Net Worth Ranker
What Is Kate Capshaw’s Net Worth?
Kate Capshaw, a retired American actress, boasts a net worth of approximately $100 million. While her acting career has contributed to this sum, the majority is attributable to her marriage to renowned director Steven Spielberg since 1991. Should they ever divorce, the division of their assets would likely involve hundreds of millions of dollars, encompassing real estate holdings and earnings accumulated during their marriage.
Early Life and Education
Born Kathleen Sue Nail in Fort Worth, Texas, Capshaw’s early life began with her mother, Beverley Sue, working as a travel agent and beautician, and her father, Edwin Leon, employed in the airline industry. When she was five, the family relocated to St. Louis, Missouri. In 1972, she graduated from Hazelwood Senior High School, now known as Hazelwood Central High School. Capshaw pursued higher education at the University of Missouri, where she earned a degree in education. During her time at the university, she was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority, fostering connections that would prove valuable in her future endeavors.
Following her graduation, Capshaw dedicated herself to teaching Special Education. She taught at Southern Boone County High School in Ashland, Missouri, and Rock Bridge High School in Columbia, Missouri. These early experiences shaped her understanding of human potential and resilience, qualities that would later inform her acting roles and philanthropic pursuits.
Career Breakthrough and Notable Film Roles
Capshaw’s journey into acting began after she moved to New York City. She secured a role on the long-running soap opera “The Edge of Night,” marking her initial foray into the world of performance. This role provided her with valuable on-screen experience and exposure to the demands of the entertainment industry. While there are no details about her salary for the series, it was the catalyst for her future success.
Leaving “The Edge of Night,” Capshaw landed the lead role in the comedy film “A Little Sex” (1982). This opportunity arose when she initially auditioned for a smaller supporting role, showcasing her talent and versatility. Specifics about her compensation for this role are not publicly available, but it served as a stepping stone towards more prominent projects. The success of “A Little Sex” opened doors for Capshaw, leading to her most iconic role to date.
Her breakthrough arrived with the Steven Spielberg film “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” (1984). Capshaw won the female lead as Willie Scott, opposite Harrison Ford. The details of her salary for this project are undisclosed, but it was a pivotal moment in her career. The film’s global success propelled her to international recognition and solidified her position as a leading actress. The filming of “Temple of Doom” also marked the beginning of her relationship with director Steven Spielberg, whom she later married. Following “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”, she appeared in “SpaceCamp” (1986) as camp instructor Andie Bergstrom and “Power” (1986) opposite Richard Gere and Gene Hackman. Again, the salary details for these movies are not available.
Throughout the late 1980s and into the 1990s, Capshaw appeared in a variety of films, including “Black Rain” (1989) alongside Michael Douglas and Andy Garcia, “Just Cause” (1995) with Sean Connery and Laurence Fishburne, and “Love Affair” (1994) with Warren Beatty and Katharine Hepburn. While the specific financial details of these roles remain private, they contributed to her overall earnings and cemented her status as a versatile actress. In 1997, she was featured in “The Alarmist” with David Arquette and Stanley Tucci and she starred in and produced “The Love Letter” (1999). Her last projects before retiring from acting were the Showtime Cable Network TV Movie “A Girl Thing” (2001) with Stockard Channing, Rebecca De Mornay, and Elle Macpherson and the 2001 TV movie “Due East.”
Marriage to Steven Spielberg and Family Life
Kate Capshaw’s personal life took a significant turn when she married director Steven Spielberg in 1991. Before their marriage, Capshaw converted to Judaism, embracing Spielberg’s faith in both civil and Orthodox ceremonies. The blending of their families resulted in a total of seven children: Jessica Capshaw, Capshaw’s daughter from her first marriage to Robert Capshaw; Max Spielberg, Spielberg’s son from his previous marriage to actress Amy Irving; Theo Spielberg, Capshaw’s son whom she adopted before marrying Spielberg, and later adopted by him; Sasha Spielberg; Sawyer Spielberg; Mikaela George, whom the couple adopted together; and Destry Spielberg. This large and diverse family became a central focus of their lives.
Real Estate Holdings
The Spielbergs reside in Pacific Palisades, an upscale residential neighborhood in California. They bought their mansion in the late 1990s. The exact purchase price remains undisclosed. This area is known for its ocean views and hiking trails. They also owned two properties in Malibu, one acquired in 1989 and the other in 2000, for a total of $6.57 million. They sold the estate with both properties for $26 million in 2015.
The couple also maintains a vacation home in the exclusive area of Georgica Pond in the Hamptons, New York. This area is known for its wealthy residents, including Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and Ronald Perelman. Although the exact details of the property are not available, homes in this area command prices in the tens of millions of dollars. In addition, the couple acquired a luxury yacht, The Seven Seas, for $184 million. They put it up for sale in 2015. The specific reasons for selling it are not totally known.
