After Hitler invaded Poland, Dalí moved to Arcachon, where he received the visits of Marcel Duchamp and Coco Chanel.

When the Germans invaded France, he went to Spain and visited his father, then he left for the United States, where he remained until 1948. Here, he became financially successful.

In 1942 he wrote his autobiography, The Secret Life of Salvador Dali, published by The Dial Press. He also wrote stories, essays and plays. Three years later, he worked with Alfred Hitchcock in the production of a dream sequence for the movie Spellbound, while in 1946 he made several drawings for Walt Disney. Then, he held a lecture campaign about “Nuclear Mysticism”, which involved seven American states. In the 1950s, he started to design extremely stylish jewels which were very well-received by the public.

In 1964 he published Diary of a Genius and was awarded The Grand Cross of Isabella The Catholic. The following year, he focused on tri-dimensional works and created his first big sculpture: the Bust of Dante. He reflected over holograms and laser beams.

After Gala’s death in 1982, Dalí ceased to paint upon completing his last work, The Swallow’s Tail. His public activity also decreased. One month later, he was named Marquis de Pubol; afterwards, he moved to the small town of Pubol and lived in the castle that he had offered to his wife, Gala. His health worsened dramatically. The next year, Dalí established the Gala-Salvador Dalí Foundation, the institution that manages, protects and promotes his artistic and intellectual work.

In 1984, Dalí suffered burns after a fire broke out in his bedroom, in the castle of Pubol. After this incident, the public opinion started to question the care received by the painter from his closest staff. He died in 1989 at Torre Galatea, where he had lived since the Pubol fire. He is buried in the crypt of his Teatro Museo (Dalí Theatre and Museum) in Figueres. In his will, he left all his property and works to the Spanish state.