Taraji P. Henson Net Worth

Taraji P. Henson’s Net Worth: A Look at Her Career and Earnings

Taraji P. Henson is a celebrated American actress and singer, known for her captivating performances and advocacy for equal pay in Hollywood. This article delves into Taraji P. Henson’s net worth, exploring her career milestones, salary history, and personal life. We’ll examine her journey from early roles to becoming a household name, shedding light on her financial success and the challenges she’s overcome.

Early Life and Education

Taraji Penda Henson was born on September 11, 1970, in Washington, D.C. She grew up with two siblings, and she shared a close bond with her grandmother. “Taraji” means “hope” in Swahili, and “Penda” means “love.” Henson graduated from Oxon Hill High School in 1988. Initially, she studied electrical engineering at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. However, she later transferred to Howard University, where she pursued her passion for acting. To fund her education, Henson took on various jobs, including working at the Pentagon and on a cruise ship, demonstrating her early determination and work ethic.

Career Highlights and Breakthrough Roles

After graduating from Howard University, Taraji P. Henson launched her acting career, quickly gaining recognition. Her breakthrough role came in the 2001 film Baby Boy, where she starred alongside Tyrese Gibson. This role helped establish her as a rising star. In 2005, she appeared in Hustle & Flow, where she played the love interest of the lead character. The film received critical acclaim and won multiple awards. These early roles showcased Henson’s versatility and ability to connect with audiences.

Empire and Television Stardom

Taraji P. Henson’s television career has been equally impressive. From 2011 to 2013, she co-starred in the CBS drama series Person of Interest. However, her portrayal of Cookie Lyon in the Fox drama series Empire (2015-2020) propelled her to widespread fame. Her performance as the complex and captivating Cookie earned her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress and Primetime Emmy nominations in 2015 and 2016. She also received Emmy nominations for her roles in the Lifetime movie Taken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story (2011) and for a guest role in the ABC sitcom Abbott Elementary (2023).

Film Success and Notable Roles

Henson’s film career is filled with notable performances. In 2008, she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. That same year, she also appeared in Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys. Some of her other notable film roles include I Can Do Bad All By Myself (2009), the 2010 remake of The Karate Kid, Proud Mary (2018), Tyler Perry’s Acrimony (2018), Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018), and What Men Want (2019). Her portrayal of civil rights activist Ann Atwater in The Best of Enemies (2019) further demonstrated her ability to take on challenging and transformative roles. Her role as Katherine Johnson in Hidden Figures (2016) was a significant success, contributing to the film’s major box-office success and critical acclaim.

Salaries, Financial Realities, and Hollywood Disparities

One of the most insightful parts of understanding Taraji P. Henson’s net worth involves understanding the realities of Hollywood salaries, especially the financial disparities and challenges she’s spoken out about. Here’s a breakdown of some known salaries:

• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): $150,000
• The Family That Preys (2008): $500,000
• Empire (2015-2020): $175,000 per episode

Henson has openly discussed the financial challenges she faced, particularly regarding salary negotiations and deductions. For The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, despite being the third-billed actor, she was initially offered a much lower salary compared to her co-stars Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. After negotiation, she received $150,000. However, after taxes and agent/manager fees, she netted only around $40,000.

In a 2021 interview, she discussed the impact of taxes and fees:

“When you start making that kind of money, Uncle Sam takes 50 percent, so let’s do the math. So that leaves me with 75 [thousand], then I have to pay another thirty percent to my team who did all the work to get me that job. So, I don’t pay them 30 percent of the 75 [thousand], no, no, no, I pay them 30 percent of the 150 [thousand]. So what does that compute to?“

In December 2023, Henson expressed further frustration about Hollywood salaries in an interview with Gayle King:

“When you hear someone go, ‘Such and such made $10 million,’ that didn’t make it to their account. Off the top, Uncle Sam is getting 50%. Now have $5 million. Your team is getting 30% off what you gross, not after what Uncle Same took. Now, do the math. I’m only human. Every time I do something and break another glass ceiling, when it’s time to renegotiate, I’m at the bottom again, like I never did what I just did, and I’m tired. I’m tired. It wears on you. What does that mean? What is that telling me? If I can’t fight for them coming up behind me, then what the fuck am I doing?“

Taraji credits Tyler Perry for being the first person to pay her $500,000, a salary she received for 2008’s The Family That Preys.

For Empire, Henson earned $175,000 per episode. Assuming she earned that salary for all 102 episodes, her gross earnings would be $17.85 million. After accounting for taxes and fees, she would have netted roughly $4.65 million from the show.

Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Personal Life and Advocacy

Henson has one son, Marcell, born in 1994. Tragically, his father was murdered in 2003. In 2017, Henson announced she had switched to a vegan diet, citing a desire to avoid stomach cancer. She has also been an advocate for various causes, including animal rights, having posed nude for PETA in 2011 and 2013.

Real Estate Portfolio

Taraji P. Henson’s real estate investments have also contributed to her overall net worth. In May 2015, she purchased a condo in Chicago for $1.5 million, selling it in 2018 for around the same price. She owns another unit in the same building, which she bought in 2017 for $1.9 million.

In Los Angeles, Henson owns two properties. The first, in Glendale, was purchased in 2002 for $431,000. In 2016, she acquired a private mansion in the Hollywood Hills for $6.45 million.

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Taraji P. Henson’s Net Worth and Summary

As of 2024, Taraji P. Henson’s net worth is estimated to be around $12 million. This figure is a testament to her successful career in both film and television, as well as her real estate investments. Despite the challenges of the entertainment industry, particularly regarding salary discrepancies, Henson has established herself as a prominent figure, not only through her acting skills, but also her willingness to speak out on important issues.