What Is Stacey Dash’s Net Worth?
Stacey Dash, the American actress best known for her role as Dionne Davenport in the 1995 film “Clueless” and the subsequent television series, has an estimated net worth of $100,000. This figure reflects her earnings from a career spanning acting, television appearances, and more recent ventures into political commentary.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Stacey Lauretta Dash was born on January 20, 1967, in The Bronx, New York. She is the daughter of Linda Dash and Dennis Dash, and her heritage is a mix of African American and Mexican descent. Her stepfather is Cecil Holmes, and her younger brother, Darien Dash, is the founder of DME Interactive. Her first cousin is Damon Dash, known as the former CEO and co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records. Dash graduated from Paramus High School in 1985. Specific financial details regarding her upbringing are not publicly available.
Dash initiated her television career with a role in the NBC crime drama “Farrell: For the People” in 1982. Though the show wasn’t picked up beyond the pilot episode, it marked the start of her journey in the entertainment industry. In 1985, she appeared on “The Cosby Show,” playing the character Michelle in the episode “Denise’s Friend,” marking her first notable TV appearance. Later, in 1988, she landed a recurring role on “St. Elsewhere.” Her initial roles did not provide substantial income, but were foundational for her subsequent career.
Her foray into film began with a role in the Richard Pryor comedy “Moving” in 1988. Between 1988 and 1989, Dash played Monique in the series “TV 101,” which was canceled after 13 episodes. She also appeared in “Mo’ Money” and the 1994 film “Renaissance Man.” In 1995, Dash secured her first leading role in the low-budget film “Illegal in Blue.” Financial compensation for these early roles was modest compared to her later success with “Clueless.” Contract details for these early roles are not publicly available.
Breakthrough with “Clueless” and Subsequent Roles
In 1995, Stacey Dash landed her most recognizable role as Dionne in the hit movie “Clueless”. This role significantly boosted her profile and earning potential. Despite being 28 at the time, she convincingly played a high schooler alongside Alicia Silverstone. In 1996, she was nominated for a Young Artist Award for Best Young Supporting Actress – Feature Film for her work in “Clueless”. However, the exact amount Stacey Dash earned from her role in “Clueless” and its related projects is not publicly disclosed.
From 1996 to 1999, Dash reprised her role as Dionne in the “Clueless” TV series. Subsequently, in 1999 and 2000, she starred as Vanessa Weir in the TV show “The Strip,” which was canceled after a few episodes. Dash then appeared in “View from the Top” (2003) and “Gang of Roses,” as well as “Getting Played” in 2005. She also made guest appearances in television shows like “Eve” and “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.” Furthermore, Dash appeared in music videos for artists such as Kanye West, Marques Houston, and Carl Thomas. Contract details and salary figures for these television and film roles are not publicly available.
In 2006, she launched her own lingerie line called Letters of Marque. That same year, she posed nude in Playboy magazine’s August issue. In 2007, she filmed roles in five movies: “I Could Never Be Your Woman,” “Nora’s Hair Salon II,” “Fashion Victim,” “Ghost Image,” and “American Primitive.” In 2008, she was featured in three small-budget films and the reality show “Celebrity Circus,” where she broke a rib during training. She finished as a finalist, placing second behind Antonio Sabato Jr. While these endeavors likely contributed to her income, specific financial details are not publicly known.
In 2009, Dash appeared in the television series “The Game,” and in 2011, she starred in “Single Ladies” for VH1. The following year, in 2012, she played the female lead, Lisa, in the film “Dysfunctional Friends.” In 2013, her scripted web series for Funny or Die, “Stacey Dash is Normal,” was launched. Earnings from these projects would have been factored into her overall income, contributing to her current net worth of $100,000. However, the specific financial details related to these projects are not publicly available.
Political Commentary and Fox News
In May 2014, Dash was hired as a contributor for “cultural analysis and commentary” for Fox News. This role provided a consistent income stream for several years. However, in 2015, she was suspended for two weeks without pay after making a controversial comment on “Outnumbered.” In January 2017, Fox News announced that Dash’s contract would not be renewed. While the specific terms of her Fox News contract are not publicly known, it can be assumed that her annual salary was a significant contribution to her earnings during that period.
Dash released her autobiography, “There Goes My Social Life: From Clueless to Conservative,” in 2016. Sales figures for the book are not publicly available, so it’s challenging to determine the exact financial impact it had on her overall net worth. In February 2018, she filed to run as a Republican in California’s 44th congressional district for the 2018 Congressional Election, but withdrew from the race on March 30, 2018. While running for office, she would have incurred campaign expenses. Details about her campaign finances are not readily accessible.
Personal Life and Financial Issues
Stacey Dash has two children. She had her son Austin (born in 1991) with singer Christopher Williams. Dash married producer Brian Lovell on July 16, 1999, and they divorced a few years later. From 2005 to 2006, she was married to British CEO and executive James Maby. The couple had a daughter, Lola (born in 2003). Dash married actor Emmanuel Xuereb in 2007, and they divorced in September 2011. She married Jeffrey Marty in April 2018, reportedly just 10 days after meeting each other. With her marriage to Marty, she became a stepmother to his three children. In June 2020, it was announced that the couple had filed for divorce. These relationships and subsequent divorces may have had financial implications, but the specifics are not known.
In September 2019, Stacey was arrested in Florida on charges alleging domestic violence. Following this incident, she claimed in legal filings that she was financially unable to afford a private lawyer and requested representation by a public defender. This suggests that her financial situation at the time was strained. She has also publicly spoken about past traumas in her personal life, including experiences with sexual assault and physical and emotional abuse by past partners. She has admitted to struggling with cocaine addiction in her teens and twenties. These personal challenges could have impacted her financial stability.
Politics and Public Statements
Dash voted for Barack Obama in 2008 but switched her affiliation from Democratic to Republican in 2012, endorsing Mitt Romney. Since 2012, she has publicly expressed her political views. Her outspoken political stances have drawn both support and criticism. In 2016, Dash commented that transgender rights “infringe upon her own.” She supported Donald Trump in 2016. These political endorsements and statements, while generating media attention, do not directly correlate to specific financial gains or losses. Stacey Dash’s net worth remains at approximately $100,000, reflecting the culmination of her earnings throughout her career.