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03 Feb 2024, 00:00

Buzz Aldrin Net Worth

Buzz Aldrin, an American engineer, fighter pilot, and former astronaut, boasts a net worth of $12 million.

He’s renowned as one of the initial pair to step foot on the Moon, alongside Neil Armstrong in 1969.

Before this historic achievement, he engaged in combat missions during the Korean War and executed three spacewalks while serving as the pilot on Gemini 12 in 1966.

Following his departure from NASA in 1971, Aldrin assumed the role of Commandant at the US Air Force Test Pilot School.

His nickname “Buzz” emerged during his childhood when one of his younger sisters amusingly pronounced “brother” as “buzzer,” eventually leading to the adoption of “Buzz” as his legal first name in 1988.

Although technically the “second” individual to walk on the Moon, Aldrin served as the lunar module pilot on Apollo 11, participating in the inaugural manned lunar landing in history.

He touched down on the lunar surface at 03:15:16 (UTC) on July 21, 1969, right after mission commander Neil Armstrong.

Aldrin’s initial words upon stepping onto the Moon were, “Beautiful view. Magnificent desolation.”

Category	Richest Celebrities
Net Worth	$12 Million
Date of Birth	Jan 20, 1930 (93 years old)
Place of Birth	Glen Ridge
Gender	Male
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Profession	Fighter pilot, Astronaut, Pilot, Writer, Actor, Author
Nationality	United States of America

Buzz Aldrin Background, Early Life And Education

Buzz Aldrin, born Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr. in 1930 in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, came from a family with a military background.

His father, Edwin Sr., served as a World War I Army aviator and later worked as a Standard Oil executive.

His mother was Marion, and he had two older sisters, Madeleine and Fay Ann.

During his youth, Aldrin was active in the Boy Scouts and played football at Montclair High School.

His father encouraged him to attend the United States Naval Academy, so he prepared at the Severn School.

However, due to his struggle with seasickness, he decided to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point.

In 1951, Aldrin graduated third in his class with a BS degree in mechanical engineering.

The moniker “Buzz” was coined during his youth when his younger sister playfully muddled “brother” as “buzzer.”

Buzz Aldrin Military Career

After completing his studies, Aldrin joined the United States Air Force as a second lieutenant.

He was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, where he underwent training to become a fighter jet pilot.

By 1952, he was assigned to the 16th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and actively participated in combat during the Korean War.

Over the course of the war, he completed 66 combat missions and successfully downed two MiG-15 aircraft.

His valor earned him recognition in the form of two Distinguished Flying Crosses and three Air Medals.

Following his wartime experiences, Aldrin took on the role of an aerial gunnery instructor at Nellis and furthered his education at the Squadron Officer School, located at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama.

Between 1956 and 1959, he served as a flight commander in West Germany, piloting various F-100 Super Sabre aircraft.

Upon returning to the United States, Aldrin pursued higher education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he completed his studies in 1963, earning a Doctor of Science degree in astronautics.

Afterward, he was assigned to the Gemini Target Office within the Air Force Space Systems Division.

Buzz Aldrin NASA Career, Astronomy And Apollo II

In 1963, Buzz Aldrin joined NASA’s Astronaut Group 3, becoming the first astronaut with a doctoral degree. He served as part of the backup crew for Gemini 10 before embarking on his first spaceflight during Gemini 12 in 1966, conducting over five hours of extravehicular activity.

Then, on July 16, 1969, Aldrin embarked on the historic Apollo 11 mission as the Lunar Module Pilot alongside mission commander Neil Armstrong. Together, they became the first humans to set foot on the Moon on July 21. Remarkably, Aldrin, a Presbyterian elder, held the first lunar religious ceremony by taking communion in private.

Upon their return to Earth, the crew was honoured with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Aldrin continued to make public appearances, deliver speeches, and contribute to space shuttle design. However, seeking new opportunities, he left NASA in 1971, intending to return to the Air Force. Aldrin’s NASA journey culminated with 289 hours in space.

As of September 2023, Buzz Aldrin’s estimated net worth stands at approximately $12 million.

Buzz Aldrin Life After NASA, Honours Achievements

Following his departure from NASA, Buzz Aldrin assumed the role of Commandant at the USAF Aerospace Research Pilot School, stationed at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

During his tenure, he found himself at odds with his superior, Brigadier General Robert M. White, and faced the unwanted spotlight due to his celebrity status.

Unfortunately, this period saw Aldrin struggling with depression, compounded by the tragic suicides of both his mother and grandfather.

Consequently, he underwent a four-week hospitalization. Eventually, in 1972, Aldrin retired as an Air Force colonel.

Despite grappling with depression and addiction post-NASA and Air Force, Aldrin remained a staunch advocate for space exploration.

He became a part of the University of North Dakota’s College of Aerospace Sciences in 1985, actively contributing to the development of its Space Studies program.

Furthermore, in 1998, Aldrin established ShareSpace, a non-profit educational foundation aimed at promoting the benefits of STEAM education.

In 2013, he threw his support behind a human mission to Mars, and in 2015, he collaborated with the Florida Institute of Technology to present a master plan to NASA outlining the colonization of Mars by astronauts by 2040.

Throughout his illustrious career, Buzz Aldrin earned numerous prestigious accolades.

In recognition of his pivotal role in the Apollo 11 mission, he received the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal in 1969.

Additional honors include the Legion of Merit for his contributions to the Gemini and Apollo programs, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, and the Collier Trophy, presented to the entire Apollo 11 crew.

In 1982, he was among ten Gemini astronauts inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame.

Subsequently, Aldrin was honored with inductions into the US Astronaut Hall of Fame, the National Aviation Hall of Fame, and the New Jersey Hall of Fame.

He received accolades including the Smithsonian’s Langley Gold Medal, the Harmon Trophy, the Space Foundation’s Lifetime Space Achievement Award, and honorary degrees from multiple institutions.

Buzz Aldrin Investments

Buzz have diversified investments but the biggest one that’s well known is the real estate.

In 1998, Buzz and his former spouse, Lois, purchased a condominium in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles for $1.34 million. Following their divorce, Buzz put this condo on the market for $3.3 million. Ultimately, the unit was sold in June 2014 for $2.857 million.