Dannielynn Birkhead Net Worth

Dannielynn Birkhead, now 17 years old, was thrust into the spotlight following her model slash actress mother, Anna Nicole Smith’s untimely death in 2007.

She and her father, Larry Birkhead, paid tribute to her late mother, on what would have been her 56th birthday on November 28, and with her approaching adulthood, interest has refocused on her life as she stands to inherit her mother’s estate. 

In this article, we look closely at Birkhead’s current net worth and what the future may hold regarding her inheritance.

Dannielynn Birkhead’s net worth, media appearances, and upbringing

From birth, Birkhead was thrust into the spotlight as the daughter of infamous Playboy model Smith and celebrity photographer Larry. 

Her early life was marked by family tragedy and controversy over her paternity before being raised primarily out of the public eye by her father in Louisville, Kentucky.

She is now 17 years old and has a modest combined net worth estimated at around $3 million, shared with her father Larry. Despite rampant speculation over inheriting her late mother’s estate, she did not receive a substantial financial windfall. 

However, her father worked diligently to provide stability and normalcy in her childhood while honoring her mother’s memory. 

While generally growing up away from Hollywood, she occasionally undertook select media appearances that punctuated her otherwise low-key upbringing. 

Dannielynn Birkhead at the Kentucky Derby with her father, Larry Birkhead (Source: People)

Most notably, at just 6 years old, she modelled for Guess Kids in an homage to her mother’s famous ’90s ads with the brand. The one-off gig drew headlines but did not spur an ongoing modeling career. 

As a teenager, Birkhead also appeared alongside her father in a Lifetime documentary chronicling the relationship between her late parents. She likewise made cameos on various reality TV shows and talk shows over the years. 

However, her father remained protective of her privacy and guarded her well-being rather than allowing her to be exploited by the entertainment industry.

Now nearing adulthood with an untarnished $3 million net worth, she seems poised to chart her path forward, thanks largely to the loving, stable home provided by her devoted father, Larry. 

It is still unknown if she will pursue any degree of fame herself in the future or continue prioritizing the quiet life she has known to date.

Dannielynn Birkhead’s inheritance

When Smith passed away in 2007 at age 39, her estate was estimated to be worth around $1 million by Celebrity Net Worth. Her will stipulated that her assets would be in trust for her son, Daniel Wayne Smith. 

However, Daniel tragically died at age 20 from an accidental drug overdose, just three days after Birkhead was born. With no living heirs named in the will, the estate passed to her as Smith’s legal next of kin. 

But because she was only 5 months old then, the funds were placed in a trust to be managed by trustees until she came of age. Her father, Larry, and Howard K. Stern, Smith’s partner, were assigned as legal co-trustees.

Anna Nicole Smith with her newborn daughter Dannielynn Birkhead (Source: USA Today)

The trust was created for Daniel with an estimated $700,000 in assets. As Smith specified in a prior 2001 will that any assets left in Daniel’s trust should be split equally between her future children, the court ruled that Dannielynn was entitled to half. 

So, at just 18 months old, she inherited approximately $350,000 from her late mother’s estate.

So, while Smith had been worth several million at her peak, her early passing at a young age left a more modest estate. 

But with prudent financial management, Birkhead still stands to inherit a substantial nest egg from her mother, with her trust likely worth upwards of $700,000 as she ages.

Dannielynn Birkhead is not entitled to any money from the Marshall family

When Smith married the 89-year-old billionaire in 1994, many speculated she was after his vast wealth and assets in the petroleum industry. Though they were married for 14 months until his death, Marshall altered his will shortly before passing to exclude Smith. 

Smith subsequently sued alongside Marshall’s disinherited son, aiming to claim part of the estate. After years of litigation that continued after Smith’s early death in 2007, neither she nor her estate ever won any payout from the lengthy legal battle.

Smith was initially awarded $474 million by a California court in 2006. But this decision was overturned on appeal, with a higher court determining California had no jurisdiction over the Texas-based estate. 

Late Anna Nicole Smith with her billionaire husband J. Howard Marshall (Source: Interview Magazine)

So Smith ultimately never received a dime from the Marshall fortune before her fatal drug overdose. With his mother’s estate failing to prevail, Birkhead, as her sole heir, is also not entitled to any inheritance from the Marshall estate assets or related trusts. 

The 2020 court documents further confirm the items since released to Dannielynn from her mother’s possessions held in storage have more sentimental than monetary value after years of accumulating storage fees.

So, despite beliefs, Smith married the elderly billionaire for his billions, and neither she nor her daughter benefited from his wealth after his death. With all litigation now ended, Dannielynn will inherit no Marshall family fortune.

Dannielynn Birkhead’s whereabouts now

Now 17 years old, Birkhead leads a typical life as a teenager in Florida with her devoted father, Larry. Described as funny and smart, she attends school, enjoys activities like Girl Scouts, and spends ample time with her dad. 

Together, they engage in normal father-daughter activities – catching movies, going to theme parks, attending concerts for bands like Duran Duran, and never missing the annual Kentucky Derby. 

Her father strives to provide stability and balance despite her unconventional early childhood in the spotlight. She shares her late mother’s striking looks and blooming model-like beauty. 

But she appears grounded in life outside celebrity circles, more focused on school, friends, and hobbies like learning guitar than seeking fame. 

She took lessons from Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora, evidence she inherited her parents’ artistic tendencies, though she seems in no rush to emulate their careers.   

As she navigates the pivotal teenage years under her dad’s protective yet fun-loving wing, Birkhead seems content outside the public glare, except for occasional appearances with her father. 

With his support, she is forging her coming-of-age path as any other teenager would, with a lifetime ahead to explore creative pursuits should she ever choose to. For now, typical school life and quality family time take priority.