Sophia Bush Net Worth

What is Sophia Bush's net worth?

Sophia Bush is an American actress, director, and spokesperson who has a net worth of $11 million. Sophia Bush first gained national attention with her role as Brooke Davis on the long-running drama "One Tree Hill." Originally introduced as a supporting character, Bush's performance quickly resonated with viewers, and Brooke became one of the show's central figures across nine seasons. The role established Bush as a television mainstay and showcased her ability to balance comedy, vulnerability, and emotional depth. After "One Tree Hill," she moved into network procedurals, starring as Detective Erin Lindsay on "Chicago P.D." Her character also appeared across "Chicago Fire" and "Chicago Med," further expanding her profile within prime-time television. Bush later stepped away from the franchise, citing a difficult on-set environment, and shifted her focus toward selective film and television roles, including "False Positive," "Hard Luck Love Song," and voice work in animated projects.

Parallel to her acting career, Bush became known for her outspoken activism and social engagement. She has been heavily involved in political advocacy, environmental causes, and women's empowerment initiatives, using her platform to support issues such as voting rights, reproductive freedom, and disaster relief. She also ventured into podcasting with "Work in Progress," where she interviews artists, activists, and thought leaders about personal growth and societal challenges. In recent years, Bush continued expanding her career with producing projects and philanthropy partnerships while remaining a recognizable presence in both entertainment and cultural conversations. Her career reflects a consistent commitment to meaningful storytelling, civic engagement, and using her visibility for broader impact.

Early Life

Sophia Bush was born on July 8, 1982, in Pasadena, California, and is an only child. Her father, Charles, is an advertising and beauty photographer, and her mother manages a photography studio. Despite sharing a last name with a well-known political dynasty, her family has no connection to the famous Bush political family.

She attended Westridge School for Girls, where athletics were her main focus and she excelled as a volleyball player. However, the school required every student to participate in a theater production. That first mandatory performance sparked an unexpected love for acting, giving Bush a new creative outlet that ultimately redirected her entire future. After graduating in 2000, she continued to study theater and soon began pursuing professional opportunities.

Career

Bush made her big-screen debut in 2002 with the college comedy "National Lampoon's Van Wilder," appearing opposite Ryan Reynolds. Over the next few years, she booked small roles on series such as "Nip/Tuck," "Sabrina the Teenage Witch," and other early-2000s television staples.

Her major breakthrough arrived in 2003 when she was cast as Brooke Davis on the WB drama "One Tree Hill." Originally conceived as a secondary character, Brooke quickly became one of the show's emotional anchors, and Bush remained a central part of the cast throughout the series' nine seasons. Over nearly a decade, she appeared on magazine covers like "Glamour," "InStyle," "Lucky," and "Maxim," solidifying her status as a teen-drama icon. She also stepped behind the camera, directing several episodes during the show's later years.

Bush balanced her television success with film roles as well. In 2006, she co-starred in the hit comedy "John Tucker Must Die," which earned more than $60 million worldwide and won her the Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress – Comedy. She followed with roles in "Stay Alive," "The Hitcher," and the independent drama "The Narrows." Her performance in "The Hitcher" earned her two additional Teen Choice Awards, and that same year she received the Rising Star Award at the Vail Film Festival.

By the early 2010s, Bush began expanding into voice work and sitcoms. She voiced Sara on "Phineas and Ferb," starred in the British romantic comedy "Chalet Girl," and appeared in the CBS sitcom "Partners." In 2013, she joined the NBC drama "Chicago P.D." as Detective Erin Lindsay. Her work on the series, plus crossover appearances on "Chicago Fire" and "Chicago Med," made her a key figure in the network's primetime lineup and earned her a People's Choice Award nomination.

After leaving "Chicago P.D.," Bush continued building a versatile resume with voice work in Pixar's "Incredibles 2," recurring roles in series like "Love, Victor," and guest spots on shows including "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Jane the Virgin," "Alex, Inc.," "Easy," and "This Is Us."

Alongside acting, Bush developed a strong producing career. She executive produced the short documentary "A Thousand Year Journey" as well as the feature projects "A Girl Named C" and "Mother Truckers." She also became a prominent voice in podcasting, hosting "Work in Progress," "And Especially You," and the investigative series "Hidden in Plain Sight."

(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

One Tree Hill Salary

During a 2025 Tech Futures panel, Sophia Bush revealed that her early earnings on "One Tree Hill" were far lower than many fans—and even industry insiders—might expect from a starring role on a long-running network drama. Though she ultimately became one of the show's central figures, Bush entered the series with less professional experience than some of her co-stars. Hilarie Burton had previously been an MTV VJ, and Bethany Joy Lenz had worked steadily in soaps, while Bush was coming straight from college. As a result, the cast's initial pay scales varied dramatically.

Bush explained that by the time she paid standard industry commissions—10% to her manager, 10% to her agent, 5% to her lawyer—along with publicist fees, taxes, and the $3,000 monthly rent on her two-bedroom apartment in Wilmington, she was taking home only about $3,000 per episode during the show's first season. She described the difference in compensation across the cast as "wild," noting that her starting salary placed her on the lower end of the ensemble despite her rapid rise in popularity.

Bush also highlighted another financial reality: despite "One Tree Hill" being available on major streaming platforms like Hulu, Disney+, and Max, the original cast receives virtually no residuals. When the show was produced in the early 2000s, streaming was not included in standard contract language, meaning the studio retains all streaming revenue. Bush emphasized that actors from her era relied heavily on syndication residuals to build long-term financial stability, and the absence of streaming compensation has had a noticeable impact.

Activism

Bush has long been one of the entertainment industry's most publicly engaged activists. She campaigned for Barack Obama in 2008, traveling to college campuses to promote voter turnout. She has been an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, participating in rallies, policy campaigns, and the 2016 Human Rights Campaign tribute honoring victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting.

Environmental causes, educational access, and gender equity have also been central themes of her activism. She has supported the Time's Up movement, worked with major charitable organizations, and used her platform to champion global humanitarian causes.

Her efforts have been widely recognized. Bush received the VH1 Do Something Award in 2011, the Young Hollywood Philanthropy Award in 2012, the Redefine Possible Women's Leadership Award in 2016, and the Nelson Mandela Changemaker Award in 2018.

Getty Images

Personal Life

Bush's personal life has frequently intersected with her professional world. She married "One Tree Hill" co-star Chad Michael Murray in 2005, though the marriage ended within months and the divorce was finalized in 2006. She later dated fellow actors Jon Foster, James Lafferty, and Austin Nichols.

She had a long-distance relationship with Google executive Dan Fredinburg from 2013 to 2014, and later dated "Chicago P.D." co-star Jesse Lee Soffer from 2014 to 2016. In 2020, Bush began dating entrepreneur Grant Hughes; the couple married in 2022 and separated the following year.

In April 2024, Bush publicly came out as queer and confirmed she was in a relationship with former U.S. Women's National Team star Ashlyn Harris. The two first met in 2019 and began dating in 2023 after Bush's divorce.

Real Estate

In 2015, Bush purchased a Chicago condo for $1.6 million. She listed the unit in 2020 for just under $2 million and ultimately sold it near her asking price. She also owns a home in the Hollywood Hills, purchased in the early 2010s for $1.4 million.

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