John Travolta’s Net Worth and Biography in a Nutshell
- Net Worth: $250 Million
- Full Name: John Joseph Travolta
- Birthdate: February 18, 1954
- Age: 70 years old (As of 2024)
- Birthplace: Englewood, USA
- Gender: Male
- Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
- Profession: Actor, Singer, Dancer, Voice Actor, Film Producer
- Spouse: Kelly Preston (m. 1991; died 2020)
- Children: 3
- Relatives: Ellen Travolta (sister), Margaret Travolta (sister), Joey Travolta (brother)
- Nationality: United States of America
John Travolta’s Net Worth in 2024
John Travolta, an American actor, producer, singer, and dancer, has a net worth of $250 million as of 2024.
His journey through Hollywood has been nothing short of impressive, marked by iconic roles, highs and lows, and an ability to stay relevant for decades.
Here’s a closer look at his career and how he built his incredible wealth.
Early Fame in the 1970s
John Travolta rose to fame in the 1970s with two groundbreaking films, Saturday Night Fever (1977) and Grease (1978).
His role as Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever made him a cultural icon of the disco era.
Travolta’s charisma and dancing skills caught the attention of millions, and the movie became a huge hit, earning him an Academy Award nomination.
In Grease, he starred as Danny Zuko, further solidifying his place in Hollywood history.
The film became one of the most popular musicals of all time, and Travolta’s performance was widely praised. These roles made him one of the highest-paid actors in the 1970s.
Career Downturn in the 1980s
Despite his early success, the 1980s brought a period of less critical acclaim. Travolta faced some career setbacks and struggled to find major hits during this time.
However, he didn’t give up. He continued to work hard, taking on various roles in an attempt to reinvent himself and stay relevant in Hollywood.
A Major Comeback in the 1990s
Travolta’s big comeback came in the 1990s, thanks to Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction (1994). This film changed everything for Travolta.
It showcased his talent in a completely new light, introducing him to a younger audience. His performance as Vincent Vega was widely praised, and the film became an instant classic.
Pulp Fiction earned him several award nominations and is often seen as a turning point in his career.
Continued Success in the 2000s and Beyond
After the success of Pulp Fiction, Travolta’s career skyrocketed. He took on diverse roles in films such as Face/Off (1997), where he starred alongside Nicolas Cage in an action-packed thriller. The film was a huge box office success, and Travolta’s performance was lauded.
Travolta also starred in movies like Get Shorty (1995), Primary Colors (1998), Swordfish (2001), and Ladder 49 (2004). His versatility allowed him to transition smoothly from action roles to comedies and dramas, making him a sought-after actor.
Iconic Musical Roles
Travolta’s love for musicals continued into the 2000s with his role in Hairspray (2007).
Playing Edna Turnblad, a character he transformed for the stage, Travolta showcased his singing and dancing skills once again.
The movie was a hit and showed that Travolta could still captivate audiences with his talent, even decades after his early musical successes.
John Travolta’s Wealth
Apart from his acting career, John Travolta has earned money through his investments in real estate, including his famous aeronautical interests.
Travolta is a passionate pilot and owns several planes. His love for aviation has added to his wealth, as he owns a private jet and a home near a private airport in Florida.
Notable Film Salaries
John Travolta’s career has been marked by his incredible ability to bounce back from setbacks, and his earnings reflect this journey.
Over the years, Travolta’s film salaries have skyrocketed, especially after his career revival in the 1990s. Here’s a breakdown of some of his most notable film salaries:
1. 1994: Pulp Fiction – $150,000
Pulp Fiction was a game-changer for Travolta. He earned a modest $150,000 for this iconic role, but the movie’s massive success revived his career, making it one of the most pivotal moments in Hollywood history.
2. 1995: Get Shorty – $6 Million
Following his Pulp Fiction success, Travolta’s salary jumped to $6 million for Get Shorty, a comedy film that showcased his ability to transition into diverse roles.
3. 1996: Broken Arrow – $7 Million
In 1996, Travolta earned $7 million for Broken Arrow, an action thriller where he played a villain opposite Christian Slater.
4. 1996: Phenomenon – $8 Million
In Phenomenon, Travolta portrayed a man who develops extraordinary abilities. This heartfelt drama earned him $8 million.
5. 1996: Michael – $12 Million
In another film released in 1996, Michael, Travolta played an angel, earning $12 million for his quirky yet charming performance.
6. 1997: Face/Off – $20 Million
Face/Off was a major success, and Travolta’s salary reflected his regained box-office power, earning him a whopping $20 million for his role opposite Nicolas Cage.
7. 1997: Mad City – $20 Million
Travolta earned another $20 million for Mad City, a thriller that saw him in a lead role alongside Dustin Hoffman.
8. 1998: Primary Colors – $17 Million
In Primary Colors, Travolta earned $17 million for playing a charismatic politician in this political drama.
9. 1998: A Civil Action – $20 Million
This courtroom drama brought in another $20 million for Travolta, showcasing his ability to anchor serious roles.
10. 1999: The General’s Daughter – $20 Million
Travolta continued his high-earning streak with The General’s Daughter, another $20 million paycheck for his gripping performance in a military thriller.
11. 2000: Battlefield Earth – $10 Million
Battlefield Earth marked a dip in his earnings to $10 million, reflecting the film’s less-than-stellar reception, but it was a temporary setback in his career.
12. 2001: Swordfish – $20 Million
Swordfish restored Travolta’s earnings to $20 million for his role as a cyber-terrorist in this high-octane thriller.
13. 2003: Basic – $15 Million
For Basic, a military thriller, Travolta earned $15 million, continuing his streak of impressive salaries in the 2000s.
14. 2004: Ladder 49 – $20 Million
In Ladder 49, a drama about a firefighter, Travolta earned another $20 million, reinforcing his presence in both action and drama genres.
15. 2005: Be Cool – $20 Million
In the sequel to Get Shorty, Be Cool, Travolta once again earned $20 million, showcasing his continued box office strength.
16. 2007: Hairspray – $14 Million
In Hairspray, Travolta played Edna Turnblad, earning $14 million for his role in this beloved musical.
Total Earnings from These 16 Films: $230 Million
These 16 movies alone earned Travolta an impressive $230 million in salaries. This period from the mid-1990s to the 2000s represents the peak of his earnings, with multiple films bringing in $20 million or more.
His ability to command such high salaries reflects not only his talent but also his enduring appeal across various genres, from action to drama to comedy and musicals.
Key Takeaways:
- Highest Paid Films: Face/Off (1997), Mad City (1997), and A Civil Action (1998) all earned Travolta $20 million.
- Salary Growth: Starting with a modest $150,000 for Pulp Fiction, Travolta’s salary grew to as much as $20 million per film.
- Diversified Roles: Travolta earned these high salaries across a range of genres, from action thrillers to musicals, proving his versatility as an actor.
Early life
John Travolta was born on February 18, 1954, in Englewood, New Jersey, as the youngest of six children. He was raised in a family deeply involved in the arts and entertainment.
His mother, Helen Cecilia, was an actress and singer who found success as a member of The Sunshine Sisters, a popular radio vocal group. Later, she transitioned to a career as a high school teacher.
Travolta’s father, Salvatore, was a semi-professional American football player before he switched careers to become a tire salesman.
Growing up in such a creative and hardworking family environment, Travolta was exposed to the arts from a young age, which would play a crucial role in shaping his career later in life.
Early Journey to Fame
John Travolta’s path to stardom began when he dropped out of high school at just 17 years old in 1971.
Determined to pursue a career in acting, Travolta moved to New York City. There, he secured his first big break by landing a role in the Broadway show Over Here! and also joined the traveling cast of the popular musical Grease.
Rising Star in Hollywood
After making waves in New York, Travolta moved to Los Angeles in search of greater opportunities. His big screen debut came in 1976 when he starred in the horror film Carrie.
Around the same time, he landed the iconic role of Vinnie Barbarino in the hit TV sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter (1975-79), which made him a household name.
Major Success in the Late 70s and Early 80s
The late 1970s and early 1980s were key years in Travolta’s career, as he became one of Hollywood’s top stars. In 1976, he released a hit single titled “Let Her In,” which reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, marking his success in music as well.
Travolta’s acting career soared with a string of blockbuster films, including Saturday Night Fever (1977), Grease (1978), and Urban Cowboy (1980). His role in Saturday Night Fever earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, making him one of the youngest actors ever nominated at the age of 24.
Decline and Triumphant Return
After the massive success of the 1970s, John Travolta faced a series of career setbacks in the 1980s. His films Two of a Kind (1983) and Perfect (1985) were both commercial and critical failures.
While Staying Alive, the 1983 sequel to Saturday Night Fever, grossed over $65 million, it failed to impress critics.
However, Travolta made a strong comeback in 1989 with the hit film Look Who’s Talking, which grossed an impressive $297 million, marking his return to stardom.
His career reached another high point with his Academy Award-nominated role in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction (1994), solidifying his place as a Hollywood A-lister.
The 1990s became a productive period for Travolta, with notable films such as Get Shorty (1995), Face/Off (1997), and A Civil Action (1998).
Continued Success into the 2000s
The 2000s proved to be another busy decade for Travolta. He starred in films such as Swordfish (2001), Ladder 49 (2004), Be Cool (2005), Lonely Hearts (2006), Wild Hogs (2007), and Old Dogs (2009).
One of his most memorable roles came in the 2007 remake of Hairspray, where he played the role of Edna Turnblad in drag, marking his return to the musical genre after Grease.
Travolta also ventured into new projects outside of traditional acting roles. In 2008, he voiced the lead character in the animated film Bolt and provided voiceovers for the 2005 documentary Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D.
Another major project was Battlefield Earth (2000), a science fiction film based on the novel by L. Ron Hubbard.
This film, which Travolta both starred in and co-produced, was a dream project for him after Hubbard personally reached out to him in 1982 to help adapt the book into a movie.
Recent Years: Action Roles and Continued Producing
Since 2010, Travolta has primarily focused on action and thriller films. His recent works 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).
Alongside acting, he continued his work as a producer, starring in and executive producing Criminal Activities (2015) and Gotti (2018).
In February 2023, Travolta delighted fans by recreating the iconic “Summer Nights” scene from Grease in a Super Bowl commercial for T-Mobile, reminding everyone of his lasting appeal and talent.
Personal Life
John Travolta married actress Kelly Preston in 1991, and together, they had three children. Sadly, their eldest son, Jett, passed away on January 2, 2009, at the age of 16 while on vacation in the Bahamas.
The cause of death was officially listed as a seizure, which Jett had suffered from for years. Travolta confirmed that his son was autistic and had regular seizures.
In honor of Jett, Travolta established the Jett Travolta Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children with special needs.
In 2020, tragedy struck again when Kelly Preston, Travolta’s wife, died on July 12, 2020, after a battle with breast cancer.
She was 57 years old and had been undergoing treatment at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, before her passing.
Travolta’s Religious Beliefs and Support System
Although raised Catholic, Travolta converted to Scientology in 1975, and he has credited his family and Scientology with helping him cope with the devastating loss of his son, Jett.
Scientology, in particular, played a significant role in helping him move forward both personally and professionally after these emotional challenges.
Travolta’s Past Relationships
Before marrying Kelly Preston, Travolta had relationships with other notable actresses. He was romantically linked to Diana Hyland, whom he met while filming The Boy in the Plastic Bubble (1976).
Their relationship ended with Hyland’s tragic death from breast cancer in 1977. Travolta also dated French actress Catherine Deneuve in 1980 and had an on-and-off relationship with actress Marilu Henner until 1985.
Travolta met Kelly Preston while filming The Experts in 1988. They married in Paris in 1991, and their three children include Jett, Ella Bleu (born in 2000), and Benjamin (born in 2010). The couple regularly attended marriage counseling, and Travolta has shared that therapy helped strengthen their bond.
In Memory of Jett Travolta
Travolta’s commitment to remembering his son Jett led him to create the Jett Travolta Foundation, which provides support to children with special needs.
The foundation has contributed to various organizations, such as the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy and the Simon Wiesenthal Center.
Sexual Assault Allegations
An anonymous masseur filed a lawsuit against Travolta in May 2012, alleging sexual assault and battery.
After statements from Travolta’s legal team stating the allegations were “complete fiction and fabrication,” a second masseur later joined the lawsuit, making similar claims.
Both lawsuits were eventually dropped by the complainants and dismissed.
Real Estate Investments
John Travolta has made significant investments in real estate over the years, purchasing several properties across the United States.
Brentwood, Los Angeles: In 1993, Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston bought a 2.35-acre property in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles for $3.5 million.
This luxurious estate included an 8,100 square-foot main house, seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a tennis court, a playground, and a large swimming pool.
In January 2020, the couple sold the property to Scooter Braun, the famous music producer and manager, for an impressive $18 million. Braun had purchased the neighboring lot in 2014 for $13.1 million.
Calabasas, Los Angeles: Travolta also maintains a $2.65 million home in Calabasas, LA, which he purchased in September 2019.
Other Properties
- Maine Estate: Outside of California, Travolta owns a 50-acre estate in Maine, which he attempted to sell in 2022 for $5 million.
- Clearwater, Florida: Travolta once owned a mansion in Clearwater, Florida, near the Scientology headquarters. He sold this property in 2021 for $4 million.
- Ocala, Florida: Travolta’s most unique property is his home in Ocala, Florida, located in the Jumbolair Aviation Estates. This 10-acre property is valued at around $10 million today. The estate is in a private neighborhood with a working private airport for large aircraft. Travolta, a passionate aviator, owns at least seven jets along with several smaller aircraft. The runway is large enough to accommodate his planes, making this property a perfect fit for his aviation hobby.
Key Points:
- $3.5 million Brentwood estate (sold for $18 million).
- $2.65 million home in Calabasas, LA.
- 50-acre estate in Maine listed for $5 million.
- Mansion near Scientology headquarters sold for $4 million.
- Unique Jumbolair Aviation Estates property worth $10 million, featuring a private airport and a large runway for Travolta’s aircraft.
