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Mary Hart (born Mary Johanna Harum on November 8, 1950) is a name firmly etched in the annals of American television history. As of 2025, she is 74 years old. Her journey from a Midwestern upbringing to becoming a television icon demonstrates not only her perseverance but also her adaptability in the ever-changing world of entertainment.
Early Life and Education
Mary Hart was born in Madison, South Dakota, and raised in Sioux Falls, with formative years also spent in Denmark and Sweden. Her Scandinavian heritage contributed to her fluency in English, Danish, and Swedish, which became an unusual advantage for a U.S.-based television presenter. She graduated from Augustana Academy in 1968 and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Augustana College in Sioux Falls in 1972. Before entering full-time television, she taught high-school English for two years and even hosted a local cable talk show in Sioux Falls.
Her pageant days also helped lay the foundation for her public career. She was crowned Miss South Dakota in 1970 and became a semi-finalist in the 1971 Miss America pageant. These early experiences gave her poise, confidence in front of the camera, and a grounded sense of self that would serve her well in the entertainment industry.
Career Highlights
Mary Hart’s transition from education and pageantry to television began in regional broadcasting. She started with roles at WMT-TV in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and later moved to KMTV in Omaha, Nebraska. In 1976 she shifted to Oklahoma City’s KTVY, where she co-hosted a talk show. However, her breakthrough occurred in 1979 when she relocated to Los Angeles, armed with a modest savings of $10,000, and focused her ambitions on national television.
In 1981 she co-hosted a national talk show with Regis Philbin, but when it was cancelled after four months, Hart turned the situation around. A segment on the cancellation led to an invitation to join the syndicated entertainment news show Entertainment Tonight (ET). Within thirteen weeks, she had become its co-host. From 1982 until 2011, Mary Hart served as the face of ET for nearly three decades, delivering celebrity news, red-carpet coverage, and stories that live in pop-culture memory. Her consistency earned her a place as one of the longest-serving hosts in entertainment-news history.
Beyond ET, Hart’s career featured notable brand endorsements, including her contract with Hanes pantyhose and the publicity around her legs being insured for $1 million each. She also made guest appearances in shows like Seinfeld and cartoons like Tiny Toon Adventures. Her versatility, from hosting to stage performance in Las Vegas, helped her build a legacy of both entertainment-news credibility and show-business savvy.
Family and Personal Life
Mary Hart’s personal life has had its milestones. Her first marriage to Terry Hart ended in divorce in the 1970s. On April 8, 1989, she married television producer Burt Sugarman aboard a yacht, and they later had a son, Alec Jay (“AJ”) Sugarman, born in 1991. The couple share residences in Los Angeles and Montana, reflecting both lifestyle and investment choices. Hart converted to Judaism, her husband’s faith, and remains active in charitable causes, including breast-cancer initiatives and children’s hospital boards.
Net Worth in 2025
As of 2025, Mary Hart’s net worth is estimated to be around US $100 million. Some sources report a figure closer to US $105 million when factoring in joint assets with her husband. Much of that wealth comes from her long-running role on ET, where she reportedly earned around $5 million per year at her peak. She also benefited from savvy real estate investments, with multiple high-value properties in California and Montana. Brand endorsements and steady earnings through the years have provided a strong financial foundation.
Legacy and Present-Day Activity
While Mary Hart stepped away from ET in 2011, she remains a respected figure in broadcasting and philanthropy. Her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, awarded in 1989, stands as recognition of her influence in entertainment journalism. Today, she continues to make guest appearances, take up speaking engagements, and support causes close to her heart, demonstrating that her impact extends beyond the camera.
Conclusion
From a small-town upbringing in South Dakota to the height of television fame, Mary Hart’s story is one of persistence, reinvention, and steady success. In 2025, at the age of 74, she not only reflects on a stellar career but also enjoys a legacy and net worth that many in the industry aspire to. Whether one views her as the face of Entertainment Tonight or as a pioneering female host in entertainment news, Hart remains a benchmark for professionalism, longevity, and smart career growth.
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