What Is Julia Roberts' Net Worth and Salary?
Julia Roberts is a highly acclaimed American actress who has a net worth of $250 million. Julia Roberts' warmth, charisma, and radiant smile made her one of the most beloved and bankable stars in Hollywood history. After gaining attention in the late 1980s with roles in "Mystic Pizza" and "Steel Magnolias"—the latter earning her an Academy Award nomination—Roberts became a global sensation with her breakthrough performance in "Pretty Woman" (1990). Playing Vivian Ward, a spirited escort who falls for a wealthy businessman (Richard Gere), Roberts brought humor, vulnerability, and heart to the role, earning her first Golden Globe and cementing her status as America's sweetheart.
Throughout the 1990s, Roberts dominated the box office with a string of hits that combined her magnetic screen presence with sharp comic timing, including "Sleeping with the Enemy," "The Pelican Brief," "My Best Friend's Wedding," "Notting Hill," and "Runaway Bride." She was equally adept at drama, earning acclaim for her performances in "Something to Talk About" and "Michael Collins."
In 2000, Roberts reached a career pinnacle with "Erin Brockovich," playing the real-life single mother who exposed corporate corruption. The role earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress and confirmed her as one of the most accomplished performers of her generation.
She continued to balance prestige projects and commercial hits throughout the 2000s and 2010s, appearing in films such as "Ocean's Eleven," "Closer," "Charlie Wilson's War," "Eat Pray Love," "August: Osage County," and "Wonder." On television, she earned praise for her performances in the limited series "Homecoming" and "Gaslit."
With a career spanning more than three decades and box office grosses exceeding $3 billion, Julia Roberts remains one of the defining actresses of modern cinema—an enduring symbol of charm, intelligence, and authenticity both on and off the screen.

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Film Salaries
Julia Roberts, one of Hollywood's brightest stars, has commanded impressive salaries throughout her illustrious career, reflecting her bankability and star power. Starting with her early roles, Roberts was paid $50,000 for "Mystic Pizza" and saw a significant leap to $300,000 for her iconic role in "Pretty Woman." In "Steel Magnolias," she earned $90,000, and her salary further increased to $500,000 for "Flatliners." Although she took a scale payment of just $4,000 for a "Law & Order" appearance, her film roles in "Sleeping with the Enemy" and "Dying Young" netted her $1 million and $3 million, respectively.
During the 1990s, her earnings skyrocketed, with films like "Hook" ($7 million), "The Pelican Brief" ($8 million), "Mary Reilly" ($8.5 million), "Conspiracy Theory" ($11 million), "My Best Friend's Wedding" ($12 million), "Notting Hill" ($15 million), "Runaway Bride" ($17 million), and "Erin Brockovich" ($20 million).
In "The Mexican," she again earned $20 million, matched by another $20 million for "Closer." Her role in "Ocean's Eleven" brought in $10 million, while its sequel "Ocean's Twelve" netted her $5 million. "America's Sweethearts" and "Duplicity" paid her $15 million each. For "Mona Lisa Smile," she commanded a whopping $25 million. Roberts took home $10 million for "Eat Pray Love" and a unique payment structure for "Valentine's Day," where she got 3% of the gross, amounting to $3 million. Lastly, for "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind," she was paid on scale at $250,000.
For the Garry Marshall-directed 2016 film "Mother's Day," Julia earned $3 million. More impressively, she earned that amount for three days of work. That worked out to $750,000 per day of work. Perhaps even more impressively, when she starred in Garry Marshall's 2010 film "Valentine's Day," she earned $3 million for what turned out to be SIX MINUTES of screen time.
Julia Roberts Film Salaries:
- Mystic Pizza (1988): $50,000
- Steel Magnolias (1989): $90,000
- Pretty Woman (1990): $300,000
- Flatliners (1990): $500,000
- Sleeping with the Enemy (1991): $1 million
- Dying Young (1991): $3 million
- Hook (1991): $7 million
- The Pelican Brief (1993): $8 million
- Mary Reilly (1996): $8.5 million
- Conspiracy Theory (1997): $11 million
- My Best Friend's Wedding (1997): $12 million
- Notting Hill (1999): $15 million
- Runaway Bride (1999): $17 million
- Erin Brockovich (2000): $20 million
- The Mexican (2001): $20 million
- America's Sweethearts (2001): $15 million
- Ocean's Eleven (2001): $10 million
- Mona Lisa Smile (2003): $25 million
- Closer (2004): $20 million
- Ocean's Twelve (2004): $5 million
- Duplicity (2009): $15 million
- Valentine's Day (2010): $3 million for six minutes of screen time
- Eat Pray Love (2010): $10 million
- Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (Unspecified Year): $250,000 on scale
- Mother's Day (2016): $3 million for three days of work
The above films alone add up to $229,690,000 in earnings.
Julia Fiona Roberts was born on October 28, 1967, in Smyrna, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. Her parents, Betty Lou Bredemus and Walter Grady Roberts, were actors and playwrights who met while performing in theater productions for the U.S. Armed Forces. Together, they founded the Atlanta Actors and Writers Workshop and later ran a children's acting school in Decatur, Georgia. Among their students were the children of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King — a connection that led to the Kings paying for Julia's hospital birth expenses as a gesture of gratitude.
After her parents divorced in 1972, Julia was raised primarily by her mother, along with her older brother, actor Eric Roberts, and sister, Lisa Roberts Gillan. She attended Campbell High School in Smyrna, where she was active in the band and student activities. Following graduation, Roberts briefly studied journalism at Georgia State University before deciding to pursue acting full-time.
At age 18, she moved to New York City, where she signed with the Click Modeling Agency and began taking acting classes at the famed Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute. Determined and ambitious, Roberts supported herself with small modeling jobs while auditioning for television and film roles. Her early years in New York were marked by persistence — a quality that would soon pay off with a series of breakout performances that catapulted her to stardom.
Julia comes from a family deeply rooted in the entertainment industry. Her brother Eric Roberts was an established actor long before Julia's rise to fame, and her niece, Emma Roberts, has since become a successful actress in her own right. Although Julia and Eric were estranged for several years, they reconciled in 2004.
Acting Career
Early Roles and Breakthrough
Julia Roberts made her film debut in 1988's "Satisfaction," a teen rock comedy co-starring Justine Bateman and Liam Neeson. That same year, she appeared in the cult favorite "Mystic Pizza," which received strong reviews and introduced her to critics as a rising talent. Roberts followed with a supporting role in the ensemble drama "Steel Magnolias" (1989), in which she played Shelby, a spirited Southern bride battling diabetes. Her emotionally charged performance earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress — her first major recognition in Hollywood.
Breakthrough with "Pretty Woman"
Roberts became a global sensation with the release of "Pretty Woman" (1990), co-starring Richard Gere. Her portrayal of Vivian Ward, a kind-hearted and witty sex worker, won over audiences and critics alike. The film was a massive box-office hit, grossing more than $463 million worldwide and becoming one of the most successful romantic comedies in history. For her work, Roberts earned her second Academy Award nomination and won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. She was paid $300,000 for the film — a fee that would soon skyrocket as she became Hollywood's most in-demand leading lady.
Box Office Queen of the 1990s
Throughout the 1990s, Julia Roberts dominated the big screen with a mix of romantic comedies and thrillers that solidified her as America's sweetheart. She starred in "Flatliners" (1990), "Sleeping with the Enemy" (1991), "The Pelican Brief" (1993), and "Something to Talk About" (1995). Her performances in the romantic comedies "My Best Friend's Wedding" (1997), "Notting Hill" (1999), and "Runaway Bride" (1999) further cemented her as one of Hollywood's most bankable stars, combining humor, charm, and emotional authenticity in every role.
By the end of the decade, Roberts had become the highest-paid actress in the world, commanding $20 million per film — an unprecedented figure for female performers at the time.
Oscar Win and Continued Success
In 2000, Roberts delivered one of her most acclaimed performances in "Erin Brockovich," portraying the real-life legal assistant who uncovered a major environmental scandal. The film was a critical and commercial triumph, grossing more than $256 million worldwide. Roberts won the Academy Award for Best Actress, along with a BAFTA, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award. Her $20 million paycheck made her the first woman in history to earn that amount for a single film, marking a watershed moment for gender parity in Hollywood salaries.
Established Veteran and Producer
In the following years, Roberts diversified her career with ensemble films and dramatic roles. She joined an all-star cast in Steven Soderbergh's "Ocean's Eleven" (2001) and its sequel "Ocean's Twelve" (2004), appeared in Mike Nichols' acclaimed drama "Closer" (2004), and starred in "Charlie Wilson's War" (2007) alongside Tom Hanks.
For the 2003 drama "Mona Lisa Smile," Roberts made headlines for earning a record $25 million — the highest salary ever paid to an actress at that time. She continued her streak of box-office success with films such as "Valentine's Day" (2010), "Eat Pray Love" (2010), and "August: Osage County" (2013), the latter earning her another Academy Award nomination.
Recent Work and Streaming Era
Roberts remained a commanding screen presence into the 2010s and beyond, appearing in "Money Monster" (2016), "Wonder" (2017), and the emotional family drama "Ben Is Back" (2018). She made her first major move into television with the psychological thriller series "Homecoming" (2018), earning widespread acclaim for her performance.
In 2022, she reunited with longtime co-star George Clooney for the romantic comedy "Ticket to Paradise," a box-office success that recalled her classic charm. The following year, she starred in the Netflix psychological thriller "Leave the World Behind," based on Rumaan Alam's novel, earning praise for her nuanced, haunting portrayal. With career box office earnings surpassing $3.9 billion, Roberts remains one of the most commercially successful and critically respected actresses of all time.

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Other Projects and Philanthropy
Beyond acting, Julia Roberts is a producer and activist dedicated to humanitarian and environmental causes. Alongside her sister Lisa Roberts Gillan and producing partner Marisa Yeres Gill, she co-founded Red Om Films, which produced several projects, including the "American Girl" film series, between 2004 and 2008.
Roberts is a longtime supporter of UNICEF, traveling internationally to promote education and healthcare for children. She also served as a spokesperson and advisory board chair for Earth Biofuels, promoting cleaner energy initiatives. A passionate advocate for environmental conservation, she lent her voice to Mother Nature in the 2014 short film for Conservation International, a project raising awareness about climate change.
Additionally, she narrated the 2000 documentary "Silent Angels," which focuses on Rett syndrome, a rare neurological disorder affecting young girls. Roberts continues to use her platform to champion causes related to sustainability, health, and human rights, further cementing her legacy as not just one of Hollywood's most iconic actresses but also one of its most compassionate and socially conscious figures.
Endorsements
Julia Roberts has been one of Hollywood's most enduring and bankable faces for over three decades, a reputation that extends well beyond her film career. Her timeless beauty, intelligence, and authenticity have made her a natural fit for luxury brands seeking a spokesperson who embodies both glamour and substance.
In 2006, Roberts signed an endorsement deal with Italian fashion house Gianfranco Ferré, appearing in a series of sleek and elegant advertising campaigns that captured her understated sophistication. For her work with the brand, she earned a reported $6 million, one of the most lucrative fashion endorsement deals of its time. Her collaboration with Ferré helped further solidify her position as a global style icon, frequently landing her on best-dressed lists and in the pages of high-fashion magazines such as Vogue, Elle, and Harper's Bazaar.
In 2010, Roberts took her place among the elite circle of celebrity ambassadors for Lancôme Paris, the French luxury cosmetics and skincare giant. Her initial five-year, $50 million contract made headlines, positioning her as one of the highest-paid brand ambassadors in the world. As the global face of Lancôme, she appeared in campaigns for products including Lancôme's Miracle perfume, Teint Idole Ultra Wear foundation, and the La Vie Est Belle fragrance—a scent that went on to become one of the best-selling perfumes worldwide.
Lancôme executives praised Roberts for her authenticity and natural elegance, qualities that resonated with their global audience. Her partnership with the brand was renewed several times over the following decade, making her one of Lancôme's longest-running ambassadors. Roberts has often described her collaboration with the company as a genuine creative partnership, emphasizing her belief in promoting confidence and self-acceptance over superficial beauty.
Beyond her work with Ferré and Lancôme, Roberts has also been a sought-after figure in fashion and luxury advertising. She has appeared in editorials and covers for major publications, and her signature smile and effortless grace continue to make her one of the most recognizable and admired figures in global pop culture.
Personal Life
Julia Roberts' personal life has often attracted as much attention as her film career, though she has remained fiercely protective of her family and private affairs. During the early years of her stardom, she was linked romantically to several high-profile actors, including Jason Patric, Liam Neeson, Kiefer Sutherland, Dylan McDermott, and Matthew Perry.
In 1993, Roberts married country singer Lyle Lovett in a spontaneous ceremony in Marion, Indiana. Their unlikely pairing drew significant media attention, but the marriage lasted less than two years before they amicably separated in 1995.
Roberts later met cinematographer Daniel Moder on the set of the 2001 film "The Mexican." At the time, Roberts was in a relationship with actor Benjamin Bratt, and Moder was married to makeup artist Vera Steimberg. Following Moder's divorce, he and Roberts married on July 4, 2002, in an intimate ceremony at her ranch in Taos, New Mexico. The couple has three children: twins Hazel and Phinnaeus, born in 2004, and a son, Henry, born in 2007.
Roberts and Moder have maintained one of Hollywood's most enduring marriages, often choosing to live outside the spotlight. They split their time between California and New Mexico, where Roberts has long valued privacy, nature, and family life over celebrity.
$30 Million Smile Insurance?
For years, one of the most persistent rumors surrounding Julia Roberts has been that she insured her trademark smile for a staggering $30 million. The story circulated widely online and in tabloid media, often repeated as fact — a kind of modern Hollywood myth that seemed plausible given Roberts' iconic grin and status as one of the world's most recognizable stars.
However, the actress herself has since confirmed that the claim is completely false. In a 2022 interview with The New York Times, Roberts laughed off the rumor when asked directly whether her smile was insured. "No," she said. "What am I insuring it against? How would you do that?" She went on to joke, "If my smile was insured, there'd be someone at my house on a nightly basis saying, 'You need to floss longer.'"

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Real Estate
In 2003, Julia paid $6.4 million for a seaside Malibu property. She proceeded to tear down the existing 6,000-square-foot house and built an eco-friendly solar-powered mansion in its place. She owns another estate in Malibu, for which she paid $6.84 million. She also owns a $30 million mansion in nearby Los Angeles.
In 2010, Julia paid $4 million for a co-op in NYC's West Village. She owns a ranch in Taos, New Mexico, which was the location of her wedding to Daniel Moder.
In 2011, Julia paid $13.37 million for a property along Kauai's Hanalei Bay in Hawaii. She listed the home for sale in April 2015 for a little under $30 million. In November 2016, she sold the property for $16.2 million. The buyer was Mike Fleiss, who earned his fortune as the creator of the "The Bachelor/Bachelorette" reality television franchise.
In 2020, Roberts and Moder paid $8.3 million for a Victorian-style home in San Francisco. They sold this property in October 2023 for $11.25 million. Below is a video tour.