Lola Van Wagenen is an American historian, activist, author, documentary producer, and public educator whose career has extended across environmental advocacy, women’s history, education, publishing, and documentary filmmaking. She is also widely known because of her former marriage to actor and filmmaker Robert Redford. However, her professional life developed far beyond that relationship.
When it comes to Lola Van Wagenen net worth, there is no publicly verified financial statement that establishes an exact figure. Various websites publish estimates, but the numbers differ significantly and are generally not supported by audited records, public asset disclosures, or detailed documentation. For that reason, her personal wealth is better described as undisclosed, while online figures should be treated as unofficial estimates.
What can be established with much greater confidence is the professional foundation behind her financial profile. Van Wagenen has spent decades working in historical research, public education, nonprofit initiatives, documentary production, and publishing. Her work with organizations such as Consumer Action Now and Clio Visualizing History also gives her career a distinctive identity separate from her connection to Hollywood.
Lola Van Wagenen Net Worth
The exact Lola Van Wagenen net worth is not publicly confirmed. Online estimates vary, with some sources assigning figures in the low millions while others provide broader ranges. Because there is no independently verified financial disclosure supporting one specific number, those estimates should not be presented as established fact.
This uncertainty is particularly important in Van Wagenen’s case because much of her professional career has been connected to education, nonprofit organizations, historical research, and public-interest projects rather than a conventional entertainment salary.
Her professional background includes academic work, documentary production, writing, organizational leadership, and historical education. These activities may have generated income over time, but publicly available sources do not provide enough information to calculate her lifetime earnings or current assets accurately.
Van Wagenen’s financial profile should also not be confused with the wealth associated with Robert Redford. Although the two were married for many years, his career and financial achievements were separate from hers. There is no reliable public documentation establishing that her present-day wealth can simply be calculated from Redford’s fortune.
The most responsible conclusion is therefore that Lola Van Wagenen’s exact net worth remains undisclosed.
Lola Van Wagenen Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Lola Jean Van Wagenen |
| Date of Birth | December 19, 1938 |
| Age | 87 years old in 2026 |
| Birthplace | Provo, Utah, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Historian, activist, author, documentary producer |
| Education | Vermont College, New York University |
| PhD | American History |
| Former Husband | Robert Redford |
| Current/Second Husband | George Carleton Burrill |
| Children | Four with Robert Redford |
| Known For | History, activism, documentary production, public education |
| Net Worth | Not publicly verified |
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How Did Lola Van Wagenen Build Her Wealth?
Unlike actors or musicians whose earnings can sometimes be estimated through salaries, tours, contracts, and box-office receipts, Van Wagenen’s career has involved several different professional fields.
Her potential sources of professional income include academic and historical work, documentary production, writing and publishing, organizational leadership, and other professional activities. However, the exact amount she earned from these areas has not been publicly disclosed.
Academic and Historical Work
Education became an important part of Van Wagenen’s professional identity. She returned to higher education later in life and eventually earned advanced degrees in history.
She received her bachelor’s degree from Vermont College in 1982, completed a master’s degree in Liberal Studies/Public History at New York University in 1984, and earned a PhD in American History from NYU in 1994.
Her academic background gave her expertise in American history and women’s history, eventually contributing to her work as a researcher, author, and public historian.
Documentary Production
Documentary filmmaking represents another important part of her career.
Van Wagenen worked as an executive producer on Miss America: A Documentary Film, a historical documentary that aired through PBS’s American Experience. She was also an executive producer of The State of Marriage, a documentary released in 2015.
These credits demonstrate her professional involvement in documentary production, although there is no reliable public information revealing her personal compensation from each project.
Writing and Publishing
Van Wagenen’s academic research also developed into published historical work.
Her doctoral research became the book Sister-Wives and Suffragists: Polygamy and the Politics of Woman Suffrage 1870–1896. The book examines the relationship between polygamy, women’s rights, and the American suffrage movement.
Book sales and royalties can theoretically contribute to an author’s income, but no reliable public figures show how much Van Wagenen personally earned from her publication.
Organizational Leadership
Another significant part of her professional history involves nonprofit and educational organizations.
She co-founded Consumer Action Now in 1970, an organization focused on consumer and environmental education. Her work there connected consumer choices with environmental concerns and public awareness.
Later, she became involved in Clio Visualizing History, an educational initiative designed to make American history accessible through multimedia resources.
These organizations are important to understanding her career, but their budgets or funding should not automatically be treated as Van Wagenen’s personal income.
Early Life and Education
Lola Jean Van Wagenen was born on December 19, 1938, in Provo, Utah.
She became publicly known in part through her marriage to Robert Redford, whom she met in Los Angeles in the late 1950s. The couple married in 1958 and eventually had four children.
Her later educational achievements, however, established a professional identity independent of Hollywood.
Van Wagenen attended Vermont College, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in 1982. She then continued her studies at New York University, completing a master’s degree in Liberal Studies/Public History in 1984.
Her academic journey continued for another decade. In 1994, she earned a PhD in American History from NYU.
Her dissertation examined polygamy and women’s suffrage and later became her published book, Sister-Wives and Suffragists. The progression from student to researcher and published historian became one of the defining features of her professional life.
Lola Van Wagenen Career Journey
Van Wagenen’s career can be understood as a progression from activism and consumer education into academic history, documentary production, and public education.
1970: Consumer Action Now
In 1970, Van Wagenen co-founded Consumer Action Now, a nonprofit organization based in New York City.
The organization promoted consumer education and environmental awareness. Van Wagenen remained involved in the organization for approximately a decade.
1970s: Environmental Advocacy
During the 1970s, her work expanded into energy conservation and environmental education.
She participated in initiatives designed to educate the public about energy consumption, conservation, and alternative energy sources. This work reflected the growing environmental movement of the period.
1982: Bachelor’s Degree
Van Wagenen earned her bachelor’s degree from Vermont College.
Her return to formal education was significant because it eventually led to a much more extensive academic career.
1984: Master’s Degree
She completed a master’s degree in Liberal Studies/Public History at New York University.
This training strengthened her connection to historical research and public education.
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1994: PhD in American History
Van Wagenen earned her PhD in American History from NYU.
Her academic research focused on the complicated relationship between polygamy and women’s political rights in the American West.
1990s: Clio Visualizing History
Van Wagenen later co-founded Clio Visualizing History with historian Jeanne Houck.
The project focused on presenting American history through documentaries, online exhibitions, websites, and other educational media.
2002: Miss America
Van Wagenen served as an executive producer of Miss America: A Documentary Film.
The documentary explored the history and cultural significance of the Miss America competition and was broadcast through PBS’s American Experience.
2003: Published Historical Research
Her doctoral dissertation was published as Sister-Wives and Suffragists: Polygamy and the Politics of Woman Suffrage 1870–1896.
The publication further established her credentials as a historian and researcher.
2012: NYU Recognition
New York University recognized Van Wagenen with its Distinguished Alumni/Alumnae Achievement Award through the Graduate School of Arts and Science.
2015: The State of Marriage
She continued her documentary work as an executive producer of The State of Marriage, another project connected to American historical and social issues.
Major Achievements
Lola Van Wagenen’s career includes achievements across several fields rather than one conventional profession.
One of her earliest major accomplishments was helping establish Consumer Action Now. The organization reflected her interest in public education and environmental responsibility.
Her later work with Clio Visualizing History extended those interests into historical education. Clio used documentary films and digital media to present American history to broader audiences.
Her academic achievements are equally significant. Earning a PhD in American History from NYU and turning her doctoral research into a published book established her as a professional historian.
Her documentary credits also expanded her public reach. Miss America: A Documentary Film and The State of Marriage connected her historical interests with visual storytelling.
She has also been involved with organizations connected to education, environmental issues, history, and public service, including the U.S. Committee for UNICEF, National Audubon Society, Vermont Historical Society, and Shelburne Farms.
Lola Van Wagenen and Robert Redford
Any discussion of Lola Van Wagenen inevitably includes Robert Redford, but the two should not be treated as financially interchangeable.
Van Wagenen and Redford married in 1958 after meeting in Los Angeles. They had four children together: Scott, Shauna, James, and Amy.
Their son Scott died as an infant. Their son James Redford later became a filmmaker, writer, and environmental advocate before his death in 2020.
Van Wagenen and Robert Redford eventually ended their marriage. Van Wagenen later married George Carleton Burrill in 2002.
Because Redford became one of Hollywood’s most successful actors, directors, and producers, online articles frequently connect Van Wagenen’s name to his financial success. However, his earnings from acting, directing, producing, and property investments should not automatically be counted as Van Wagenen’s personal wealth.
There is also no reliable public evidence that establishes a specific inheritance from Redford as the basis of her present-day net worth.
Personal Life and Family
Van Wagenen has generally maintained a lower public profile than her former husband.
Her first marriage to Robert Redford produced four children. Her family later became involved in filmmaking, environmental work, and the arts.
Her daughter Shauna Redford became known for her work in the arts and environmental causes. Her son James Redford pursued documentary filmmaking and environmental advocacy. Her daughter Amy Redford became an actress and filmmaker.
In 2002, Van Wagenen married George Carleton Burrill.
Her family relationships are often discussed in celebrity biographies, but they do not provide sufficient evidence for calculating her personal wealth.
Assets and Lifestyle
There is limited reliable public information about Van Wagenen’s current personal assets.
Unlike celebrities who frequently display luxury homes, vehicles, designer collections, or expensive vacations, Van Wagenen’s public profile has focused more heavily on scholarship, activism, history, and education.
There is no authoritative public inventory of her current real estate holdings, investment portfolio, vehicles, bank accounts, or other personal assets.
Consequently, assigning a precise value to her assets would require speculation.
This is also why online net-worth estimates should be treated carefully. A credible financial profile needs evidence about both assets and liabilities, not simply a person’s professional reputation or family connections.
Lola Van Wagenen Net Worth Growth Timeline
Because her private financial records are not publicly available, the following timeline tracks professional development rather than inventing annual wealth figures.
| Period | Major Development | Potential Financial Relevance |
| 1970 | Co-founded Consumer Action Now | Established professional advocacy career |
| 1970s | Environmental and energy education | Expanded public-interest work |
| 1982 | Earned bachelor’s degree | Began formal academic progression |
| 1984 | Completed NYU master’s degree | Developed public-history expertise |
| 1994 | Earned PhD | Established advanced historical credentials |
| 1990s | Co-founded Clio Visualizing History | Expanded educational-media work |
| 2002 | Executive producer of Miss America | Added documentary production |
| 2003 | Published Sister-Wives and Suffragists | Added scholarly publishing |
| 2012 | Received NYU achievement award | Career recognition |
| 2015 | Executive producer of The State of Marriage | Continued documentary career |
| 2026 | Long-term public-history career | Exact personal wealth remains undisclosed |
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Why Lola Van Wagenen’s Net Worth Is Difficult to Verify
The central problem with celebrity net-worth research is that online estimates frequently appear more precise than the evidence allows.
Van Wagenen does not have a publicly reported Hollywood salary, major publicly traded company ownership stake, or regularly disclosed business valuation that would allow researchers to calculate her wealth with confidence.
Her work also involves nonprofit organizations and educational projects. Money associated with these organizations cannot simply be interpreted as personal earnings.
Similarly, her marriage to Robert Redford does not provide enough information to calculate her current assets.
A responsible estimate would require information about property ownership, investments, retirement assets, royalties, income, liabilities, and other financial interests. Most of that information is private.
For this reason, the strongest conclusion is that Lola Van Wagenen’s personal net worth is not publicly verified.
Interesting Facts About Lola Van Wagenen
- Her full birth name is Lola Jean Van Wagenen.
- She was born in Provo, Utah.
- She married Robert Redford in 1958.
- She and Redford had four children.
- She later married George Carleton Burrill.
- She earned a PhD in American History from New York University.
- She co-founded Consumer Action Now.
- She co-founded Clio Visualizing History.
- She worked as an executive producer on Miss America: A Documentary Film.
- She was also an executive producer of The State of Marriage.
- Her doctoral research became a published history book.
- She received recognition from New York University for her achievements.
- Her career has included environmental education, public history, documentary filmmaking, and publishing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lola Van Wagenen’s net worth?
Lola Van Wagenen’s exact net worth has not been publicly verified. Online estimates vary, but there is no authoritative financial disclosure establishing a specific figure.
How did Lola Van Wagenen make her money?
Her documented career includes historical research, academic work, documentary production, writing, publishing, nonprofit leadership, and public education.
How old is Lola Van Wagenen?
Lola Van Wagenen was born on December 19, 1938, making her 87 years old in 2026.
Was Lola Van Wagenen married to Robert Redford?
Yes. Van Wagenen married Robert Redford in 1958. They had four children together before their marriage ended.
Who is Lola Van Wagenen’s husband?
Her second husband is George Carleton Burrill. They married in 2002.
What is Lola Van Wagenen known for?
She is known as a historian, activist, author, documentary producer, and public educator. She is particularly associated with Consumer Action Now and Clio Visualizing History.
Did Lola Van Wagenen work in film?
Yes. She worked as an executive producer on documentaries including Miss America: A Documentary Film and The State of Marriage.
What degree does Lola Van Wagenen have?
She earned a bachelor’s degree from Vermont College, a master’s degree from New York University, and a PhD in American History from NYU.
Did Lola Van Wagenen write a book?
Yes. Her doctoral research was published as Sister-Wives and Suffragists: Polygamy and the Politics of Woman Suffrage 1870–1896.
Did Lola Van Wagenen inherit Robert Redford’s wealth?
There is no reliable public evidence establishing that a specific inheritance from Robert Redford determines her present-day net worth.
What is Clio Visualizing History?
Clio Visualizing History is an educational initiative co-founded by Van Wagenen and historian Jeanne Houck. It uses historical media and educational resources to make American history accessible to broader audiences.
What organizations has Lola Van Wagenen worked with?
Her documented professional and public-interest connections include Consumer Action Now, Clio Visualizing History, the U.S. Committee for UNICEF, the National Audubon Society, the Vermont Historical Society, and Shelburne Farms.
Final Verdict on Lola Van Wagenen Net Worth
The most accurate answer to Lola Van Wagenen net worth is that her exact personal wealth remains undisclosed and unverified.
Several websites publish different estimates, but there is no reliable financial documentation confirming one exact figure.
What is well documented is Van Wagenen’s long career as a historian, activist, author, documentary producer, and educator.
Her work includes environmental advocacy, public history, documentary production, academic research, and organizations such as Consumer Action Now and Clio Visualizing History.
Although her marriage to Robert Redford is an important part of her biography, her professional achievements extend well beyond that relationship.
For financial research, it is important to distinguish online estimates from verified wealth. Until reliable financial records become available, her exact net worth should be considered unknown.
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