Patty Hearst Net Worth - Pulptastic
Aria Murphy
Published Apr 10, 2026
What is Patty Hearst’s Net Worth?
Patty Hearst, an American heiress, socialite, and actress, has a net worth of $50 million. She is the granddaughter of American publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst and great-granddaughter of millionaire industrialist George Hearst. At the time of his death in 1951, William Randolph Hearst’s net worth was equal to $30 billion after adjusting for inflation.
In 1974, Patty Hearst was kidnapped by a group called the Symbionese Liberation Army. During her time in captivity, she famously participated in armed bank robbery.
Patricia Campbell Hearst
Patricia Campbell Hearst was born in San Francisco, California, on February 20, 1954. She is the third of five daughters born to Randolph Apperson Hearst and Catherine Wood Campbell. Hearst is the granddaughter of William Randolph Hearst Sr., an American businessman, newspaper publisher, and politician.
She was raised in Hillsborough, California, and attended Crystal Springs School for Girls as well as the Santa Catalina School. Hearst continued her education at Menlo College in Atherton, California, then transferred to study Art History at the University of California, Berkeley.
William Randolph Hearst Sr. had a great impact on American popular media. He is the figure behind the massive media company Hearst Communications, and it was his rather flamboyant and nontraditional methods of journalism that emphasized human interest stories and sensationalism in the news that has left a lasting legacy.
Factors Leading to Patty Hearst’s Abduction and Involvement with SLA
Patty Hearst’s family did not consider their children’s safety to be a major concern, as her father was not the only heir and did not control the family’s business interests. The opportunity presented itself when Hearst’s apartment in Berkeley was near an SLA hideout, and two SLA members were arrested for the killing of a school district Superintendent, leading the group to demand the Hearst family’s help in freeing them.
When their demands were not met, the SLA demanded that Hearst’s family donate $70 worth of food to every Californian in need, which would have taken an estimated $400 million. Hearst’s father took out a loan and attempted to donate $2 million worth of food in the Bay Area, but the effort failed and the SLA refused to release Hearst. She then began taking part in SLA activities, including releasing an audiotape announcing her membership and participating in two bank robberies.
During one robbery, two men were shot and wounded, and in another incident, Hearst and SLA member William Harris hijacked two cars after firing on a storefront and restraining the store’s manager. Hearst’s involvement with SLA was a direct result of the circumstances leading up to her abduction.
Patty Hearst’s Arrest, Conviction, and Commutation
In 1975, Patty Hearst was arrested in San Francisco and later convicted of bank robbery and using a firearm during the commission of a felony. She was sentenced to 35 years imprisonment, but the new judge on her case reduced her sentence to seven years. President Jimmy Carter commuted her sentence in 1979 to the 22 months she had already served behind bars, and President Bill Clinton later pardoned her on his last day in office in 2001, restoring her full civil rights.
Patty Hearst’s Post-Prison Activities
After being released from prison, Hearst dedicated her time to various charitable causes and fundraising efforts, notably working with a foundation that supported children with AIDS. In 1981, she published a memoir titled “Every Secret Thing” alongside co-author Alvin Moscow, where she shared her personal account of the events surrounding her involvement with the SLA. She also narrated a documentary special called “Secrets of San Simeon with Patricia Hearst” for the Travel Channel, providing viewers with an insider’s look into her grandfather’s property, Hearst Castle. Additionally, Hearst appeared in several films throughout the years, including “Cry-Baby” (1990), “Serial Mom” (1994), “Pecker” (1998), and “A Dirty Shame” (2004).
Marriage and Family
Patty Hearst was engaged to Steven Weed at the time of her kidnapping. After her release from prison, she married policeman Bernard Lee Shaw, who was assigned to be part of her security detail. They had two children together.
Her daughter Lydia Hearst is a model and is married to television personality Chris Hardwick.
