Net Worth Ranker
What Is Djimon Hounsou’s Net Worth?
As of early 2025, Djimon Hounsou, the Beninese-American actor and model, has an estimated net worth of $2 million. This valuation reflects his extensive career in the entertainment industry, encompassing roles in critically acclaimed films, voice acting, and occasional modeling work. While Hounsou has starred in numerous blockbuster films and received multiple award nominations, his reported net worth underscores the financial realities faced by many actors, even those with significant recognition.
Djimon Hounsou’s Career and Earnings
Djimon Hounsou’s journey to Hollywood began in Paris, where he worked as a fashion model after being discovered by designer Thierry Mugler in 1987. He transitioned to acting with appearances in music videos, including Paula Abdul’s “Straight Up,” Madonna’s “Express Yourself,” and Janet Jackson’s “Love Will Never Do (Without You)” between 1989 and 1991. His film debut came in 1990 with “Without You I’m Nothing.”
His breakthrough role was in Steven Spielberg’s “Amistad” (1997), for which he received a Golden Globe nomination. Subsequently, he appeared in films like “Gladiator” (2000), which grossed over $460 million worldwide, and “In America” (2003), earning him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Hounsou’s role in “Blood Diamond” (2006), a film that grossed over $171 million globally, garnered him a second Academy Award nomination, as well as nominations for the Screen Actors Guild Award and Broadcast Film Critics Association awards. He did win the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor for “Blood Diamond”. Despite these successes, details of Hounsou’s specific salary for each film are not publicly available.
Hounsou expanded his career into the superhero genre, portraying Korath the Pursuer in Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014) and “Captain Marvel” (2019). “Guardians of the Galaxy” earned over $773 million worldwide, while “Captain Marvel” surpassed $1.1 billion at the global box office. He also took on roles in the DC Extended Universe, appearing as the Fisherman King Ricou in “Aquaman” (2018) and the Wizard Shazam in “Shazam!” (2019). Aquaman grossed over $1.1 billion and Shazam! grossed over $367 million.
Other notable films in Hounsou’s filmography include “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life” (2003), “Constantine” (2005), “Eragon” (2006), and “Furious 7” (2015). “Furious 7” was a massive commercial success, grossing over $1.5 billion globally. He has also lent his voice to animated projects like “The Wild Thornberrys” (2000), “Black Panther” (2010), and “How to Train Your Dragon 2” (2014), where he voiced the character Drago Bludvist.
In February 2007, Hounsou was announced as the new underwear model for Calvin Klein, represented by Omar Albertto. He also appeared in commercials for ESPN during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Real Estate Assets and Financial Disclosure
Djimon Hounsou’s real estate portfolio includes a house in the Westchester neighborhood of Los Angeles, purchased in January 2020 for $2.1 million. In October 2023, he listed this property for rent at $11,750 per month and appears to have secured a tenant in February 2024 at a reduced rate of $10,500 per month. He also owns a home in Playa Del Rey, California, acquired in August 2004 for $1.12 million. These real estate holdings contribute to his overall asset portfolio.
Despite his successful acting career, Hounsou publicly disclosed in a January 2025 interview with CNN that he faces financial struggles. He stated, “I’m still struggling to make a living. I’ve been in the filmmaking business for over two decades with two Oscar nominations and many blockbuster films, and yet, I’m still struggling financially. I’m definitely underpaid.” This revelation highlights the complex financial realities within the entertainment industry, even for established actors like Hounsou.
Early Life and Background
Born on April 24, 1964, in Cotonou, Benin (formerly the Republic of Dahomey), Djimon Gaston Hounsou is the son of Albertine and Pierre Hounsou. At the age of twelve, he emigrated to Lyon, France, with his brother, Edmond. Hounsou dropped out of school shortly after arriving in France and experienced a period of homelessness. This early hardship eventually led to a chance encounter with fashion designer Thierry Mugler, which marked the beginning of his modeling career in Paris in 1987. He moved to the United States in 1990, where he continued to pursue both modeling and acting opportunities, ultimately leading to his successful career.
Personal Life
Hounsou began a relationship with model and fashion designer Kimora Lee Simmons in 2007. They have a son, Kenzo Lee Hounsou, born in 2009. Although they never legally married in the United States, they participated in a traditional commitment ceremony in Benin in 2008. The couple separated in November 2012.
