Drea de Matteo Net Worth

Drea de Matteo’s Net Worth: A Look at Her Career, Finances, and Personal Life

Introduction

Drea de Matteo is a familiar face to television audiences, known for her compelling performances in iconic series. From her breakthrough role in “The Sopranos” to her ventures in other successful shows and films, de Matteo has established herself as a versatile actress. Beyond her on-screen achievements, her life has also been marked by significant financial challenges and personal experiences that have shaped her journey. This article delves into Drea de Matteo’s net worth, exploring her career highlights, financial struggles, personal life, and real estate dealings.

Drea de Matteo’s Net Worth and Financial Struggles

Drea de Matteo’s current net worth is estimated to be $4 million. This figure reflects her earnings from a successful acting career spanning several decades, along with income from other ventures. However, de Matteo’s financial journey hasn’t been without its hurdles. In August 2023, she surprised many by launching an OnlyFans account, explaining that it was a necessity to overcome financial difficulties. She revealed that personal setbacks and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic left her with limited resources. Adding to her financial challenges, de Matteo’s New York City apartment was destroyed in a gas explosion in 2015, leading to ongoing insurance battles. Furthermore, her stance against vaccination during the pandemic reportedly hindered her ability to secure mainstream acting roles. She was also supporting a parent suffering from dementia.

Despite these challenges, de Matteo has shown resilience and resourcefulness. She claimed in February 2024 that she earned enough money within five minutes of joining OnlyFans to pay off her mortgage debts on her LA home. This highlights her ability to adapt and find new avenues for income.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Drea de Matteo was born on January 19, 1972, in Queens, New York City. She has Italian ancestry and was raised in a Roman Catholic household. Her family background played a significant role in her upbringing. Her father, Albert, was a furniture manufacturer and the owner and CEO of Avery Boardman and Carlyle, a custom furniture shop in New York. Her mother, Donna, was a playwright and a faculty member at HB Studio, a non-profit performing arts training center, where she taught playwrighting.

De Matteo received her education at the Loyola School for High School before attending New York University, initially with the intention of becoming a film director. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in film production from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts while also studying acting at the HB Studio. Her early experiences provided her with a solid foundation for her future career.

Before making her mark on the acting world, de Matteo ventured into entrepreneurship. She opened a clothing store in the East Village called Filth Mart, which featured vintage and rock music-inspired designs. She also worked as a designer for the store, creating custom t-shirts that were featured in fashion publications such as Elle. Though initially successful, the store closed in 2004.

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The Sopranos and Breakout Success

Drea de Matteo’s acting career began with minor roles in both television and film. She appeared in the 1999 film “Meet Prince Charming” and the 1996 movie “Swift Justice.” Her breakthrough role came in 1999 when she was cast in “The Sopranos” as Adriana La Cerva, the girlfriend of Christopher Moltisanti, played by Michael Imperioli. Her performance received widespread critical acclaim, leading to several award nominations, including Screen Actors Guild Awards and Golden Globe nominations. She won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress, a Gracie Allen Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for her performance in “The Sopranos.”

The series ran until 2006 and was the peak of de Matteo’s public success, solidifying her status as a prominent actress. She was featured in Maxim’s Hot 100 Women in both 2001 and 2002.

Post-Sopranos Career

Following the success of “The Sopranos,” de Matteo continued to take on various roles. During the final seasons of “The Sopranos,” she was cast in “Joey,” the spin-off of “Friends” starring Matt LeBlanc. She played the role of Joey Tribbiani’s sister, Gina, for the two seasons of the show before its cancellation.

She also appeared in several films during her time on “The Sopranos,” including “Deuces Wild,” “The Perfect You,” and “Prey for Rock & Roll.” In 2001, she starred in the film “‘R Xmas,” for which she won the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival Award for Best Actress.

De Matteo also secured a recurring role on the FX original series “Sons of Anarchy,” which premiered in 2008 and ran for seven seasons. She was promoted to a primary cast member during the show’s final season.

Additionally, de Matteo played Angie Bolen on the sixth season of “Desperate Housewives,” a popular ABC show. She left the show after the season finale in 2010.

Since then, she has continued to take on various roles in television series such as “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “The Mindy Project,” “The Making of the Mob: New York,” “Shades of Blue,” and “A Million Little Things.” Her film projects have included “Lake City,” “Free Ride,” “New York, I Love You,” “Dark Places,” and “Sex, Death and Bowling.”

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Personal Life: Relationships and Challenges

In her personal life, de Matteo dated Michael Sportes for several years in the late 1990s, and they were partners in opening their clothing store, Filth Mart, before their relationship ended. In 2001, she began dating musician Shooter Jennings. They were in a relationship for several years. Jennings proposed to de Matteo onstage at the Stanley Theater in 2009, but they never officially married. They had two children together: a daughter, Alabama, in 2007, and a son, Waylon, in 2011. The couple later separated. De Matteo then started dating Michael Devin, the bass guitarist from the rock band Whitesnake, and they became engaged in 2015.

In March 2015, de Matteo’s apartment in the East Village was destroyed in a gas explosion, resulting in a large fire. She lost all her belongings in addition to the residence she had lived in for 22 years, adding a significant hardship to her life.

Real Estate Ventures

Drea de Matteo has been involved in several real estate transactions throughout her life. In 1992, her parents custom-built a 5,000-square-foot home in East Hampton. In 2022, de Matteo sold this property for $3.1 million. In 2004, she purchased a home in LA’s Laurel Canyon neighborhood for $2.085 million. She listed this home for sale in the middle of 2022 for $4 million and relisted it in mid-2023 for $3.6 million. However, she ultimately pulled the listing and currently still owns the home.

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Conclusion

Drea de Matteo’s career is a testament to her talent and versatility. She has navigated the entertainment industry with notable success, and her net worth reflects her achievements. Despite facing financial difficulties and personal challenges, de Matteo continues to demonstrate resilience. Her journey offers insights into the complexities of celebrity life, showcasing both the triumphs and the hardships that come with a public career.