Tom Cruise’s Net Worth is $600 Million
Tom Cruise is the boss of Tinseltown. The man enjoys a career that has spanned several decades, he has to his name countless box office smashes, a to-die-for lifestyle full of private planes and swanky cars, and of course, an envy-inducing collection of mansions. It’s no surprise he has a net worth of $600 million. Cruise is an icon, a major player in the film industry but a fan favorite adored by millions when he’s not in front of the camera.
So, how does Tom Cruise’s absurd wealth compare to other A-listers, and just how did you amass such a bankroll? Well, we’re hear to tell you, so strap in as we take a deep dive into Tom Cruise’s finances. We take a look at how he makes money and, just as fun, how he spends money, as well as his personal life and the major events that shaped the man he is.
Name | Thomas Cruise Mapother IV |
Birthplace | Syracuse, New York |
Profession | Actor |
Net Worth | $600 Million |
Birthday | July 3, 1962 (Cancer) |
Nationality | American |
Height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) |
Relationship status | Divorced (previously married to Mimi Rogers, Nicole Kidman, and Katie Holmes) |
From High School Actor to Hollywood Heartthrob: Early Career and Initial Breakthrough
Tom Cruise started out as just a high school kid with big dreams, but managed to kickstart his acting journey when he hit the big screen in 1981 with Endless Love (dreamy title, right?). He then filled supporting roles in Taps (1981) and The Outsiders (1983) before moving over to the limelight to play a high school senior in Risky Business (1983). It was here that people started to take notice.
While movie-goers thought he was cute in that film, he cemented his status as a full-blown heartthrob in Top Gun (1986). In the action flick, Cruise took on the role of a navy jet pilot. Thanks to Cruise’s charm and boyish good looks (not to mention, a killer soundtrack and thrilling jet scenes), Top Gun became the biggest money-maker of the year.
His wasn’t just a pretty face, though. Tom put his acting chops on display and earned his first Academy Award nom for playing a war vet-turned-activist in Born on the Fourth of July (1989).
A Deep Dive Into The Dough: Revenue From Tom Cruise’s Acting Career
Tom Cruise has been acting consistently for over 40 years so, yeah… he has earned a fortune. But how does that fortune break down? Remember his first real starring role in Risky Business (1983)? He earned $75,000 for that gig. Then he scored $500,000 for Legend (1985) and a sweet $2 million for Top Gun (1986). His star was clearly in the ascendency.
The real cash cow, though, is the Mission: Impossible franchise. For the first film in the series, released in 1996, Tom raked in $70 million, and then grabbed $100 million and $75 million for the next two respectively, all thanks to some slick backend deals and producer credits. Proving to be such box office smashes, it’s no surprise there are more “Mission: Impossible” movies coming, with the eighth film set for release in 2024.
Not averse to sequels, Tom reprised his role as Maverick in the aptly titled Top Gun: Maverick. Tom reportedly scored a cool $13 million upfront, with the chance to pocket millions more from backend deals, ticket sales, rentals, and streaming revenue.
Between 1983 and 2019, Tom’s career earnings ascended to a jaw-dropping $745 million. That breaks down, according to some, to $7,091 a word of dialogue. Yeah, you read that right. Those are some expensive lines!
Tom Cruise’s $$$ Game is Strong: Other Revenues
Tom Cruise established himself as an immensely talented actor very early in his career. Perhaps less known is just how business savvy he is. Tom has earned a lot of money from his other projects and assets. For instance, he didn’t limit himself to an acting role on Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018); he actually contributed some of his own money and claimed a producer credit. The move paid off (literally) as the sequel made over $791 million worldwide.
But wait, there’s more! In 1993, Tom teamed up with his former talent agent Paula Wagner to create Cruise/Wagner Productions. They didn’t just produce his own films, they also produced such successes as “The Others” (2001) (released the same year Cruise and star Nicole Kidman got divorced), “Vanilla Sky” (2001), and “Shattered Glass” (2003). So, even when Tom isn’t in front of the camera, he is still working and improving his bottom line.
Besides acting and producing, Tom loves to teach and share his passion for filmmaking. He developed his own flight-training program for “Top Gun: Maverick” — how many producers can boast that kind of commitment to a project?
He also earns money through real estate, having in his stable a bunch of luxury properties worth over $50 million. In fact, he has been dealing in the high-end property market since the ’90s. When he’s not on the move, which he does frequently, it seems, he puts his legs up in one of his many properties, with one in Beverly Hills, California, and a sophisticated penthouse in Clearwater, Florida.
The Luxe Life and Cool Contributions: Tom’s Notable Possessions
While Tom Cruise is committed to earning money, he isn’t afraid to spend a bit of it, too. He has spent an exorbitant amount of money on some admittedly cool stuff, but he has also spent some of his earnings helping others. Check out a few of his swanky buys and awesome causes:
- Tom has the car collection you would expect from someone who played a driver in Days of Thunder. He’s rollin’ with a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport (valued at $2 million), a classic 1949 Buick Roadmaster, a vintage 1953 Chevrolet Corvette, and a sleek Porsche 911.
- He’s also huge motorcycle fan (which might explain the death-defying motorcycle stunts he pulls off in the Mission: Impossible series). He’s got some incredible bikes, like a Triumph Thruxton, Kawasaki GPZ900R, Ducati Desmosedici RR, BMW S1000 RR, and a Ducati 999R.
- Tom apparently loves transportation because he has his pilot’s license, too. He’s been flying solo since the ’90s and has to his name a vintage P-51 Mustang and a Gulfstream IV G4 jet (that even has a Jacuzzi and movie screening room!), he’s been flying solo since the ’90s!
- And to top it all off, when Tom wants to get away from it all, he chills on the Lady S, a superyacht (complete with outdoor movie theater, helipad, and swimming pool) that sets him back $594,000 a week.
Tom’s not all about living the high life, though. Back in 2007, he gave a cool $2.5 million to the Church of Scientology, which they say helped fund humanitarian programs all over the world.
Eyes Wide Open: A Peek Into Tom Cruise’s Personal Life
Tom’s love life has been a tumultuous one. He has married three times; all three relationships ended in divorce. Tom first married actress Mimi Rogers, whom he later left for Nicole Kidman in 1990 after the pair met on the set of Days of Thunder. Together, they adopted two kids, Isabella and Connor, but they parted ways in 2001.
this picture of nicole kidman & tom cruise at the Interview with a vampire premiere pic.twitter.com/jVffX2hrIt
— deserted scope ⚰️📑 (@DesertedScope) September 27, 2023
His third marriage, to Katie Holmes in 2006, attracted a lot of negative attention on account of the 16-year age difference. Nevertheless, they welcomed an adorable daughter named Suri in 2006, the same year they got married. This relationship, too, didn’t last; they divorced in 2012.
Beyond those women he has married, Tom has dated quite a few Hollywood stunners: Melissa Gilbert, Heather Locklear, Rebecca De Mornay, Cher, and Penélope Cruz (the press loved that the pair shared the same last name, in sound if not in spelling). He also had a thing with fellow Scientologist Nazanin Boniadi.
When he’s not working, Tom dedicates his time to fatherhood. Despite his three divorces and kids from different marriages, he maintains a close and loving relationship with them, often taking them on wild adventures (we expect nothing less).
OMG, You Won’t Believe These Tom Cruise Moments!: Select Major Events
A career as long as Tom’s is going to have its ups and downs. You can only be interviewed so often before you say something that might rub people the wrong way.
Such was the case in 2005 when Tom appeared on “The Today Show”. A tepid interview went off the rails when the star started sounding off on psychiatry and anti-depressants. He even called out Brooke Shields for using meds for her postpartum depression. His outburst caused some serious drama with mental health professionals and the public.
Then in 2008, a video was leaked of him passionately promoting Scientology and, once again, dismissing psychiatry. Unsurprisingly, the clip blew up online. Very quickly, everyone started talking about the secrecy of Scientology and the intensity with which Cruise abides by its tenets.
His religious fervor has led to legal throwdowns with tabloids because of all the stories about his life and connections to Scientology. He sued Bauer Media Group for a whopping $50 million because of stories it published about Cruise and his daughter Suri. The issue was settled, though, with the money awarded going to charity.