Arlene Silver has spent decades working behind the scenes in Hollywood, but most people know her for being married to legendary actor Dick Van Dyke. Their 46-year age gap grabbed headlines when they wed in 2012, and curiosity about her finances has grown ever since. While Van Dyke’s net worth sits comfortably around $50 million, figuring out exactly how much his wife is worth turns out to be trickier than you’d think.
Quick Reference: Arlene Silver Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Arlene Silver Van Dyke |
| Date of Birth | September 21, 1971 |
| Age | 54 years old (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | New York/Bronx, USA |
| Profession | Makeup Artist, Actress, Producer |
| Spouse | Dick Van Dyke (married February 29, 2012) |
| Children | None (stepmother to four) |
| Estimated Net Worth | $1-10 million (estimates vary) |
Who is Arlene Silver?
Arlene Silver is an American makeup artist and occasional actress who built her career working on film sets and television productions before becoming publicly known as Dick Van Dyke’s second wife. She grew up in the Bronx and later moved to California to study communications and pursue work in the entertainment industry.
Most people searching for “arlene silver net worth” want to understand how she earns her own money and what her financial standing looks like compared to her famous husband. The curiosity is natural—when you’re married to someone who’s been a Hollywood icon since the 1960s, people wonder about your own wealth and career.
Age and personal background
Born on September 21, 1971, Arlene is currently 54 years old, making her 46 years younger than her husband who turned 100 in December 2024. She spent her early years in New York before heading west to California, where she studied film and communications while developing an interest in makeup artistry.
Details about her family life before fame are limited. Some sources mention she has a brother and was raised in a modest household, but Arlene has kept most of her pre-marriage life private. She’s always been more comfortable working behind the camera than stepping in front of it.
Makeup artist
Arlene built her professional reputation as a skilled makeup artist, working on film sets, television productions, and major entertainment events. This is how she actually earns her living—not through her husband’s fortune, but through real work in Hollywood’s beauty and styling departments.
Her makeup credits include projects like “Carolina,” “Murder 101,” and “The Men of Delta Farce Salute the Troops.” She also worked behind the scenes at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, which is actually where she first met Dick Van Dyke back in 2006. Professional makeup artists working on major productions can earn anywhere from $500 to several thousand dollars per day depending on the project, though exact contract amounts aren’t public.
Career highlights and income sources
Arlene’s career goes beyond just makeup work. She’s worn multiple hats in the entertainment world, building income from several different channels.
She made a small on-screen appearance as “Officer Silver” in the long-running soap opera “Days of Our Lives,” showing she’s not afraid to step in front of the camera when the opportunity comes up. Beyond acting and makeup, she’s worked as an associate producer on projects including “Welcome Home, Dick Van Dyke” and contributed to Coldplay’s music video “All My Love.”
More recently, she’s directed and performed in music videos with her husband’s group, the Vantastix, including one for “Everybody Loves a Lover.” The couple performs together at events and charity functions, which keeps her visible in entertainment circles.
Her main income sources break down like this: fees from makeup artist work on various film and TV projects, payments for small acting appearances and on-screen work, producer and director fees from creative projects, and possible income from public appearances tied to her husband’s ongoing career. None of these are get-rich-quick gigs, but steady work over decades adds up.
Marriage to Dick Van Dyke
The love story that made Arlene a household name started in 2006 at the SAG Awards. She was there working as a makeup artist, and he was attending as a guest. They hit it off immediately, though their relationship didn’t turn romantic right away.
Van Dyke was in a long-term relationship with Michelle Triola at the time, and they remained close friends until Triola passed away in 2009. After that, Dick and Arlene’s friendship grew into something deeper. They married in a private ceremony on Leap Day—February 29, 2012—at a chapel in Malibu.
This is Arlene’s first marriage, while Dick was previously married to Margie Willett from 1948 to 1984. The couple doesn’t have children together, but Arlene is stepmother to Dick’s four adult children from his first marriage.
Age gap, public attention and lifestyle
The 46-year age difference between Arlene and Dick has been the subject of endless media coverage and public fascination. People magazine, Good Housekeeping, and countless other outlets have written about their relationship, often focusing more on the age gap than on Arlene’s actual career.
The couple lives in Malibu and appears to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle without being flashy about it. They’re often spotted performing together, singing and dancing at events, and posting sweet tributes to each other on social media. Dick has repeatedly praised Arlene in interviews, calling her his “soulmate” and crediting her with keeping him young.
Their shared home in Malibu reflects the comfort level that comes with Dick’s decades-long career earnings, though specific property values and ownership details aren’t public.
Arlene silver net worth
Here’s where things get messy. If you search for “Arlene Silver net worth,” you’ll find wildly different numbers depending on which website you check.
How online sources estimate Arlene Silver’s net worth
No official financial disclosures exist for Arlene Silver, so every number you see online is an estimate from entertainment and celebrity websites. Early biographical pieces from sites like Legit and Briefly either listed her net worth as “N/A” or didn’t mention it at all, choosing instead to focus on Dick Van Dyke’s estimated $50 million fortune.
More recent net worth blogs have gotten bolder with their guesses. ZacJohnson put her wealth at somewhere between $1 million and $5 million as of 2022. Sites like Eric-Singer.com and Ent Radar bumped that up to around $5 million by 2024. The Thaiger went even higher, suggesting $5 million to $10 million when you include assets and properties.
These ranges likely combine two things: her own career earnings from decades of makeup work and production projects, plus assumptions about shared property and lifestyle with a wealthy spouse.
Why Arlene Silver’s exact net worth remains unconfirmed
Unlike celebrities whose wealth is tied to publicly traded companies or disclosed in court documents, Arlene’s financial situation is genuinely private. Her contract amounts, personal savings, investment portfolios, and ownership stakes in any properties aren’t matters of public record.
Being a working creative professional in Hollywood doesn’t automatically make someone rich, even after a long career. Makeup artists, small-scale producers, and occasional actors can earn comfortable livings without hitting millionaire status on their own. At the same time, being married for over a decade to someone worth $50 million certainly provides financial security and access to a comfortable lifestyle.
The safest conclusion based on available information is that Arlene Silver is likely a millionaire in her own right from her career, with estimates ranging from $1 million to possibly $10 million depending on how much you factor in shared assets with her husband. But anyone claiming to know the exact figure is guessing.
Assets and lifestyle without speculation
The couple shares a home in Malibu, one of California’s pricier coastal communities, and their public appearances suggest they live comfortably without being extravagant. They travel for work and pleasure, perform at events, and maintain an active social life within entertainment circles.
That said, assigning specific dollar values to their house, cars, or investment accounts without solid sources would be misleading. Dick Van Dyke’s $50 million net worth is well-documented through his decades of film, television, and royalty income. Arlene’s individual assets are simply not public information.
Public image and controversy context
Unlike many celebrity spouses, Arlene hasn’t been involved in any significant public controversies or legal issues. Most media coverage focuses on her relationship with Dick, their age difference, and their sweet public interactions.
There have been occasional whispers about “gold digger” stereotypes given the age gap, but both Arlene and Dick have addressed these in interviews with humor and grace. They emphasize their genuine connection, shared interests in music and performance, and mutual happiness.
The bottom line on Arlene Silver’s wealth
Arlene Silver is a makeup artist and entertainment professional who built her own career before and during her marriage to Dick Van Dyke. Her estimated net worth falls somewhere between $1 million and $10 million based on various entertainment sources, though no official figures exist.
She earns money through makeup work, production projects, occasional acting, and creative collaborations with her husband. While she certainly benefits from the financial security that comes with being married to a Hollywood legend worth $50 million, she’s not simply living off his fortune—she’s a working professional with her own income streams.
The exact numbers will likely remain private, and that’s perfectly fine. What matters is that Arlene Silver carved out her own space in Hollywood before meeting Dick Van Dyke and continues working on projects she cares about today.
