Julia Roberts’ Net Worth: From Martin Luther King Jr. Paying Her Birth Bill to a $250 Million Fortun—How This Pretty Woman Achieved It
One thing that always pops into my mind when thinking of Julia Roberts is her gorgeous smile and infectious laughter. I’m almost certain many of you could say the same!
That same smile afforded Roberts various excellent roles such as Mona Lisa Smile, Pretty Woman, and Erin Brockovich—her talent did some of the heavy lifting, too!
With an estimate of over $250 million, Robert’s journey from a small-town girl to one of the highest-paid actresses in the world is nothing short of remarkable. But how did she get here? What were her biggest paydays? And how is she doing now?
Well, let’s take a closer look at Julia Robert’s beginnings!
Early Life
The transition from a small-town girl on her way to being a veterinarian to a blockbuster actress isn’t as far-fetched when you look at Julia’s past.
To start, her full name is Julia Fiona Roberts, and she was born in 1967 in Smyrna, deep in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia.
The U.S. military theatrical circuit sparked the romance between Roberts’ mother and father. Together, they founded the Atlanta Actors and Writers Workshop.
They also ran a children’s acting school, which was among the first, if not the only in the city, to be racially integrated.
Consequently, the children of Martin Luther King Jr and Coretta attended the school. Roberts’ father was their daughter, Yolanda, acting coach!
Though her parents divorced, it seems they instilled a love for the cinema and entertainment in her as a kid—her brother, too!
Julia continued her education at university, and once she was done, she moved to New York City to start her acting career.
Exploding Career
Roberts didn’t start acting immediately. She began her entertainment career in modeling when she signed with Click Modeling Agency.
While working as a model, Roberts also signed up for acting classes to increase her chances of getting an acting job.
Soon after, Julia Roberts got an acting gig in a movie titled Firehouse. Roberts’ role was uncredited, but it was still her debut!
Other roles soon followed, but her actual breakout role came with the movie Pretty Woman in 1990.
Her cheeky smile and witty character earned Roberts her second Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe award for Motion Picture Best Actress (Musical or Comedy).
While Roberts only received around $300,000 for the film, it grossed $463.4 million worldwide!
After that, the roles kept pouring in, and she played other unique characters, such as Erin Brockovich in 2000, which earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress.
Compared to the $300,000 Julia received for Pretty Women, the $20 million she got for Erin Brockovich showed how far her star power had risen.
And just three years later, Julia Roberts earned around $25 million for the film Mona Lisa Smile—a favorite of mine—an astounding number back then.
Roberts continues to act to this day, though it seems she’s become more selective with her roles.
What Is Julia Roberts’ Net Worth?
Regarding Julia Roberts’ net worth, It’s impressive considering she became famous in the late 80s.
As of July 2024, Julia’s fortune is estimated at around $250 million! For movies like Mystic Pizza and Steel Magnolia, her paycheck didn’t exceed the $100,00 mark.
However, she did get an Acadamy Award nomination for best supporting actress in Steel Magnolia, which pumped her next paycheck, for Pretty Woman, to $300,000.
Two movies later, Roberts was making at least $1 million per role, and by the start of 2000, she hit the $20 million mark!
Also, if you think she made her fortune just from movies, you thought wrong! Julia worked with the clothing brand Gianfranco Ferre, which earned her about $6 million.
She also became the global ambassador for the brand Lancome Paris. This Lancome contract was worth about $50 million in 2010 and lasted five years.
Roberts also owns two houses in Malibu, a Los Angeles mansion, a NYC co-op, and a New Mexico ranch.
Who is Julia Roberts’ Husband?
Julia Roberts is currently married to cinematographer Daniel Moder. Before this, she was married to country singer Lyle Lovett. They tied the knot on June 25, 1993, but separated in March 1995 and later divorced.
Roberts met her husband, Daniel Moder, in 2001 while filming The Mexican. At the time, she was dating actor Benjamin Bratt, and Moder was still married to Vera Steimberg.
After Moder’s divorce from Steimberg was finalized, he and Roberts wed on July 4, 2002, in Taos, New Mexico. Together, they have three children.
Quick Recap
So, are you ready yet for a Pretty Woman rewatch? It’s certainly worth it! Julia Robert’s net worth history is impressive.
She started with minor roles and a tiny paycheck, considering her estimated pay now. However, within two years, she had left her mark on the screen!
Her net worth is around $250 million as of 2024 and is steadily growing.
