Ellen Barkin Net Worth

What Is Ellen Barkin's Net Worth?

Ellen Barkin is an American actress who has a net worth of $80 million. As we detail later in this article, at least half of Ellen Barkin's net worth comes thanks to a $40+ million divorce settlement from billionaire Ronald Perelman.

Ellen Barkin's breakout role came in the 1982 film "Diner," which helped establish her as a compelling new voice in American cinema. She followed with acclaimed performances in "Tender Mercies" (1983), "The Big Easy" (1986), and "Sea of Love" (1989), frequently playing tough, smart, and sexually confident women. Her work in "Switch" (1991) earned her a Golden Globe nomination, affirming her place as a top-tier dramatic and comedic actress. In 1997, she won a Primetime Emmy Award for her role in the TV movie "Before Women Had Wings."

In addition to her film career, Barkin made a powerful Broadway debut in 2011 in "The Normal Heart," for which she won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play. She returned to prominence in television with her role as Janine "Smurf" Cody in the TNT crime drama "Animal Kingdom" (2016–2019), drawing praise for her chilling, magnetic performance.

Beyond acting, Barkin has worked as a producer on several films, including "Letters to Juliet" and "Another Happy Day." Known for her sharp wit and no-nonsense attitude, she has built a career defined by bold choices and fierce independence.

Early Life

Ellen Rona Barkin was born on April 16, 1954, in The Bronx, New York. Raised in a Jewish household, Ellen was raised in Flushing, New York. After graduating from Manhattan's High School of Performing Arts, she attended Hunter College and studied history and drama. Having achieved her double major, Barkin briefly considered becoming an ancient history teacher. However, she continued her acting education at the renowned Actors Studio in New York City. According to one interview, Ellen stated that she studied acting for ten years before she landed her first audition.

Career

Barkin's breakthrough came with the 1982 film "Diner." After receiving strong reviews, she was cast in "Tender Mercies" in 1983. Having established herself in Hollywood, Ellen booked a number of notable roles throughout the late '80s in films like "The Big Easy" and "Sea of Love." During this period, she also appeared in a range of off-Broadway plays.

In the late '90s, she earned an Emmy for her performance in the made-for-television film "Before Women Had Wings." "Switch" was another notable film for Barkin, and her performance earned her more award nominations. Throughout the late '90s, she booked roles in movies like "The White River Kid" and "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." In 2007, Ellen appeared in "Ocean's Thirteen."

Barkin's Broadway debut came in 2011 with "The Normal Heart," a play that earned her a Tony Award. During this period, one of her most notable films was "Another Happy Day," and her performance resulted in widespread critical acclaim. Towards the mid-2010s, Barkin appeared in television series such as "Happyish" and "Animal Kingdom."

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Relationships

Barkin's first husband was the actor Gabriel Byrne. They married in 1988. Over the course of their marriage, Byrne and Barkin had two children together before separating in 1993. Their divorce was finalized officially in 1999. The split was amicable, and Gabriel even attended Ellen's wedding to billionaire Ronald Perelman in 2000. In 1998, she briefly dated actor Johnny Depp. They met after working together on "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." In 2022, Ellen was called to testify on Johnny's behalf during his infamous defamation trial against Amber Heard.

Ron Perelman and Ellen remained married for the next six years before divorcing in 2006.

Divorce Settlement

Ellen was reportedly blindsided when Perelman's lawyers served her with divorce papers. At the same time, Ellen was ordered to move out of their home while being watched by her ex-husband's security guards. The separation had a severe emotional impact on Barkin, who admits that she still very much loved Perelman. On the other hand, Ellen contends that Ron saw her as more of an "accessory" or a trophy wife.

In the end, Ron paid Ellen a $40 million divorce settlement.

In 2007, she sued Perelman, alleging that he had promised to invest $3.4 million into her new film production company. A judge eventually ordered Ron to pay her $4.3 million.

(Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc for Variety Magazine)

Jewelry Collection

Following her divorce from Perelman, Barkin found herself in possession of over 100 pieces of extremely valuable jewelry. Many (if not all) of these pieces were given to her as presents from her ex-husband. Her jewelry collection included a 32-carat apricot diamond ring given to her by Ron just weeks before the divorce. She also owned a pair of $80,000 emerald and gold cuffs intended for the Duchess of Windsor.

Another emerald necklace was valued at $350,000, and it was once worn by Doris Duke. Her antique pearl necklace was also auctioned off, and it was valued at around $500,000. Many of her pieces were created by the ultra-exclusive jeweler "JAR," who only produces about 80 pieces each year. According to rumors, Barkin wore a 16.94-carat diamond (worth about $700,000) pendant to bed.

After the split, Ellen came to the conclusion that many of these pieces were "chunky and audacious," advancing the stereotype of a trophy wife laden with loud, obnoxious jewelry. When she announced that she was selling her jewelry collection, she also stated that she would use the proceeds of the auction to fund her new film production company. At auction in 2006, Barkin's jewelry collection fetched over $20 million.

Real Estate

In 2006, Ellen Barkin purchased a $7.5-million townhouse in West Village, Manhattan. She purchased the property after being "ousted" from her ex-husband's mansion on the nearby Upper East Side. Barkin stated that while she enjoyed the home, she would rather be living in an apartment. Nevertheless, Ellen reportedly "loved" the neighborhood that the Greek Revival townhouse was situated in. Built in 1841, the 20-foot-wide home underwent extensive renovations after being acquired by an earlier buyer in 2002 for $2.6 million.

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