John Travolta Net Worth (Money & Salary)
his return to prominence. Following this, he earned another $20 million for “Mad City” in 1997. His success continued with “Primary Colors” (1998), for which he received $17 million, followed by “A Civil Action” and “The General’s Daughter,” both earning him $20 million each in 1998 and 1999 respectively.
Travolta’s salary took a slight dip with “Battlefield Earth” in 2000, where he earned $10 million. Yet, he climbed back to $20 million for “Swordfish” (2001) and continued to command high salaries with $15 million for “Basic” (2003) and $20 million for “Ladder 49” (2004) and “Be Cool” (2005). His role in “Hairspray” (2007) netted him $14 million, rounding off a series of significant earnings from notable films.
In summary, Travolta’s remarkable trajectory in cinema showcases not only his talent but also his resilience in the ever-changing landscape of Hollywood, reflected substantially in his financial gain. With a total salary from these selected movies reaching an impressive $230 million, he stands as a testament to the dynamic nature of an acting career that has successfully adapted to new challenges and opportunities.
to the spotlight.
“Mad City” (1997) and “Primary Colors” (1998) continued to maintain his impressive earning streak, raking in $20 million and $17 million, respectively. He commanded another $20 million salary for “A Civil Action” (1998), reinforcing his status. As the 20th century wrapped up, Travolta’s star power was beyond doubt, illustrated by “The General’s Daughter” (1999), which also earned him $20 million.
With the advent of the new millennium, “Battlefield Earth” (2000) led to a decline in his salary, dropping to $10 million, possibly due to the film’s mixed reviews. Nevertheless, this was short-lived, as “Swordfish” (2001) reinstated his salary to the $20 million mark. The subsequent years displayed a consistent trend of high earnings for Travolta, with “Basic” (2003) earning him $15 million, and both “Ladder 49” (2004) and “Be Cool” (2005) matching his earlier benchmark of $20 million. His performance in “Hairspray” (2007) also brought in a notable $14 million, demonstrating his versatility and lasting appeal.
Early Life
Born on February 18, 1954, as the youngest of six siblings, Travolta’s early life was marked by artistic influences. His mother, Helen Cecilia, was a talented actress and singer who achieved renown as part of The Sunshine Sisters, a radio vocal ensemble, before embarking on a career as a high school teacher. His father, Salvatore, transitioned from being a semi-professional American football player to a tire salesman.
Beginnings of Success
At the age of 17, Travolta left high school in 1971 and journeyed to New York City, where he landed a role in the Broadway production of Over Here! and joined the traveling cast of Grease. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Los Angeles to advance his career. Upon arriving in California, he secured his first notable film role in the horror classic Carrie (1976) and became known for portraying Vinnie Barbarino in ABC’s sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter (1975-79).
Throughout the 1970s and into the early 1980s, Travolta experienced significant achievements both on-screen and off. He enjoyed a successful single, “Let Her In,” which climbed to number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in July 1976. Additionally, he starred in memorable films such as Saturday Night Fever (1977), Grease (1978), and Urban Cowboy (1980). His performance in Saturday Night Fever earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, making him one of the youngest individuals to receive this distinguished recognition at the age of 24.
Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images
Decline and Return
The successes of the 1970s gave way to a challenging 80s, marked by numerous obstacles that affected his career trajectory. Films such as Two of a Kind (1983) and Perfect (1985) were both commercial and critical disappointments. Although Staying Alive, the 1983 sequel to Saturday Night Fever, achieved commercial success with over $65 million in earnings, it received a tepid reception from critics.
Despite these challenges, Travolta orchestrated a remarkable comeback.In 1989, Look Who’s Talking was released, grossing $297 million—marking Travolta’s most successful film following Grease. His status as an A-list actor was confirmed and solidified through his Academy Award-nominated performance in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction (1994). The 1990s proved to be a prolific time for Travolta, with an upsurge in film offers. Some of the significant films he starred in during this era are Get Shorty (1995), Face/Off (1997), and A Civil Action (1998).
Continuing to be active in the 2000s, Travolta appeared in a variety of films including Swordfish (2001), Ladder 49 (2004), Be Cool (2005), Lonely Hearts (2006), Wild Hogs (2007), and Old Dogs (2009). In addition, he returned to musical cinema for the first time since Grease, taking on the role of Edna Turnblad in drag in the 2007 remake of Hairspray.
Throughout this period, Travolta explored diverse projects beyond his typical acting roles. In 2008, he voiced the lead character in the animated feature Bolt and contributed voiceovers to the 2005 documentary Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D. Furthermore, he embarked on a personal project in 2000, both starring in and co-producing the science fiction film Battlefield Earth. Based on L. Ron Hubbard’s novel of the same name, this film had been a dream project for Travolta since its conception when Hubbard reached out to him for assistance in adapting the book into a film.
Since 2010, Travolta’s filmography has predominantly revolved around the action and thriller genres, with notable titles such as 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 sustained his producing ventures, serving as both star and executive producer on films like Criminal Activities (2015) and Gotti (2018).
In February 2023, Travolta honored the legendary “Summer Nights” scene from Grease in a T-Mobile Super Bowl commercial.
(LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty Images)
Personal Life
In 1991, Travolta tied the knot with actress Kelly Preston, and the pair welcomed three children. Sadly, their eldest son, Jett, passed away on January 2, 2009, at just 16 while vacationing in the Bahamas, with the cause of death officially classified as a seizure. Travolta has shared that his son was autistic and experienced frequent seizures. To honor Jett’s memory, Travolta founded the Jett Travolta Foundation, aimed at supporting children with special needs.
On July 12, 2020, the world lost Kelly Preston at the age of 57 after her struggle with breast cancer.
Though he grew up in a Catholic household, Travolta made the decision to convert to the Church of Scientology in 1975, a faith he continues to observe. He has acknowledged that both his family and Scientology have played crucial roles in helping him cope with his son’s death.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Sexual Assault Allegations
A lawsuit was filed in May 2012 by an anonymous masseur against Travolta, accusing him of sexual assault and battery. Following assertions from Travolta’s legal representatives declaring the claims as “complete fiction and fabrication,” another masseur later added their allegations to the lawsuit. Ultimately, both complainants dropped their lawsuits, leading to their dismissal.
Real Estate
In 1993, the Travoltas acquired a home in LA’s Brentwood neighborhood for $3.5 million, located on a 2.35-acre lot. This estate includes an 8,100 square-foot main residence, seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a tennis court, a playground, and a sizable swimming pool. In January 2020, they sold this property to their neighbor, mega-producer/manager Scooter Braun, for $18 million. Braun and his spouse, 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, acquired in September 2019.
Beyond LA, Travolta has a 50-acre estate in Maine, which he attempted to sell in 2022 for $5 million, a mansion in Clearwater, Florida, located near the Scientology headquarters that he sold in 2021 for $4 million, and a distinctive property in Ocala, Florida, situated in the Jumbolair Aviation Estates neighborhood. This property is currently valued at approximately $10 million. The area functions as a private airport for larger aircraft, and Travolta was among the initial land buyers in this development. The runway accommodates his various aircraft; he reportedly owns at least seven jets along with other smaller planes.