Everyone knows George Clooney. It’s almost impossible to miss his rugged good looks and charming personality. Plus, the television and film star has worked for decades, building a positive reputation as a likable person and accomplished actor. Over the years, he has accumulated a significant amount of wealth, but how much?
It turns out that most of his $500 million net worth doesn’t come from acting jobs. That surprises a lot of people, but the truth is that Clooney used his influence and capital to make smart business decisions. Those investments turned him into a multimillionaire with an estimated net worth of $500 million. Very few actors – even the most successful ones – can say they have nearly as much money.
Clooney grew up in Kentucky and Ohio, where his dad worked as a journalist. How did someone with a modest background become a wealthy celebrity?
Did George Clooney Grow Up Rich?
George Clooney had a fairly typical middle-class upbringing, but he did enjoy some connections to the entertainment industry.
Growing up in Central and Northern Kentucky, his mother was an Ohio beauty queen who met his father during a pageant. Clooney’s father worked as a broadcast journalist in Lexington, KY and later became a game show host.
Perhaps more importantly, George’s aunt is the renowned actor and jazz singer Rosemary Clooney.
While these connections might have helped George Clooney get his start in show business, he didn’t have a significant financial advantage. He has even said that he spent a short time living out of his car when he moved to LA.
How Much Did George Clooney Make From Movies?
George Clooney makes different amounts of money depending on the projects he accepts. Hollywood insiders say he earned $50 million for his role in the Ocean‘s heist trilogy. In 2013, he made $34 million for his work on Gravity with Ed Harris and Sandra Bullock.
Overall, it’s estimated that Clooney has netted $200 million for his acting. That number includes $11 million for his five seasons on the ER medical drama. That amount might seem low compared to his more recent payments, but his appearance as Dr. Doug Ross helped establish Clooney as a popular actor. Without ER, he might not have built such a successful career.
In the mid-1990s, Clooney played Batman in Batman and Robin. He says he only received $1 million to play the title role. Arnold Schwarzenegger. who played the movie’s villain, made $25 million for his part.
How Much Money Does George Clooney Make From Nespresso?
The McCann advertising company reportedly paid George Clooney $40 million to appear in Nespresso TV ads. The commercials also feature Julia Garner and French actor Camille Cottin.
The Nespresso advertisements promote the Vertuo coffeemaker and its signature pods.
What Companies Does George Clooney Own?
Outside of his acting career, George Clooney is best known as a co-founder of Casamigos tequila.
He started the company with two friends and used his celebrity to build the brand. The group eventually sold Casamigos for about $1 billion. Clooney netted more than $230 million from the sale.
How Much Did George Clooney Sell His Tequila Brand For?
George Clooney co-founded the Casamigos tequila brand with Mike Meldman and Rande Gerber in 2013. The friends sold the brand to Diageo for $700 million and a $300 million performance bonus.
Diageo also owns international beverage brands like Guinness and Smirnoff. The company distills 40% of the world’s Scotch whisky.
Casamigos became one of the fastest-growing alcoholic beverage brands, so Clooney reportedly earned the performance bonus. That brings the total sale to $1 billion.
Clooney took about $230 million from the deal. Although he didn’t make the money from acting, Clooney is listed as the highest-paid male actor for 2018. Only Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has earned more in a single year. Johnson made $270 million in 2021.
What Movie Did George Clooney Make the Most Money From?
George Clooney probably made the most money from 2013’s Gravity. The movie also generated more revenue than any of Clooney’s films. It grossed nearly $275 million at the box office.
Gravity received generally favorable reviews, although some scientists pointed out that the movie didn’t represent space travel and physics accurately.
Does George Clooney Have a House?
George Clooney has a real estate portfolio worth over $100 million. Some of his most impressive homes include:
- A $2.2-million mansion in Los Angeles
- A $7-million, 25-room villa on Lake Como, Italy
- A $23-million Royal English mansion that sits on a four-acre island estate
- A $14.7-million apartment in Manhattan
- An $8.3-million wine estate in Brignoles, France
Clooney likes to own homes that put him near his friends. For example, Cindy Crawford owns the unit above his apartment in New York City. He also owned a villa in Mexico close to his Casamigos business partners. It’s rumored that the group sold their Mexican homes after handing Casamigos to Diageo.
How Did George Clooney Make His Money?
George Clooney made his money as an actor and a businessman selling his tequila company for $1 billion.
Early in his career, bit parts turned into recurring roles that eventually led to bigger opportunities. Early in his career, he made appearances on several television shows, including:
- Roseanne
- The Golden Girls
- The Facts of Life
His big break came when NBC offered him a role on ER, a new medical drama that debuted in 1994. He played the role of Dr. Doug Ross until 1999. He returned to make cameo appearances after 1999. By then, though, he had started a promising movie career.
Clooney had developed leading-man potential by 2000. He was recruited to star in several high-profile movies, including O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Ocean’s Eleven. His reputation as a handsome, easy-going person made him appealing to directors, producers, and audiences.
Clooney has made millions from his acting, but his true wealth comes from making smart business decisions. Most importantly, he co-founded the tequila brand Casamigos, which was sold for a total of $1 billion after performance bonuses.
George also maintains a diverse real estate portfolio that includes properties throughout North America and Europe.
Recently, it seems that Clooney has entered a semi-retirement. He still works, but not nearly as much as he did at the height of his acting career. Other than a few commercials and cameo appearances, he has spent most of his time off camera.
That doesn’t mean he has left the entertainment industry, though. For example, his production company has several ongoing projects without firm release dates. He has also been connected to an upcoming Noah Baumbach feature for Netflix, although the company hasn’t revealed a title, release date, or other details.
After decades of working steadily as an actor and investor, it’s safe to say that Clooney is taking some time to enjoy the fruits of his labor.
Who Is the Richest Film Star?
With a $3 billion net worth, Jami Gertz is easily the richest film star. This might sound surprising since she isn’t a household name like most wealthy actors. However, she’s appeared in iconic television shows and movies since starting her career in 1981. You might recognize her from 80’s classics like:
- The Lost Boys
- Sixteen Candles
- Less Than Zero
Clooney and Gertz have something in common other than their entertainment careers. They made most of their money through business ventures.
Gertz and her husband, Tony Ressler, belong to a prosperous investment group that owns multiple professional sports teams, including the Atlanta Hawks.
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