Net Worth Ranker
What Is Star Jones’ Net Worth?
Star Jones, an accomplished American lawyer, journalist, and television personality, has accumulated a net worth of $12 million. This valuation reflects her diverse and successful career spanning law, media, and authorship.
Early Career and Transition to Television
Star Jones’s journey began with a strong academic foundation. After graduating with a BA degree in administration of justice from American University in Washington, DC, she pursued a Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of Houston Law Center. She was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1987, marking the start of her legal career. For five years, Jones served as a prosecutor with the Kings County District Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn, New York, rising to the position of senior assistant district attorney. This period solidified her legal acumen and provided a foundation for her later transition to media.
In 1991, Jones was recruited by Court TV, marking a pivotal moment in her career. She became the first Black person and first woman to serve as a commentator for the William Kennedy Smith rape trial. Her success led to her role as a legal correspondent for NBC’s “Today” and “Nightly News,” gaining national recognition and setting the stage for her future television endeavors. In 1994, she hosted her own program, the court show “Jones & Jury,” making her the first Black person and first female to arbitrate a television courtroom series, although the show lasted only one year.
After “Jones & Jury,” she was appointed the chief legal analyst on “Inside Edition,” covering the O. J. Simpson murder case in 1995. This role amplified her visibility and solidified her reputation as a legal expert in the media.
“The View” and Subsequent Television Roles
Jones joined ABC’s “The View” in 1997 as one of the original co-hosts alongside Barbara Walters, Joy Behar, Meredith Vieira, and Debbie Matenopoulos. Over her nine seasons on the show, she became known for her strong opinions and legal expertise. While specific salary figures for her tenure on “The View” are not publicly available, it is reasonable to assume that her compensation increased significantly over the years, contributing substantially to her overall net worth.
After her departure from “The View,” Jones became the executive editor of daytime programming on truTV, where she also hosted her own talk show, “Star Jones.” Although the show was canceled after six months due to being “too serious” for the channel’s programming, it provided her with another platform and income stream. Specific financial details of her contract with truTV are not public knowledge, but it likely contributed to her overall earnings during that period.
Beyond her regular hosting roles, Jones has made numerous other appearances on television, including serving as a red-carpet host on E! from 2004 to 2005. She has also guest-hosted on various cable programs, such as HGTV’s “House Hunters,” CNN’s “Larry King Live,” and Oxygen’s reunion episode of “The Bad Girls Club.” As an actor, she made her debut on the season eight finale of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” playing a Brooklyn prosecutor, and later played a judge on “Drop Dead Diva.” She also appeared on “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” and “The Celebrity Apprentice,” where she came in fifth place. While the exact earnings from these guest appearances are not publicly disclosed, they collectively added to her income.
Authorial Works and Other Ventures
Jones has authored several books, including “You Have to Stand for Something, or You’ll Fall for Anything” (1998), “Shine: A Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Journey to Finding Love” (2006), and “Satan’s Sisters” (2011). “Satan’s Sisters” inspired the VH1 series “Daytime Divas,” which aired in 2017, where Jones served as an executive producer and appeared in one episode. While the exact sales figures and royalties from her books are not publicly available, they have contributed to her overall income. As an executive producer, Jones received a fee for her work on the show. The exact amount is not known.
Jones’s involvement with the National Association of Professional Women (NAPW), where she created the NAPW Foundation, and her role as president of the Professional Diversity Network, suggest potential income from these affiliations, although specific details are not publicly available. These roles indicate her involvement in various initiatives and potential compensation for her leadership and contributions.
Personal Life and Financial Considerations
Jones’s personal life has also intersected with her professional career, potentially influencing her financial standing. Her marriage to investment banker Al Reynolds in 2004 and subsequent divorce in 2008, as well as her marriage to Ricardo Lugo in 2018, may have involved financial settlements or agreements, although specific details are not publicly known. Any financial arrangements resulting from these life events could have had an impact on her overall net worth.
It’s important to note that net worth calculations are often estimates based on publicly available information and may not reflect a complete picture of an individual’s assets and liabilities. Star Jones’s $12 million net worth reflects her career accomplishments in law, television, and authorship, but the specific breakdown of her assets and investments remains private.
