Neil Armstrong Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday Facts
Discover Neil Armstrong’s net worth, relationships, age/birthdate and birthday in this detailed profile of the first man on the Moon.
Neil Armstrong Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday
Neil Armstrong is an American astronaut and aeronautical engineer recognized for being the first person to walk on the Moon.
Introduction
Neil Alden Armstrong (born August 5, 1930) is one of the most iconic figures of the twentieth century. As the commander of the Apollo 11 mission, he became the first human to step onto the Moon — an achievement that transformed both his personal trajectory and the global imagination. His estimated net worth is around US $8 million at the time of his death. In his personal life, Armstrong married his first wife, Janet Shearon, in January 1956, and later remarried Carol Held Knight in June 1994.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Neil Alden Armstrong |
| Age/Birthdate | August 5, 1930 |
| Birthday | August 5 |
| Nationality | American (United States) |
| Profession | Astronaut, Aeronautical Engineer, Naval Aviator, Test Pilot |
| Estimated Net Worth | US $8 million |
| Relationship Status | Married (first to Janet Shearon 1956‑1994; then Carol Held Knight from 1994) |
| Known For | First human to walk on the Moon (Apollo 11, 1969) |
From Small‑Town Roots to Lunar Footsteps
Armstrong’s story begins in Washington Township, Auglaize County, Ohio, where he was born on August 5, 1930. He grew up moving frequently, his father working as a state auditor, and developed an early fascination with aviation — he took a plane ride as a child and eventually earned a student pilot certificate by his sixteenth birthday. After service in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War as a naval aviator, Armstrong returned to academia, studied aeronautical engineering at Purdue University, and embarked on a test‑pilot career with the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) and later NASA.
Defining moments in Neil Armstrong’s journey include:
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Solo flight as a teenager and early fascination with flying, building model aircraft at home.
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Selection for NASA’s 1962 astronaut class and role as command pilot on the Gemini 8 mission, where he performed the first docking of two spacecraft.
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Commanding Apollo 11 and stepping on the Moon, shaping his global legacy.
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Transitioning from astronaut to professor at the University of Cincinnati and board member in major aerospace and industrial companies.
The Core Pillars of Neil Armstrong’s Wealth
The core pillars of Neil Armstrong’s wealth include:
| Source | Description |
|---|---|
| Corporate board positions & consulting | After leaving NASA, Armstrong served on boards such as Eaton Corporation, Gates Learjet Corporation and others, receiving director compensation and sharing in the success of those firms. |
| Public speaking & endorsements | Although Armstrong shunned most celebrity endorsement deals, he gave appearances and lent his name sparingly to aerospace‑oriented organizations. |
| Academic salary and royalties | His role as a university professor provided steady income; further, his involvement in aerospace memoirs and authorized biography added residuals. |
Relationships & Family Life
Armstrong’s personal life was marked by both private devotion and public significance. He married Janet Shearon on January 28, 1956, in Wilmette, Illinois, and they had three children — daughter Karen (who tragically died at age two), and sons Rick (sometimes represented as Eric) and Mark. After separating from Janet in 1990 and divorcing in 1994, Armstrong married Carol Held Knight on June 12, 1994, in Ohio and later held a second ceremony in California.
Key insights into Neil Armstrong’s relationships and personal life:
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The loss of his young daughter Karen deeply impacted the family and, by some accounts, influenced his drive for achievement.
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Armstrong valued privacy — despite immense fame, he declined political campaigns and largely avoided the spotlight.
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His second marriage to Carol brought additional stability; the couple lived in suburban Cincinnati, Ohio.
Lifestyle, Assets & Interests
Beyond career success, Neil Armstrong leads a lifestyle that reflects both passion and purpose, including:
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A mid‑century residence in El Lago, Texas, where his family lived during his Apollo 11 mission years — listing records show the home later fetched attention on the market.
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A long‑term farm property in Lebanon, Ohio, where Armstrong lived post‑NASA in relative seclusion and pursued glider flying, still piloting engineless aircraft into his later years.
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Boardroom travel and membership in elite aerospace circles — his post‑NASA engagements kept him connected to innovation and industry.
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Private hobbies: Armstrong continued flying small aircraft, gliding and preserving his roots as a test pilot and aviator.
Net Worth Breakdown & Analysis
Methods of evaluating Neil Armstrong’s net worth vary, but the commonly cited figure of US $8 million comes from CelebrityNetWorth.The modest figure relative to his fame reflects his careful avoidance of commercial excess and a largely salary‑based income rather than large media deals. Below is an illustrative breakdown:
| Category | Estimated Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Business Ventures & Corporate Boards | ~US $5 million | CelebrityNetWorth & board disclosures |
| Brand Deals & Partnerships | ~US $1 million | Based on limited advertisements and endorsements |
| Investments & Personal Assets | ~US $2 million | Home/farm assets, stocks, auto‑pilot income |
This breakdown is intended for illustrative purposes and not for precise valuation. Armstrong’s wealth growth was less about headline‑grabbing brand deals and more about steady positions in engineering and aerospace industry. His legacy income is further enriched by posthumous auctions of memorabilia, which while not his liquid estate directly, reflect the value of his brand and assets.
Public Image, Legacy & Influence
Neil Armstrong’s public image is characterized by humility, technical competence, and historic audacity. He was widely regarded as a “reluctant hero” who achieved the extraordinary without embracing self‑promotion. Among fans, industry peers, and historians, his figure is a touchstone of exploration, engineering discipline and national ambition.
His legacy extends far beyond a single lunar step:
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The very quote he uttered, “That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind,” remains among the most iconic utterances of the 20th century.
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Schools, museums, facilities and even the lunar crater “Armstrong” bear his name — testament to lasting cultural imprint.
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In aerospace industry circles, his transition from astronaut to board member underscored how mission‑driven engineers can evolve into strategic business leaders.
His influence also reaches the personal: aspiring engineers, pilots, and space‑enthusiasts point to Armstrong’s quiet professionalism and navigation of fame as a model for integrating technical excellence with character.
Conclusion
Neil Armstrong, born August 5, 1930, remains one of the most compelling figures in modern history. With an estimated net worth of approximately US $8 million, his financial standing may appear modest in the celebrity‑economy landscape — yet it reflects a career built on principle, engineering skill and enduring contributions rather than commercial spectacle. His relationships, from his marriage to Janet Shearon and subsequent union with Carol Held Knight, underscore a private life anchored in family and quiet commitment. His birthday, August 5, invites reflection each year on a life that turned youthful ambition into lunar footsteps and lifelong influence. Armstrong’s life story reinforces that true wealth is not just monetary — it lies in legacy, impact and the way we step into the unknown with both precision and humility.
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