Net Worth Ranker
What Is Kiefer Sutherland’s Net Worth?
Kiefer Sutherland, a multifaceted talent born in London but with strong Canadian roots, has cultivated an impressive career as an actor, director, and producer. His financial success is reflected in his estimated net worth of $100 million, accumulated through decades of work in film, television, and music.
Key Earnings and Financial Milestones in Kiefer Sutherland’s Career
Sutherland’s career trajectory demonstrates a consistent ability to capitalize on diverse opportunities within the entertainment industry. His early roles in iconic movies like “Stand By Me” and “The Lost Boys” laid the foundation for future success. However, it was his role as Jack Bauer in the groundbreaking television series “24” that catapulted his earnings into new territory.
In April 2006, Sutherland renegotiated his contract with 20th Century Fox Television, securing a deal worth $40 million for three seasons of “24.” This translated to approximately $9.6 million per season or $400,000 per episode, making him one of the highest-paid actors on television at the time. This contract also granted him an executive producer role and a first-look deal for his production company, further expanding his influence and potential earnings.
Later, during his time on “Designated Survivor” (2016-2019), Sutherland commanded a salary of $250,000 per episode. Over the show’s 53-episode run, this amounted to a substantial income, solidifying his status as a sought-after television star.
Beyond acting, Sutherland’s forays into directing and music have also contributed to his overall wealth. He directed the films “Last Night” (1993) and “Truth or Consequences, N.M.” (1997). Furthermore, his music career, marked by the release of two albums, “Down in a Hole” (2016) and “Reckless & Me” (2019), has added another revenue stream. While specific sales figures for these albums are not publicly available, they represent a diversification of his income sources.
Kiefer Sutherland’s Real Estate Portfolio
Sutherland’s real estate dealings reflect a keen eye for investment and a willingness to engage in high-value transactions. In 2000, he sold a ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley for $3.6 million, demonstrating an early understanding of property value appreciation.
In 2002, Sutherland purchased a converted ironworks foundry in Silver Lake for $700,000. He transformed the 14,400-square-foot building into a recording studio, reflecting his entrepreneurial spirit and investment in his music career. He later sold this property in 2009 for $3 million, realizing a significant profit.
Sutherland’s real estate activity in New York City further underscores his high-end investment strategies. In 2008, he acquired a 4,830-square-foot townhouse for $8.2 million. He sold this property in 2012 for $17.5 million, more than doubling his initial investment.
More recently, in 2018, Sutherland purchased a home in Atwater Village, Los Angeles, for $1.2 million. He listed this property for sale in October 2023 for $1.8 million, indicating an expected profit from this transaction as well.
In 2022, Sutherland was active in the real estate market. He sold a home in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles, to actors Macauley Culkin and Brenda Song for $8 million, approximately double what he had paid for it a decade earlier. Additionally, he purchased a 73-acre property in New York’s Hudson Valley for $5 million, expanding his portfolio to include a substantial rural holding.
These real estate transactions illustrate Sutherland’s ability to identify valuable properties, invest strategically, and generate substantial returns. His real estate portfolio is a significant component of his overall net worth.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born on December 21, 1966, in Paddington, London, as Kiefer William Frederick Dempsey George Rufus Sutherland, his initial exposure to the entertainment world came through his parents, Canadian actors Shirley Douglas and Donald Sutherland. In 1968, the family relocated to Corona, California. Following his parents’ divorce in 1970, Kiefer moved to Toronto, Canada, with his mother in 1975. He honed his acting skills at Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School.
At the age of 11, while visiting his father in Los Angeles, Kiefer’s acting journey began with a role in an Odyssey Theatre production of “Throne of Strow.” By 15, he left school to fully dedicate himself to acting. During his time in Los Angeles, he shared a living space with Robert Downey, Jr. for three years, marking the beginning of his formal acting career.
Detailed Overview of Career Milestones
Kiefer Sutherland’s career began with his first screen role in 1983’s “Max Dugan Returns,” where he acted alongside his father. His performance in 1985’s “The Bay Boy” received critical acclaim, earning him a Genie Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role. His first U.S.-filmed movie was “Stand by Me.” In 1988, he starred in “Young Guns,” which earned the cast a Western Heritage Award.
The 1990s saw Sutherland starring in “Young Guns II,” followed by roles in “Flatliners” (1990), “A Few Good Men” (1992), and “The Three Musketeers” (1993). Later, he co-starred with his father again in “A Time to Kill.” In 2001, Sutherland landed the role of counter-terrorist agent Jack Bauer on “24.” The series ran until 2010, with Sutherland reprising his role in “24: Redemption” (2008), a TV movie that aired between the show’s sixth and seventh season. After the show’s 8-season run, Jack Bauer returned in 2014 for “24: Live Another Day,” a 12-episode limited-run series.
From 2012 to 2013, Sutherland starred in the Fox series “Touch,” which ran for 26 episodes before being canceled. He then moved on to the ABC network in 2016, starring in the political drama “Designated Survivor,” which aired 53 episodes during its 3-season run. ABC canceled “Designated Survivor” in 2018, but Netflix picked it up for the third season.
Sutherland is set to return to streaming television in 2020 in Quibi’s “The Fugitive.”
Personal Life and Relationships
Sutherland married Camelia Kath in 1987, and they had a daughter, Sarah, in February 1988. Kiefer and Camelia divorced in 1990, and Sarah followed in her father’s footsteps with an acting career, playing Catherine Meyer on 43 episodes of HBO’s award-winning comedy series “Veep.” Sutherland became engaged to “Flatliners” co-star Julia Roberts in 1991, but she broke it off 3 days before the wedding. Kiefer went on to marry Kelly Winn in 1996, but they separated 3 years later and finalized their divorce in 2008. He began a relationship with actress Cindy Vela in 2014, and they got engaged in 2017.
Sutherland has been charged with DUI four times since 1989 and served 48 days in jail after being charged with drunk driving in L.A. in September 2007. At the time of his arrest, he was on probation for a 2004 DUI charge. In May 2009, Kiefer turned himself in to the police after he head-butted fashion designer Jack McCollough after a Metropolitan Museum of Art fundraiser. Kiefer publicly apologized a few weeks later, and the charges were dropped in July.
Awards and Recognitions
Sutherland has won several awards for his work on “24,” including an Emmy in 2006, a Golden Globe in 2002, Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2004 and 2006, and Gold Derby Awards in 2004 and 2005. Kiefer received a star on the Canada Walk of Fame in 2005 and the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2008. He was awarded the Hasty Pudding Man of the Year award in 2013, and the Zurich Film Festival gave him a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015.
