Cuba Gooding Jr Net Worth

What is Cuba Gooding, Jr.'s Net Worth and Salary?

Cuba Gooding Jr. is an American actor who has a net worth of $12 million. Cuba Gooding, Jr.'s Oscar acceptance speech at the 1996 Academy Awards is the stuff of legends.  Exuberant, funny, and completely committed, it was typical of the actor's performance style.  After beginning his professional on-camera career in the late 80s with supporting roles in such projects as "Coming to America," "Sing," and "MacGyver," he became a household name with his breakout performance in "Boyz 'n the Hood."  From there, he went back and forth between film and television projects throughout the early '90s, slowly building up a solid resume.

His work during his early years included roles in "Gladiator," "A Few Good Men," "Daybreak," "Outbreak," "Losing Isaiah," and "The Tuskegee Airmen".  Then along came his famous role in "Jerry Maguire," an Oscar win, and instant fame.

For the next few years, he appeared in supporting and co-starring roles in such high-profile films as "As Good As It Gets," "What Dreams May Come," "Men of Honor," and "Pearl Harbor".

Then, his career took a noticeable nose-dive.  Poor reviews, lackluster box office receipts, and a sudden spate of Golden Raspberry nominations began to take their toll. Between 2008 and 2012, he appeared in 13 direct-to-DVD projects. In 2016, he received critical praise for his portrayal of O.J. Simpson in the FX series "American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson." His career hit the skids again after an arrest in January 2019 on charges of sexual abuse and forcible touching. In August 2022, he pleaded guilty under a deal that allowed him to avoid jail time.

Early Life

Cuba Mark Gooding, Jr. was born on January 2nd, 1968, in The Bronx, New York. Both of his parents were singers, and his father was a vocalist in the group The Main Ingredient. After his father had achieved considerable success with the hit single "Everybody Plays the Fool," the family relocated to Los Angeles. After his father left the family, Gooding was raised primarily by his mother. He later became a born-again Christian at age 13. As a teen, Gooding attended four different high schools. Cuba's brother Omar Gooding eventually became a successful actor as well.

Career

Cuba Gooding Jr. began his entertainment career as a professional breakdancer, famously performing at the closing ceremony of the 1984 Summer Olympics. After high school, he trained in martial arts for three years, but by the late 1980s he had shifted his focus to acting. His earliest television appearances included guest spots on "Hill Street Blues," "Amen," and "MacGyver." Around the same time, he generated early buzz with a brief but memorable film appearance in Eddie Murphy's "Coming to America."

Gooding's breakthrough came in 1991 with the landmark drama "Boyz n the Hood." Playing lead character Tre Styles, he delivered a performance that resonated with audiences and critics alike, helping the film achieve both commercial success and enduring cultural significance. The movie became recognized as a defining depiction of African American life in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods, and Gooding's performance was central to its impact.

Throughout the 1990s, Gooding built on this momentum with notable supporting roles in "A Few Good Men," "Lightning Jack," and "Outbreak." In 1996, his career reached new heights with "Jerry Maguire," in which he starred opposite Tom Cruise as brash football player Rod Tidwell. The role earned him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, and his energetic "Show me the money!" catchphrase became a pop culture phenomenon.

He closed out the decade with another strong turn in "As Good As It Gets," a film that won two Oscars and earned critical praise across the board. By the late 1990s, Gooding had achieved what many actors never do—Oscar-winning credibility combined with bankable box office appeal. However, his career began to experience a noticeable decline toward the decade's end.

While he appeared in well-received projects like "Instinct" and "What Dreams May Come," Gooding also starred in a series of critical and commercial disappointments, beginning with the poorly received action comedy "Chill Factor." This pattern continued into the 2000s, with successes such as "Men of Honor" often followed by flops like "Boat Trip."

Notable films from this era included "Pearl Harbor," "Radio," "The Fighting Temptations," and "Rat Race." While these titles often performed well financially, reviews were mixed at best. "Pearl Harbor" in particular was heavily criticized despite its box office returns. This uneven track record meant that even Gooding's most profitable projects came with significant critical caveats.

He also ventured into family and animated fare with films like "Snow Dogs" and "Home on the Range." Intended to showcase a lighter, more family-friendly side, these projects instead drew harsh criticism and failed to elevate his career. The trend continued with "Daddy Day Camp" and "Norbit." While these films made money, the negative reviews reinforced a perception that Gooding's career had lost its prestige.

In an effort to regain critical favor, Gooding began gravitating toward independent films and made-for-TV projects. He appeared in "Shadowboxer" and delivered a well-received performance in the television film "Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story." He also took on supporting roles in high-profile films such as "American Gangster" in 2007, George Lucas's World War II drama "Red Tails" in 2012, and Lee Daniels' "The Butler" in 2013. That same year, he had a small but colorful role in "Machete Kills."

Expanding his range, Gooding made his Broadway debut in "The Trip to Bountiful" before returning to historical drama with a portrayal of attorney Fred Gray in "Selma." He then appeared in the miniseries "The Book of Negroes."

In 2016, Gooding delivered one of his most high-profile performances in years as O.J. Simpson in the critically acclaimed miniseries "American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson." The role brought him renewed media attention and earned him a Primetime Emmy nomination, signaling a career resurgence.

In 2018, Gooding made his directorial debut with the crime thriller "Bayou Caviar," adding another dimension to his career. While the film received modest attention, it demonstrated his continued willingness to explore new creative challenges after more than three decades in the industry.

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Salary Highlights

Cuba earned $600,000 for his Oscar-winning role in "Jerry Maguire." He earned $1.5 million for "What Dreams May Come" and another $1.5 million for "Men of Honor". He earned $2 million for "Instinct."

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Controversy

In 2019, Cuba Gooding Jr. was charged with sexual abuse after an incident in Times Square in New York City. Gooding allegedly groped a woman at a bar. This started a massive chain reaction in which Gooding was booked for multiple sexual abuse charges. Eventually, 22 women came forward to accuse Gooding of inappropriate sexual touching and groping. Three of those accusations resulted in formal charges against him. He initially entered a plea of not guilty to each charge.

In April 2022, Cuba pleaded guilty to one count of forcible touching related to an incident at a NYC nightclub in 2018. Under the terms of a plea deal, Gooding will continue undergoing six months of alcohol and behavior treatment he first entered in 2019. If he does not complete treatment or is arrested during the period, he could be forced to serve a year in jail.

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Personal Life

Cuba Gooding met his ex-wife, Sara Kapfer, in high school, and they were married in 1994. Over the course of their relationship, they had three children together before Kapfer filed for legal separation in 2014. Three years later, their divorce was finalized.

Real Estate

Over the years, Cuba has owned a number of properties in Los Angeles. In 2009, he sold a home in Studio City, CA, for $1.4 million. In 2013, he sold a home in Porter Ranch, CA, for $735,000. Also, in 2013, he listed a large mansion in the Pacific Palisades for $11.995 million. Cuba and Sara bought the home in May 2000 for $3.5 million. A year after being listed, the home was sold for $9.8 million.

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