Jon Provost net worth has fascinated classic television fans for years, and the former child star built a fortune that reaches well beyond the Lassie farm. Best known as Timmy Martin, the brave boy who shared the screen with America’s most famous collie, Provost turned seven seasons of television fame into a long and steady adult life.
Most reports today place his wealth at around $2 million, though some estimates climb as high as $5 million. Here, you will learn how Jon Provost earned his money, what he did after Lassie ended, and how his quiet second career shaped his fortune, from his earliest film roles to his life today.
Jon Provost Net Worth in 2026
As of 2026, Jon Provost net worth is most often reported at around $2 million. That figure shows up across the best-known celebrity finance trackers, and it reflects a lifetime of acting pay, television residuals, and later work in real estate rather than one giant paycheck. Some outlets push the estimate higher, to $5 million, while at least one puts it as low as $500,000, so the honest answer is a range with $2 million as the most repeated number.
Why do the numbers disagree? Celebrity wealth trackers work from public clues, not bank statements, and Provost has lived most of his adult life far from Hollywood’s spotlight. His early television salaries came from a different era, when child actors earned far less than today’s stars, and his later income came from steady professional work rather than headline deals. Put together, the picture is one of comfortable, hard-earned wealth rather than blockbuster riches.
| Income Source | Details |
|---|---|
| Lassie salary and residuals | 251 episodes as Timmy Martin, 1957–1964, plus rerun and streaming residuals |
| Later acting roles | Film and television work, including The New Lassie (1989–1992) and Susie’s Hope (2013) |
| Real estate and title insurance | Long second career in Sonoma County, California |
| Memoir and appearances | Timmy’s in the Well (2007), updated 2011, plus convention and autograph events |
Jon Provost Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jonathan Bion Provost |
| Date of Birth | March 12, 1950 |
| Age | 76 years (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5 feet 4 inches (1.63 m) |
| Parents | William Provost (aeronautical engineer) and Iola Provost |
| Spouse | Laurie Jacobson (married 1999) |
| Ex-Spouse | Sandra Marie Goosens (1979–1993) |
| Children | Ryan Provost and Katie Provost |
| Best Known For | Timmy Martin on Lassie (1957–1964) |
| Occupation | Actor, author, real-estate professional |
| Awards | Hollywood Walk of Fame star (1994); Young Artist Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award (1990) |
| Jon Provost Net Worth | Around $2 million (most reported); some sources estimate up to $5 million |
Jon Provost was born Jonathan Bion Provost on March 12, 1950, in Los Angeles, California, and he grew up in a family that had nothing to do with show business. His father worked as an aeronautical engineer, and his mother kept the home, yet both backed their young son once his talent became clear. His mother even traveled with him to film sets and earned a salary plus expenses for looking after him.
The table above gives you the key facts of his life at a glance, from his famous role as Timmy Martin to his later career and family. You can also read more about his life and credits in this Jon Provost biography from a well-known reference source.
Early Life and First Steps in Hollywood
Provost started acting at the age of four, and his first film role came in The Country Girl in 1954, alongside Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly. Small parts followed in films such as So Big and Back from Eternity, and his natural warmth in front of the camera quickly set him apart. He was not a stage-school product pushed by ambitious parents. He was a regular Los Angeles kid with an easy smile and a gift for looking natural on screen.
His big break before Lassie came with Escapade in Japan in 1957, a family adventure film in which he held his own beside adult stars. By several accounts, the Lassie producers picked him for Timmy without a screen test, purely on the strength of that performance. At seven years old, he was about to become one of the most recognized faces on American television.
Becoming Timmy Martin on Lassie
In 1957, Jon Provost joined Lassie at the start of its fourth season, taking over as the show’s young hero after Tommy Rettig’s Jeff Miller left the series. As Timmy Martin, the adopted son of the Martin farm family, he spent seven seasons getting into scrapes, rescuing friends, and sharing nearly every scene with the show’s heroic collie. His freckled face and striped shirt became iconic, and the show’s ratings climbed during his run.
Working with a dog star brought its own lessons, and Provost has often said that the Lassie dogs were all great dogs to work with. He filmed 251 episodes between 1957 and 1964, and the show’s 1963–64 season reached number 12 in the Nielsen ratings, the highest of the series. At fourteen, though, he made a brave choice: he turned down a new contract, even though sponsor Campbell’s Soup wanted three more years, and he walked away from fame on his own terms.
Life After Lassie: Acting, College and Real Estate
Leaving Lassie did not end Provost’s acting career, and he moved into film and television roles as a teenager and young adult. He appeared with Natalie Wood and Robert Redford in This Property Is Condemned in 1966, and he played Bradley in Disney’s The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes in 1969 beside Kurt Russell. He also returned to television in the late 1980s, playing real estate agent Steve McCullough in The New Lassie from 1989 to 1992.
Between acting jobs, Provost chased the normal life he had missed as a child actor. He left Hollywood for college at Sonoma State University in Northern California, earned a degree, and stayed in the region for good. There he built a second career in real estate and title insurance in Sonoma County, work that gave him steady income and privacy for decades. He has joked that job interviewers were stunned to learn that Timmy from Lassie was applying for an ordinary job.
Books, Appearances and Other Sources of Income
Provost added another income stream in December 2007, when his memoir Timmy’s in the Well: The Jon Provost Story reached readers. He wrote it with his wife, author Laurie Jacobson, and an updated edition followed in 2011. The book gave fans the behind-the-scenes story of the Lassie years, and it still sells at fan conventions and nostalgia events where Provost signs autographs and meets admirers.
Those convention appearances, along with later screen work such as Susie’s Hope in 2013 and voice roles in family films, kept money coming in long after his child-star years. Television residuals from Lassie reruns and streaming added a slow, steady trickle too. None of these made him rich on its own, yet together they helped protect the fortune he had already built.
Family, Wife and Personal Life
Provost married his first wife, Sandra Marie Goosens, in 1979, and the couple had two children, Ryan and Katie, before divorcing in 1993. The split brought a hard period in his life, and he has spoken openly about the depression that followed. His story turned around in 1996, when he met author Laurie Jacobson, and the pair married in 1999.
Today, Provost and Jacobson live in Northern California, where their children live nearby and the family gathers often. He is a grandfather of three, and he enjoys watching classic Lassie episodes with his grandchildren. Dogs remain central to his life, and he has long supported animal causes, including more than 25 years on the board of Canine Companions for Independence.
Legacy, Awards and Life Today
Provost’s legacy rests on more than ratings, and the honors he collected show how deeply audiences valued his work. He received the Young Artist Foundation’s Former Child Star Lifetime Achievement Award in 1990, and in 1994 he earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7080 Hollywood Boulevard. The checkered shirt and jeans he wore as Timmy now sit in the Smithsonian Institution.
In recent years, he has stayed active at fan events, in animal advocacy, and in occasional acting and voice work, including a 2023 podcast role. He also champions pet wellness and the adoption of older rescue dogs. At 76, Jon Provost stands as a rare success story: a child star who left fame on his own terms, built a second career, and kept both his fortune and his good name intact.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jon Provost Net Worth
What is Jon Provost net worth?
Around $2 million is the most-reported estimate, though some sources range from $500,000 to $5 million.
Who did Jon Provost play on Lassie?
He played Timmy Martin, the farm boy at the heart of the show, from 1957 to 1964 across 251 episodes.
How old is Jon Provost?
He was born on March 12, 1950, in Los Angeles, California, which makes him 76 years old in 2026.
Is Jon Provost still alive?
Yes. He lives in Northern California and stays active at fan conventions and animal charity events.
Who is Jon Provost’s wife?
His wife is author Laurie Jacobson, whom he married in 1999. The two co-authored his memoir, Timmy’s in the Well.
What does Jon Provost do now?
After a long career in real estate and title insurance, he focuses on conventions, animal advocacy, and occasional acting and voice work.
Conclusion
So, how much is Jon Provost really worth? The most-reported answer is around $2 million, with some trackers pushing the figure as high as $5 million. His fortune came from two very different lives: a famous childhood on Lassie and a quiet adult career in real estate.
His story proves that a child star can grow up, step away from fame, and still build lasting wealth. Seven decades after his first role, Timmy Martin remains one of television’s most beloved characters.
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