Buzz Aldrin Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday Facts

Buzz Aldrin Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday

Buzz Aldrin is a renowned astronaut and engineer best known for being the second person to walk on the Moon.

Introduction

Buzz Aldrin (born January 20, 1930) stands as a symbol of human ambition, exploration, and resilience. His estimated net worth of approximately $12 million reflects a lifetime of service in the military, historic achievements at Apollo 11, and subsequent pursuits in aerospace advocacy and education. 
In his personal life, Aldrin has navigated multiple marriages and deep commitments, most recently to Anca Faur until her passing in October 2025. 
This profile explores Buzz Aldrin’s journey—from his age/birthdate through his landmark career, his relationships, and the factors behind his financial standing.

Quick Facts

The Unfolding of a Cosmic Legacy

Born on January 20, 1930 in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, Buzz Aldrin’s path was shaped early by aviation—his father was a World War I pilot and later an oil company executive.  Following a standout academic record, Aldrin graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a degree in mechanical engineering, then served as a fighter pilot in the Korean War.
His thirst for challenge led him to earn a Doctor of Science degree in astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and become the first astronaut with a doctorate. Selected by NASA in the Astronaut Group 3 cohort, Aldrin flew in the Gemini 12 mission and ultimately served as Lunar Module pilot on Apollo 11. There, on July 21, 1969 (UTC), he became the second human to walk the lunar surface.
Defining moments in Buzz Aldrin’s journey include:

• Leading a flawless extravehicular activity on Gemini 12, which helped restore confidence in spacewalk operations.

• The historic moonwalk on Apollo 11, stepping lightly where no human had before.

• Transitioning from astronaut to educator, advocate, and visionary for Mars missions. 

Main Sources of Wealth

The core pillars of Buzz Aldrin’s wealth include:

• Military & NASA service: Salaries and veteran benefits from his Air Force and NASA careers provided foundational income. 

• Speaking engagements, books & media: Post-NASA, Aldrin authored books and made public appearances that contributed to his financial base.

• Licensing and memorabilia transactions: High-profile items such as his Apollo 11 flight jacket attracted major auction interest (e.g., a sale reported by Forbes).

• Real estate and investments: Property acquisitions and transactions in Southern California added value beyond core earnings.

Relationships & Family Life

Buzz Aldrin’s personal life has evolved through four marriages.
Key insights into Buzz Aldrin’s relationships and personal life:

• His first marriage (1954–1974) was to Joan Archer, with whom he had three children: James, Janice and Andrew. 

• His second marriage, to Beverly Van Zile (1975–1978), ended relatively quickly. 

• The third marriage, to Lois Driggs Cannon in 1988, lasted until 2012 and included a high-profile divorce settlement.

• In a long-embraced partnership, Aldrin married Anca Faur on his birthday, January 20, 2023. She was described as “the love of [his] life.” 

• Anca Faur passed away peacefully on October 28, 2025.

Lifestyle, Assets & Interests

Beyond career success, Buzz Aldrin leads a lifestyle that reflects both passion and purpose, including:

• Real estate transactions: He and his third wife once purchased a Westwood condo for ~$1.34 million and later sold it for close to $2.8 million.

• Memorabilia and auctions: His Apollo 11 jacket sold for record amounts, representing both historical significance and value.

• Advocacy and philanthropy: Founder of the non-profit ShareSpace Foundation and promoter of human Mars missions — demonstrating his ongoing commitment beyond dollars.

• Personal challenges and resilience: Aldrin has publicly discussed his battles with depression and alcoholism after leaving NASA, and his recovery adds depth to his public narrative.

Net Worth Breakdown & Analysis

Evaluating Buzz Aldrin’s wealth shows a diversified foundation, though not astronomical compared to tech titans or sports icons.

Analysis:
His net worth of ~$12 million reflects a lifetime of high-impact but non-commercially driven career moves. Unlike corporate founders or entertainment superstars, Aldrin’s asset accumulation stems from institutional service, historical legacy, speaking and writing engagements, and real estate — rather than large scalable business ventures. Auction events and sponsorships have boosted value, but his portfolio remains modest relative to modern celebrity benchmarks.

Public Image, Legacy & Influence

Buzz Aldrin’s public image is that of a pioneer — someone who scaled human boundaries and then pivoted to visionary thinking about what's next. The moonwalk remains his signature achievement, giving his voice unique gravitas in space policy debates.
His legacy includes:

• Being a face of human space exploration, inspiring generations of physicists, engineers, and dreamers.

• Advocacy for Mars missions and deeper human ventures into space — showing his influence extends beyond the Apollo era.

• Transparent vulnerability around personal struggles, which humanizes the astronaut icon and resonates with many.

• Collecting and managing his legacy sensibly — from memorabilia to business initiatives — ensuring his name remains relevant.

Conclusion

Buzz Aldrin’s story is far more than financial accounting; it is a narrative of flight, moonwalks, reinvention and purpose. Born January 20, 1930, he transformed childhood curiosity and military discipline into lunar footprints and life-long advocacy. His net worth of around $12 million may not rival high-tech billionaires, yet it anchors a life defined by historic firsts, intellectual rigor and personal resilience. His relationships — including the profound union with Anca Faur — and his journey through personal trials show a man committed not only to exploration of space, but to exploration of self. In the end, Buzz Aldrin’s birthday, his age/birthdate and his quiet legacy all remind us: reaching for the stars begins long before we leave Earth’s gravity.