Marilyn Monroe’s Personal Bank of America Statement

September-October, 1951
Along With Corresponding Bank Check

Marilyn’s personal Bank of America monthly statement for the period September 27 through October 25, 1951. The beginning balance on this statement was just $9.58; the closing balance was $245.99.

When stardom came, Marilyn unenviably became one of the lowest paid top-liners in Hollywood. After so many years struggling to land a long-term studio contract, the seven year deal she signed with Fox in 1951 bound her to a pay scale that lagged woefully behind her burgeoning status. In 1952, the year that she became an established star, she was making just $750 a week, minus tax and 10 percent to her agents, not nearly enough to cover her outgoings which included up to $200 per week on the various drama and singing lessons, employing business manager Inez Melson, paying for her mother’s care and keeping up a room in the prestigious Bel Air Hotel – fortunately she had a little extra money coming in from Don’t Bother to Knock (1952), which she made for RKO Studios. For smash hit Gentleman Prefer Blondes, Marilyn earned $18,000, just one-tenth of what co-star Jane Russell made.

“I’m not interested in money. I just want to be wonderful.”
-Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn-Monroe-Bank-of-America-Statement-1951

Also part of this collection, a cancelled bank check from the personal Bank of America account of Marilyn Monroe, made payable to Schwab’s Drugs in the amount of $5.00. Dated October 5, 1951, written entirely in Marilyn’s own handwriting. This check corresponds with the above bank statement, having cleared Marilyn’s account on October 9, 1951.

Marilyn-Monroe-October-5-1951-Check

Important activities in Marilyn’s life around this time include:
-Filming of Clash by Night and Don’t Bother to Knock (Fall)
-Release of Love Nest – October 10
-Marilyn appears on the cover of Look magazine for the first time – October 23