John Travolta Net Worth (Money & Salary)
his remarkable comeback in the industry.
Travolta continued to command significant paychecks throughout the late 1990s into the early 2000s. In 1997, both “Mad City” and “Face/Off” each netted him a staggering $20 million. He continued with “Primary Colors” and “A Civil Action,” receiving $17 million and $20 million respectively in 1998. The trend persisted into 1999 with “The General’s Daughter,” where he once again earned $20 million. Though “Battlefield Earth” in 2000 saw a decrease to $10 million, he rebounded with $20 million for “Swordfish” in 2001, followed by $15 million for “Basic” in 2003, and matching his peak again for “Ladder 49” and “Be Cool” (2004 and 2005 respectively), each paying $20 million. Finally, his role in “Hairspray” in 2007 secured him $14 million.
In summary, the combined earnings from these 16 films accumulate to an impressive total of $230 million.
Other Ventures
Beyond his acting career, John Travolta has expanded his portfolio with various ventures, including producing and even piloting aviation. He is a certified pilot and owns several aircraft, which speaks to his passion for flying. His investments in real estate and production also contribute significantly to his net worth.
In essence, Travolta’s multifaceted career, characterized by his dynamic roles and engaging performances, has not only solidified his position in Hollywood but also endowed him with considerable financial success.
to reclaim his box office clout.
“Mad City” (1997) and “Primary Colors” (1998) maintained this impressive earning streak, generating $20 million and $17 million, respectively. In addition, “A Civil Action” (1998) saw him earning another $20 million paycheck. As the millennium drew to a close, there was no doubt about Travolta’s star power, highlighted by “The General’s Daughter” (1999), which also brought in a salary of $20 million.
As the new millennium began, Travolta’s salary took a dip to $10 million for “Battlefield Earth” (2000), likely due to the film’s mixed reviews. However, this dip was short-lived, as “Swordfish” (2001) restored him to the $20 million salary benchmark. In the following years, a consistent pattern of high earnings emerged for Travolta, evidenced by “Basic” (2003) earning $15 million and both “Ladder 49” (2004) and “Be Cool” (2005) each grossing $20 million. His performance in “Hairspray” (2007) also secured him an admirable $14 million, showcasing his versatility and lasting appeal.
Early life
Born on February 18, 1954, Travolta was the youngest of six siblings. His mother, Helen Cecilia, was an accomplished actress and singer who enjoyed a successful career with The Sunshine Sisters, a radio vocal group, before transitioning to a role as a high school teacher. His father, Salvatore, had a background as a semi-professional American football player before becoming a tire salesman.
Beginnings of Success
At the age of 17, in 1971, Travolta left high school and moved to New York City, where he landed a role in the Broadway show Over Here! and joined the touring cast of Grease. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Los Angeles to advance his career. His first notable screen appearance came in the 1976 horror film Carrie, and he also portrayed Vinnie Barbarino in ABC’s sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter (1975-79).
Throughout the late 70s and early 80s, Travolta enjoyed considerable success both on the screen and with his music. He achieved a hit single, “Let Her In,” which peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in July 1976. He starred in several major films, most prominently Saturday Night Fever (1977), Grease (1978), and Urban Cowboy (1980). For his outstanding performance in Saturday Night Fever, Travolta received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, becoming one of the youngest individuals to earn such recognition at just 24 years old.
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Decline and Return
Following the success of the 1970s, the 1980s proved to be a challenging decade that affected his career trajectory. The films Two of a Kind (1983) and Perfect (1985) were both commercial and critical disappointments. Even though Staying Alive, the 1983 follow-up to Saturday Night Fever, was a box office success grossing over $65 million, it failed to win over critics.
In spite of these challenges, Travolta made a remarkable comeback.In 1989, Look Who’s Talking made an impressive $297 million, becoming Travolta’s most successful film following Grease. He solidified his return to A-list status with an Academy Award-nominated performance in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction (1994). The 1990s proved productive for Travolta, with an increase in movie offers. Noteworthy films from this era include Get Shorty (1995), Face/Off (1997), and A Civil Action (1998).
The 2000s saw Travolta busy as an actor, with numerous films to his credit, such as Swordfish (2001), Ladder 49 (2004), Be Cool (2005), Lonely Hearts (2006), Wild Hogs (2007), and Old Dogs (2009). He also made a return to musicals, portraying Edna Turnblad in drag in the 2007 remake of Hairspray.
During this time, Travolta explored different types of projects outside his traditional roles. In 2008, he voiced the lead character in the animated film Bolt, and contributed voiceovers for the 2005 documentary Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D. He took on a personal project in 2000 by starring in and co-producing the science fiction film Battlefield Earth, which is adapted from L. Ron Hubbard’s novel. This film had been one of Travolta’s dream projects, having been pursued since the book’s release in 1982, when Hubbard had personally contacted him to assist in creating a film adaptation.
From 2010 onward, Travolta’s acting projects have primarily focused on action and thriller genres. Notable works during this timeframe include Savages (2012), Killing Season (2013), In a Valley of Violence (2016), Speed Kills (2018), Trading Paint (2019), The Poison Rose (2019), The Fanatic (2019), and Paradise City (2022). He has also pursued producing opportunities, serving as both star and executive producer for films like Criminal Activities (2015) and Gotti (2018).
In February 2023, Travolta revisited the iconic “Summer Nights” scene from Grease for a T-Mobile Super Bowl commercial.
(LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty Images)
Personal Life
In 1991, Travolta wed actress Kelly Preston, and the couple welcomed three children. Their eldest son, Jett, sadly passed away on January 2, 2009, at age 16 while vacationing in the Bahamas, with the official cause of death attributed to a seizure. Travolta has openly discussed Jett’s struggles with autism and his frequent seizures. In honor of his son, Travolta established the Jett Travolta Foundation, aimed at supporting children with special needs.
Tragically, Kelly Preston succumbed to breast cancer on July 12, 2020, at the age of 57.
Though raised in a Catholic family, Travolta converted to the Church of Scientology in 1975, a commitment he has upheld. He has often credited both his immediate family and Scientology with helping him navigate the grief following his son’s death.
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Allegations of Sexual Assault
A lawsuit was filed in May 2012 by an anonymous masseur against Travolta, claiming sexual assault and battery. Following assertions from Travolta’s legal representatives that described the allegations as “complete fiction and fabrication,” a second masseur later contributed similar claims to the lawsuit. Ultimately, both lawsuits were withdrawn by the complainants and subsequently dismissed.
Real Estate Holdings
The Travoltas acquired a 2.35-acre residence in LA’s Brentwood neighborhood in 1993, paying $3.5 million. This property includes an 8,100 square-foot main house, seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a tennis court, a playground, and an expansive swimming pool. In January 2020, they sold the home to neighbor Scooter Braun, a prominent producer/manager, for $18 million. Braun and his wife, Yael Cohen, had previously purchased the adjacent lot in 2014 for $13.1 million. Additionally, John owns a $2.65 million home in Calabasas, LA, which he bought in September 2019.
Beyond LA, Travolta has a 50-acre estate in Maine that he attempted to sell in 2022 for $5 million, a mansion in Clearwater, Florida, near Scientology’s headquarters which he sold in 2021 for $4 million, and a distinctive residence in Ocala, Florida, situated in the Jumbolair Aviation Estates neighborhood. Currently, the value of this property is approximately $10 million. This neighborhood features a functioning private airport for large aircraft, and Travolta was among the initial property purchasers in the area. The runway is sufficiently spacious for Travolta, a passionate aviator, to operate his various planes; he reportedly possesses at least seven jets alongside additional smaller aircraft.
