Net Worth Ranker
What Is Linda Hamilton’s Net Worth?
Linda Hamilton, an American actress celebrated for her iconic role as Sarah Connor in the “Terminator” film series and her portrayal of Catherine Chandler in the CBS television series “Beauty and the Beast,” boasts a net worth of $70 million. Her financial standing reflects a successful career spanning several decades, encompassing notable roles in film and television.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born on September 26, 1956, in Salisbury, Maryland, Linda Hamilton’s early life included the loss of her father, Carroll, a physician, at the age of five. Subsequently, her mother remarried a police chief. She had an identical twin sister, Leslie, who passed away in 2020, along with an older sister and a younger brother. Linda attended Wicomico Junior High and Wicomico High School. She then spent two years at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, before moving to New York City to pursue acting. In New York, she honed her skills at acting workshops under the tutelage of Lee Strasberg. Her career commenced in 1980 with an appearance in an episode of NBC’s “Shirley” and roles in television films such as “Reunion” and “Rape and Marriage: The Rideout Case.” She also secured a significant role as Lisa Rogers in the primetime soap opera “Secrets of Midland Heights.” Hamilton’s film debut occurred in the 1982 thriller “TAG: The Assassination Game,” alongside Robert Carradine.
“The Terminator” and Film Career
Following “TAG,” Linda Hamilton took on the lead role in the 1984 horror film “Children of the Corn,” adapted from a Stephen King short story. She also featured in “The Stone Boy” with Robert Duvall, Glenn Close, and Wilford Brimley. However, it was her role in James Cameron’s 1984 science-fiction thriller “The Terminator” that propelled her to stardom. Portraying Sarah Connor, a woman pursued by a cyborg assassin from the future, Hamilton became a prominent female lead in action cinema. “The Terminator” achieved unexpected success, earning over $78 million on a budget of approximately $6 million. She reprised the role in 1991’s “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” which grossed over $500 million, becoming the highest-grossing film of the year. Linda lent her voice to the sequel “Terminator Salvation” in 2009 and returned in a starring capacity in “Terminator: Dark Fate” in 2019.
In 1986, Hamilton starred in the action thriller “Black Moon Rising,” opposite Tommy Lee Jones, and the monster adventure sequel “King Kong Lives.” She then appeared in the 1990 fantasy comedy “Mr. Destiny,” alongside James Belushi, Michael Caine, and Jon Lovitz. She later featured in the psychological thrillers “Silent Fall” and “Separate Lives.” In 1997, Linda Hamilton starred in two films released a week apart: “Shadow Conspiracy” with Charlie Sheen, and “Dante’s Peak” with Pierce Brosnan. While “Shadow Conspiracy” didn’t perform well, “Dante’s Peak” was a major commercial success. Subsequent film credits include “The Secret Life of Girls,” “Missing in America,” “The Kid & I,” “Hard Times,” “Curvature,” and “Easy Does It.”
Television Career
In the early to mid-1980s, Linda Hamilton appeared in the nighttime soap opera “King’s Crossing,” the television movie “Country Gold,” and in four episodes of the police procedural series “Hill Street Blues.” She also featured in the television movies “Secret Weapons” and “Club Med.” In 1987, Hamilton secured her biggest television role as Catherine Chandler in the CBS fantasy drama series “Beauty and the Beast,” co-starring with Ron Perlman. For her performance, she received Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominations. She departed the show in 1989. Linda Hamilton hosted “Saturday Night Live” in 1991 and made a significant return to television in 1995 with the TV movie “A Mother’s Prayer,” which earned her a Golden Globe nomination for portraying a widowed mother diagnosed with AIDS. Subsequently, she appeared in an episode of “Frasier” and starred in various television movies, including “On the Line” and “Point Last Seen.”
In the early 2000s, Hamilton featured in television movies such as “Sex & Mrs. X,” “A Girl Thing,” and “Silent Night.” She guest-starred in episodes of “According to Jim” and “Thief,” and had a recurring role in the Canadian series “The Line.” Later television credits include “Weeds,” “Chuck,” “Lost Girl,” the miniseries “Air Force One is Down,” the television movie “Bermuda Tentacles,” the science-fiction Western series “Defiance,” and “Resident Alien.” These diverse roles in television have contributed to Linda Hamilton’s net worth.
James Cameron Divorce Settlement
Linda Hamilton’s divorce from director James Cameron in 1999 resulted in a settlement of $50 million, significantly contributing to her net worth. This settlement reflects the financial implications of their marriage and Cameron’s success with films such as “Titanic.”
Real Estate Investments
In 2012, Linda Hamilton acquired a 25-acre property in Lucketts, Virginia, for $998,000 and sold it in 2016 for $1.3 million, realizing a profit of over $300,000. This real estate transaction highlights her investment acumen. Previously, she owned several homes in Los Angeles, including a Malibu mansion that she sold for $4 million in 2012, although she had initially sought $5.5 million. Hamilton also owns an oceanfront home near Sarasota, Florida, purchased in 2003 for $850,000, and a townhome in New Orleans. These real estate holdings form a component of Linda Hamilton’s net worth.
Personal Life and Other Ventures
Linda Hamilton married actor Bruce Abbott in 1982. After Abbott left her while she was pregnant with their son, Dalton, they divorced in 1989. Subsequently, Hamilton lived with her “Terminator” director, James Cameron, with whom she had a daughter, Josephine, in 1993. The couple married in 1997 and divorced with a $50 million settlement in 1999. Linda Hamilton has openly discussed her struggles with bipolar disorder and depression, which she believes contributed to the failure of her marriages. During the filming of “Terminator 2,” she suffered hearing damage in one ear when Arnold Schwarzenegger fired a shotgun in an elevator after she had removed her earplugs. While specific details regarding personal investments beyond real estate are not available, Linda Hamilton’s career earnings and strategic property transactions significantly contribute to her $70 million net worth.
