Samuel L. Jackson is one of the most recognizable actors in the world today.
As one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars, he reportedly earns a $10 million to $20 million salary for each film he stars in — and even his cameo appearances result in a hefty payday for the box office veteran.
Forbes reports that Samuel L. Jackson has “the biggest cumulative total for any actor in history. That’s not even counting some pretty big titles that the site chose not to factor into the figures due to his comparatively small roles. Throw in those four titles alone, and those totals shoot up by $2.787b (like adding an Avatar) and give Jackson $7.1B domestic and $16.26B worldwide.”
It may seem easy to dismiss the actor as nothing more than a meme thanks to his starring role in films like “Pulp Fiction.” But according to Celebrity Net Worth, his acting — however meme-able — has garnered him a $250 million net worth. At the rate things are going, he just may become the richest actor of all time (in Kanye’s voice). And that suits him just fine, we’re sure.
Let’s take a look at all the ways Samuel L. Jackson makes his money — and no, it’s not just from acting!
Editorial note: The net worth listed in this piece is a speculative estimate drawn from a variety of online sources.
Film & Television Career
Samuel L. Jackson, of course, has a prolific film and television career. Variety reports that throughout the course of his career, he’s starred in more than 120 productions. The outlet also confirms that he’s one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood today.
Guinness Book of World Records
In 2011, Samuel L. Jackson made the Guinness Book of World Records for making more money than any other actor in Hollywood with his films. Business Insider reports that Jackson’s films had grossed more than $7.42 billion over the course of his career, mostly on the strength of his roles in mega-franchises like “Star Wars” and various Marvel movies. He beat out other Hollywood superstars like Harrison Ford and Tom Hanks for the title.
Dave's Hot Chicken
As AfroTech previously reported, Samuel L. Jackson joined Drake and others in investment in Dave’s Hot Chicken back in September 2021.
Founded in 2017, Dave’s Hot Chicken also counts Boston Red Sox capo Tom Werner amongst its cadre of elite investors. The story of Dave’s is a true rags-to-riches story: four friends teamed up and put up $900 of their own money into a small food stand in a Hollywood, CA, parking lot.
But the game really changed for them in 2019 when the original investors behind Blaze Pizza — LeBron James’ investment — took a 50 percent ownership stake in the company. This paved the way for Dave’s to obtain franchising rights.
Endorsements
One of Samuel L. Jackson’s biggest, and best-known, endorsements is with Capital One bank. According to Celebrity Net Worth, it’s a deal that pays him eight figures per year. He’s also appeared in ads for adidas, Apple and Brioni.
Real Estate
In 2001, Samuel L. Jackson listed his Encino, CA home for sale for $2.8 million. But, according to the Chicago Tribune, the home eventually sold for $1.95 million (The home was put back on the market in 2015, and it was listed for $3.2 million).
After he left his Encino, CA home, he purchased Roseanne Barr’s old home in Beverly Hills, CA. The nearly 12,000-square-foot property was purchased for just over $8 million.
In 2018, he also listed his posh condo on Manhattan’s Upper East Side for sale. According to Realtor.com, the pad was listed for $13 million, and he paid only $4.8 million for the property when he purchased it in 2005.
HBCU Philanthropy
As an HBCU graduate (of Morehouse College, to be exact), Samuel L. Jackson is well aware of the importance of Black education. AfroTech previously reported that he showed his appreciation for this education by making a huge $5 million donation to Spelman College (which is where his wife, LaTanya Richardson, graduated from).
The donation, which is said to be the largest of its kind in the HBCU’s history, is meant to help rebuild the college’s John D. Rockefeller Fine Arts Building.
“The love that both LaTanya and Sam continue to exhibit for Spelman since their time on stage decades ago is heartwarming,” said Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D., president of Spelman, in a written statement. “These living legends met and acted together on stage on our campus. Their dedication to their artistry will leave a legacy that will inspire students in the Atlanta University Center for years to come.”
