It’s a tale as old as time. Multimillion-dollar companies abuse small communities and harm the environment, which are then exposed and brought to justice by the hardworking common folk.
That’s the story of Erin Brockovich, inspiring director Steven Soderbergh, and writer Susannah Grant, to bring the events to life on the big screen.
If you’ve recently watched the Oscar-winning film, Erin Brockovich (2000) starring Julia Roberts, you may wonder what happened to the courageous whistleblower behind the camera.
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How far has the heroic paralegal come in her journey today after one of the biggest direct-action lawsuits in U.S. history? Here’s a quick Erin Brockovich net worth and life updates you should know about.
How Rich Is Erin Brockovich?
While certainly not as filthy rich as the antagonists of her story, Erin Brockovich’s net worth is estimated at a comfortable $10 million as of 2025.
After the $333 million case against the Pacific Gas & Electric Company in Hinkley, California, from which she received $2.5 million, the now-64-year-old Brockovich continues the crusade as a consumer advocate and environmental activist.
Of course, the award-winning film’s massive success only made Brockovich more famous—and her voice louder. And she used the attention to reach as many people as she could.
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In 2001, Brockovich wrote a book, Take It from Me: Life’s a Struggle But You Can Win. The book has since become a New York Times bestseller, selling tens of thousands of copies in the USA.
Following the film’s release, she was cast to host shows on Lifetime, Final Justice with Erin Brockovich, and ABC, Challenge America with Erin Brockovich.
Brockovich’s first-hand experience fighting corporate America also made her an in-demand speaker for local and international lectures tackling environmental issues.
In 2005, she founded a research and consulting firm to help other local communities suffering from similar environmental issues as Hinkley. Brockovich and her company have since been involved in several successful lawsuits against polluting corporations.
“Hinkleys are happening everywhere, all the time,” Brockovich said in an interview. “Will we be the people who can care enough about each of these communities to take action?”
Erin Brockovich Biography
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Born Erin Pattee, Brockovich was born on June 22, 1960. She grew up in Lawrence, Kansas, and is the youngest of four children born to parents, Frank and Betty Pattee.
Early Life
Brockovich’s family was a tight-knit middle class. Her father, Frank, was an industrial engineer, while her mother, Betty, was a journalist.
Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with dyslexia at a young age and experienced difficulties with her schooling. Despite that, Brockovich graduated high school and attended Kansas State University for a while before moving to Wade College.
In 1980, Brockovich graduated with an associate’s degree in applied arts. She then moved to Newport Beach, California, and briefly worked as a management staff at a local department store.
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Family and Relationships
Brockovich has been married three times. She met her first husband, Shawn Brown when she was in California. They tied the knot in April 1982 and shared two children, Matthew and Katie, before splitting in 1987.
She met her second husband, Steve Brockovich in Reno, Nevada. They dated and married in 1989. Unfortunately, their relationship turned sour and they decided to divorce, after which Brokovich discovered she was pregnant with her third child, Elizabeth.
Where Is Erin Brockovich Now?
After two failed marriages, Brockovich remarried to the actor Eric L. Ellis and settled in Agoura Hills, California. To this day, she fights the good fight. This house was purchased by her with a $2.5 million bonus obtained after the settlement of the Hinckley Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
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In 2020, Brockovich and her firm successfully sued the state of Michigan for $600 million to compensate victims of the Flint water crisis.
Final Thoughts
Erin Brokovich certainly came a long way from being a paralegal single mother to an environmental hero with over $10 million in the bank.
Still, rich or not, we’re rooting for you, Erin!
Featured image source: Brockovich
