Maya Angelou net worth was estimated at $10 million at the time of her death in 2014. She was an American poet, author, actress, teacher, activist and public speaker whose career spanned more than five decades.
Angelou was best known for her 1969 autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which became an international bestseller and established her as one of the most influential literary voices of the 20th century. She went on to write more than 30 books, including autobiographies, poetry collections, essays and cookbooks.
Beyond literature, Angelou was an accomplished actress, filmmaker and civil rights activist. She worked alongside prominent figures including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X and became a close friend and mentor to Oprah Winfrey.
During her career, Angelou received numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the National Medal of Arts and three Grammy Awards. She also became the inaugural poet at President Bill Clinton’s 1993 inauguration, where she recited her celebrated poem “On the Pulse of Morning.”
Angelou died on May 28, 2014, at the age of 86.
- Maya Angelou Net Worth: $10 Million
- Date of Birth: April 4, 1928
- Place of Birth: St. Louis, Missouri
- Nationality: American
Early Life
Maya Angelou was born Marguerite Annie Johnson on April 4, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri.
Her mother, Vivian Baxter Johnson, was a nurse, while her father, Bailey Johnson, worked as a navy dietitian and doorman. Her older brother, Bailey Jr., gave her the nickname Maya.
Angelou’s parents divorced when she was three years old. She and her brother were subsequently sent to live with their paternal grandmother, Annie Henderson, in Stamps, Arkansas.
Angelou returned to St. Louis when she was seven. Her childhood was later marked by a traumatic experience that resulted in her becoming largely mute for several years.
During this period, a teacher and family friend named Bertha Flowers encouraged Angelou to reconnect with literature and find her voice. Flowers introduced her to the works of major writers and helped her rediscover her love for poetry.
Angelou eventually returned to speaking and continued her education. At the age of 16, she became San Francisco’s first Black female streetcar conductor.
She later studied drama and dance at the California Labor School and began developing her skills as a performer.
Early Career
During the 1950s, Angelou worked as a dancer and singer. She formed a dance team with choreographer Alvin Ailey and performed at various venues in San Francisco.
She later performed professionally under her birth name, Marguerite Johnson. Her managers eventually encouraged her to adopt a stage name. She chose Maya Angelou, combining her childhood nickname with a variation of her former married surname.
Angelou toured Europe in a production of Porgy and Bess and developed an interest in languages and international cultures.
In 1957, she released her first album, Miss Calypso, showcasing her musical talents.
Her career took a new direction in the late 1950s when she moved to New York and became involved with the Harlem Writers Guild. She began focusing more seriously on writing while also becoming increasingly active in the civil rights movement.
Civil Rights Activism
Angelou’s literary career developed alongside her involvement in civil rights activism.
She met Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and became involved in organizing the Cabaret for Freedom, an event that raised funds for King’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
She later served as the organization’s Northern Coordinator.
Angelou also became involved in anti-apartheid and pro-Castro activism. Her political and social work took her to different parts of the world, including Africa.
In 1961, she moved to Cairo, Egypt, where she worked as an associate editor for The Arab Observer. After her relationship with freedom fighter Vusumzi Make ended, Angelou moved with her son, Guy, to Accra, Ghana.
While living in Ghana, she worked at the University of Ghana and became friends with Malcolm X.
Angelou returned to the United States in 1965 and worked with Malcolm X as he attempted to establish the Organization of Afro-American Unity. His assassination that year deeply affected her.
Angelou also worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. However, King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, Angelou’s 40th birthday.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Angelou’s most significant literary breakthrough came in 1969 with the publication of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
The autobiography detailed her childhood experiences and explored themes of racism, identity, trauma, resilience and personal growth.
The book became a major commercial and critical success and remains Angelou’s best-known work.
She later published six additional autobiographies, creating a series that chronicled different stages of her life.
Angelou’s writing established her as one of the most important African American literary figures of her generation.
Film and Television Career
Angelou’s talents extended beyond literature.
In 1972, her screenplay Georgia, Georgia became the first screenplay written by a Black woman to be produced.
She went on to write for musicians, compose film scores, produce and direct plays and work in television and film.
As an actress, Angelou appeared in projects including Roots, Poetic Justice, How to Make an American Quilt and Madea’s Family Reunion.
She received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her performance in Look Away in 1973.
In 1996, Angelou directed the film Down in the Delta, further expanding her career as a filmmaker.
Maya Angelou and Oprah Winfrey
Angelou developed a close friendship with television personality Oprah Winfrey.
The two women maintained a strong relationship for decades, with Angelou serving as a mentor and influential figure in Winfrey’s life.
Angelou’s writing, public speaking and advocacy also made her a frequent guest on television programs and a highly sought-after public speaker.
Her ability to combine personal experiences with messages of resilience, equality and empowerment helped her reach audiences far beyond the literary world.
Inaugural Poet
One of Angelou’s most memorable public appearances came in 1993, when she became the inaugural poet at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration.
She recited her poem “On the Pulse of Morning,” making her only the second poet to read at a U.S. presidential inauguration.
The recording of the poem later earned Angelou a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album.
The appearance introduced her work to millions of Americans and further cemented her status as a major cultural figure.
Teaching Career
In 1981, Angelou moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, after accepting a lifetime Reynolds Professorship of American Studies at Wake Forest University.
She continued teaching and writing while remaining active in public life.
Through her academic work, Angelou influenced generations of students and writers. She also received more than 50 honorary degrees from colleges and universities across the United States.
Her teaching career complemented her work as an author and activist and helped establish her as an influential educator.
Personal Life
Maya Angelou was married twice.
She married Enistasious “Tosh” Angelos in 1951, but the marriage ended in 1954. She later married Paul du Feu in 1974, with the couple divorcing in 1983.
Angelou had one child, Guy B. Johnson, who became a writer.
Guy was seriously injured in a car accident in his late twenties and was initially told that he might never walk again. He eventually recovered and went on to publish novels.
Angelou remained closely connected to her son throughout her life.
She also enjoyed cooking and often hosted gatherings at her home in Winston-Salem. Her passion for food eventually led her to publish two cookbooks.
Maya Angelou’s Real Estate
In 1994, Angelou purchased a home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, for approximately $575,000.
The property became closely associated with the later years of her life.
Following her death, the home was sold for $500,000. The new owners reportedly invested more than $1 million in renovations before putting the property on the market for approximately $2.395 million in 2020.
The home eventually sold for about $2 million.
Awards and Honors
Maya Angelou received numerous awards and honors throughout her career.
Among her recognitions were the Coretta Scott King Award, the Langston Hughes Medal, the Horatio Alger Award and the Norman Mailer Prize.
She also received the National Medal of Arts in 2000 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2010.
Angelou won three Grammy Awards for her spoken-word recordings, including her work connected to On the Pulse of Morning, A Song Flung Up to Heaven and Phenomenal Woman.
She was also inducted into several halls of fame, including the National Women’s Hall of Fame.
In 2015, the United States Postal Service issued a stamp honoring Angelou. In 2021, she was announced as one of the first women to be featured on quarters as part of the American Women Quarters Program.
Death
Maya Angelou died on May 28, 2014, at her home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She was 86 years old.
Angelou had experienced health problems in the period leading up to her death and had cancelled several scheduled appearances.
At the time of her death, she was reportedly working on another autobiography.
Her family announced that she had died peacefully at home, describing her as a teacher, activist, artist and advocate for equality, tolerance and peace.
Following her death, President Barack Obama paid tribute to Angelou, describing her as a brilliant writer, a fierce friend and a remarkable woman.
A public memorial service was held at Wake Forest University, with prominent figures including Oprah Winfrey, former President Bill Clinton and former first lady Michelle Obama among those who paid tribute.
Author: Andrew Walyaula
Andrew Walyaula is a seasoned multimedia journalist. Email: [email protected]
