How Young & Restless' Eric Braeden became one of the richest soap actors in the US

CELEBS WHO MARRIED NORMAL PEOPLE

Few actors in the world of daytime television have achieved the kind of success that Eric Braeden has. Best known for his role as Victor Newman on The Young and the Restless, Braeden's journey to stardom is one for the books.

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From his humble beginnings in war-torn Germany to becoming one of the richest actors in soap opera history, he has built a legacy that spans over six decades. So, how did he get here?

Why did Eric Braeden come to America?

Eric Braeden, born Hans-Jörg Gudegast in Kiel, Germany, had a childhood marked by hardship. Growing up in post-war Germany, he experienced deprivation but found solace in sports. His athletic talents led him to win the National German Youth Championship in discus, javelin, and shot put, as per CBS. However, he longed for more.

Braeden saw America as the land of opportunity and adventure. He recalled:

I saw America as a land of opportunity, but also as the land of adventure, the land of cowboys and Indians.

With only $50 in his pocket, he boarded an ocean liner and arrived in New York. The sight of the Statue of Liberty at dawn was a defining moment for him. His first meal in the US? A hamburger and a chocolate milkshake at the Empire State Building, a meal he stuck to for months.

Before diving into acting, Braeden worked at the University of Texas medical school in Galveston before securing a track and field scholarship at the University of Montana. His passion for adventure led him to make a documentary, The Riverbusters, about his journey conquering the Salmon River in Idaho. This film ultimately brought him to Los Angeles, where he fell in love with the city and embarked on an acting career.

How did he get into acting? His early roles and career highlights

Braeden's acting career started with him playing German soldiers in the mid-1960s. One of his first major roles was in The Rat Patrol (1966-1968), where he played Captain Hans Dietrich, a German officer in World War II. At the time, he was still credited under his birth name, reports Fox News.

However, Hollywood executives pressured him to change it, fearing that a German name would limit his opportunities. He settled on Eric Braeden, taking inspiration from his family's name and his hometown. He admitted:

Eric is a family name and Braeden is from the name of my village in Germany. Changing my name was one of the most painful decisions I’ve ever made, so I needed to choose a name that I could still identify with.

Throughout the years, he played roles in over 120 television series and films. Some of his notable works include Colossus: The Forbin Project, Escape from the Planet of the Apes, Titanic, and Den of Thieves, which was directed by his son, Christian Gudegast.

Despite his success, Braeden initially resisted daytime television. His life-defining role as Victor Newman was something he almost didn’t take. He said:

Initially, I didn’t want to do this role. I thought, ‘I don’t want to do daytime.’ I thought it was too confining.

But his perception changed eventually and what started as a short-term role became his defining career moment.

His time on The Young and the Restless and his net worth

For over four decades, Eric Braeden has portrayed Victor Newman, the formidable billionaire on The Young and the Restless. The character became a household name, admired and feared in equal measure. His portrayal of Newman earned him numerous accolades, including an Emmy Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007.

Braeden's long tenure on the show has made him one of the highest-paid actors in daytime television. According to Wide Open Country, Braeden reportedly earns around $5,000 per episode. Given the number of episodes produced each year, this amounts to a significant paycheck.

Over the years, he has amassed an estimated net worth of $25 million, cementing his status as one of the richest soap opera stars in the US.

His life off-screen

Despite his intense on-screen persona, Eric Braeden is a devoted family man. He has been married to Dale Russell Gudegast since 1966. The couple met in college, where Braeden studied economics and philosophy, while Gudegast pursued art.

According to People, Braeden's wife has remained his pillar of strength throughout his career. He revealed:

My wife has been supportive of me since we first knew each other, long before I became well known.

I have an enormous sense of deep loyalty to her and we've been very supportive of each other. She's been especially supportive of me and given me a wonderful family.

Braeden also values his wife's opinion deeply and often consults her before making important decisions. He wrote on his website bio:

Because Dale is so private, people don’t realize how much she influences what I do or don’t do. I make many decisions only after consulting her. She has been a supportive and calming influence in my life.

The couple shares one son, Christian Gudegast, a successful filmmaker known for directing Den of Thieves and its upcoming sequel.

Speaking about his family, Braeden said,

My son is arguably the greatest gift of my life and always has been. We talk to each other almost every night.

His three granddaughters hold a special place in his heart. He shared:

There’s nothing like being a grandpa to my three granddaughters: Tatiana, Oksana, and Angelika. Anything they want, boom.

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In recent years, the actor faced a health battle. In 2023, he was diagnosed with bladder cancer. However, after undergoing treatment, he triumphantly announced: