Spelling

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Aaron Spelling

Net Worth: $340 million

Source of Wealth: Television

Age: 73

Resident of: Holmby Hills

With more than 50 TV series and 3,000 episodes to his name, Aaron Spelling, according to the Guinness Book of Records, is the most prolific producer in history.

Indeed, it’s hard to imagine television without Spelling; for almost three decades, his shows which include “The Love Boat,” “Charlie’s Angels,” “Dynasty” and “Melrose Place” have been among the most successful in the world.

The youngest child of Russian and Polish immigrants, Spelling grew up in Dallas. As an actor during Hollywood’s early years, he played a series of villians and losers in TV Westerns like “Gunsmoke.”

He was more successful behind the camera. His first hit series was the 1963 detective drama “Burke’s Law.” Later, Spelling had an extraordinary 18-year run at ABC (so much so that insiders dubbed the network “Aaron’s Broadcasting Co.), which ended in 1989 with the cancellation of “Dynasty.”

Spelling immediately bounced back with “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Melrose Place” shows that both defined and captured the elusive “Generation X” viewer and cemented the reputation of Fox as a viable network. The two series now play in more than 80 countries worldwide.

Spelling lives in a Hearst-sized, 56,000-square-foot mansion on the site of the former Bing Crosby estate. When he travels, it is by train or chauffeur-driven limousine and almost always with an armed guard.

Larry Kanter

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