
Leif Garrett’s Net Worth: His Life, Career, and Legal Struggles
Leif Garrett, an American singer, actor, and television personality, has a net worth of $10 thousand. Garrett’s early career was marked with success, as he gained recognition for his acting roles in movies such as “Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice,” the “Walking Tall” series, and TV shows including “Family” and “The Odd Couple.” He was also a heartthrob of young girls due to his role in the CBS drama “Three for the Road.” In 1976, Garrett signed a five-album recording contract with Atlantic Records and released his debut album, “Leif Garrett,” which included four singles that charted on the US Billboard Hot 100. Despite his early successes, Garrett’s later career was marred by his personal struggles with drug and alcohol abuse, which led to a number of legal issues and arrests.
Early Life
Leif Garrett was born on November 8, 1961, in Hollywood, California. He was interested in acting from an early age, and along with his sister Dawn Lyn, he started acting in Hollywood from a young age. He was primarily homeschooled to accommodate for his acting career and graduated from high school early at the age of 15.
Career
Garrett’s breakthrough role came in 1969 in the movie “Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice.” He also appeared in the “Walking Tall” series and had recurring roles on TV shows such as “Family” and “The Odd Couple.” In 1975, he appeared in the CBS drama “Three for the Road,” which earned him the attention of young female fans. In 1976, he signed a five-album recording contract with Atlantic Records and released his debut album, “Leif Garrett.” He also had a successful music career, with his greatest hit being “I Was Made for Dancin'” in 1978. However, his later music projects were not as successful, and he primarily stopped releasing music after his fifth album in 1981.
Garrett returned to acting in the mid-1990s and also appeared in stage productions. In 2019, he released an autobiography entitled “Idol Truth,” in which he described some of the chaos in his rise to stardom.
Personal Life
Garrett has dated various co-stars, including Nicollette Sheridan, Kristy McNichol, Tatum O’Neal, and Justine Bateman. He was in a serious relationship with actress Elaine Bilstad in the 1990s until her death in 1999 due to a heart problem.
Legal and Drug Issues
Garrett’s personal life has been marked by controversy and scandal due to his drug abuse problems. He has admitted to beginning using drugs at the age of 14. He was involved in a car accident a few days before his 18th birthday, which left his passenger, Roland Winkler, paralyzed. Garrett was tried as a juvenile and his license suspended for a year. Winkler sued Garrett, and the lawsuit lasted for the next decade until Winkler was paid a settlement of $6 million from an insurance company. Garrett continued struggling with drug and alcohol abuse throughout the 1990s and 2000s and was arrested numerous times for possession of cocaine and heroin. He tried to attend various rehab programs but continued to struggle with addiction.
In conclusion, Leif Garrett’s early career was marked with success as an actor and singer, but his later career was marred by personal struggles with drug and alcohol abuse. Despite his net worth of $10 thousand, his legal and drug issues overshadowed his early success.