George Salapatas was born on the 20th November 1925, in Chicago, Illinois USA, of Greek descent, and as George Barris was known as a car designer, famous for building automobiles for Hollywood, such as the Batmobile and Munster Koach. Thanks to his designing skills and car knowledge, Barris’ net worth significantly increased. His career was active from the 1940s until 2010. He passed away in 2015.
Have you ever wondered how rich George Barris was at the time of his death? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Barris’ net worth was high as $10 million, an amount earned through his successful career as a car designer.
George Barris Net Worth $10 Million
George Barris was born into the family of Greek immigrants; when he was three years old, his father sent him and his brother Sam to live with their uncle in Roseville, California. George developed an interest towards cars from an early age, so at seven he was already making car models and winning contests. George and Sam worked at the Greek family restaurant, and saved enough to buy their first car, a 1925 Buick that wasn’t in a good shape, but the brothers quickly improved its condition, inserted a few modifications, and later sold it for a profit – it was George’s first custom car of many.
Barris went to San Juan High School, and although his family wanted him to stay and work at the restaurant, Barris decided to move to Los Angeles, and at 18 years of age, opened Barris Custom Shop . After being discharged from the army, Sam joined his brother in L.A., and they started working on custom cars for private buyers, before somebody from the movie industry noted their skills. They were asked to design cars for Hollywood stars and executives, but also as props for films – their first one used in a movie was in “High School Confidential” in 1958.
Barris subsequently designed the Ford police car featured in the movie “North by Northwest” in 1959, and a modified Plymouth Barracuda for “Fireball 500” (1966), a Mercury station wagon for “The Silencers” (1966), Dodge Charger for “Thunder Alley” (1967), created a vehicle for “Supervan” (1967), and Lincoln Continental Mark III for “The Car” (1977). All of these ventures increased George`s net worth by a large margin.
However, Barris’ most notable work came when the ABC executives asked him to create a signature car for the TV series “Batman” (1966-1968). He didn’t have enough time to build a new car from a scratch, so instead George used his Lincoln Futura as a base, but the Batmobile was an international hit and stayed under Barris’ ownership until he sold it at auction for $4,620,000 in 2013. Selling this famous vehicle generated a large contribution to his net worth.
George meantime constructed and modified cars for such celebrities as Zsa Zsa Gabor, Bob Hope, Elton John, Ann-Margret, Bing Crosby and Glen Campbell. He also modified a Pontiac station wagon for John Wayne, a Cadillac limousine for Elvis, Cadillac Eldorado for Dean Martin, and in 1966 Ford Mustang convertibles for Sonny and Cher, increasing further his net worth. Latterly he worked on a Toyota Prius for The New York Times in 2005, and did a special design of a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro Spirit, which also added to his net worth.
Regarding his personal life, George Barris married Shirley Nahas in 1958, and were together until her passing in 2001; they had two children together. George Barris died in his sleep at home in Encino, California, in November 2015.
Full Name
George Barris
Net Worth
$10 Million
Date Of Birth
November 20, 1925, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died
November 5, 2015, Encino, Los Angeles, California, United States
Profession
Businessman, Designer for Hot rod art, automobile customizing and pinstriping, Builder of many famous Hollywood custom cars
“North by Northwest” (1959), “The Beverly Hillbillies” (1962), “Fireball 500” (1966), “Back to the Future”, “The Silencers” (1966), “Thunder Alley” (1967), “Bearcats!” (1971), “Supervan” (1967), “The Car” (1977), “Batman” (1966), “Supervan” (1977)
TV Shows
“The Beverly Hillbillies” (1962-1963), “The Late Show” (1988), “TV Land's Top Ten”, “TV's Greatest Cars” (2004), “The Batmobile” (2012, documentary), “G4 Presents Comic Con 2012 Live Z” (2012)
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Fact
1
Still running Barris Kustom Industries in Toluca Lake, California. [1999]
2
Well known builder of hot rods and custom cars, such as the Batmobile from Batman (1966) and the truck from The Beverly Hillbillies (1962).
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
James Dean: Live Fast, Die Young
1997
race car: Kustom Spyder
Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie
1997
car customizer
Jurassic Park
1993
car modifications - uncredited
Knight Rider
1982
TV Series car designer
The Dukes of Hazzard
1979
TV Series car modifications
The Car
1977
car customizing
Supervan
1977
car customizer
Bearcats!
1971
TV Series car - 13 episodes
The Bugaloos
1970-1971
TV Series car designer - 14 episodes
The Beverly Hillbillies
TV Series car designer - 3 episodes, 1962 - 1963 production assistant - 1 episode, 1968
The Banana Splits Adventure Hour
1968
TV Series car designer - 5 episodes
Mannix
1967
TV Series car customizer: Mannix Roadster
Thunder Alley
1967
car customizer: Thunder Charger - uncredited
Batman: The Movie
1966
car designer - uncredited
Fireball 500
1966
car customizer - uncredited
Out of Sight
1966
car customizer
The Silencers
1966
car customizer - uncredited
Marriage on the Rocks
1965
car customizer: Zebra Mustang
The Munsters
1965
TV Series technical advisor - 1 episode
For Those Who Think Young
1964
car customizer
Cinderfella
1960
builder: 'Golden Sahara' car - uncredited
High School Confidential!
1958
car modifications - uncredited
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Smokey and the Hotwire Gang
1979
Billy The Kid
Mag Wheels
1978
Shop Owner
Supervan
1977
King of the Customizers
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Disco Fever
1978/I
executive producer
Mag Wheels
1978
executive producer
Juke Box Racket
1960
co-producer
Transportation Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Patsy
1964
picture vehicles - uncredited
For Those Who Think Young
1964
picture vehicles - uncredited
Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
Juke Box Racket
1960
co-director
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Disco Fever
1978/I
story
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Deadline Auto Theft
1983
special thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
American Pickers
2013
TV Series documentary
Himself
The Batmobile
2012
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Comic Con 2012 Live
2012
TV Movie
Himself
The Jace Hall Show
2010
TV Series
Himself
Totally Tracked Down
2010
TV Series
Himself
Monster Garage
2002-2007
TV Series
Himself
The Girls Next Door
2006-2007
TV Series
Himself - Kustom Kar King
Real James Dean
2006
Video documentary
Himself - Custom Car Designer
TV's Greatest Cars
2004
TV Movie documentary
Himself
TV Land's Top Ten
2004
TV Series documentary
Himself
Dead Famous
2004
TV Series documentary
Himself
Street Fury: Inferno
2003
Video documentary
Himself
Biography
2002-2003
TV Series documentary
Himself
Living Famously
2003
TV Series documentary
Himself
The Batmobile Revealed
2001
Video documentary short
Himself
The Final Day
2000
TV Mini-Series documentary
Himself
Bat Talk
1989
TV Movie documentary
Himself
The Late Show
1988
TV Series
Himself
Forever James Dean
1988
Documentary
Himself
Deadline Auto Theft
1983
Himself
The Junkman
1982
Himself
Disco Fever
1978/I
Himself
Pit Stop
1969
Himself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2005
Lifetime Achievement Award
San Fernando Valley International Film Festival
2000
Life Career Award
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA