Danny Trejo Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Danny Trejo’s Net Worth and Salary?

An American film and television actor, Danny Trejo boasts a net worth of $500 thousand. He is widely recognized for his roles in various films, frequently portraying hyper-masculine, villainous anti-heroes. Trejo has starred in films such as “Desperado,” “Heat,” the “From Dusk Till Dawn” series, “Con Air,” “Reindeer Games,” and “Grindhouse.” Beyond his acting career, he is also a businessman, owning a record label, a chain of coffee and donut shops, and a restaurant chain called Trejo’s Tacos, which has five locations across Los Angeles.

Bankruptcy

In February 2023, Danny Trejo initiated a Chapter 11 personal bankruptcy. This action followed the accumulation of approximately $2 million in IRS debt. In an interview with TMZ on the day of the filing, he revealed that the debt was primarily due to erroneous deductions. Reports indicate that Trejo and the IRS came to an agreement on a payment plan requiring him to make four annual payments of $200,000 until early 2028 to settle his debt. However, recent strikes by writers and actors have complicated Danny’s plans, possibly forcing him to sell one of his homes.

Early Life

Born on May 16, 1944, in Echo Park, Los Angeles, Danny Trejo is the child of Alice Rivera and Dionisio “Dan” Trejo. When Danny was a toddler, the family escaped to San Antonio, Texas, following allegations that his father had stabbed a man. After spending a year on the run in Texas, they returned to Los Angeles, where his father turned himself in to the authorities. The family relocated to the Pacoima neighborhood of L.A. when Danny turned thirteen.

During the 1960s, Trejo frequently found himself in jail or prison in California. By the age of 12, he had developed a pattern of drug use and criminal activity, having been arrested for the first time at just 10 years old and sentenced to a juvenile facility.

While serving a sentence at San Quentin, Danny took up boxing, ultimately becoming a champion in the prison’s lightweight and welterweight divisions. It was during this incarceration that he also joined a 12-step program, helping him to conquer his addiction to drugs. After his release, he briefly attended Pitzer College in Claremore, California, but left after just one semester.

Career Beginnings

In 1985, at a Cocaine Anonymous meeting, Trejo met a young man who later reached out to him for support. This connection led Danny to the set of “Runaway Train” (1985), where he was given a role as a convict extra, likely due to his tough demeanor. While filming, he was recognized by Edward Bunker, a notable crime author and screenplay writer for “Runaway Train.” Bunker had previously…

having spent time in San Quentin, where he recognized Danny and recalled Trejo’s skills in boxing. Bunker presented Trejo with an offer of $320 daily to coach one of the film’s stars, Eric Roberts, for a boxing scene they needed to shoot. The director, Andrei Konchalovsky, was taken aback by Trejo’s performance and extended an offer for a minor part as a boxer.

Acting Career

Trejo’s unique look, characterized by facial scars, long hair, a mustache, and numerous tattoos, is widely recognized. Following “Runaway Train,” he embarked on a highly successful acting career, often starring in five or more films annually across diverse genres. Key films he has been part of include “Marked for Death” (1990), “Desperado” (1995), “From Dusk till Dawn” (1995), “The Replacement Killers” (1998), “Animal Factory” (2000), “Bubble Boy” (2001), “Spy Kids” (2001), “XXX” (2002), “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” (2004), “Grindhouse” (2007), “Urban Justice” (2007), “Modus Operandi” (2010), “Machete” (2010), “Reaper” (2014), and “Range 15” (2016). Moreover, his life story is portrayed in the independent biographical film “Champion,” released in 2005. In 2014, Trejo produced his inaugural film, “Ambition,” followed by “Bad Asses” in the same year.

Beyond film, Trejo has made appearances in over seventy television shows since 1990. Notable among these are “Baywatch” (1991-1992), “NYPD Blue” (1996-1998), “The X-Files” (2000), “King of the Hill” (2003-2010), “Monk” (2004), “Desperate Housewives” (2005), “The Young and the Restless” (2008), “Breaking Bad” (2009-2010), “Modern Family” (2010), “Bones” (2011), “Sons of Anarchy” (2011-2012), “NCIS: Los Angeles” (2014), “Rick and Morty” (2017), “American Dad!” (2017-2019), “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (2017), “Blue Bloods” (2019), and “Dynasty” (2020). In 2021, he played the Ghost of Huet in the Disney+ Halloween special “Muppets Haunted Mansion” and made his “Star Wars” debut in the Disney+ series “The Book of Boba Fett” in 2022 as Rancor.

Even though Trejo is frequently cast in tough, villainous roles, he has shown his range through more compassionate characters, as seen in “Spy Kids,” “Bubble Boy,” and “Monk.” His role in season two of “Desperate Housewives” is another illustration of this, where he supports Gabrielle during her mourning of the loss of her unborn baby.

Trejo has also made notable appearances in numerous music videos. Among these are the clips for “Got It Twisted” (2004) by Mobb Deep, “Double Blade” (2003) by Jay Chou, “Loco” (2013) by Enrique Iglesias, “Angel in Blue Jeans” (2014) by Train, and “Repentless” (2015) by Slayer.

Other Ventures

Danny Trejo has provided his voice for video games such as “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City” (2002), “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories” (2006), and “Fallout: New Vegas” (2010). He has made appearances as himself in “Call of Duty: Black Ops” (2010), “Taco Run!” (2018), and “Call of Duty: Black Ops 4” (2019). He was involved in promotions for “Magic: The Gathering Arena” in 2019 and made guest appearances in the DLC expansion “Far Cry 6: Danny and Dani vs. Everybody” (2021),

In 2022, “Olli Olli World” and the “SCUM: Danny Trejo Character Pack” were released.

Additionally, Danny has found success as a restauranteur, with his first establishment, Trejo’s Tacos, opening in 2016. This was followed by Trejo’s Cantina and Trejo’s Coffee & Donuts in 2017. Executive chef Mason Royal manages these restaurants.

Personal Life

Having been married and divorced four times, Danny’s most notable marriage was to Debbie Shreve, lasting from 1997 to 2009, during which they had three children together.

Interestingly, Trejo is related to filmmaker Robert Rodriguez as second cousins, a connection that only came to light during the production of the film “Desperado.”

Real Estate

He owns multiple properties in the Los Angeles area.

In June 1999, he purchased a house in the Pico Rivera suburb for $130,000, which seems to be currently occupied by a relative.

His primary residence is a property located in Mission Hills, California, bought in 2012 for $550,000. This house, currently valued at $1.2 million, has been central to his bankruptcy issues. Additionally, Trejo inherited a Pacoima property from his mother valued at $750,000, which he may need to sell to fulfill IRS payments.