How Walt Disney Helped His Housekeeper Become a Millionaire
Shrewd investing with the help of a generous benefactor allowed a hardworking woman to realize a fortune — after she died
Walt Disney, the animator and businessman who found unimaginable success with his eponymous film studio and empire of theme parks and resorts around the world left a legacy of making dreams come true. His imagination and ability to plug people into their childhoods no matter their age cemented his iconic status. However, he was also capable of creating magic in other ways, including his role in helping his long-time housekeeper become a multimillionaire.
Thelma Howard grew up in Idaho, the child of poor farmers, before moving to Washington and then California as an adult. She had a tragic upbringing, as her mother died when she was only six and then her sister Louise perished in a cooking stove accident at the age of eight.
Originally trained as a stenographer, Howard worked in a variety of office jobs and cleaning houses. She came to work for Disney and his family as their live-in housekeeper at their Holmby Hills house in Los Angeles in 1951 and held the post for an amazing 30 years. Not just an employee, she was considered an integral part of helping raise his two daughters Diane and…
