Tara Reid Net Worth

What Is Tara Reid's Net Worth and Salary?

Tara Reid is an American actress/model who has a net worth of $500 thousand. Tara Reid began acting as a child, appearing in commercials and television before gaining recognition with supporting roles in teen-oriented films. Her breakout came in 1998 with the cult classic "The Big Lebowski," but it was her role as Vicky in the 1999 comedy hit "American Pie" that catapulted her to stardom. She reprised the role in the successful sequels "American Pie 2" and "American Reunion."

Reid became a fixture in early-2000s Hollywood, appearing in films like "Urban Legend," "Josie and the Pussycats," "Van Wilder," and "My Boss's Daughter." Her off-screen lifestyle, including high-profile relationships and tabloid coverage, often overshadowed her acting. She also starred in the 2005 reality show "Taradise," which was short-lived.

Later in her career, Reid found a cult following with her role as April Wexler in the Syfy B-movie phenomenon "Sharknado" and its sequels, which ran from 2013 to 2018.

"Sharknado" Salaries

In 2018, Tara Reid filed a lawsuit against The Asylum, the production company behind the "Sharknado" franchise, alleging that her likeness had been used without permission on branded merchandise. Her contract reportedly prohibited the use of her image on products connected to alcohol or gambling, yet she claimed The Asylum licensed her likeness for slot machines and related items without obtaining approval. The suit sought $100 million in damages before Reid voluntarily dismissed the case in 2019.

The litigation led to the public release of documents detailing her salary for the later entries in the franchise. According to those filings, she earned $125,000 for "Sharknado 5" and $175,000 for "The Last Sharknado: It's About Time." Her pay for the earlier films was not disclosed, but her compensation appears to have increased as the franchise expanded into a six-film global phenomenon.

American Pie Salary

When Tara reprised her role for 2012's "American Reunion," she was actually the lowest-paid cast member, earning $250k. By comparison, Jason Biggs and Sean William Scott both earned $5 million to come back.

(Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Macy's)

Early Life

Tara Donna Reid was born on November 8, 1975, in Wyckoff, New Jersey. Raised by two teachers, she grew up alongside her twin siblings, Patrick and Colleen, and her brother, Tom. Tara attended a Catholic elementary school before splitting her high school years between New Jersey and Los Angeles, eventually graduating from an alternative high school back in New Jersey. She also spent considerable time in Manhattan, where she attended the Professional Children's School, a performing arts institution whose alumni include Christina Ricci, Jerry O'Connell, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Macaulay Culkin. This early exposure to the arts, combined with time spent commuting into New York City for auditions and small roles, helped set the stage for a career in entertainment.

Early Career Beginnings

Tara Reid began acting at age six, making her first television appearance on the children's game show "Child's Play." She quickly became a familiar face in commercials, booking more than 100 national spots throughout her childhood. By her teen years, she was landing small television roles, including appearances on "Saved by the Bell: The New Class." After a brief period balancing acting with school in both New Jersey and Los Angeles, she decided to pursue an entertainment career full time and moved to Hollywood in the late 1990s.

Breakthrough

Reid's early Hollywood years delivered fast momentum. In 1997, she booked her first major film role in "The Big Lebowski," playing Bunny Lebowski, a young trophy wife whose disappearance drives the film's mystery. The movie eventually became a cult classic and gave Reid her first real foothold in the industry. She followed with roles in the horror hit "Urban Legend" and a minor part in the teen drama "Cruel Intentions," both of which kept her visible during a wave of late-1990s youth-oriented films.

Her major breakthrough arrived in 1999 with "American Pie," in which she played Vicky, a studious high school senior navigating romance and adulthood. The film hit number one at the box office and became a global blockbuster, instantly elevating her to mainstream recognition. Reid returned for "American Pie 2" and years later reunited with the cast for "American Reunion," solidifying her connection to one of the most successful teen comedy franchises in film history.

Following the massive success of "American Pie 2," Reid remained one of Hollywood's most recognizable young actors, and she continued to take on projects across a range of genres. She appeared in "Josie and the Pussycats" and starred opposite Ryan Reynolds in "Van Wilder," a college comedy that became a cult favorite even though it received mixed critical reviews at the time. These films kept her prominently in the public eye, but they did not build the same long-term studio momentum that "American Pie" had created.

Reid continued working steadily, taking roles that showcased her versatility in both film and television. She appeared alongside Richard Gere in "Dr. T & the Women" and booked a recurring part on "Scrubs." She followed with comedies like "My Boss's Daughter" and ventured into genre filmmaking with the 2005 horror release "Alone in the Dark." As the mid-2000s progressed, her career shifted toward a mix of independent productions and direct-to-video titles, reflecting a period of transition as she explored new types of roles outside the studio system.

Reality TV and the "Sharknado" Franchise

In the 2010s, Reid leaned into reality television and cult-genre projects. She joined "Celebrity Big Brother 8" in 2011, which reintroduced her to international audiences and helped reset public perception after several years of tabloid attention. Two years later, she co-starred in the Syfy disaster film "Sharknado," a deliberately outrageous thriller that became a viral sensation. The film unexpectedly launched a long-running franchise, and Reid reprised her role in all five sequels. The "Sharknado" series revived her visibility, leading to appearances at conventions, promotional tours, and a new generation of fans who embraced the franchise's camp appeal.

Fashion & Endorsements

As a model, Reid has appeared on the covers of "CosmoGirl," "Rolling Stone," "Seventeen," "Maxim," "Playboy," "Stuff," and "FHM." Tara is also known for creating her own fashion lines, and in 2009, she debuted a clothing line with designer Christian Audigier. In 2014, Reid released a swimwear line and a perfume, both of which were sold under the brand "Shark by Tara." Earlier in her career, Tara appeared in advertisements for brands like Jello, McDonald's, Dodo Australia, and Crayola.

(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

Relationships

In 2000, Tara started dating TV personality Carson Daly. They lived together in New York City, and Daly eventually proposed. However, one year later, the pair split up and called off the engagement. After dating an entrepreneur from Nuremberg named Michael Axtmann for a spell, Reid became engaged once again. Although Axtmann proposed in 2010, later that year, multiple sources confirmed that the relationship had ended. Tara then began dating a businessman named Michael Lillelund, although the relationship quickly fizzled out.

In 2011, Reid announced that she had wed a financier named Zachary Kehayov, although she later clarified that the two were never legally married. From 2013 to 2014, she dated Erez Eisen from the band Infected Mushroom. Although Reid and Dean May participated in "Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars," it was later revealed that they were never in a relationship together.

Plastic Surgery

Tara has gone through plastic surgery in the past, and she was left with a deformity in 2006 after a procedure went wrong. Tara allegedly wanted a six-pack for a movie role, but she was left with a deformed stomach after a problem with the liposuction. The deformity was later corrected by a separate plastic surgeon.

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