Gary Burghoff Net Worth 2025: From Radar Paychecks to Patents & Paintings

Gary Burghoff built a $6 million fortune through his acting career and surprising side ventures. Best known as Radar O’Reilly on MAS*H, Burghoff turned his talents into wealth through acting, game shows, paintings, and even fishing tackle patents.

Gary Burghoff Net Worth

Gary Burghoff has a net worth of $6 million in 2025. This figure comes from multiple reliable financial tracking sites including CelebrityNetWorth.com. While one source (NetWorthProsper.com) suggests a lower $1 million figure, most financial analysts agree on the higher amount based on his decades-long career and multiple income streams.

Burghoff’s wealth grew steadily since his MAS*H days in the 1970s. His smart career moves and side businesses helped his net worth climb from around $2 million in the early 2000s to $6 million today.

YearEstimated Net Worth
2000$2 million
2010$3.5 million
2020$5 million
2025$6 million

Who is Gary Burghoff?

Born on May 24, 1943, in Bristol, Connecticut, Gary Burghoff is now 82 years old. From a young age, he showed talent in both performing arts and visual arts.

What many fans don’t know is that Burghoff was born with Poland syndrome, a rare condition that left him with three underdeveloped fingers on his left hand. Throughout his career, he cleverly hid this condition on camera, often by holding a clipboard or keeping his hand in his pocket.

Before fame, Burghoff studied at the Stella Adler School of Acting and HB Studio in New York. His early passion for drums led him to play professionally with several bands before his acting career took off.

Burghoff stands 5’6″ tall and became a household name playing Corporal Walter “Radar” O’Reilly, the sweet and psychic company clerk on MAS*H. His portrayal of Radar made him one of the most beloved characters in television history.

Career Highlights

Burghoff’s career path to wealth began on stage. In 1967, he played Charlie Brown in the Off-Broadway production “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” winning critical praise for his performance.

His big break came in 1970 when he was cast as Radar O’Reilly in the film version of MAS*H. When the movie was adapted for television in 1972, Burghoff was the only actor from the film to reprise his role.

The television series MAS*H became one of the most successful shows in TV history. Burghoff starred in the first seven seasons, from 1972 to 1979. His performance earned him an Emmy Award in 1977 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

After leaving MASH, Burghoff appeared in TV shows like “The Love Boat,” “Ellery Queen,” and “Fantasy Island.” He also made special appearances in MASH spin-offs “AfterMASH” and “WALTE*R,” though the latter never aired beyond its pilot episode.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Burghoff became a regular guest on game shows, including “Match Game,” “Tattletales,” and “Hollywood Squares.” These appearances added to both his popularity and bank account.

Income Sources

Burghoff’s $6 million net worth comes from several sources beyond his acting career:

Acting and Syndication: The bulk of his wealth came from his salary on MASH and ongoing syndication payments. Even decades after the show ended, MASH continues to air worldwide, generating royalty payments for its stars.

Game Show Appearances: As a popular TV personality, Burghoff earned significant income from his many game show appearances throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

Music Career: Before and during his acting career, Burghoff worked as a professional drummer. He played with bands and even toured with performers like Chet Atkins early in his career.

Wildlife Paintings: Burghoff is a talented wildlife artist whose paintings sell for thousands of dollars. He focused more on this passion after stepping back from acting.

Patents and Inventions: Perhaps most surprisingly, Burghoff holds patents for fishing equipment, including the “Chum Magic” fishing tackle.

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Commercial Endorsements: Like many TV stars, Burghoff earned money from product endorsements and commercial appearances, particularly at the height of his fame.

Side Ventures: Paintings & Patents

While most fans know Burghoff as Radar, fewer know about his successful side careers that significantly boosted his net worth.

Wildlife Art

Burghoff is a self-taught wildlife artist whose paintings have been displayed in galleries across the United States. His works, focused mainly on birds and other wildlife, typically sell for $2,000 to $5,000 each.

He once explained, “Painting wildlife connects me to nature in a way acting never could.” His artistic talent emerged early—even while filming MAS*H, he would paint between takes.

Burghoff’s art became so respected that he was selected to design the 1991 Connecticut Duck Stamp, a prestigious honor in wildlife art circles. This venture has added hundreds of thousands of dollars to his net worth over the decades.

Patent Holder

In an unexpected career turn, Burghoff became an inventor. His most successful invention, the “Chum Magic,” is a fishing tackle device that helps anglers attract fish by releasing chum (bait) in controlled amounts.

Patented in 1992, the Chum Magic has sold thousands of units and earned Burghoff significant royalty income. He demonstrated his invention on fishing shows and at outdoor expos, marketing it with his celebrity status.

Burghoff also holds patents for an improved toilet handle design and other household items. These inventions show his problem-solving mindset and entrepreneurial spirit that helped him build wealth beyond acting.

Salary & Contract Context

One of the most fascinating aspects of Burghoff’s financial story was his decision to walk away from enormous wealth. In 1979, at the height of MAS*H’s popularity, Burghoff declined a contract renewal worth approximately $4 million.

In today’s dollars, that contract would be worth about $15 million. Burghoff left the show primarily to spend more time with his family and pursue other interests.

“The show took a physical and emotional toll on me,” Burghoff said later. “I wanted to watch my daughter grow up.”

For comparison, Alan Alda, who played Hawkeye Pierce, earned about $300,000 per episode in the later seasons, making him one of the highest-paid TV actors of that era. While Burghoff’s per-episode salary was lower than Alda’s, he was still among the highest-paid supporting actors on television.

Had Burghoff stayed with MAS*H until its finale in 1983, financial experts estimate his net worth today might be closer to $10-12 million.

Personal Life & Assets

Burghoff’s personal life has seen both ups and downs that affected his finances. He has been married twice. His first marriage to Janet Gayle lasted from 1971 to 1979 and produced one daughter, Gena Gale Burghoff. His second marriage to Elisabeth Bostrom lasted from 1985 to 2005.

The divorces likely impacted his net worth, though specific financial settlements remain private. Burghoff once mentioned that “family always comes before fortune,” explaining his career decisions.

Regarding assets, Burghoff owns a home in California valued at approximately $1.2 million. He previously owned property in Connecticut but sold it after moving permanently to the West Coast.

Unlike many celebrities, Burghoff lives modestly. He doesn’t own luxury cars or excessive properties. His most valuable possessions are likely his art collection and original paintings.

His Poland syndrome may have influenced his financial planning. Living with a physical limitation often leads people to be more careful with money. “I learned early that you need to prepare for the unexpected,” he once stated in a rare interview about his condition.

Age & Legacy

At 82 years old in 2025, Gary Burghoff has largely stepped away from public life. He makes occasional appearances at MAS*H reunions and fan conventions, where he signs autographs and sells his artwork.

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These appearances still generate income, with Burghoff charging between $30-50 for autographs at conventions. His paintings sold at these events often fetch premium prices due to the combined value of his art and celebrity.

Burghoff’s legacy extends beyond his acting career. He’s become a role model for how celebrities can diversify their income and talents. From drummer to actor to artist to inventor, his varied career path shows remarkable adaptability.

His decision to leave MAS*H at its peak to focus on family and personal interests also created a different kind of legacy—one that values balance over maximum profit. This decision, while potentially costing him millions, seems to have brought him satisfaction beyond wealth.

“Success isn’t measured in dollars,” Burghoff once said. “It’s measured in doing what makes you happy.”

The MAS*H Effect on His Wealth

The ongoing popularity of MAS*H has been a steady source of income for Burghoff. The show has never left the airwaves since its original run, appearing in syndication worldwide for over 40 years.

While the exact figures remain private, industry experts estimate that main cast members of hit shows from that era can earn between $10,000 and $100,000 annually from syndication rights, depending on their contract terms and screen time.

As one of the core cast members for seven seasons, Burghoff likely earns in the middle to upper range of these estimates. Over the decades, these payments have added up significantly.

Beyond direct financial benefits, the MAS*H connection has opened doors for Burghoff’s other ventures. His paintings command higher prices because of his fame, and his fishing tackle gained immediate market attention due to his celebrity status.

Financial Management and Investments

Unlike some celebrities who lose their fortunes, Burghoff appears to have managed his money wisely. While specific investment details aren’t public, his steady growth in net worth suggests sound financial planning.

Friends and colleagues have described Burghoff as “frugal” and “practical” with money. These traits likely helped him maintain and grow his wealth after leaving his highest-paying role.

His diverse income streams—acting, art, inventions, appearances—created financial stability that many single-career actors lack. This diversification protected his net worth from the ups and downs of the entertainment industry.

Comparing Burghoff’s Wealth to Other MAS*H Stars

Burghoff’s $6 million net worth places him in the middle range among MAS*H cast members:

  • Alan Alda (Hawkeye Pierce): $50 million
  • Loretta Swit (Margaret Houlihan): $10 million
  • Jamie Farr (Klinger): $6 million
  • Mike Farrell (B.J. Hunnicutt): $10 million
  • Harry Morgan (Colonel Potter): $10 million (before his death)

Considering Burghoff left the show earlier than most cast members, his comparable net worth to some who stayed until the finale speaks to his successful post-MAS*H ventures.

Final Thoughts

Gary Burghoff’s journey from actor to multi-talented entrepreneur shows how celebrities can leverage fame into lasting financial success. His $6 million net worth in 2025 reflects not just his acting talent but also his artistic skills, inventive mind, and business sense.

What makes Burghoff’s financial story unique is how he walked away from potential millions to pursue a more balanced life. This decision might have limited his maximum earning potential but allowed him to develop multiple revenue streams that have sustained him for decades.

From the soundstages of MAS*H to wildlife art galleries to fishing tackle stores, Burghoff’s diverse career path created a financial portfolio as varied as his talents. His story offers lessons about career diversification, following passions, and making life choices that balance wealth with personal happiness.

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