Net Worth Ranker
What Is Traci Lords’ Net Worth?
Traci Lords, an American actress, producer, director, writer, and singer, has accumulated a net worth of $1 million. This figure reflects her diverse career across various entertainment sectors, from her controversial beginnings in the adult industry to her roles in mainstream films and television.
Traci Lords’ Early Career and Earnings
Traci Lords’ entry into the adult film industry at the age of 15, using a fake ID, is a significant part of her early career. According to Lords herself, her earnings during her three years in adult films totaled between $35,000 and $40,000. Adjusting for inflation, this would be equivalent to approximately $90,000 to $100,000 in today’s dollars. However, these earnings were reportedly spent on lifestyle expenses, including drugs and alcohol. Her manager disputed these figures, claiming that at her peak, Traci was earning $300,000 per year, which would be like earning around $750,000 per year in today’s dollars. This discrepancy highlights the differing perspectives on her financial success during that period.
In early 1984, Traci answered a newspaper ad for Jim South’s World Modeling Talent Agency, and Hayes accompanied her to the office, posing as her stepfather. After Lords signed with the agency, she began booking jobs as a nude model, appearing in publications such as “Juggs” and “Velvet.” When she was chosen to model in the September 1984 issue of “Penthouse” magazine (the 15th-anniversary issue), she was asked for her stage name, and she chose “Traci” because it was a popular name she liked and “Lords” because she was a fan of “Hawaii Five-O” and its star Jack Lord.
Traci appeared in her first pornographic movie, “What Gets Me Hot!,” in 1984, and after she turned 16 and starred in the AVN Award-winning porn spoof “Talk Dirty to Me Part III,” she was dubbed the “Princess of Porn.” When she was 17, she formed the Traci Lords Company with her then-boyfriend/manager Stuart Dell, and they produced the films “Traci Takes Tokyo,” “Beverly Hills Copulator,” and the unreleased “Screamer” for Vantage International.
In the spring of 1986, authorities were informed that Traci hadn’t been of legal age when she was starring in porn movies, and they arrested the owners of X-Citement Video, Inc. and Lords’ movie agency. Within a few weeks, adult movie theatres and video stores began removing Traci’s films to avoid being prosecuted for the distribution of child pornography. Only one of Lords’ pornographic movies is legally available in the U.S.; she filmed “Traci, I Love You” two days after she turned 18.
Transition to Mainstream Entertainment and Subsequent Projects
Following her time in the adult film industry, Traci Lords transitioned to mainstream entertainment. She studied at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute to hone her acting skills. She secured guest-starring roles on television shows such as “Wiseguy” (1988), “Married… with Children” (1989–1991), “MacGyver” (1989–1990), “Highlander” (1993), “Tales from the Crypt” (1993), and “Nash Bridges” (1997). Her early film roles included appearances in “Not of This Earth” (1988), “Fast Food” (1989), “Cry-Baby” (1990), “Shock ‘Em Dead” (1990), “Raw Nerve” (1991), “Intent to Kill” (1992), and “Serial Mom” (1994). These roles, while not providing specific income figures, marked her entry into mainstream acting and contributed to her overall net worth.
In the 1990s, Traci secured recurring roles in television series, which would have provided her with a more stable income. These included her role as Stacy Flagler on ABC’s “Roseanne” (1994–1995), Rikki Abbott on Fox’s “Melrose Place” (1995), and Sharon Lesher on NBC’s “Profiler” (1997–1998). These roles elevated her visibility and likely increased her earning potential, although specific salary figures for these roles are not publicly available.
Traci’s career continued with lead roles in films such as “Chump Change” and “Epicenter” in 2000. Later appearances included “Manhood” (2003), “Frostbite” (2005), “Crazy Eights” (2006), “I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell” (2009), and “Princess of Mars” (2009). She also played “Bubbles” in the 2008 Kevin Smith-directed comedy “Zack and Miri Make a Porno.” From 2000 to 2001, Lords had a recurring role as Jordan Radcliffe on the Canadian sci-fi drama “First Wave,” and she later guest-starred on “Gilmore Girls” (2003), “Will & Grace” (2005), “Wanted” (2005), and “Andy Barker, P.I.” (2007). From 2013 to 2019, she appeared in eight episodes of the YouTube/Netflix series “EastSiders,” and she played Jane McKinney on the Viaplay series “Swedish Dicks” from 2016 to 2018. Traci won several awards for her performance in the 2012 psychological horror film “Excision,” then she appeared in “Devil May Call” (2013), “Cemetery Tales Presents: A Tale of Two Sisters” (2018), “Manipulated” (2019), “Nicole, her Ex & the Killer” (2020), “Waking Up Dead” (2021), and “The Farm” (2021). The cumulative effect of these diverse roles has been a steady contribution to her overall earnings.
Other Ventures and Financial Milestones Contributing to Traci Lords’ Net Worth
In addition to acting, Traci Lords has engaged in other ventures that have contributed to her financial profile. She released the album “1000 Fires” in 1995 and the EP “Sunshine” in 2004. Her singles “Control” and “Last Drag” reached the top 10 on the “Billboard” Hot Dance Club Songs chart. Revenue from music sales and royalties would have added to her income stream. She wrote and directed the 2005 short film “Sweet Pea” and served as a producer on films such as “Beverly Hills Copulator” (1986), “Traci Takes Tokyo” (1986), “Traci, I Love You” (1987), “Extramarital” (1998), and “Excision” (2012). Producing and directing credits typically involve fees and potential profits, further enhancing her financial standing. One of Traci Lords’ milestones was publishing her autobiography, “Traci Lords: Underneath It All,” in 2003, which debuted at #31 on “The New York Times” Best Seller list. Book sales and related royalties from a bestselling autobiography would have provided a notable financial boost. In 2015, Traci appeared on the ABC reality television series “Celebrity Wife Swap,” trading lives with actress Jackée Harry. Participation in reality television can yield significant appearance fees, impacting her income positively. These combined endeavors, from music to writing and reality TV, have supported her financial stability and contributed to her $1 million net worth.
Traci Lords’ Personal Life
Traci Lords was born Nora Louise Kuzma on May 7, 1968, in Steubenville, Ohio, to Patricia and Louis Kuzma. Her father worked as a steelworker. She has three sisters: Lorraine, Grace, and Rachel. After her parents divorced, Traci and her sisters moved to their great-grandmother’s house with their mother. When she was 12, they moved to Redondo Beach, California, with their mother and her new boyfriend. Traci attended Redondo Union High School but dropped out at 15 to work in the adult industry. In her autobiography, she revealed that her mother’s boyfriend, Roger Hayes, abused drugs and molested her while she slept. Traci Lords has been married three times. Her first marriage was to Brook Yeaton from September 29, 1990, to January 1, 1996. Her second marriage was to Ryan Granger from June 26, 1999, to February 1, 2000. She married Jeff Gruenewald on February 23, 2002, and they have a son, Joseph Gunnar Lee, born on October 7, 2007.
Traci Lords has been a vocal supporter of the LGBTQ community. In a 2012 interview with “GayCalgary Magazine,” she stated, “I witnessed a close friend die of AIDS in the nineties, and his partner was denied all access to him in the hospital. That’s what started my activism.” She also said, “Some of my dearest friends are gay, and I hate the ways they suffer. It’s wrong.”
Awards and Nominations Contributing to Recognition
While awards and nominations do not directly translate into financial gain, they often lead to increased recognition and opportunities, which can indirectly boost Traci Lords’ net worth. In 1987, Traci was inducted into the “Adult Video News” Awards Hall of Fame, though this honor was later revoked due to her underage status at the start of her career. In 2001, she won a Film Discovery Jury Award for Best Actress for “Chump Change” at the US Comedy Arts Festival. The 2012 film “Excision” earned her a CinEuphoria Award for Best Supporting Actress – International Competition, a “Fangoria” Chainsaw Award for Best Supporting Actress, a Fright Meter Award for Best Supporting Actress, and a Molins Film Festival Jury Prize for Best Actress. These accolades highlight her acting skills and could lead to more significant roles and better compensation. Traci also received a Best Guest Star – Drama nomination for “Eastsiders” at the 2014 Indie Series Awards, and in 2019, she earned a Best Actress nomination for “Cemetery Tales: A Tale of Two Sisters” at the Terror in the Bay Film Festival. These nominations further establish her presence in the entertainment industry, contributing to her reputation and potential earnings.
