry's biggest names. Elke Sommer died just months after her second husband, German hotelier Wolf Walther, who passed away in July 2026. Her legacy includes a long film career, international recognition and an artistic life that extended beyond acting.