Winona Ryder Net Worth

What Is Winona Ryder's Net Worth and Salary?

Winona Ryder is an American actress who has a net worth of $18 million. Winona Ryder is an acclaimed American actress whose career has spanned more than three decades, marked by critical success, cult classics, and a celebrated comeback. She first gained attention in the late 1980s with breakout roles in Tim Burton's "Beetlejuice" (1988) and the dark comedy "Heathers" (1989), which established her as a distinctive screen presence with a mix of vulnerability and edge. By the early 1990s, Ryder had become one of Hollywood's most sought-after actresses, earning Academy Award nominations for "The Age of Innocence" (1993) and "Little Women" (1994), while also starring in memorable films such as "Edward Scissorhands," "Reality Bites," and "Bram Stoker's Dracula."

Ryder's career cooled in the 2000s after personal struggles, including a highly publicized 2001 shoplifting arrest, but she continued to work steadily in both film and television. She took on supporting roles in films like "A Scanner Darkly" and "Star Trek" (2009), while also earning praise for performances in smaller independent projects.

Her career resurgence came in 2016 with the Netflix hit series "Stranger Things," where she plays Joyce Byers, a frantic mother searching for her missing son. The show became a global phenomenon, introducing Ryder to a new generation of fans and earning her critical acclaim, including Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations.

Stranger Things Salary

Winona made $100,000 per episode for the first two seasons of "Stranger Things." There were 17 episodes during this period, which works out to around $1.7 million for the two seasons. Starting ahead of the third season, Winona received a raise to $350,000 per episode. That worked out to right around $3 million for the third season. For the upcoming season five, Ryder received a big pay bump to a reported $9.5 million for the eight episodes, which works out to just under $1.2 million per episode.

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Early Life

Winona Ryder was born Winona Laura Horowitz on October 29, 1971, in Winona, Minnesota. She was given her middle name because of her parents' close friendship with writer Aldous Huxley's wife, Laura. She derived her stage name from Mitch Ryder, a soul and rock singer. When she was cast in her first film, the director asked her how she wanted her name to appear. A Mitch Ryder album was playing in the background, her dad being a huge fan, so she quickly came up with the pseudonym Ryder.

When Ryder was seven years old, the family moved to Rainbow, a commune near Elk, California. They lived with seven other families on a remote property that had no electricity. Ryder, at the encouragement of her parents, who were both writers and editors with a roster of famous author friends, began to read fervently, devouring books like J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye." After three years, the family moved to Petaluma, California. Winona was bullied extensively throughout junior high and high school. She began taking acting classes at the American Conservatory Theater in nearby San Francisco. When she was 12, she had an accident and nearly drowned, which caused her to develop severe aquaphobia (which would haunt her later in life when she starred in "Alien Resurrection" and had to do scenes in the water).

Career Beginnings

Winona Ryder made her acting debut in the 1986 comedy "Lucas," in which she starred opposite Corey Haim and Charlie Sheen. Her next film was 1987's "Square Dance," and she was praised for her role by the "Los Angeles Times," among other critics. However, it was her role as goth teenager Lydia Deetz in Tim Burton's "Beetlejuice" that earned her both critical and commercial recognition. "Beetlejuice" was a box office success, and the film received positive reviews. Winona was still in high school at the time, and this only perpetuated the bullying she experienced, with kids teasing her for being a "witch." Next up, Ryder landed a leading role in 1988's "Heathers." The film flopped at the box office but was loved by fans, and the film went on to reach cult classic status.

The '90s

Winona once again worked with Tim Burton when she played the leading role opposite Johnny Depp in the 1990 fantasy film "Edward Scissorhands." This film was her biggest box office success yet, grossing $86 million and earning critical praise. Later that year, Ryder snagged her ninth role in the comedy-drama "Mermaids," co-starring Cher. The next year, Winona starred alongside Daniel Day-Lewis in "The Age of Innocence," helmed by director Martin Scorsese. She picked up a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress and an Oscar nomination in the same category for her performance. Ryder was slated to star in "Broken Dreams" with actor River Phoenix, but the film was shelved due to his sudden death.

Winona had a huge year in 1994, starting with the release of Ben Stiller's Generation X drama "Reality Bites." She received much critical acclaim for her starring role, but the film did not gross a substantial amount of money. Later in 1994, Ryder gained more exposure when she played the lead role of Josephine March in "Little Women." She received a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her performance. Her next starring role was in 1995's "How to Make an American Quilt."

In 1997, Ryder appeared in "Alien Resurrection" alongside Sigourney Weaver. The film was largely considered the least successful of the "Alien" series, but it still grossed $161 million worldwide and drew positive reviews. In 1999, Winona starred in and served as the executive producer for "Girl, Interrupted," alongside Angelia Jolie and Whoopi Goldberg.

(Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty)

The 2000s and Beyond

Ryder took a five-year acting hiatus beginning in 2001 following a highly publicized shoplifting incident. Before her hiatus, she had filmed two movies: "Mr. Deeds," starring Adam Sandler, and the science fiction drama "Simone." After her hiatus, she appeared in 2006's Richard Linklater film "A Scanner Darkly," 2007's "Sex and Death 101" and "The Ten," and 2008's "The Last Word." In 2009, she appeared in "The Informers" and "Star Trek." She flew under the radar during this period, appearing in small indie films and not making many public appearances.

In 2016, Ryder made a big comeback when she began starring in Netflix's horror series "Stranger Things," created by the Duffer Brothers. She plays single mother Joyce Byers, whose 12-year-old vanishes mysteriously. In 2020, Winona starred in HBO's limited series "The Plot Against America." Also in 2020, she played Lacey Groin in "Sarah Cooper: Everything's Fine." Her recent films include "Destination Wedding" (2018), "Gone in the Night" (2022), and "Haunted Mansion" (2023). In 2024, Ryder reprised her role as Lydia Deetz in "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice."

Accolades

Playing diverse roles, Winona has won various awards and recognitions, such as a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress and an Academy Award nomination in the same category for her role in Scorsese's "The Age of Innocence" in 1993. She also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her portrayal of tomboyish Jo in 1994's "Little Women." In 2010, Ryder was honored with a star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California. She was nominated for a Golden Globe in 2016 for "Stranger Things." She has also been nominated for seven Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Personal Life

Ryder has had a series of high-profile romances over the years. She was engaged to Johnny Depp from 1990 to 1993. After their breakup, she dated musician Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum. Winona dated Matt Damon for a few years in the late '90s. She has been in a relationship with fashion designer Scott Mackinlay Hahn since 2011.

Shoplifting Incident

One of the most publicized episodes of Winona Ryder's life came in December 2001, when she was arrested at a Saks Fifth Avenue department store in Beverly Hills for shoplifting. Authorities accused her of stealing approximately $5,500 worth of designer clothing and accessories, including items from Gucci and Marc Jacobs. She was subsequently charged with three felonies: grand theft, shoplifting, and vandalism.

Ryder's trial became a media spectacle, dominating tabloid headlines and overshadowing her film work. In 2002, she was convicted and sentenced to three years of probation, 480 hours of community service, and ordered to pay restitution and fines. Two years later, in June 2004, the felony convictions were reduced to misdemeanors.

In later interviews, Ryder described the incident as occurring during a difficult period in her life, when she was struggling with depression and dependence on prescription painkillers after a back injury. She has said that her judgment was clouded by heavy medication use. The physician who prescribed her unusually high doses of painkillers later had his medical license revoked by the Medical Board of California. While the scandal stalled Ryder's career in the early 2000s, she has since been candid about the episode and, over time, successfully rebuilt her reputation in Hollywood.

San Francisco Mansion

In 1995, Ryder purchased a historic home in San Francisco's Cow Hollow neighborhood for $1.3 million. Built in 1902, the three-story residence spans just over 3,140 square feet and blends old-world charm with modern upgrades. The gated property opens to a courtyard entrance and features three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms. Inside, the living room's large fireplace connects to a second sitting area with another fireplace, while the kitchen is outfitted with gray quartz countertops and stainless steel appliances. A dining area with sliding glass doors opens to a deck overlooking the San Francisco Bay, with sweeping views that include Angel Island, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Alcatraz.

Upstairs, two of the bedrooms share a suite-style layout, and another has an en-suite bathroom. The lowest level includes a garage, laundry room, media room, play area, and half bath, with direct access to the landscaped backyard, which features a spacious deck and brick patio.

Ryder first offered the property as a rental in late 2019 for $15,000 per month before officially listing it for sale in November 2020 at $5 million. After holding onto the home, she re-listed it in October 2024 with an asking price of $5.9 million. By December 2024, she made it available once again as a luxury rental, this time at $21,000 per month. Public records indicate she continues to own the property.

Other Real Estate

Beyond San Francisco, Ryder has owned several properties across Los Angeles and New York. In 1998, she purchased a 1936 Spanish-style estate in Los Angeles for $2.6 million. The home, known for its classic architectural details and privacy, remained in her portfolio until February 2011, when she sold it for $3.725 million.

On the East Coast, she sold a New York City apartment in 2008 for $2.2 million. In 2016, Ryder acquired another Los Angeles residence for $2.2 million, which has since served as her primary home. Unlike some of her earlier transactions, she has kept this property largely out of the spotlight, reflecting her preference for privacy in her personal life.

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