Catherine Zeta-Jones Net Worth

What Is Catherine Zeta-Jones' Net Worth and Salary?

Catherine Zeta-Jones is a Welsh actress who has a net worth of $150 million. It should be noted that at least half of her net worth is attributable to her combined assets with Michael Douglas. Their combined net worth is $350 million.

After breaking through in London's theatre world, Catherine Zeta-Jones successfully transitioned to film acting and quickly became one of Britain's most sought-after actresses. She then relocated to the United States and began to make a name for herself in Hollywood. Her undeniable beauty and flirtatious acting style made her a fixture in some of the biggest films of the '90s. That being said, Zeta-Jones has proven that she isn't just a pretty face, with a number of excellent acting performances during her career.

Catherine has won considerable praise from critics, and she has been honored with an Academy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Tony Award, along with many other nominations. Outside of her acting work, Zeta-Jones is a vocal supporter of various charities, and she has spoken out about her struggle with depression and bipolar disorder.

Like most actors from the British Isles, Catherine Zeta-Jones began her professional career onstage, appearing in musicals while still a child.  From there, she branched out into television roles and eventually to film work.  Though she was relatively well known in the UK, it was not until 1998's "The Mask of Zorro" that the rest of the world took notice.  From there, she went on to appear in a string of successful film projects, including "Entrapment," "Traffic," "Chicago," and "Ocean's Twelve."  Her performance in "Chicago" earned her an Oscar, a BAFTA, and a SAG Award.  She won a Tony for her work in the revival of "A Little Night Music" on Broadway.

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Early Life

Catherine Zeta-Jones was born on September 25, 1969, in Swansea, Wales. Catherine was raised in the suburbs of Mumbles alongside two brothers. Although her father owned a sweet factory, the family had relatively limited income until they won a 100,000-pound prize at a bingo competition. With these additional resources, Catherine's family sent her to a private school and paid for her dance and ballet lessons.

Zeta-Jones began her acting journey at school, performing in stage shows and singing at talent shows. She also became a proficient dancer, and she joined a troupe that often traveled to London. It was here that she began auditioning for theatre roles, and she eventually booked a role as an orphan girl in a West End production of "Annie." During this period, Catherine also became a national tap dancing champion.

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Career

By the time Zeta-Jones was 15 years old, she had dropped out of school to pursue an acting career in London. She studied musical theatre at an independent arts school and quickly found work in the West End. At just 17, she became an understudy in the production of "42nd Street." When both lead actresses were unable to perform, she stepped in and carried the role for the next two years, gaining valuable stage experience. Additional theatre work followed before she transitioned into film, making her debut in 1990 with "1001 Nights." While the movie drew some attention for its risqué content, it was not a commercial success.

Her career took a more promising turn with the ITV series "The Darling Buds of May" (1991–1993). The show was a massive hit in the United Kingdom and made Zeta-Jones a household name, celebrated for her beauty and on-screen presence. Still, many of her early roles that followed—such as "Christopher Columbus: The Discovery" (1992) and guest appearances in "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles"—left her typecast as little more than the glamorous "pretty girl." Frustrated with the lack of substantial roles and relentless tabloid scrutiny over her personal life, she relocated to Los Angeles in the mid-1990s in search of better opportunities.

Her first Hollywood credits included the superhero film "The Phantom" (1996) and the television miniseries "Titanic" (1996), where her performance began to attract industry attention. It was Steven Spielberg who spotted her talent and recommended her to director Martin Campbell for "The Mask of Zorro" (1998). Cast opposite Antonio Banderas, Zeta-Jones delivered a breakout performance that established her as an international star. The film was a commercial and critical hit, launching her into a string of high-profile projects.

In 2000, she appeared in "High Fidelity," followed by Steven Soderbergh's acclaimed ensemble drama "Traffic," in which she played the wife of a drug lord. Her performance earned widespread praise and contributed to the film's Academy Award success. Two years later, she starred as Velma Kelly in the musical "Chicago" (2002), a role that showcased her singing and dancing background. Her dazzling performance earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, solidifying her reputation as one of Hollywood's top talents.

Throughout the mid-2000s, Zeta-Jones starred in major films such as "Ocean's Twelve" (2004), "The Terminal" (2004) opposite Tom Hanks, and the sequel "The Legend of Zorro" (2005). She also took roles in romantic comedies like "No Reservations" (2007) and crime thrillers including "The Rebound" (2009). While she occasionally stepped back from Hollywood to focus on family life, she continued to work steadily, appearing in "Rock of Ages" (2012), the action comedy "Red 2" (2013), and the biographical drama "Dad's Army" (2016).

In recent years, Zeta-Jones has successfully transitioned to television and streaming projects. She portrayed Olivia de Havilland in the FX anthology series "Feud: Bette and Joan" (2017), took on the role of Morticia Addams in Netflix's hit series "Wednesday" (2022), and appeared in the Disney+ adventure series "National Treasure: Edge of History" (2022–2023). These roles have introduced her to a new generation of audiences, proving her adaptability and range across genres and mediums.

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Relationships

Over the course of her career, Catherine's personal life has been eagerly surveyed and tracked by various media publications. During the early '90s, she was in relationships with celebrities such as John Leslie, David Essex, and Mick Hucknall. Things became more serious in the mid-1990s when she was engaged to actor Angus Macfayden, although they eventually broke up.

By far, Zeta-Jones' most noteworthy relationship has been with Michael Douglas. The pair first met in 1998 when they were introduced by Danny DeVito at the Deauville Film Festival in France. After becoming engaged one year later, the pair married in 2000 – just after Michael Douglas had finalized a divorce. Their wedding allegedly cost 1.5 million pounds, and it was the subject of a media frenzy across the UK. When "Hello!" magazine took pictures of the event without permission, Douglas and Zeta-Jones sued them for invasion of privacy.

Over the years, Michael and Catherine have had two children. The family has spent time in Bermuda and New York. Starting in 2010, Zeta-Jones was faced with a number of health concerns, which put a strain on her marriage. After being diagnosed with tongue cancer and bipolar II depression, Catherine chose to live separately from Michael in 2013. However, in 2014, it was announced that she and Michael had reunited.

Brand Endorsements

A significant portion of Catherine Zeta-Jones' net worth comes from her various brand endorsements over the years. In 2002, she became a global ambassador for Elizabeth Arden, a cosmetics company. Later that year, she signed a contract with T-Mobile that paid a reported $10 million per year. This was one of the biggest endorsement deals at the time for any celebrity. In 2017, Zeta-Jones launched her own line of home decor items.

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250 Acre Spanish Estate: "S'Estaca"

Zeta-Jones and Douglas own a valuable real estate portfolio with assets around the globe.

One of the most impressive properties in their portfolio is a 250-acre estate on the coast of Spain called S'Estaca. Michael bought S'Estaca in 1990 for $3.5 million (the same as around $6 million today). It is still legally co-owned by Michael's ex-wife, Diandra. In 2014, they listed the property for sale for $60 million but did not find a buyer. In June 2019, they re-listed it for $32 million.  Here is a video tour:

Other Real Estate

Michael and Catherine previously owned a 13-acre property in NY's Westchester County. They bought the property in 2015 for $11.3 million and sold it in 2019 for $20.5 million. Around the time of the sale, they paid $4.5 million for an 11,000-square-foot home on 12 acres in Irvington, New York. He and Catherine listed the Irvington estate for sale in June 2024 for $12 million. Here is a video tour of the estate from when the property was listed back in 2017:

They also own a large large apartment in New York City with impressive views of Central Park.

In June 2019, Michael listed a longtime home in Bermuda for $10.6 million, ultimately taking it off the market. Michael's history with Bermuda dates back to his childhood, thanks to his mother, Diana Dill. Diana's family has owned homes and hotels in Bermuda for generations.

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