Khaled El Sawy
$5 million
Heath Andrew Ledger (April 4, 1979 – January 22, 2008) was an Australian actor born in Perth, Western Australia, whose brief but extraordinary career produced some of the most celebrated performances in contemporary cinema. He was found dead in his New York City apartment on January 22, 2008, at the age of 28, from an accidental overdose of prescription medications. His estate was estimated at $50 million, which he left to his daughter.
Ledger’s nuanced performance as Ennis Del Mar in Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain (2005) earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. His final completed role — the Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight (2008) — is widely considered one of the greatest performances in film history. Ledger won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor posthumously — the second actor in history to receive a posthumous Oscar for acting.
Heath Ledger had a daughter, Matilda Rose Ledger, born October 28, 2005, with actress Michelle Williams. He was devoted to Matilda and she remained his primary concern in his final years. Friends and collaborators described Ledger as intensely curious, physically fearless, and deeply generous.
Heath Ledger’s posthumous Oscar win and the enduring power of his Joker performance ensure that his artistry will be studied and celebrated for generations. He is remembered as an actor of singular instinct and courage.