Idina Menzel Net Worth

What Is Idina Menzel's Net Worth and Salary?

Idina Menzel is an acclaimed American actress, singer, and Broadway performer who has a net worth of $30 million. Idina's work on the "Frozen" franchise has been BY FAR the most lucrative job of her career. For the second, third, and fourth installments of the film, she earned a total of $75 million in salary and bonuses. More details on her Frozen contract later in this article.

Idina Menzel's powerful voice and commanding stage presence have made her one of the most recognizable talents in musical theater and film. She first rose to prominence in 1996 with her Tony-nominated role as Maureen Johnson in the original Broadway production of "Rent," a performance that introduced her as a major new voice in theater. Menzel's breakout into mainstream fame came in 2003 when she originated the role of Elphaba in the smash-hit musical "Wicked." Her performance as the misunderstood green-skinned witch earned her a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical and cemented her status as a Broadway icon. Wicked became one of the highest-grossing and most enduring musicals in Broadway history, with Menzel's performance as Elphaba becoming a cultural touchstone.

Menzel later brought her vocal talents to a global audience as the voice of Queen Elsa in Disney's "Frozen" (2013) and its sequel. Her performance of the Academy Award-winning song "Let It Go" became a worldwide phenomenon, topping charts and achieving multi-platinum sales. She has also appeared in films like "Enchanted," "Disenchanted," "Uncut Gems," and the 2005 film version of "Rent," and on television in series such as "Glee" and "Private Practice."

Beyond acting, Menzel has released multiple solo albums, headlined international tours, and starred in original musicals like "If/Then" and "Redwood." With a career spanning stage, screen, and studio recordings, Idina Menzel is celebrated for her emotional depth, vocal power, and enduring contributions to musical storytelling.

Early Life

Idina Kim Mentzel was born on May 30, 1971, in Manhattan, New York City, and raised in Syosset, Long Island. She grew up in a Jewish household alongside her younger sister. Her parents divorced when she was 15. From a young age, Menzel studied classical voice and began formal lessons at age eight. As a teenager, she worked as a wedding and bar mitzvah singer, a job that not only supported her financially but exposed her to a wide range of genres, including pop, rock, jazz, and R&B. She continued performing at events well into her college years.

After graduating from Syosset High School, she attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in drama in 1992. Around this time, she simplified the spelling of her last name from "Mentzel" to "Menzel" to make it easier to pronounce in the entertainment industry.

Idina Menzel / Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Breakthrough With "Rent"

Menzel's professional breakthrough came in 1995 when she was cast as Maureen Johnson in the original Off-Broadway production of "Rent" at the New York Theatre Workshop. When the show moved to Broadway in 1996, she earned a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. It was her first professional stage role and immediately established her as a rising star. She remained with the show until mid-1997.

Early Recording Career and Stage Work

After leaving "Rent," she released her debut solo album, "Still I Can't Be Still," in 1998. The album sold fewer than 10,000 copies and was pulled from circulation, but the commercial setback didn't slow her theatrical momentum. Menzel continued building her stage reputation with roles in "Summer of '42," "Hair" at City Center Encores!, and "The Wild Party" at Manhattan Theatre Club, earning a Drama Desk nomination. She also appeared in pre-Broadway runs of "The Vagina Monologues" and a revival of "Rent." In 2000, she returned to Broadway to play Amneris in Elton John and Tim Rice's "Aida."

Stardom With "Wicked"

Her career reached new heights in 2003 when she originated the role of Elphaba in "Wicked," opposite Kristin Chenoweth. The musical became one of Broadway's biggest successes, and Menzel's powerhouse performance earned her the 2004 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She remained with the production until January 2005, even continuing to perform after fracturing a rib during a trap door accident on her final weekend. In 2006, she reprised the role in London's West End, earning a reported $30,000 per week and becoming the highest-paid female performer in West End history. She stayed with the show through December.

Continued Theater Success

Menzel continued her stage career with roles in "See What I Wanna See" (2006) and "Chess in Concert" (2008). She returned to Broadway in 2014 in "If/Then," earning another Tony nomination for her portrayal of Elizabeth. In 2023, she originated the lead role in the musical "Redwood" at La Jolla Playhouse, adding another major credit to her theatrical résumé.

Recording Career and Live Performances

Her music career gained renewed momentum with the albums "Here" (2004), "I Stand" (2008), and "Idina." (2016). In 2014, her holiday album "Holiday Wishes" debuted at #13 on the Billboard 200 before climbing to #10. She toured extensively throughout the U.S. and internationally, and delivered high-profile performances including the national anthem at Super Bowl XLIX in 2015.

Film and Television Work

On screen, Menzel reprised her role as Maureen in the 2005 film adaptation of "Rent" and appeared in films such as "Ask the Dust," "The Tollbooth," "Enchanted," and "Uncut Gems." On television, she guest-starred on "Private Practice" and delivered a memorable recurring performance as Shelby Corcoran—Rachel Berry's biological mother—on "Glee."

Breakout With "Frozen"

Menzel's most iconic role arrived in 2013 when she voiced Elsa in Disney's "Frozen." The film grossed more than $1.28 billion worldwide, and her performance of "Let It Go" became a cultural phenomenon. The song reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, topped the Dance Club Songs chart, and achieved multi-Platinum certifications across the U.S., Australia, Canada, the UK, and Japan. She performed it at the Academy Awards, on "The Tonight Show" with Jimmy Fallon, and in Times Square on New Year's Eve. Menzel reprised Elsa in "Frozen II" and later returned to live action in 2022's "Disenchanted," once again playing Nancy Tremaine.

She was the subject of the 2022 Disney+ documentary "Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?" which followed her tour and creative process. Menzel also co-authored the children's book "Loud Mouse," inspired by her personal experiences with performance anxiety, creativity, and finding her voice.

Frozen Salary

Idina Menzel's role as Elsa in "Frozen" has become one of the most financially significant voice performances in animation history. For "Frozen 2," she and her co-stars Kristen Bell and Josh Gad each earned $15 million. For "Frozen 3" and "Frozen 4," all three earned $60 million. The agreement includes an upfront fee of roughly $20 million per film, with additional compensation tied to box-office bonuses and backend performance incentives. The size of the deal reflects both her importance to the franchise and the enormous commercial power of the "Frozen" brand across theatrical releases, streaming, merchandise, and theme-park attractions.

Neilson Barnard / Getty Images

Relationships

Idina's first marriage was to actor Taye Diggs, whom she met during the production of "Rent." After marrying in 2003, the couple welcomed their first child into the world in 2009. Four years later, the pair separated, and their divorce was finalized in 2014. In 2015, Menzel began dating actor Aaron Lohr, who also appeared in the 2005 film version of "Rent." They moved in together the same year and married in 2017.

Real Estate

In 2010, Idina and Taye paid $2.09 million for a home in Culver City, California, which they sold for $2.995 million in 2014 following their separation.

In 2015, Menzel purchased a $2.675 million home in Encino, California. The Mediterranean-style residence spans over 4,700 square feet on three-quarters of an acre. The property includes a pool, spa, and sweeping views of the canyon and city, making it a tranquil retreat befitting her star status.

Who's Richer?

Idina
Menzel

Compare!

Jackie
Sandler