Net Worth Ranker
What Is Danny Trejo’s Net Worth?
As of today, February 28, 2025, Danny Trejo’s net worth is estimated to be $500,000. This figure reflects his earnings from a long and prolific career in film and television, as well as his entrepreneurial ventures in the restaurant industry. While he has achieved considerable success in Hollywood, his current net worth is impacted by significant debt.
Danny Trejo’s Financial Challenges and Bankruptcy
In February 2023, Danny Trejo filed for Chapter 11 personal bankruptcy, a move that brought his financial situation into the public eye. The primary driver behind this filing was an accumulation of approximately $2 million in debt owed to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). According to Trejo’s statements to TMZ at the time, the debt stemmed largely from erroneous deductions claimed on his tax returns. While an initial agreement was reached with the IRS for a repayment plan involving four annual payments of $200,000, totaling $800,000 by early 2028, the plan has been complicated by unforeseen circumstances.
The writers’ and actors’ strikes, which significantly impacted the entertainment industry, have created a financial strain on Danny Trejo, potentially disrupting his ability to meet the agreed-upon payment schedule. To address this challenge, he may need to liquidate assets, potentially including one of his properties, to satisfy his debt obligations to the IRS.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Danny Trejo was born on May 16, 1944, in Echo Park, Los Angeles, California. He is the son of Alice Rivera and Dionisio “Dan” Trejo. His early life was marked by instability. When he was a toddler, the family relocated to San Antonio, Texas, after his father was accused of stabbing a man. After a year in Texas, the family returned to Los Angeles, and his father surrendered to the police.
By the age of 12, Trejo had already developed a habit of drug use and criminal activity. He was first arrested at the age of 10 and was sentenced to a juvenile center. Throughout the 1960s, he was repeatedly incarcerated in California prisons. While serving time in San Quentin, Trejo became involved in boxing, ultimately becoming a champion in the prison’s lightweight and welterweight divisions. During this period, he also joined a 12-step program, which proved instrumental in overcoming his drug addiction.
After his final release from prison, he briefly attended Pitzer College in Claremont, California, but he only stayed for one semester. His entry into the entertainment industry was somewhat serendipitous. In 1985, at a Cocaine Anonymous meeting, he met a young man who later sought his support. This led Trejo to visit the set of “Runaway Train” (1985), where he was offered a role as a convict extra, likely because of his tough appearance.
On the set, Trejo was recognized by Edward Bunker, a respected crime author and screenwriter for “Runaway Train,” who had also previously been incarcerated in San Quentin. Bunker remembered Trejo’s boxing skills and offered him $320 per day to train Eric Roberts, one of the film’s stars, for a boxing scene. Impressed by Trejo’s work, the film’s director, Andrei Konchalovsky, gave him a small role as a boxer, which marked the beginning of his acting career.
Acting Career and Filmography
Danny Trejo’s distinctive appearance, characterized by his facial scars, long hair, mustache, and extensive tattoos, has made him a recognizable figure in Hollywood. Since his debut in “Runaway Train,” he has built a prolific acting career, often appearing in multiple films each year across various genres.
Some of his most notable film appearances include: “Marked for Death” (1990), “Desperado” (1995), “From Dusk till Dawn” (1995), “The Replacement Killers” (1998), “Animal Factory” (2000), “Bubble Boy” (2001), “Spy Kids” (2001), “XXX” (2002), “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” (2004), “Grindhouse” (2007), “Urban Justice” (2007), “Modus Operandi” (2010), “Machete” (2010), “Reaper” (2014), and “Range 15” (2016).
His life story is also the subject of a 2005 independent biographical film titled “Champion.” In 2014, Trejo produced his first film, “Ambition,” followed by “Bad Asses” in the same year.
In addition to his film work, Danny Trejo has appeared in over seventy television shows since 1990. These include “Baywatch” (1991-1992), “NYPD Blue” (1996-1998), “The X-Files” (2000), “King of the Hill” (2003-2010), “Monk” (2004), “Desperate Housewives” (2005), “The Young and the Restless” (2008), “Breaking Bad” (2009-2010), “Modern Family” (2010), “Bones” (2011), “Sons of Anarchy” (2011-2012), “NCIS: Los Angeles” (2014), “Rick and Morty” (2017), “American Dad!” (2017-2019), “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (2017), “Blue Bloods” (2019), and “Dynasty” (2020).
In 2021, Danny Trejo played the Ghost of Huet in the Disney+ Halloween special “Muppets Haunted Mansion,” and in 2022, he made his “Star Wars” debut in the Disney+ series “The Book of Boba Fett” as Rancor.
Other Ventures and Investments Impacting Danny Trejo’s Net Worth
Beyond acting, Danny Trejo has also ventured into the restaurant business. He opened his first restaurant, Trejo’s Tacos, in 2016, followed by Trejo’s Cantina and Trejo’s Coffee & Donuts in 2017. These restaurants, overseen by executive chef Mason Royal, contribute to his overall income and net worth.
Trejo’s voice has also been featured in video games such as “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City” (2002), “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories” (2006), and “Fallout: New Vegas” (2010). He has also appeared as himself in “Call of Duty: Black Ops” (2010), “Taco Run!” (2018), and “Call of Duty: Black Ops 4” (2019).
In 2019, he participated in promotions for “Magic: The Gathering Arena” and made guest appearances in the DLC expansion “Far Cry 6: Danny and Dani vs. Everybody” (2021), “Olli Olli World” (2022), and the “SCUM: Danny Trejo Character Pack” (2022). These ventures diversify his income streams and contribute to his financial standing, though the specific financial impact of each is not publicly detailed.
Real Estate Assets and Potential Liquidation
Danny Trejo owns multiple properties in the Los Angeles area. In June 1999, he purchased a home in Pico Rivera, an L.A. suburb, for $130,000. As of today, February 28, 2025, a relative appears to reside in this home. His primary residence since 2012 has been a home in Mission Hills, California, which he acquired for $550,000. This property is currently valued at approximately $1.2 million and has been a key point in his bankruptcy proceedings.
Trejo also inherited a property in Pacoima from his mother, valued at $750,000. Due to his financial difficulties, he may need to sell this property to make payments to the IRS. The potential sale of this property underscores the financial challenges he faces and the impact on his net worth.
Personal Life and Family
Danny Trejo has been married and divorced four times. He was married to Debbie Shreve from 1997 to 2009, and they have three children. Trejo is the second cousin of filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, a relationship they only discovered during the filming of the movie “Desperado.” These personal details, while not directly related to his net worth, provide context to his life and career.
