Updated: October 28, 2026
Susan Saint James, the Emmy-winning actress who lit up screens in McMillan & Wife and Kate & Allie, left behind more than unforgettable performances when she passed away on October 26, 2026, at age 80 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Fans and industry watchers continue to ask about her financial legacy. Current estimates place Susan Saint James’s net worth at approximately $60 million—a combined figure with her longtime husband, television executive Dick Ebersol. That wealth reflects decades of steady television success, smart real-estate moves, and a life that valued family and purpose as much as paychecks.
Table of Contents
A Career That Built Lasting Earnings
Born Susan Jane Miller on August 14, 1946, in Los Angeles and raised in Rockford, Illinois, Saint James began modeling as a teenager before signing with Universal Studios. She earned an Emmy for her work on The Name of the Game and became a household name as the spirited Sally McMillan opposite Rock Hudson. The 1970s series delivered consistent visibility and residuals that kept paying long after the final episode.
Her second major hit came in the 1980s with Kate & Allie, where she played the free-spirited Kate McArdle alongside Jane Curtin. The sitcom ran for six seasons and brought additional Emmy nominations. Guest appearances on shows such as MASH*, *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit*, and *Suits* added to her income stream. By the time she largely stepped away from full-time acting after Kate & Allie ended, she had built a reliable foundation of earnings and residual checks that many working actors never achieve.
Marriage, Partnership, and Shared Wealth
Saint James married Dick Ebersol in 1981 after meeting him while hosting Saturday Night Live. Ebersol’s long career at NBC—co-creating Saturday Night Live, leading NBC Sports, and shaping Olympic coverage and Sunday Night Football—significantly expanded the couple’s financial picture. Their combined net worth of roughly $60 million reflects both her acting income and his executive success.
The couple faced profound personal loss when their youngest son, Teddy, died in a 2004 plane crash at age 14. In the years that followed, Saint James focused more on family and philanthropy, including long-term support for the Special Olympics. That shift did not diminish their assets; instead, it underscored a deliberate approach to life and money.
Real Estate and Long-Term Assets
Property played a meaningful role in their portfolio. The couple once owned a 13,000-square-foot mansion in Telluride, Colorado, purchased for about $10.4 million and later sold for roughly $11.3 million. They have maintained residences in Greenwich, Connecticut, California, and Massachusetts. More recently, reports noted a $6.7 million home in Los Angeles’s Cheviot Hills neighborhood featuring a private theater, pool, spa, and gym. These holdings illustrate how real estate helped preserve and grow wealth beyond entertainment residual checks.
Susan Saint James Net Worth Snapshot Category Details Estimated Net Worth $60 million (combined with husband) Primary Career Income Television series & residuals Key Shows McMillan & Wife, Kate & Allie Real Estate Highlights Telluride, Greenwich, California Philanthropy Focus Special Olympics & family causes Years Active 1966–2011 (occasional later roles)
Key points that shaped her financial picture:
- Steady residual income from long-running network hits
- Marriage to a high-earning television executive
- Strategic real-estate investments across multiple states
- A deliberate step back from Hollywood that protected rather than depleted resources
- Emphasis on family and charitable work after personal tragedy
Life Beyond the Numbers
Saint James never treated net worth as the central measure of success. Family statements after her death described a woman who valued time and kindness more than money and who made every person she met feel important. She is survived by her husband, four children—Sunshine Lucas, Harmony Lucas, Charlie Ebersol, and Willie Ebersol—seven grandchildren, her sister, and her service dog, Lola. Her Hollywood Walk of Fame star, awarded in 2008, stands as a permanent marker of a career that blended charm, comedy, and quiet professionalism.
Conclusion
Susan Saint James’s $60 million net worth tells a story of consistency rather than sudden fortune. Strong television roles, residual income, a partnership with one of television’s most influential executives, and thoughtful real-estate choices created lasting financial security. More importantly, she used that security to support family and causes she cared about. In an industry that often prioritizes the next paycheck, her example remains refreshing. For those who appreciate precision and quality in every detail of life—whether calibrating instruments or simply living with intention—resources such as gmdcalibration.in offer a reminder that excellence in the small things supports bigger goals. Saint James’s legacy rests not only on the numbers but on the warmth and resilience she brought to both screen and home.