Who Is Greta Garbo? Age, Biography and Wiki
Greta Garbo, born on September 18, 1905, in Stockholm, Sweden, is one of the most revered figures in cinematic history. With a career that spanned the late 1920s to the early 1940s, she captivated audiences with her enigmatic performances and striking beauty. Despite her immense fame, Garbo famously retreated from the public eye, leading to an air of mystery surrounding her life. She passed away on April 15, 1990, but her legacy continues to inspire new generations.
| Occupation | Actress |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | September 18, 1905 |
| Age | 84 Years |
| Birth Place | Stockholm, Sweden |
| Horoscope | Virgo |
| Country | Sweden |
| Date of death | 15 April, 1990 |
| Died Place | New York City, U.S. |
Popularity
Greta Garbo's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Greta Garbo stood at approximately 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) tall. Throughout her career, she maintained a slender and statuesque figure, which contributed to her iconic on-screen presence. During her prime, her weight fluctuated around 130 pounds (59 kg). Though specific measurements are not readily available, her striking silhouette and elegant style made her a fashion icon of her time.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Throughout her life, Greta Garbo had several notable relationships, though she often kept her personal life private. The most significant relationship in her life was with fellow actor John Gilbert, whom she dated during her early career. Despite rumors and speculation about her romantic liaisons, Garbo never married, choosing instead to prioritize her career and solitude. In 2025, she remains a symbol of independence and self-reliance, often cited as an inspiration for those valuing personal freedom over societal expectations.
Her parents met in Stockholm, where her father had been visiting from Frinnaryd. He moved to Stockholm to become independent and worked as a street cleaner, grocer, factory worker and butcher's assistant. He married Anna, who moved from Högsby. The family was impoverished and lived in a three-bedroom cold-water flat at Blekingegatan No. 32.
They raised their three children in a working-class district regarded as the city's slum. Garbo later recalled:
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of her passing, Greta Garbo's estimated net worth was around $100 million, a figure attributed to her successful film career, endorsements, and various investments. In 2025, her estate continues to generate various revenues from film retrospectives, merchandise, and licensing deals, ensuring her financial legacy remains strong.
After nearly a year of negotiations, Garbo agreed to renew her contract with MGM on the condition that she would star in Queen Christina (1933), and her salary would be increased to $300,000 per film. The film's screenplay had been written by Salka Viertel; although reluctant to make the movie, MGM relented at Garbo's insistence.
For her leading man, MGM suggested Charles Boyer or Laurence Olivier, but Garbo rejected both, preferring her former co-star and lover John Gilbert. The studio balked at the idea of casting Gilbert, fearing his declining career would hurt the film's box-office, but Garbo prevailed.
Queen Christina was a lavish production, becoming one of the studio's biggest productions at the time. Publicized as "Garbo returns", the film premiered in December 1933 to positive reviews and box-office triumph and became the highest-grossing film of the year.
The movie, however, met with controversy upon its release; censors objected to the scenes in which Garbo disguised herself as a man and kissed a female co-star.
Career, Business and Investments
Greta Garbo's career began in the silent film era, quickly becoming a leading lady in the transition to talkies, with timeless works such as "Anna Karenina" (1935) and "Ninotchka" (1939). After retiring from acting in 1941, she ventured into business and investments, focusing on real estate. Her successful decisions in the property market have reportedly generated a significant portion of her remaining wealth.
Garbo launched her career with a secondary role in the 1924 Swedish film The Saga of Gösta Berling. Her performance caught the attention of Louis B. Mayer, chief executive of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), who brought her to Hollywood in 1925. She stirred interest with her first American silent film, Torrent (1926).
Garbo's performance in Flesh and the Devil (1926), her third movie in the United States, made her an international star. In 1928, Garbo starred in A Woman of Affairs, which catapulted her to MGM's highest box-office star, surpassing the long-reigning Lillian Gish.
Other well-known Garbo films from the silent era are The Mysterious Lady (1928), The Single Standard (1929), and The Kiss (1929).
Social Network
Although Garbo was known to have a complicated relationship with fame, she was often a topic of discussion in entertainment circles. Posthumously, she enjoys a presence in social networks dedicated to classic cinema and vintage Hollywood, where fans and historians share memorabilia, film reviews, and anecdotes from her illustrious career.
Over time, Garbo would decline all opportunities to return to the screen. In her retirement, she shunned publicity, led a private life, and became an art collector whose paintings included works by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Pierre Bonnard and Kees van Dongen.
Although she refused throughout her life to talk to friends about her reasons for retiring, four years before her death, she told Swedish biographer Sven Broman: "I was tired of Hollywood. I did not like my work. There were many days when I had to force myself to go to the studio ... I really wanted to live another life."
Education
While specific details about Greta Garbo's education are sparse, it is known that her artistic talents were nurtured from a young age in Sweden. She attended the Royal Dramatic Theatre's school in Stockholm, which helped sharpen her acting skills and prepare for her eventual breakthrough in films. Garbo's commitment to her craft, along with her intelligence and innate talent, contributed to her enduring status as a cinematic icon.
On 9 February 1951, she became a naturalized citizen of the United States, and bought a seven-room apartment at 450 East 52nd Street in Manhattan in 1953, where she lived for the rest of her life. Her New York apartment buzzer was identified by a solitary G and the interior was a "light and airy study in pink".
In order to protect her privacy, she preferred being addressed as "Miss [Harriet] Brown". Her close friends were only allowed to call her Miss Garbo or G.G.; if they called her Greta, she wouldn't respond.
