John Travolta Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is John Travolta’s Net Worth and Salary?

As an American actor, singer, producer, and dancer, John Travolta boasts a net worth of $250 million. His career reflects an incredible journey marked by critical acclaim and widespread popularity, underscoring his resilience and versatility as an actor. Travolta first rose to fame in the 1970s, becoming a cultural icon through his iconic role in “Saturday Night Fever.” This role, paired with his performance in “Grease,” solidified his place as a leading figure in the disco and musical film era. His talent for portraying complex characters with both charm and depth made him a well-known name across households.

Yet, the 1980s presented challenges for Travolta’s career, leading to a downturn. Despite this period, his commitment to the industry remained strong, showcasing his passion for acting. The 1990s brought a dramatic resurgence, primarily credited to his performance in Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction.” This film not only revitalized his career but also reintroduced him to a fresh generation of moviegoers, highlighting his extensive range as an actor.

Post-resurgence, Travolta embraced an array of roles spanning various genres, including action, thriller, comedy, and drama. His performances in movies such as “Face/Off,” “Get Shorty,” and “Primary Colors” received critical acclaim, affirming his adaptability to diverse roles. Furthermore, his performances in “Ladder 49,” “Hairspray,” and “Swordfish” illustrated his lasting appeal in the Hollywood landscape.

Notable Film Salaries

Throughout his career, John Travolta has amassed hundreds of millions of dollars in film salaries. For instance, he earned only $150,000 for his role in the monumental 1994 film “Pulp Fiction,” which played a significant role in reviving his career. During the decade beginning in the mid-1990s, he consistently earned around $20 million per film. Below is a list of some of John’s most significant film salaries:

• 1994: Pulp Fiction – $150 Thousand
• 1995: Get Shorty – $6 Million
• 1996: Broken Arrow – $7 Million
• 1996: Phenomenon – $8 Million
• 1996: Michael – $12 Million
• 1997: Face/Off – $20 Million
• 1997: Mad City – $20 Million
• 1998: Primary Colors – $17 Million
• 1998: A Civil Action – $20 Million
• 1999: The General’s Daughter – $20 Million
• 2000: Battlefield Earth – $10 Million
• 2001: Swordfish – $20 Million
• 2003: Basic – $15 Million
• 2004: Ladder 49 – $20 Million
• 2005: Be Cool – $20 Million
• 2007: Hairspray – $14 Million

= $230 million

Just considering these 16 films, which represent only a portion of his extensive filmography, the total salary amassed is $230 million.

The resurgence of his career can be traced back to 1994 with “Pulp Fiction,” a groundbreaking film that not only revitalized his career but also made a significant impact on modern cinema. For this important role, Travolta received a modest payment of $150 thousand, a small figure compared to the film’s profound influence on his career path. “Pulp Fiction” rejuvenated Travolta’s stardom and positioned him once again as a leading actor within Hollywood.

This revitalization was evident in the increasing salaries for his subsequent films. “Get Shorty” (1995) marked a significant increase, netting him $6 million. This upward trajectory persisted with “Broken Arrow” (1996) earning him $7 million, followed by “Phenomenon” the same year at $8 million, and finally “Michael” (1996), where he made $12 million. By the time “Face/Off” premiered in 1997, Travolta’s earnings had soared to $20 million, showcasing

his revitalized box office appeal.

With “Mad City” (1997) and “Primary Colors” (1998), he maintained this impressive earning streak, generating $20 million and $17 million, respectively. Once again, he commanded a $20 million paycheck for “A Civil Action” (1998). As the millennium approached its end, Travolta’s star power could not be challenged, with “The General’s Daughter” (1999) also earning him $20 million.

As the new millennium began, “Battlefield Earth” (2000) marked a decline in his salary to $10 million, likely due to the film’s mixed reviews. Yet, this was merely a short-lived downturn, as “Swordfish” (2001) reinstated his $20 million salary standard. The following years displayed a consistent trend of substantial earnings for Travolta, with “Basic” (2003) bringing him $15 million, and both “Ladder 49” (2004) and “Be Cool” (2005) netting him $20 million each. Furthermore, his part in “Hairspray” (2007) earned him an impressive $14 million, demonstrating his continued versatility and popularity.

Early Life

Born on February 18, 1954, as the youngest of six siblings, Travolta’s mother, Helen Cecilia, was an actress and singer, previously making her mark as part of The Sunshine Sisters, a radio vocal group, before transitioning into a role as a high school teacher. His father, Salvatore, was a semi-professional American football player who later became a tire salesman.

Early Success

After leaving high school at 17 in 1971, Travolta relocated to New York City, where he landed a role in Broadway’s Over Here! and was part of the traveling cast of Grease. Shortly after, he moved to Los Angeles to further pursue his career. His first significant film appearance came in the 1976 horror classic Carrie, and he also portrayed Vinnie Barbarino in ABC’s sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter (1975-79).

In the ensuing years throughout the 1970s and into the early 1980s, Travolta experienced considerable success both on the screen and in music. His single “Let Her In” reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in July 1976. He starred in several notable films, including Saturday Night Fever (1977), Grease (1978), and Urban Cowboy (1980). For his role in Saturday Night Fever, Travolta received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, achieving this honor at just 24 years old, making him one of the youngest nominees ever.

Challenges and Comeback

Following his success in the 1970s, the 1980s presented a number of setbacks that affected his career. Films like Two of a Kind (1983) and Perfect (1985) faced commercial and critical failure. Even though Staying Alive, the 1983 sequel to Saturday Night Fever, grossed over $65 million and was commercially successful, it received poor reviews from critics.

Regardless of these challenges, Travolta made a remarkable comeback.In 1989, with the release of Look Who’s Talking, which earned $297 million, Travolta found his most successful film post-Grease. His role in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction (1994), for which he received an Academy Award nomination, solidified his returning A-list status. The 1990s proved to be a prolific decade for Travolta, predominantly due to an increase in film offers. Among the notable films he starred in during this time were Get Shorty (1995), Face/Off (1997), and A Civil Action (1998).

As an actor, the 2000s remained an active period for Travolta, with several films to his credit including Swordfish (2001), Ladder 49 (2004), Be Cool (2005), Lonely Hearts (2006), Wild Hogs (2007), and Old Dogs (2009). Furthermore, he made a return to musicals, featuring in drag as Edna Turnblad in the 2007 remake of Hairspray, marking his first musical role since Grease.

In this era, Travolta also explored diverse projects beyond his usual acting roles. Voicing the lead character in the animated film Bolt in 2008, he additionally contributed voiceovers to the 2005 documentary Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D. In 2000, he embarked on a personal project, starring in and co-producing the science fiction film Battlefield Earth, which is adapted from L. Ron Hubbard’s novel of the same name, a project he had dreamed about since the book’s release in 1982 after receiving a personal request from Hubbard to assist with a film adaptation.

Since 2010, Travolta’s acting ventures have primarily centered around action and thriller genres. His works from this time frame include Savages (2012), Killing Season (2013), In a Valley of Violence (2016), Speed Kills (2018), Trading Paint (2019), The Poison Rose (2019), The Fanatic (2019), and Paradise City (2022). Moreover, he has continued producing, serving as both star and executive producer in films like Criminal Activities (2015) and Gotti (2018).

In February 2023, John Travolta revisited the iconic “Summer Nights” scene from Grease in a Super Bowl commercial for T-Mobile.

Personal Life

In 1991, Travolta tied the knot with actress Kelly Preston, and the couple welcomed three children. Their eldest son, Jett, tragically passed away on January 2, 2009, at 16 years old during a vacation in the Bahamas, with the official cause being attributed to a seizure. Travolta confirmed that his son had autism and experienced frequent seizures. To honor his son, he founded the Jett Travolta Foundation, dedicated to supporting children with special needs.

In a heartbreaking turn of events, Kelly Preston succumbed to breast cancer on July 12, 2020, at the age of 57.

Although he grew up in a Catholic household, Travolta embraced the Church of Scientology in 1975 and has remained committed to its teachings. He has acknowledged both his family and Scientology as vital support in coping with the loss of his son.

Sexual Assault Allegations

A lawsuit was filed in May 2012 against Travolta by an anonymous masseur, claiming sexual assault and battery. Following responses from Travolta’s legal team claiming the allegations were “complete fiction and fabrication,” another masseur later joined the lawsuit with similar accusations. Ultimately, both lawsuits were dropped by the plaintiffs and dismissed.

Real Estate

The Travoltas purchased a home in LA’s Brentwood neighborhood in 1993 for $3.5 million, featuring 2.35 acres of land. This property includes an 8,100 square-foot main house with seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a tennis court, a playground, and a large swimming pool. In January 2020, they sold this residence to their next-door neighbor, mega-producer/manager Scooter Braun, for $18 million. Braun and his wife, Yael Cohen, bought the adjacent lot in 2014 for $13.1 million. John also owns a $2.65 million home in Calabasas, LA, which was acquired in September 2019.

Beyond LA, Travolta possesses a 50-acre estate in Maine that he attempted to sell in 2022 for $5 million, a mansion in Clearwater, Florida, near the Scientology headquarters which he sold in 2021 for $4 million, and a distinctive residence in Ocala, Florida, located in a neighborhood known as Jumbolair Aviation Estates. Currently, that property is estimated to be worth around $10 million. This area features a functioning private airport for large aircraft, and they were among the first buyers in the development. The runway is sufficiently large to accommodate Travolta’s passion for aviation, allowing him to operate multiple aircraft; reports suggest he owns at least seven jets along with several smaller planes.