Net Worth Ranker
What Is Kevin Spacey’s Net Worth?
As of March 2025, Kevin Spacey’s net worth is estimated to be approximately -$2 million. This figure represents a significant decline from what was once estimated to be a peak of $50 million earlier in his career. The dramatic shift is primarily attributed to legal fees, settlements, and a decline in his earning potential following numerous allegations and controversies.
Financial Downfall and Legal Battles Impacting Kevin Spacey’s Net Worth
The erosion of Kevin Spacey’s financial stability can be traced back to several key events, particularly the legal battles that arose following allegations of misconduct. A pivotal moment occurred in November 2021 when he was ordered to pay Media Rights Capital (MRC), the production company behind “House of Cards,” $31 million in damages. This judgment stemmed from a breach of contract related to his behavior on set, where he served as both an actor and producer. The ruling was upheld in August 2022, further solidifying the financial burden. The damages were broken down as $29.5 million in compensatory damages plus $1.5 million in legal fees and other costs.
By early 2024, this debt had reportedly ballooned to approximately $36 million due to accrued interest. Simultaneously, Spacey faced foreclosure proceedings on his Baltimore condo, a property he had acquired for $5.65 million in February 2017. This five-story, 9,000-square-foot waterfront home, located in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, was once among the most expensive residences in the area. However, by mid-2022, he had allegedly fallen behind on his $20,000 monthly mortgage payments. By February 2023, the reported delinquency had reached $171,727. Additionally, the homeowners association (HOA) filed a $43,400 lien against the property in July 2023, citing non-payment of the $2,600 monthly HOA fee for roughly 16 months. A debt collection agency was granted the right to sell the mansion in August 2023. The foreclosure auction was scheduled for February 29, 2024. In an interview with Piers Morgan in June 2024, Spacey claimed to have no money left and said he was facing foreclosure on his Baltimore home and had narrowly avoided bankruptcy several times.
However, in a surprising turn of events in February 2024, a deal was reportedly struck where Spacey would cooperate with MRC in their lawsuit against the show’s insurance company, Lloyds of London and Fireman’s Fund, in exchange for wiping out the $31 million judgment. MRC is reportedly seeking $150 million in that lawsuit. This complex legal maneuvering underscores the intricate financial web Spacey has been navigating.
Kevin Spacey’s Career Earnings and Real Estate Ventures
At the height of his career, particularly from the early 2000s through his involvement in “House of Cards” (2013-2018), Kevin Spacey commanded substantial earnings. He could reportedly earn $10 million for starring roles in major films and $5 million for supporting roles. His involvement in “House of Cards,” where he not only acted but also served as a producer, resulted in a salary of $20 million per season in the later seasons, with a base salary of $500,000 per episode.
Spacey also engaged in real estate transactions, reflecting his financial status at various points in his career. In 1997, he purchased a 1.1-acre property in Los Angeles’ Los Feliz neighborhood for $2.135 million. The property included a 6,600-square-foot home. He quietly listed this property in 2015 for $16 million but ultimately sold it in an off-market deal in July 2017 for $11 million. Adjacent to this property, he acquired another home in March 2001 for $1.9 million and sold it in May 2006 for $2.535 million. The Baltimore condo, purchased in 2017, became the subject of foreclosure proceedings, highlighting the stark contrast between his earlier real estate successes and his more recent financial struggles. As the foreclosure auction neared, Spacey’s debt on the Baltimore property had grown to nearly $36 million with interest.
Early Career and Rise to Fame: Building Kevin Spacey’s Net Worth
Born Kevin Spacey Fowler on July 26, 1959, in South Orange, New Jersey, his early life offered few hints of the fame and fortune that would eventually come his way. The family relocated to California when he was four. In his formative years, Spacey attended military school in grades 10 and 11 before transferring to Chatsworth High School for his senior year. It was here that he participated in the school’s theater production of “The Sound of Music,” a pivotal experience that solidified his interest in acting. Following graduation, he adopted the name Spacey and moved to New York City to study at the Juilliard School from 1979 to 1981. While at Juilliard, Spacey explored stand-up comedy, indicating his ambition and desire to break into the entertainment industry.
Spacey’s early career was marked by success in theater. After a minor role in a Shakespeare play, he appeared in the Broadway production of “Ghosts” in 1982. Further roles followed in “The Misanthrope and Hurlyburly.” By 1986, he had become a recognized figure in the New York theater scene, securing roles in Broadway productions of “Sleuth” and “The Seagull.” His breakthrough arrived later that year with a part in the critically acclaimed production of “Long Day’s Journey Into Night.”
His initial forays into television included a role in “Crime Stories,” but Spacey soon shifted his focus to film. While establishing himself in Hollywood, he continued to perform in plays, including “Lost in Yonkers” in 1991, for which he won a Tony Award. He also made appearances in television series such as “L.A. Law” and “The Murder of Mary Phagan.” Kevin Spacey’s first substantial film role was in “See No Evil, Hear No Evil” in 1989. His acting abilities were quickly recognized, and he developed a reputation as a compelling character actor in series like “Wiseguy” (1989) and films like “Glengarry Glen Ross” (1992).
Critical acclaim followed appearances in movies such as “The Ref” and “Swimming With Sharks,” culminating in an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “The Usual Suspects” in 1995. That same year, he delivered a memorable performance in “Se7en” as a serial killer. In 1996, he starred as an attorney in “A Time to Kill.” He provided voice acting for the animated film “A Bug’s Life” in 1998. In 1999, Spacey solidified his status as a major Hollywood star with his performance in “American Beauty,” earning an Academy Award for Best Actor and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Spacey continued to earn Tony Awards for his theater performances during this period and began the 2000s with roles in “Pay it Forward” and “K-Pax.” In 2006, he portrayed Lex Luthor in “Superman Returns.” He also appeared in the film “21” in 2008. From 2011, Spacey played Frank Underwood in the series “House of Cards” until 2018, when he was forced to leave the cast due to sexual assault allegations. During his time on the show, Spacey received multiple awards and nominations. Starting in 2013, he also worked as a producer on the show, earning a peak salary of $20 million per year. In 2011, Spacey played the antagonist in the film “Horrible Bosses.” In 2018, he appeared in “Billionaire Boys Club.” In late 2022, after winning the sexual battery lawsuit filed against him, Kevin Spacey was cast in the British indie thriller “Control” and as the late Croatian leader Franjo Tudjman in “Once Upon a Time in Croatia.”
Controversies and Impact on Kevin Spacey’s Net Worth
In 2017, allegations surfaced accusing Kevin Spacey of making sexual advances towards a 14-year-old boy in 1986, when Spacey was 26. This initial allegation led to further claims, with a total of 15 similar stories emerging. These allegations suggested a pattern of behavior, with many of the individuals coming forward having sons connected to the entertainment industry, including the Old Vic theater. Representatives from the Old Vic reported that 20 people had complained, and three had reported Spacey to the police.
The consequences were immediate and severe. Production of “House of Cards” was halted, and the final season was shortened to eight episodes. Additionally, several of Spacey’s films were re-shot with different actors after he was asked to leave the cast. He was subsequently dropped by his agent and publicist. By 2018, the allegations continued to mount, significantly damaging Spacey’s reputation. In 2019, a man whom Spacey had allegedly groped committed suicide. That year, a total of three people with ties to Spacey died. Although Spacey faced various court cases for sexual assault and criminal assault, all of the cases have been closed without legal penalties for the actor. Three charges were dismissed before or during the trial, which began in June 2023, and in July 2023, a jury found Spacey not guilty of the remaining charges.
In January 2019, Media Rights Capital (MRC) filed a lawsuit against Kevin Spacey. MRC’s lawsuit sought compensation FROM SPACEY PERSONALLY for the financial damages it incurred for having to scrap the entire sixth season after filming two episodes. Furthermore, MRC claimed in the scramble to right the ship, it only had enough time to produce eight episodes for the sixth season, five fewer than Netflix ordered. MRC lost millions in licensing fees by not being able to deliver a full season.
Other Ventures and Personal Life
Beyond acting, Spacey engaged in other ventures. In 1997, he established his own production company, Trigger Street Productions, which was later acquired by Relativity Media in 2016. He also directed films and hosted “Saturday Night Live” on multiple occasions. Additionally, Spacey appeared in video games, notably “Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare.” In 2003, he became the artistic director of the Old Vic Theater in London, a position he held until 2015.
For many years, Spacey maintained a private personal life, explaining in a 1998 interview that “the less you know about me, the easier it is to convince you that I am that character on screen.” In October 2017, fellow actor Anthony Rapp alleged that Spacey had acted inappropriately towards him when he was 14 years old. Spacey issued an apology, also coming out as gay in the same statement. This was met with criticism, as some perceived it as an attempt to link his homosexuality with the allegations. In November 2022, Spacey won the sexual battery lawsuit filed by Rapp.
