Who was the first woman to earn $1,000,000 in one year working in the United States?

gdec1

Madame C. J. Walker http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._J._Walker Jul 22 06, 11:40 AM

DukeDawson

That is a correct answer gdec1. If I substitute the word "youngest," rather than "first," woman to earn 1 mil. per year, can you come up with a different young lady? Jul 22 06, 12:35 PM

gdec1

You'll come up with two- The Olsen twins! http://www.celebritywonder.com/html/ashleyolsen_trivia1.html Jul 22 06, 2:08 PM

DukeDawson

Nope,...but you're on the right track. The young lady in question made her million about the same year Mde. Walker passed on. I doubt the Olsen twins greatgrandparent's were even dating then! Your home state is a hint! Jul 22 06, 4:43 PM

lanfranco

Duke, I'm sorry, but while Madame C.J. Walker is said to have become the first female millionaire in the U.S., via her hair-care products, I don't think anyone has claimed that she was able to earn $1,000,000 in the space of one year. That would have been a spectacular sum in her lifetime and beyond the reach of many successful men, black or white. Moreover, I've read, and the site below, involving a book written by her descendant, seems to confirm it, that the net worth of Madame Walker's estate at the time of her death was well under $1,000,000: http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3812/is_200105/ai_n8930585 Jul 22 06, 4:49 PM

DukeDawson

Nice research Frankie. The last paragraph on page three of the web site you mention seems to sum it up. (no pun intended) My woman in question signed a contract for 10K per wk.,with a 30k signing bonus and a hefty percentage of the profits from their business. The year was 1916. Jul 22 06, 5:16 PM

DukeDawson

America's Sweetheart...Mary Pickford. She was the first actor in Hollywood to become a millionaire. Jul 23 06, 6:31 AM