Elizabeth Hurley Net Worth

What is Elizabeth Hurley's Net Worth and Salary?

Elizabeth Hurley is an English actress, model, and businesswoman who has a net worth of $50 million. Elizabeth Hurley began with small roles in films and TV shows in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Her breakthrough acting role came in 1997's "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery" as Vanessa Kensington. This performance established her as a comedic actress and sex symbol. She went on to appear in films such as "EDtv" (1999), "Bedazzled" (2000) – where she played the Devil opposite Brendan Fraser, and "Serving Sara" (2002).

In the 2010s, Hurley made a successful transition to television, taking on more dramatic roles. Her most notable TV work includes playing Diana Payne in "Gossip Girl" (2011-2012) and starring as Queen Helena in E!'s "The Royals" (2015-2018), which marked her first leading role in a television series.

Beyond acting and modeling, Hurley has shown considerable business acumen. She launched her own beachwear line, Elizabeth Hurley Beach, in 2005, which has become a successful brand. She's also ventured into organic farming and has been involved in various charitable causes, particularly breast cancer awareness, through her work with Estée Lauder.

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Early Life

Elizabeth Jane Hurley was born on June 10, 1965, in Basingstoke, Hampshire, England. Her mother, Angela, worked as a teacher at Kempshott Junior School, while her father, Roy, served as a major in the British Army's Royal Army Educational Corps before passing away in 1996. She grew up with two siblings: an older sister, Kathleen, and a younger brother, Andrews.

As a child, Hurley took ballet lessons, showing early interest in performance and the arts. During her teenage years, she became captivated by punk fashion, experimenting with bold styles that reflected her fearless personality. She attended Harriet Costello School before pursuing her passion for theater and dance at the London Studio Centre, where she studied from 1983 to 1986. That formal training in movement and performance laid the foundation for her confidence on stage, in front of the camera, and later on the catwalk.

Modeling Career

Elizabeth Hurley's entry into modeling came through one of the most memorable red carpet moments of the 1990s. In 1994, she attended the London premiere of "Four Weddings and a Funeral" alongside her then-boyfriend Hugh Grant, wearing a daring black Versace gown held together with oversized gold safety pins. The look became an instant cultural sensation, frequently cited as one of the most iconic dresses in fashion history. Practically overnight, Hurley was thrust into the global spotlight, her name synonymous with red carpet glamour. Here is a photo of Elizabeth from that infamous red carpet night in 1994:

Elizabeth Hurley 1994 (via Getty)

The attention sparked by the Versace dress opened doors in the fashion world, and Hurley soon began to receive offers from major brands. Over the years, she modeled for Jordache jeans, French luxury house Lancel, and Swedish retailer MQ Clothiers, among others. She appeared on the covers of international fashion magazines and was often hailed as one of the most photographed women of her era. Known for her sophistication, charisma, and timeless beauty, Hurley established herself as more than a fleeting celebrity—she became a bona fide fashion icon.

Estée Lauder

In 1995, at the age of 29, Elizabeth Hurley landed her first major modeling contract with Estée Lauder. The signing was unusual for the time, as most fashion models were discovered in their late teens or early twenties. The partnership proved to be one of the most successful brand collaborations of the decade. Hurley became the face of many of Estée Lauder's most important fragrance and cosmetic lines, including "Beautiful," "Pleasures," and "Sensuous." Her image appeared in glossy magazines, on billboards, and in television ads worldwide, helping define the brand's modern identity.

Hurley remained the company's global face until 2001, when she was succeeded by Carolyn Murphy, but her relationship with Estée Lauder never ended. She continued to work with the company as a model and later took on the role of Global Ambassador for the Estée Lauder Breast Cancer Campaign. Through this position, she traveled internationally to promote breast cancer awareness, participated in fundraising campaigns, and became a passionate advocate for women's health. Her decades-long association with Estée Lauder highlighted her longevity in an industry often known for fleeting stardom.

Elizabeth Hurley Beach

In 2005, Elizabeth Hurley expanded her modeling career into entrepreneurship by launching her own swimwear label, Elizabeth Hurley Beach. The brand reflected her personal sense of glamour and sophistication, offering stylish yet wearable beachwear designed to make women feel confident and alluring. Hurley herself often modeled the pieces, bringing authenticity and visibility to the line.

The company quickly gained attention for its chic designs, which blended classic silhouettes with bold prints and luxury fabrics. Hurley explained that the brand was born out of her own frustrations as a woman who wanted swimwear that was both flattering and fashionable. Elizabeth Hurley Beach became a staple at high-end resorts and boutiques, embodying her signature blend of elegance and sex appeal.

In 2008, Hurley collaborated with Spanish retailer MANGO to design a capsule collection of 12 swimsuits, further expanding her reach in the global fashion market. Over the years, Elizabeth Hurley Beach established itself as a successful lifestyle brand, showcasing Hurley's ability to transition from modeling into business while maintaining her position as a style icon.

Acting Career

Hurley made her acting debut in the 1987 anthology film "Aria," and the following year, she appeared in the movie "Rowing with the Wind," guest-starred on "Inspector Morse" and "Rumpole of the Bailey," and played the titular role in the miniseries "Christabel." In the 1990s, Elizabeth appeared in 11 films, including "Dangerous Ground" (1997), "Permanent Midnight" (1998), and "My Favorite Martian" (1999), and she earned a producer credit on the Hugh Grant films "Extreme Measures" (1996) and "Mickey Blue Eyes" (1999). Her most famous role is Vanessa Kensington in "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery," and she briefly reprised her role in the 1999 sequel, "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me." Hurley played the devil in 2000's "Bedazzled," and she served as the star and executive producer of 2004's "Method."

Elizabeth has appeared in several documentary projects, such as "The Human Face" (2001), "Valentino: The Last Emperor" (2008), and "Made in Romania" (2010), and she was a host, judge, and executive producer on the fashion design competition "Project Catwalk" in 2006. Hurley has starred in the television films "The Shamrock Conspiracy" (1995), "Harrison: Cry of the City" (1996), and "Samson and Delilah" (1996), and she played Diana Payne on 14 episodes of The CW series "Gossip Girl" from 2011 to 2012. She starred as Queen Helena on "The Royals," a primetime soap opera about a British royal family, from 2015 to 2018, and she played Marvel villain/sorceress Morgan le Fay on "Runaways" in 2019. In 2020, Elizabeth co-starred with Craig Ferguson and Kathie Lee Gifford in the romantic comedy "Then Came You."

(Photo by Ian Jacobs/Getty Images)

Personal Life

Elizabeth began a relationship with actor Hugh Grant in 1987. They amicably split up in 2000 despite the fact that in 1995, Grant made headlines after he was arrested for "lewd conduct" after being caught with sex worker Divine Brown in West Hollywood.

Hurley gave birth to her son Damian on April 4, 2002. Hugh is one of Damian's seven godparents (Elton John is another). Damian's father is the late American businessman and film producer, Steve Bing. At his peak, Bing was one of the wealthiest people in Los Angeles, with a peak net worth of $600 million. Unfortunately, at the time of his tragic suicide in June 2020, he had reportedly spent all but $300,000 of his fortune. In 2019, Damian successfully sued the estate of his deceased grandfather, Dr. Peter Bing, who attempted to cut him off from receiving an inheritance. The estate, led by Steve's sister, had tried to claim that any of Peter's grandchildren born out of wedlock would not be eligible for inheritance. Peter was an extraordinarily wealthy man who donated millions to charity during his life, including a $50 million donation to Stanford in 2006. Damian and Peter were ultimately successful in their challenge, and each grandchild, including one of Steve's other children born out of wedlock, each received several million dollars at least.

Hurley and Nayar (Mark Thompson / Getty Images)

Elizabeth married textile heir Arun Nayar on March 2, 2007, after five years of dating. They divorced in June 2011, with Hurley citing Nayar's "unreasonable behaviour." Three months later, Hurley became engaged to former cricketer Shane Warne, but they split up in late 2013. Hurley has been involved with Estée Lauder's Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign and The Prince's Trust Fashion Rocks event, and she has raised money for the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre. She is a patron of London's City Veterans Network as well as the Elton John AIDS Foundation, and she has served as an ambassador for the children's charity Hop Skip and Jump.

In April 2025, Elizabeth went public with her apparent relationship with singer Billy Ray Cyrus.

(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Lionsgate and Grindstone)

Awards and Nominations

Hurley was named Supporting Actress of the Year at the 1997 ShoWest Convention, and in 1998, she earned a Blockbuster Entertainment Award nomination for Favorite Actress – Comedy for "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery." She also received a Best Actress nomination from the DVD Exclusive Awards for "Double Whammy" in 2003, a Best Dressed MTV Movie Award nomination for "Bedazzled" in 2001, and a Teen Choice Award nomination for Film – Sexiest Love Scene for "EDtv" (shared with Matthew McConaughey) in 1999.

Real Estate

For the last decade+, Elizabeth's primary residence has been a 21-acre country estate outside of London called Donnington Hall. She purchased the property in 2012 for $11 million.

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