Legendary actress of Hollywood, Elizabeth Taylor, died on Wednesday morning (March 23rd, 2011), surrounded by her four children, at the age of 79 from congestive heart failure.
Taylor starred in a string of hit movies in the 1950s and 60s, including "Giant," "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and "Cleopatra," while becoming an international sex symbol and object of tabloid fascination for her string of love affairs with leading men.
In addition to being a fashion icon, perfume mogul and movie legend, later in life Taylor also became one of the leading advocates for victims of AIDS, raising millions for research and treatment of the disease after the death of her good friend, actor Rock Hudson, who died from the same.
She married eight times in total and became a confidante of late singer Michael Jackson, supporting him during his child molestation cases.
The Hollywood icon has left behind a fortune worthy of a legend, a whopping USD 1 billion.
Her fortune makes her one of just 14 women in the world to have become self-made billionaires.
Taylor became famous for the massive jewels she wore, valued at worth USD 270 million as far back as 2002 and was the first actress to ever get a 1 million pay cheque in Hollywood.
Her famed jewel collection includes a ruby and diamond Cartier necklace from husband Mike Todd and the 33.19-carat Krupp diamond from her fifth husband, Richard Burton, as well as the famous 69.42-carat pear-shaped Burton-Taylor diamond which cost over USD 1 million in 1969.
She was paid USD 4 million, the equivalent of USD 47 million today, to star with her fifth husband Richard Burton in 'Cleopatra' and has the best-selling celebrity perfume to her credit.
Her joint fragrance venture with cosmetics firm Elizabeth Arden launched in 1991, including the famous scent 'White Diamonds', has since amassed USD 1 billion.
The violet-eyed beauty had a portfolio of real estate valued in excess of USD 150 million, including her ranch-style home in Los Angeles.
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