Tom Hanks Net Worth

What is Tom Hanks' Net Worth and Salary?

Tom Hanks is an American actor, director, writer, and producer who has a net worth of $400 million. Tom Hanks is by far one of the most famous, highest-regarded, and best-paid actors in Hollywood. As of this writing, his worldwide box office gross is approximately $11 billion. He is also the number-one, most consistent box office money-making star in the world. Hanks has received numerous accolades for his contributions to the entertainment industry, including seven Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.

Tom Hanks has had a remarkable career spanning over four decades. He began his acting journey in the late 1970s with minor roles in television shows and movies. Hanks gained widespread recognition for his comedic roles in the 1980s, including his breakout performance in the romantic comedy "Splash" (1984) and his portrayal of a man-child in "Big" (1988), which earned him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.

In the 1990s, Hanks demonstrated his versatility as an actor by taking on more dramatic roles. He won consecutive Academy Awards for Best Actor for his performances in "Philadelphia" (1993), where he played a lawyer battling AIDS discrimination, and "Forrest Gump" (1994), in which he portrayed a simple yet endearing man who unwittingly becomes a part of significant historical events. Hanks continued to deliver powerful performances in films such as "Apollo 13" (1995), "Saving Private Ryan" (1998), and "Cast Away" (2000), cementing his status as one of the most talented actors of his generation.

Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Hanks maintained his prominence in the film industry, starring in critically acclaimed movies like "Road to Perdition" (2002), "Captain Phillips" (2013), and "Bridge of Spies" (2015). He also ventured into producing and directing, with notable works including the miniseries "Band of Brothers" (2001) and "The Pacific" (2010), as well as the feature film "Larry Crowne" (2011).

Early Life

Tom Hanks was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he grew up in a working-class family with three siblings. One of his siblings, younger brother Jim Hanks, would eventually become a successful voice actor. Thanks to their eerily similar voices, in 1995, Jim was hired by Disney to provide the non-film voice of Woody from "Toy Story." Jim has provided the Woody voice for dolls, commercials and theme parks for over 30 years.

Tom's parents divorced when he was young, and Hanks spent much of his childhood moving between homes, developing the adaptability and empathy that would later define his acting style. After graduating from Skyline High School in Oakland, he studied theater at Chabot College, a community college in Hayward, before transferring to California State University, Sacramento.

While at Sacramento State, Hanks was encouraged by a visiting director to apply for an internship at the Great Lakes Theater Festival in Cleveland, Ohio. What was meant to be a short-term summer commitment turned into a three-year residency, during which he built a strong foundation in stage performance, lighting, and production design. The experience shaped his understanding of acting as both craft and discipline.

In 1980, Hanks moved to New York City to pursue his dream of becoming a professional actor. Within months, he landed the co-starring role in the ABC sitcom "Bosom Buddies," playing one of two young advertising men who disguise themselves as women to live in a women-only apartment building. The show lasted only two seasons but gave Hanks his first national exposure and showcased his natural comedic charm.

Early Career

After "Bosom Buddies" ended in 1982, Hanks began building his film career with a series of small television and movie roles. He made guest appearances on popular shows such as "Happy Days" and "Family Ties" and soon caught the attention of producer Ron Howard, who cast him in the romantic comedy "Splash" (1984). The film, in which Hanks plays a man who falls in love with a mermaid, became a surprise box office hit and launched him into stardom.

Throughout the mid-1980s, Hanks established himself as one of Hollywood's most bankable comedic actors with roles in "Bachelor Party" (1984), "The Money Pit" (1986), "Dragnet" (1987), and "Big" (1988). His performance in "Big," as a child magically transformed into an adult overnight, earned him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. The film's critical and commercial success proved Hanks could bring both humor and heart to a role, setting the stage for his transition into more dramatic work.

Rise to Stardom

The 1990s cemented Tom Hanks' status as one of the most beloved and versatile actors of his generation. After a string of early comedies, he began tackling more complex roles that revealed his dramatic depth. In 1993, he starred opposite Meg Ryan in the romantic hit "Sleepless in Seattle," followed later that year by "Philadelphia," in which he portrayed a lawyer battling AIDS discrimination. Hanks' powerful and emotional performance earned him his first Academy Award for Best Actor.

Just one year later, Hanks achieved an extraordinary feat by winning a second consecutive Oscar for his portrayal of the slow-witted but good-hearted title character in "Forrest Gump" (1994). The film became a cultural phenomenon and grossed over $680 million worldwide, further solidifying his reputation as a bankable and emotionally resonant leading man.

He followed with an impressive run of acclaimed films, including "Apollo 13" (1995), "Saving Private Ryan" (1998), and "Cast Away" (2000). His portrayal of a stranded FedEx worker in "Cast Away" earned him another Academy Award nomination and showcased his ability to carry an entire film virtually alone. During this period, Hanks also became the voice of Woody in Pixar's "Toy Story" franchise, a role he would reprise in four feature films spanning nearly 25 years, helping make it one of the most successful animated series in history.

In the 2000s and 2010s, Hanks continued to demonstrate extraordinary range, moving seamlessly between drama, comedy, and historical epics. He starred in the gangster drama "Road to Perdition" (2002), the romantic comedy "You've Got Mail" (1998), the gripping true story "Captain Phillips" (2013), and Steven Spielberg collaborations such as "Bridge of Spies" (2015) and "The Post" (2017). He portrayed real-life icons in "Saving Mr. Banks" (as Walt Disney, 2013), "Sully" (as pilot Chesley Sullenberger, 2016), and "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" (as Fred Rogers, 2019), earning yet another Oscar nomination for the latter.

By this stage of his career, Hanks had become not just a movie star but a symbol of American storytelling — known for his authenticity, humor, and quiet decency both on and off screen.

Producing and Writing

In addition to his acting achievements, Tom Hanks has built an impressive career as a producer, director, and writer. He co-founded the production company Playtone with longtime collaborator Gary Goetzman, which has produced numerous acclaimed projects for film and television.

As a writer and director, Hanks made his debut with the 1960s-set music comedy "That Thing You Do!" (1996), which became a cult favorite and showcased his nostalgic affection for American pop culture. He later wrote and directed the romantic dramedy "Larry Crowne" (2011), co-starring Julia Roberts, and co-wrote the World War II naval drama "Greyhound" (2020), in which he also starred.

Through Playtone, Hanks has produced several award-winning miniseries, including "Band of Brothers" (2001), "The Pacific" (2010), and "Masters of the Air" (2024), all of which explore different aspects of World War II. These projects, co-produced with Steven Spielberg, have been widely praised for their historical accuracy and emotional storytelling.

Hanks' producing credits also include the hit films "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" (2002), "Charlie Wilson's War" (2007), "Mamma Mia!" (2008), and "Where the Wild Things Are" (2009).

Over the course of his career, Tom Hanks has received nearly every major industry honor, including two Academy Awards, four Golden Globes, seven Primetime Emmy Awards, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016. His films have collectively grossed more than $11 billion worldwide, placing him among the highest-grossing actors in cinematic history.

Tom Hanks /Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Salary Highlights

Between 1988 and 2010 alone, Tom earned around $300 million in movie salaries. That's the same as $450 million after adjusting for inflation. He then earned at least another $100 million in the next decade. In total, Tom has earned a minimum of $400 million in movie salaries during his career without adjusting for inflation. That does not count producing and directing payments or residuals.

One of Tom's first big paychecks came with the 1984 movie "Splash," for which he earned $70,000. That's the same as around $172,000 after adjusting for inflation. Four years later, in 1988, Tom earned $1.75 million to star in "Big." That's the same as around $4 million today. Also in 1998, he earned $5 million for "Punchline". That's the same as $11 million today. From the late 80s onward, Tom's salary stayed in the stratosphere.

Tom earned $40 million for "Saving Private Ryan" and then $20 million for each of "You've Got Mail," "Cast Away," and "The Green Mile." It's been reported that Hanks earned $8 million for playing Elvis' manager, Colonel Tom Parker, in 2022's "Elvis."

Da Vinci Code Salaries

Tom earned $18 million to star in 2006's "The Da Vinci Code." He then earned $25 million to star in its 2009 sequel, "Angels & Demons," and another $25 million to star in the 2016 final in the trilogy, "Inferno." In total, Tom Hanks earned $68 million for his work as Robert Langdon.

Forrest Gump Payday

In 1993, Tom was originally supposed to earn $7 million to star in "Forrest Gump." At some point during production, the movie had gone significantly over budget. Instead of seeing the movie derailed, Tom offered to give up his salary in exchange for "first dollar" backend points. In that situation, he received a share of the box office receipts owed to Paramount after the theater owners took their cut before the studio started subtracting expenses like marketing and printing costs.

As you now know, Forrest Gump went on to be an enormous box office hit, earning $700 million at the box office and another $100-200 million over time from licensing deals, VHS, and DVD sales.

Thanks to his first-dollar deal, Tom made out extremely well. In the first year alone, his backend points translated to around $70 million, which is the same as around $120 million today. It is still by far his biggest acting paycheck and one of the largest acting paychecks in Hollywood history.

(Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

Real Estate Assets

In total, the Hanks/Wilson real estate asset portfolio is worth at least $150 million. In April of 1991, Tom and Rita bought a large oceanfront mansion in the uber-exclusive Malibu Colony for $2.95 million. The seller was director John Frankenheimer. Today, this house is likely worth $20 million, if not more. In January 2010, Tom and Rita spent $26 million to acquire what would become their primary residence in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles.

In May 2017, Tom and Rita sold two side-by-side homes in the Palisades for $18 million. The buyer, who has hidden their identification through a San Francisco-based lawyer and LLC, proceeded to demolish the two homes to make way for a very large single mansion. Tom and Rita own at least five other homes in the Pacific Palisades.

Outside of Los Angeles, Tom and Rita own a ski house in Sun Valley, Idaho.

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Tom Hanks Net Worth Milestones

Tom was first added to Celebrity Net Worth in October 2009. At the time, we estimated his fortune to be $150 million. As of this writing, Tom Hanks' net worth is $400 million.

Quotes

"There isn't any great mystery about me. What I do is glamorous and has an awful lot of white-hot attention placed on it. But the actual work requires the same discipline and passion as any job you love doing, be it as a very good pipe fitter or a highly creative artist."

"If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. It's the hard that makes it great."

Personal Life

Tom Hanks was married to Samantha Lewes from 1978 to 1987. He married actress Rita Wilson in 1988. He has four children, including actor Colin Hanks and rapper Chet Haze. Colin Hanks' mother is Samantha Lewes. Chet's mother is Rita Wilson.

Tom Hanks published a collection of short stories in 2017 titled "Uncommon Type." And in May 2023, his debut novel, "The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece," was released.

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