Net Worth Ranker
What Is Taraji P. Henson Net Worth?
Taraji P. Henson, a celebrated American actress and singer, has cultivated a substantial career in the entertainment industry, resulting in a net worth of $12 million. Her journey is marked by diverse roles and significant accolades, contributing to her financial success and recognition.
Taraji P. Henson’s Career Milestones
Henson’s career trajectory began with her film debut in “Streetwise” (1998). She gained wider recognition for her performances in “Hustle & Flow” (2005) and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (2008), with the latter earning her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Specifically, her role in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” marked a significant milestone, although her initial salary was $150,000.
In 2016, Henson portrayed Katherine Johnson in “Hidden Figures,” a role that not only showcased her talent but also contributed to the film’s critical acclaim and box-office success. This role further solidified her position in Hollywood and broadened her audience appeal.
Henson’s television career is equally impressive. From 2011 to 2013, she co-starred in the CBS drama series “Person of Interest,” showcasing her versatility in different genres. Her portrayal of Cookie Lyon in the Fox drama series “Empire,” from 2015 to 2020, brought her widespread acclaim, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama and Primetime Emmy nominations in 2015 and 2016. The success of “Empire,” where she earned $175,000 per episode, significantly boosted her income.
Her Emmy nominations also include recognition for her roles in the Lifetime movie “Taken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story” (2011) and a guest role in the ABC sitcom “Abbott Elementary” (2023). These nominations underscore her consistent performance quality across various platforms.
Time magazine recognized Henson as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2016, underscoring her impact both on and off-screen. That same year, she released her autobiography, “Around the Way Girl,” which became a New York Times bestseller. This achievement highlighted her diverse talents and resonated with a broad audience.
In 2019, Henson received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a testament to her enduring influence in the entertainment industry. This honor celebrates her contributions and solidifies her legacy.
Henson has also produced and hosted holiday specials for Fox and starred in films such as “Proud Mary” (2018), “Tyler Perry’s Acrimony” (2018), “Ralph Breaks the Internet” (2018), and “What Men Want” (2019). Her role as civil rights activist Ann Atwater in “The Best of Enemies” (2019) highlighted her ability to take on challenging and transformative roles.
Taraji P. Henson’s Salaries and Earnings
Throughout her career, Henson has been transparent about salary disparities in Hollywood. For “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (2008), she earned $150,000, a figure she considered low compared to her co-stars Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. She initially was offered $100,000 and pushed back to receive the final amount.
Tyler Perry paid her $500,000 for “The Family That Preys” (2008), marking a significant milestone in her career and addressing her concerns about fair compensation. This payment was particularly meaningful, as it validated her worth in the industry.
For “Empire” (2015-2020), Henson earned $175,000 per episode. With 102 episodes in the series, her gross earnings totaled $17.85 million. However, after taxes and fees, her net earnings were significantly lower, around $4.65 million.
Real Estate Holdings
In May 2015, Henson purchased a condo in Chicago for $1.5 million, which she sold in 2018 for approximately the same amount. In 2017, she acquired two units in the same building and listed them for a combined $3.3 million in August 2024. These units were also offered separately, one for $1.9 million and the other for $1.4 million. The specific address details of these Chicago properties are not publicly available.
Out in Los Angeles, Henson owns two properties. The first, located in Glendale, was bought in 2002 for $431,000. In 2016, she purchased a private mansion in the hills above Hollywood for $6.45 million. While specific addresses are not public, these investments reflect her real estate strategy and financial growth.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Taraji Penda Henson was born on September 11, 1970, in Washington, D.C. She graduated from high school in 1988. Henson then attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University to study electrical engineering before transferring to Howard University to pursue an acting education. To fund her tuition, she worked at the Pentagon and on a cruise ship.
After graduating from Howard University, Henson gained recognition for her role in the film “Baby Boy” alongside Tyrese Gibson. This 2001 role put Henson on the map, and she followed up in 2005 with a role in “Hustle & Flow.” In 2008, Henson was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress after appearing in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” That year, she also appeared in Tyler Perry’s “The Family That Preys” before taking a role in 2009’s “I Can Do Bad All By Myself.” She also appeared in the 2010 remake of “The Karate Kid.”
Next, Henson played the central role in “Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story,” earning an Emmy Award for her performance. In 2012, she joined the cast of “Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man,” and its sequel in 2014. “Hidden Figures” is perhaps one of Henson’s best-known films, and the 2016 movie was nominated for various awards. In 2018, Taraji P. Henson appeared in films such as “Proud Mary” and “Acrimony” before taking a voice acting role in Disney’s “Ralph Breaks The Internet.” In 2019, she starred in “What Men Want,” a reboot of the Mel Gibson film “What Women Want.”
Over the years, Henson has appeared in a wide range of television series. She has taken guest-starring roles in shows like “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” and “House.” Henson also booked recurring roles on shows such as “The Division” and “Boston Legal.” Perhaps her best-known recurring role was in the critically acclaimed show “Empire.” This 2015 series helped Taraji P. Henson achieve an even higher level of fame, and she gained widespread recognition for her acting talents. Thanks to her work on “Empire,” Henson won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in 2016.
Personal Life
Henson has one son, Marcell, who was born in 1994. In 2014, her son was detained by police officers, who found marijuana and Ritalin without a prescription in his car. Taraji P. Henson announced in 2017 that she had switched to a vegan diet in an effort to avoid stomach cancer. She had previously posed nude for PETA in 2011 and later in 2013 (non-nude).
