Taraji P. Henson is living proof that it’s not where you come from, but where you’re going.
Born and raised in the greater Washington, D.C. area, Henson went to Howard University to study drama, but she couldn’t afford the tuition offhand. So, to pay for college, she worked part-time at The Pentagon and part-time as a singing and dancing waitress on the river cruise boat, The Spirit of Washington.
“After I graduated, my dad said, “How do you expect to catch fish on dry land?” You have to go where the jobs are. We raised $700, I packed my son up, and I moved to L.A.,” she told Vanity Fair back in 2005.
Certainly, that move paid off. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Taraji P. Henson has a net worth of $25 million. While most of that money comes from her prestigious acting career, she has also made some money with real estate investments. In 2015, she bought a $1.5 million condo in Chicago (which she would later sell for a small profit), before purchasing a similar condo in the same building for $1.9 million in 2017. Taraji P. Henson also owns two homes out in Los Angeles, CA — a $431,000 home in Glendale (which she purchased in 2002), and a $6.45 million Hollywood Hills mansion (which she bought in 2016).
Let’s take a look at some of the other ways Taraji P. Henson has built her net worth.
TPH by Taraji Hair Care
Known for her fabulous, chameleon-like hairstyles, Taraji P. Henson worked closely with her manufacturer to develop TPH by Taraji hair care products, which takes a “scalp first” approach to hair care.
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Singing Career
Taraji P. Henson made her singing debut in 2005, when she provided vocals for the Oscar-winning Three 6 Mafia song, “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp.” She also recorded “In My Daughter’s Eyes” in 2006.
Hosting Duties
Taraji P. Henson has held various hosting duties throughout the years. She filled in for Kelly Ripa on what was then known as “Live with Kelly and Michael” back in 2015. She’s also guest-hosted episodes of “The Talk,” “Legendary,” and the American Music Awards, to name but a few.
The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation
Named after her beloved father, The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation takes a proactive approach to mental health in Black and LatinX communities.
“There’s a lack of culturally competent therapists — and, yes, even psychiatrists — in the field of mental health,” she said exclusively to our sister site, 21Ninety. “It’s not enough to just be aware of the logistics of mental health — you also have to be aware of the cultural history of the person you’re talking to. You know, in the Black community, there’s such a stigma around mental health — and it’s our job to eradicate that stigma by breaking the cycle. The only way we can do that is by providing therapists that get it, you know?”
Endorsements
Over the years, Taraji P. Henson has accrued a vast number of endorsements. In 2016, she created an exclusive capsule for M·A·C Cosmetics, and eventually became a spokeswoman for their VIVA GLAM line.
