Net Worth Ranker
What Is Renée Zellweger’s Net Worth?
Renée Zellweger, a highly acclaimed American actress and producer, has accumulated a net worth of $90 million. Her wealth is primarily derived from her successful acting career, which spans several decades and includes numerous critically acclaimed and commercially successful films.
Renée Zellweger: Early Life and Career Beginnings
Renée Kathleen Zellweger was born on April 25, 1969, in Katy, Texas. During her time at Katy High School, she was involved in cheerleading, soccer, football, drama, and speech. After graduating high school, Zellweger attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned an English degree in 1991. To support herself after her father lost his job, she worked as a cocktail waitress. Her early career involved auditioning for films in Austin and Houston, securing small roles in independent and low-budget films. In 1994, she had a non-speaking role in Ben Stiller’s “Reality Bites” and her first significant role was in the horror film “Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation,” where she played a teenager alongside Matthew McConaughey. Following this, she starred in the crime comedy “Love and a .45,” which garnered local Austin critical praise and earned her an Independent Spirit Award for Best Debut Performance. Shortly after this win, Renée relocated to Los Angeles, and secured a role in the cult-classic “Empire Records” in 1995.
Breakthrough and Critical Acclaim
Zellweger’s breakthrough role came in 1996 with “Jerry Maguire,” opposite Tom Cruise. The film grossed over $273 million worldwide. For her sensitive and charming portrayal of a single, widowed mother, she was nominated for her first Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Female Actor in a Supporting Role. In 2000, she starred alongside Jim Carrey in “Me, Myself & Irene”, which earned $149 million worldwide. For her role in “Nurse Betty”, she secured her first Golden Globe Award for Best Actress. In 2001, Zellweger took the lead role in “Bridget Jones’s Diary,” and despite controversy over her casting due to her nationality, she began the process of gaining 20 lbs and perfecting an English accent. The film was a box office success, earning $281 million worldwide. Her performance earned her a second Golden Globe nomination, as well as her first Oscar and BAFTA nomination for Best Leading Actress. In 2002, she starred in the musical “Chicago,” which won Best Picture at the Oscars. For her work, she earned her second Academy Award and BAFTA nominations and won her second Golden Globe award. Following this, she starred in “Cold Mountain” opposite Nicole Kidman and Jude Law. Zellweger took home the Oscar, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, and British Academy Film Awards for Best Supporting Actress.
Salary Highlights
Renée Zellweger’s salary for “Bridget Jones’s Diary” in 2001 was $3.75 million. By 2004, she earned $11 million for reprising her role in “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.” For her role in “Chicago” in 2002, she earned $10 million. In 2003, she earned $15 million for her work in “Cold Mountain.” Her salary for “Cinderella Man” in 2005 was $5 million. For a big-budget studio film, Renée can earn between $10 and $15 million. Thanks to her blockbuster successes and major award wins, she can accept independent film roles for nominal paydays while remaining one of the highest-paid actresses in the world.
Real Estate Holdings
In 2004, Renée Zellweger acquired a 40-acre farm in Connecticut for $1.32 million. She previously owned a complex of apartment units in New York City, which she sold in 2011 for $7.4 million. In 2003, she sold a house in Bel Air, Los Angeles, to Debra Messing for $7 million. Also in 2003, Renée purchased a home in East Hampton, New York, for $2.15 million, listing it for sale in 2014 for $4.45 million and ultimately selling it in December 2014 for $4.65 million. In April 2015, Zellweger paid $3.35 million for a home in Topanga, California, which she listed for sale in October 2021 for approximately $6 million and eventually sold for $6.4 million. In 2020, Renée acquired a lakefront property on Lake Travis in Austin, Texas, for around $3 million.
