Net Worth Ranker
What Is Richard Dreyfuss’s Net Worth?
Richard Dreyfuss, the American actor renowned for his roles in iconic films of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, has accumulated a net worth of $5 million. His career, marked by both critical acclaim and personal struggles, has seen him star in blockbusters and receive prestigious awards, including an Academy Award.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born on October 29, 1947, in Brooklyn, New York, to Norman Dreyfus, an attorney, restaurateur, and plastics company owner, and Geraldine, a peace activist, Richard’s early life was marked by familial shifts. The family moved to Los Angeles, California, when Richard was nine years old. Richard Dreyfuss attended Beverly Hills High School and began exploring his acting talents at the Temple Emanual of Beverly Hills Art Center and the Westside Jewish Community Center. At 15, he appeared in a television production of “In Mama’s House.” He briefly attended San Fernando Valley State College before opting for alternate service as a conscious objector to the Vietnam War.
During his alternate service in Los Angeles, Dreyfuss secured minor roles in television shows such as “That Girl,” “Gunsmoke,” and “Bewitched.” He also had uncredited roles in “The Graduate” and a few lines in “Valley of the Dolls.” Dreyfuss also appeared in “The Time of Your Life” in Los Angeles in 1972 at the Huntington Hartford Theater. Dreyfuss landed the starring role in the CBS pilot, “Catch-22,” and appeared in “American Graffiti.” In 1974, he had his first lead role in “The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz.”
Rise to Prominence and Critical Acclaim
Richard Dreyfuss’s career trajectory shifted dramatically with the release of “Jaws” in 1975, where he played Matt Hooper. This role served as a launchpad for his career, leading to further success in Steven Spielberg’s “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” in 1977. That same year, his performance in “The Goodbye Girl” earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1978, making him the youngest actor to receive the award at that time, at the age of 30.
Despite this early success, Dreyfuss faced personal challenges, including a struggle with cocaine addiction, which led to a drug-fueled car accident and subsequent arrest in 1982. After rehabilitation, he revitalized his career with roles in films such as “Down And Out In Beverly Hills” (1986) and “Stakeout” (1987). In 1994, he was invited to the Vatican to perform before Pope John Paul II. In 1995, Dreyfuss starred in “Mr. Holland’s Opus,” which earned him an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe award. In 1996 he earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Later Career and Financial Challenges
Continuing his acting career, Dreyfuss appeared in films such as “Poseidon” (2006) and portrayed Vice President Dick Cheney in “W.” (2008). In February 2017, Dreyfuss made headlines by admitting that he was “broke,” despite having earned millions of dollars throughout his career. He stated, “When I use the phrase ‘I’m broke,’ it means I’m broke. It means I don’t have the money I had… I’ve had an amazing amount of bad luck financially, and I realized I didn’t have the money I had.” He attributed his financial difficulties to poor money management, two divorces, and his past cocaine use. He also mentioned that he never accepted a film role solely for the money and had taken breaks from acting.
Real Estate Holdings
Richard Dreyfuss has engaged in several real estate transactions over the years. In 1995, he sold a Los Angeles home to Kevin Costner for $2.7 million. In 2004, he sold a home in Sherman Oaks, California, for $1.88 million. In April 2008, he purchased a home in Encinitas, California, for $1.54 million. This property, situated on 1.2 acres, is currently estimated to be worth between $3 million and $4 million.
Personal Life and Public Engagements
Richard Dreyfuss has been married three times. In the early 1980s, he married Jeramie Rain, a writer and producer, with whom he had three children: Emily, Benjamin, and Harry. The couple divorced in 1995. He then married Janelle Lacey in 1999, but they divorced in 2005. In 2006, he married Svetlana Erokhin. In addition to his acting career, Dreyfuss has co-authored a science-fiction book, “The Two Georges,” with Harry Turtledove. He has also been involved in promoting civics education in American schools through The Dreyfuss Civics Initiative.
