Jodi Benson Net Worth

What is Jodi Benson's Net Worth?

Jodi Benson is an American actress and singer who has a net worth of $4 million. Jodi Benson is best known for voicing Ariel in Disney's "The Little Mermaid" franchise and for voicing Barbie in the "Toy Story" franchise. Among her many other credits are voice roles in the animated films "Thumbelina," "Flubber," and "Balto II: Wolf Quest" and live-action roles in the Broadway musicals "Smile" and "Crazy for You," the film "Enchanted," and the television series "Sweet Magnolias."

Early Life and Education

Jodi Benson was born Jodi Marzorati on October 10, 1961, in Rockford, Illinois, into a Catholic family. She attended Boylan Central Catholic High School before going to Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois.

Career Beginnings in Theater

Benson began her acting career on stage. In 1983, she made her Broadway debut in the musical "Marilyn: An American Fable." After appearing in the musical revue "Sophisticated Ladies" in 1984, Benson starred in the 1986 musical "Smile," which was written by Howard Ashman. She next appeared in the short-lived 1989 musical "Welcome to the Club" alongside her "Little Mermaid" castmate Samuel E. Wright.

The Little Mermaid

After working with lyricist Howard Ashman on the Broadway musical "Smile," Benson was suggested by Ashman to voice Ariel, the protagonist in the upcoming Disney animated musical film "The Little Mermaid." Benson got the part, and "The Little Mermaid" was released in 1989 to enormous success. Ever since, Benson has voiced Ariel in numerous Disney films, television programs, and video games, including the direct-to-video sequel films "The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea" and "The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning"; the television shows "The Little Mermaid," "Sofia the First," and "Lego Disney Princess: The Castle Quest"; and the video games "Kingdom Hearts," "Disney Princess: My Fairytale Adventure," and "Disney Dreamlight Valley."

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Other Voice Roles

Beyond Ariel, Benson is known for voicing Barbie in Disney's "Toy Story," "Toy Story 2," and "Toy Story 3" and in the short film "Toy Story Toons: Hawaiian Vacation." Among her other major voice roles in film, she voiced the titular character in the 1994 animated musical "Thumbelina," Weebo in the 1997 science-fiction comedy "Flubber," Jenna in the 2002 animated adventure film "Balto II: Wolf Quest," and Anita Radcliffe in 2003's "101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure." On television, Benson voiced characters in such animated series as "The Pirates of Dark Water," "Hercules," "Camp Lazlo," and "The Wingfeather Saga." Her most notable video game voice role is EVA in the "Metal Gear" franchise, in which she's credited under the pseudonym Suzetta Miñet.

Live-action Roles

Benson's most prominent live-action roles include Sam in the 2007 Disney musical fantasy film "Enchanted" and Iris Maddox in the Netflix romantic drama series "Sweet Magnolias," based on the novel series of the same name by Sherryl Woods. On stage, she starred in the original 1992 Broadway production of the musical "Crazy for You," for which she earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical. Following a long break from theater, Benson returned in 2025 to star as Mama Rose in a production of "Gypsy" in Rochester, New York. She appeared in the musical alongside her daughter Delany.

Concert Performances

Benson has performed as a concert soloist with symphonies around the world. She has appeared with the Boston Pops, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the National Symphony, and the Chicago, San Francisco, and Tokyo Symphonies, among several others. In 2016, she reprised her role as Ariel in the Hollywood Bowl's concert production of "The Little Mermaid," and in 2023 she starred alongside her daughter in a concert production of "Gypsy" in Fort Myers, Florida. Benson also starred in a 2024 concert production of "Hello, Dolly!" in Orlando.

Personal Life & Real Estate

In 1984, Benson married actor Ray Benson. They have a son and a daughter and live in the Lake Lanier region of Georgia. Their daughter, Delany, is also an actress and singer.

In 2005, Jodi and Ray paid $765,000 for their home in Georgia. Today, this home is worth around $1.5 million.

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