The Gilligan's Island Star Had Less Money Than You Think

May 2024 ยท 2 minute read

Hollywood just didn't pay like it does now for its leading men and women when Dawn Wells was in her heyday. The public discovered that when Wells was hit with some bad luck and financial troubles that led to a concerned friend creating a GoFundMe page for the former star. According to the page, created by Well's longtime hairdresser in 2018, Wells lost her life's savings during the 2008 economic crash and was further burdened by a horrific accident that caused hospitalization and months of recovery, plus huge medical bills, per USA Today.

The campaign ultimately raised $205,000, which both shocked Wells and left her feeling super grateful. In an interview with Inside Edition at the time, she admitted that, aft first, she was reluctant to accept any donations. "I am not dead broke," Wells told the show. "I can get a job and go to work. ... I didn't ask him to do that." However, she later thanked fans in a post on her Facebook page, saying she was "amazed at the kindness and affection" she received. "Here I am, no family, no husband, no kids and no money. Im [sic] grateful that God has given me so many friends and fans who care," she continued. 

After all her financial woes, Celebrity Net Worth reported that the actress was worth just $50,000 at the time of her death. Per The Hollywood Reporter, donations in Wells' name "can be made to The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald Tennessee, Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum or The Shambala Preserve outside Los Angeles."

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