Simpsons star lives frugally while donating $21m to Scientology
One of the Church of Scientology’s largest donors, she made her fortune as the voice of Bart Simpson—and lives relatively modestly while donating huge sums to the religious group.
Nancy Cartwright, 65, was revealed on Tuesday to have given more than $21 million to the group, placing her among the top donors alongside Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Kirstie Alley and pharmaceutical billionaire Bob Duggan, who is considered to be their greatest benefactor, writes anti-Scientology blogger Tony Ortega.
Cartwright has voiced Bart Simpson since the show’s inception in 1987, and at her peak in 2008, she was earning $400,000 per episode. The salary was later reduced to $300,000 per show.
But for all her considerable fortune, Cartwright seems to live relatively modestly, in a rather anonymous northern Los Angeles suburb called Northridge.
Nancy Cartwright, seen May 2015, voices Bart Simpson and is one of Scientology’s largest donors
Cartwright’s $2.2 million isn’t lavish, because someone paid $400,000 per episode
Cartwright lives in a relatively quiet suburb of Los Angeles, in a house she bought in 1996 for $500,000
In 1996, five years after becoming a Scientologist, she bought her current home in the area for $500,000: it is now valued at $2.2 million.
She has previously spoken about her faith, defending the church after an HBO documentary about Scientology, Going Clear, was released in 2015.
The documentary deconstructed the organization’s background by presenting a history of the group and its founder, L. Ron Hubbard.
The film alleged that stars, including John Travolta, were forced to stay in Scientology for fear that secrets surrounding their personal lives would be revealed.
Cartwright said, “That movie, I don’t know what to tell you, it’s called Prejudice.
“It’s very irresponsible reporting.”
But her extreme generosity to the Church was not widely known until now.
In 2007, Cartwright received the Scientology Patron Laureate Award after donating $10 million to the church. The amount was double her annual salary for the year.
The 2007 donation surpassed that of some of the biggest Hollywood names in the organization, including Tom Cruise.
Kirstie Alley (left) and Tom Cruise have both made generous donations to the Church of Scientology
And she kept giving.
In 2019, she is said to have achieved “Diamond Laureate With Honors,” indicating that she gave the organization about $17.5 million.
On New Year’s Eve 2022, she received a trophy for achieving ‘Patron Excalibur With Honors’ status. The New York Post.
Cartwright was photographed at the December 31 event at the Fort Harrison Hotel in Clearwater, Florida, along with Scientology CEO David Miscavige.
Speaking in the new issue of Impact of Scientology magazine, Cartwright said, “This was the most beautiful recognition I have ever received in my entire life.”
Cartwright’s two children, Lucy Mae Murphy and Jackson Murphy, have not spoken about their mother’s gifts.
Their father, Warren Murphy, died in 2015 at the age of 81: he and Cartwright were divorced in 2002, after 14 years of marriage.
It is not known whether Cartwright’s children are also Scientologists.
The church’s biggest donors are known as “whales,” according to Ortega — a former church member who now works to counter it.
Ortega told The Post that Cartwright is a “very hardcore” Scientologist, “pushing it out on other celebs.”
“She’s there to remind you to donate more, show up more,” he claimed.
Pictured: Cartwright (left) and Scientology head Miscavige (right) at the ceremony on December 31, 2022
Cartwright is seen with her children, Lucy Mae and Jackson, in May 2015
Cartwright attends the 38th Annual L. Ron Hubbard Achievement Awards in April 2022
Cartwright is known as the voice of The Simpsons’ protagonist Bart Simpson, pictured here in 2018 in New York City
Ortega said other “whales” often tried to keep their donations a secret, but failed to do so ‘necessarily wanting the public to know’.
Tom Cruise, who is estimated to have a fortune of $600 million, reportedly gave at least $2.5 million: In 2012, Business Insider estimated Cruise had given at least $25 million.
Kirstie Alley, who died in December, gave $5 million in 2007.
John Travolta has never confirmed his donations, but Ortega says they are likely to be significant given his titles and awards from the church.
Supposedly the largest donor Bob Duggan, a 79-year-old pharmaceutical and venture capital billionaire.
In 2019, Duggan confirmed that he had given more than $360 million to the church.
Duggan told The Tampa Bay Times in 2019 that he credits Scientology courses and Hubbard’s teachings for his success. He is now worth $1.9 billion.
“Companies I started have generated more than $100 billion in value,” he said.
“I don’t remember doing that before (Scientology).
“It is there to help the skilled become more skilled. It worked for me.’
Pictured: Church of Scientology CEO David Miscavige in Auckland, New Zealand, 2017
Scientology is known for requiring members to donate generously – though the website emphasizes that free courses are available.
Leah Remini, the actress who left the church and now talks about her experience, said she spent “millions” during her 35 years with the church.
Books and courses cost thousands of dollars, and “auditing”—a type of Scientologist therapy—costs $800 an hour, she said.
Church members are often approached to pay for Scientology buildings, campuses and repairs, Remini claimed, asking for donations to help with natural disasters.
“There’s no other religion I know of that requires two and a half hours out of your day, a quarter of a million dollars minimum, and at least 40 years of your life,” she said on her podcast.