Brendan Fraser Net Worth

What is Brendan Fraser's Net Worth and Salary?

Brendan Fraser is an American-Canadian actor and producer who has a net worth of $20 million.

According to a 2009 financial affidavit submitted as part of a divorce/alimony case with ex-wife Afton Smith, Brendan Fraser's net worth was $17,814,549.50 at that time. According to a different filing in the same case, Brendan paid his ex-wife a settlement of $8,689,132. In 2013, he submitted an updated financial affidavit, which revealed that Brendan owned $26,966,959.34 worth of assets with $2,230,224.92 worth of liabilities for a net worth of $24,736,000. Much, much more about Brendan Fraser's alimony situation with Afton Smith in the next section below.

At his career peak in the 1990s, Brendan Fraser was one of the highest-paid actors in the world, commanding $10 – 15 million per film role. With his combination of comedic timing, physicality, and earnest charm, Fraser became a leading man in both big-budget adventure films and broad comedies. He rose to prominence with early roles in films like "Encino Man" and quickly became a household name with hits such as "George of the Jungle," where his athletic performance and self-aware humor made the film a major box office success.

Fraser's biggest commercial triumph came with the action-adventure blockbuster "The Mummy" and its sequels, in which he starred as the swashbuckling adventurer Rick O'Connell. The franchise became a global phenomenon and firmly established him as a leading action star. Throughout this period, Fraser balanced blockbuster roles with more dramatic performances, appearing in acclaimed films such as "The Quiet American" and the Academy Award–winning ensemble drama "Crash."

After stepping away from the spotlight for several years due to personal and health challenges, Fraser experienced a remarkable career resurgence in the early 2020s. His performance in Darren Aronofsky's drama "The Whale" earned widespread critical acclaim and reintroduced him to a new generation of audiences. The role culminated in a major career milestone when Fraser won the Academy Award for Best Actor in March 2023, completing one of the most celebrated comeback stories in recent Hollywood history.

Alimony Saga & Financial Details

Brendan was married to Afton Smith from 1998 to 2003. Unfortunately for Brendan, their divorce occurred at what proved to be the absolute zenith of his movie income heyday. The very same year of their divorce, Brendan earned his highest single-film acting payday, $14 million, from the second "Mummy" installment. He went on to earn $10 million from the film "Furry Vengeance" a year after the divorce was finalized. Brendan's Furry Vengeance salary actually became part of a later alimony battle with Afton, as she claimed he was initially offered $7.5 million for the role while they were in the midst of divorce settlement talk and that he received the money in August 2009.

According to the terms of their divorce, Brendan agreed to pay Afton a little under $8.7 million as a settlement, which was almost exactly half his net worth at the time of the divorce. He further agreed to pay Afton $75,000 per month directly, broken out as $50,000 for alimony and $25,000 for child support. These two expenses alone came to $900,000 per year and essentially required Brendan to earn around $2 million per year pre-tax. The alimony would last for ten years, through 2019 (or until Afton remarried – which she did not). The child support would last until each child turned 18 (pro-rated). Brendan and Afton have three sons. Their son Griffin turned 18 in 2020. Their son Holden turned 18 in 2022. Their son Leland turned 18 in 2024. So the $25,000 child support lasted 15 years.

As we mentioned, 2008 was Brendan's earnings peak. His career cooled considerably over the ensuing years, and in March 2013, Fraser petitioned a court to have his alimony payments reduced.

According to his filings in 2013, because he was no longer earning the mega-million-dollar paychecks he enjoyed several years earlier when the arrangement was made, by this point, Brendan was actually losing $87,000 every month through alimony, mortgages, and various other expenses. Furthermore, the terms of the divorce allowed Brendan to reduce his alimony only if his annual earnings dipped below $3 million, which he claimed had happened. In the filing, Brendan's business manager listed the following amounts as Brendan's total annual gross earnings and income:

• 2010: $2,042,778 gross income, $1,805,935 net income
• 2011: $1,090,370 gross income, $964,485 net income
• 2012: $1,114,829 gross income (his final net income had not been computed yet)

In the filing, Brendan reported having $25 million worth of assets and an average monthly income of $205,704. He also said that he earned around $26,000 per month from investment income and had to pay $113,000 in "professional expenses" (lawyers, managers, agents). These costs left Brendan with roughly $118,000 in monthly income before expenses. Fraser's monthly expenses included:

• $50,000 in alimony
• $34,000 in income taxes
• $25,000 in child support
• $25,000 in other expenses (mortgages, property taxes, etc.)

When everything was added up, Brendan claimed his monthly expenses exceeded his monthly income by $87,000.

It's not clear if an alimony modification was subsequently granted. Afton's lawyers pushed back on Brendan's claims by pointing out that he earned $10 million in 2009 for "Furry Vengeance" and was still able to work and earn large paychecks. He was also still able to pay a little over $4 million to acquire and furnish a new home for himself during this same period. Either way, the alimony payments ended in 2019 and the child support ended in 2024. If the payments were not reduced, he paid a total of $500,000 in alimony and $3.75 million in child support.

VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images

Early Life

Brendan James Fraser was born on December 3, 1968, in Indianapolis, Indiana. His parents were Canadian, and he grew up with three older brothers, Kevin, Regan, and Sean. His mother, Carol, worked as a sales counselor, while his father, Peter, was a Canadian foreign service officer and tourism executive.

Because of his father's career, the family moved frequently. Fraser spent portions of his childhood in Washington, California, Ontario, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. During a visit to London, he attended his first professional theatrical production in the West End, an experience that helped spark his interest in acting.

Fraser attended Upper Canada College, a private boarding school in Toronto, before enrolling at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. He graduated in 1990 with a degree in acting. He initially planned to continue his education at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, but while traveling through Los Angeles, he began auditioning and decided to remain in Hollywood.

His first credited television appearance came in a 1988 episode of "America's Most Wanted," in which he played the friend of a murder victim in a reenactment. One of his earliest film roles was a brief appearance as a sailor in the 1991 drama "Dogfight."

"Encino Man" and Early Success

Fraser landed his first major leading role in the 1992 comedy "Encino Man," playing a prehistoric man who is discovered frozen in a block of ice and revived in modern-day California. The movie also starred Pauly Shore and Sean Astin. Although reviews were mixed, the film became a cult favorite and established Fraser as a physically gifted comic actor.

Later that year, he demonstrated his dramatic range in "School Ties," playing a Jewish student who faces antisemitism after receiving a football scholarship to an elite preparatory school. The cast included Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Chris O'Donnell, and Cole Hauser.

Fraser remained busy throughout the 1990s. In 1994, he appeared in "With Honors," "The Scout," "Airheads," and "In the Army Now." He followed those projects with roles in "The Passion of Darkly Noon," "Mrs. Winterbourne," and "Glory Daze."

(via Getty Images)

"George of the Jungle" and Leading-Man Stardom

Fraser became a major Hollywood leading man with the 1997 comedy "George of the Jungle." His athletic performance, willingness to perform slapstick comedy, and affable screen presence helped the movie earn $174.4 million at the worldwide box office.

He followed that commercial success with a supporting role in the acclaimed 1998 drama "Gods and Monsters," starring Ian McKellen as filmmaker James Whale. Fraser played Clayton Boone, a fictional gardener who develops an unusual friendship with the aging director.

In 1999, Fraser starred opposite Alicia Silverstone in the romantic comedy "Blast from the Past" and played another cartoon-inspired hero in "Dudley Do-Right." Although neither movie matched the success of "George of the Jungle," they reinforced his reputation as a versatile leading man capable of moving between comedy, romance, action, and drama.

"The Mummy" Franchise

Fraser reached the height of his commercial success in 1999 when he starred as adventurer Rick O'Connell in "The Mummy." The action-adventure film combined horror, comedy, romance, and elaborate visual effects, earning $416.4 million worldwide.

"The Mummy" turned Fraser into an international star and launched one of Universal Pictures' most valuable franchises. He returned for 2001's "The Mummy Returns," which earned approximately $435 million worldwide, and 2008's "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," which generated more than $403 million.

Between the first two "Mummy" films, Fraser starred opposite Elizabeth Hurley in the 2000 fantasy comedy "Bedazzled." His other projects during this period included "Monkeybone," "The Quiet American," "Looney Tunes: Back in Action," and the Academy Award-winning ensemble drama "Crash."

In 2008, Fraser starred in "Journey to the Center of the Earth," which earned $244.2 million worldwide and helped revive interest in 3D adventure films. He also appeared in "Inkheart," "Extraordinary Measures," and "Furry Vengeance."

Television Work and Career Resurgence

Although Fraser became best known for his films, he also accumulated a substantial body of television work. He voiced characters on "The Simpsons" and "King of the Hill" and made memorable appearances on "Scrubs" as photographer and leukemia patient Ben Sullivan.

After stepping away from leading film roles for several years, Fraser began rebuilding his career through television. He appeared on "The Affair" from 2016 to 2017 and played James Fletcher Chace on the drama series "Trust."

Fraser voiced Cliff Steele, also known as Robotman, on "Titans" before continuing the role on the spin-off series "Doom Patrol." He also starred in the international action series "Professionals."

His film comeback gathered momentum with Steven Soderbergh's 2021 crime thriller "No Sudden Move." The following year, Fraser starred as Charlie, a reclusive and severely obese English teacher, in Darren Aronofsky's "The Whale." His performance earned widespread acclaim and the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Fraser subsequently appeared in Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon," playing attorney W. S. Hamilton. His return to prominence became widely known as the "Brenaissance," reflecting the renewed public appreciation for both his work and his reputation as one of Hollywood's most likable performers.

Stage Work and Producing

Fraser has also worked extensively onstage. In 2001, he earned strong reviews for playing Brick in a London production of Tennessee Williams' "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof."

Behind the camera, Fraser served as an executive producer on several projects, including "The Last Time," "Journey to the Center of the Earth," "Furry Vengeance," and "Stand Off."

Movie Salaries

Brendan earned $1.5 million for the 1994 baseball comedy "The Scout." In 1999, he received $4 million for "The Mummy" and another $4 million for "Dudley Do-Right."

His salary increased to $10 million for "Bedazzled" in 2000. He then earned $12.5 million for "The Mummy Returns" and $14 million for "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor."

Fraser received another $10 million for "Furry Vengeance" in 2010. That same year, he accepted a substantially smaller $1 million salary to star opposite Harrison Ford in "Extraordinary Measures."

• "The Scout" (1994): $1.5 million
• "The Mummy" (1999): $4 million
• "Dudley Do-Right" (1999): $4 million
• "Bedazzled" (2000): $10 million
• "The Mummy Returns" (2001): $12.5 million
• "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" (2008): $14 million
• "Extraordinary Measures" (2010): $1 million
• "Furry Vengeance" (2010): $10 million

These eight disclosed salaries total approximately $57 million before taxes, commissions, management fees, and other expenses.

(Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

Personal Life

Fraser holds dual citizenship in America and Canada, and he is fluent in French. He's on the FilmAid International board of directors and is passionate about photography. The stunts Brendan has performed in his movies have taken a toll on his body, and he has undergone surgery several times; over 7 years, he had a partial knee replacement, vocal cord surgery, and multiple back surgeries. In 2018, Fraser revealed that the president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Philip Berk, had sexually assaulted him in 2003 and said that he believes that speaking out contributed to a decline in his career.

Since September 2022, Fraser has been in a relationship with makeup artist Jeanne Moore.

Afton Smith Marriage

Brendan married actress Afton Smith on September 27, 1998. They met at a BBQ at Winona Ryder's house on the fourth of July in 1993. Brendan and Afton had three sons together: Griffin (born in 2002), Holden (born in 2004), and Leland (born in 2006). While they were together, the family lived in a mansion in Beverly Hills. When they sold that mansion in April 2007 for $3 million, Brendan's publicist confirmed that the couple was separating. Brendan and Afton officially divorced in 2008.

Awards and Honors

In 1997, Fraser won a Golden Space Needle Award at the Seattle International Film Festival for his performance in "Still Breathing." In 2004, he earned an Online Film & Television Association Award for Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for "Scrubs," and he received a ShoWest Award for Distinguished Decade of Achievement in Film in 2008. Brendan also shared several awards with his "Crash" castmates, including a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Broadcast Film Critics Association award, a Hollywood Film Festival Award, and a Gold Derby Award. Fraser received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in 2006. In 2023, Brendan won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in "The Whale," becoming the first Canadian to win the award.

Real Estate

In 1996, Brendan and Afton paid $675,000 for a 3,948-square-foot home in Beverly Hills. They sold it for $3 million in 2007, a few months before announcing their split. Below is a video tour of their former marital home as it looked after being listed for sale in October 2021 for $8.75 million:

After the divorce, Brendan moved to Bedford, New York, where, according to a later alimony case filing, he paid $3,389,779 for a horse property on several acres. He then spent $755,496 furnishing the house.

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