Idina Menzel Net Worth

What Is Idina Menzel's Net Worth?

Idina Menzel is an acclaimed American actress, singer, and Broadway performer who has a net worth of $16 million. 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.

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Career

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, Menzel earned a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. It was her first professional stage role and established her as a rising star. She remained with the show until mid-1997.

After leaving "Rent," she released her debut solo album, "Still I Can't Be Still," in 1998. It failed commercially—selling fewer than 10,000 copies—and was pulled from circulation by Hollywood Records. Still, Menzel continued to build her reputation in the theater world. She starred in regional and Off-Broadway productions including "Summer of '42," "Hair" at City Center Encores!, and "The Wild Party" at Manhattan Theatre Club, for which she received a Drama Desk nomination. She also appeared in the 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 musical "Aida."

Her career reached new heights in 2003 when she originated the role of Elphaba in "Wicked," opposite Kristin Chenoweth. The musical became one of the most successful productions in Broadway history, and Menzel's powerhouse performance earned her the 2004 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She remained with the show until January 2005, despite sustaining a fractured rib from a trap door accident during her final weekend. In 2006, she reprised the role in London's West End, where she earned a reported $30,000 per week, making her the highest-paid female performer in West End history. She remained with the production through December.

In the years that followed, Menzel balanced theater with film and music. She appeared in "See What I Wanna See" (2006), "Chess in Concert" (2008), and later returned to Broadway in 2014 in "If/Then," earning another Tony nomination for her role as Elizabeth. She also originated the lead role in the 2023 musical "Redwood" at La Jolla Playhouse.

Her music career gained new momentum with the release of "Here" (2004), "I Stand" (2008), and "Idina." (2016). In 2014, her holiday album "Holiday Wishes" debuted at #13 on the Billboard 200 and later climbed to #10. She toured extensively in support of her albums, both nationally and internationally, and performed the national anthem at Super Bowl XLIX in 2015.

On screen, Menzel reprised her role as Maureen in the 2005 film version of "Rent" and appeared in films such as "Ask the Dust," "The Tollbooth," "Enchanted," and "Uncut Gems." On television, she appeared in "Private Practice" and played Shelby Corcoran—Rachel Berry's biological mother—on the hit series "Glee."

Her most iconic role came in 2013, voicing Elsa in Disney's "Frozen." The film grossed over $1.28 billion worldwide, and her rendition of "Let It Go" became a global sensation. The song peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, #1 on the Dance Club Songs chart, and #9 on the Adult Contemporary chart. It was certified 5× Platinum in the U.S., 4× Platinum in Australia, 2× Platinum in Canada, and Platinum in the UK and Japan. Menzel performed it at the Academy Awards, on "The Tonight Show" with Jimmy Fallon, and in Times Square for New Year's Eve. She reprised the role in "Frozen II" and finally got to sing onscreen in live action when she returned to her role as Nancy Tremaine in 2022's "Disenchanted."

She was the subject of the 2022 Disney+ documentary "Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?" and co-authored the children's book "Loud Mouse," inspired by her own childhood experiences with performance anxiety and self-expression.

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.

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