Julia Louis-Dreyfus Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Net Worth?

With a net worth of $250 million, Julia Louis-Dreyfus is an acclaimed American actress. She gained international fame for her portrayal of Elaine Benes in the long-running sitcom “Seinfeld,” where she played the character for nine seasons from 1989 to 1998. Following this iconic role, she starred in several successful projects, notably the critically acclaimed HBO series “Veep,” which aired from 2012 to 2019 and won Julia numerous Emmy awards.

From 1982 to 1985, Julia was a cast member of “Saturday Night Live,” where she showcased her comedic talent and paved the way for her future endeavors. During her stint on “SNL,” she formed a friendship with writer Larry David, who, alongside Jerry Seinfeld, cast her as Elaine Benes in “Seinfeld” in 1989. This role skyrocketed her fame, delivering a character celebrated for her unique dance moves and clever humor, ultimately earning her several awards and solidifying her status as a star in comedy.

After “Seinfeld,” she further advanced her career with the title role in “The New Adventures of Old Christine,” a sitcom that allowed her to display her comedic prowess and garnered her additional recognition, including an Emmy Award.

One of her most notable performances was in HBO’s political satire “Veep,” where she portrayed Selina Meyer, a fictional Vice President who later became President of the United States. Her interpretation of Meyer received widespread acclaim for its precise satire and emotional depth, indicating Julia’s skill in both comedic and dramatic performances. Her work on “Veep” resulted in multiple Emmy Awards, breaking the record for the highest number of wins by a lead actress in a comedy series.

Is Julia Louis-Dreyfus a Billionaire?

For years, speculation has circulated that Julia Louis-Dreyfus is a billionaire, attributed not solely to her acting career but also to her family’s wealth; her father, Gerard Louis-Dreyfus, was indeed a billionaire at the time of his passing in 2016.

Born to Gerard Louis-Dreyfus and American mother Judith, Julia experienced her parents’ divorce when she was just one year old. Primarily raised by her mother, Julia spent her early years in New York and later moved to Washington D.C. after her mother married the dean of George Washington University.

Julia’s great-great-grandfather, Leopold Louis-Dreyfus, established the Louis Dreyfus Group in 1851, which built considerable wealth in commodities trading and shipping. Today, the rebranded Louis Dreyfus Company is a global conglomerate with diverse interests, including finance, shipping, agriculture, hedge funds, telecommunications, and real estate. Responsible for approximately 10% of the world’s agriculture, it stands as the largest trader of cotton, sugar, and rice. The conglomerate encompasses over 100 companies, employs 22,000 individuals, and generates annual revenues exceeding $120 BILLION.

In his role as chairman of Louis Dreyfus Energy Services, one of the company’s largest divisions specializing in crude oil trading, natural gas, and infrastructure, Gerard had a net worth of $4 billion at the time of his death in 2016.

As of now, Julia is not technically a billionaire. Following her father’s passing, his widow, Phyllis B. Louis-Dreyfus, currently controls the majority of his estate. Should Gerard have designated his wealth for his children post-Phyllis’s death, Julia would still need to divide her inheritance with…

Julia has two half-siblings.

Given her current net worth, upcoming royalties, and real estate investments, it’s highly probable that Julia will surpass a net worth of $1 billion at some stage in her life. When interviewed by “Rolling Stone” regarding her anticipated inheritance, she refuted claims about her 10-figure wealth but admitted that her father’s business holds considerable value in the billions.

The family business remains controlled by Julia’s relatives. Robert Louis-Dreyfus, her father’s cousin, led Adidas as chairman and CEO from 1994 until 2004 before taking over the Louis Dreyfus Group. Following Robert’s passing in 2009, his widow, Margarita Louis-Dreyfus, inherited his estate and assumed control of the Louis Dreyfus Group. At the time of his death, Margarita’s net worth was estimated to be nearly $10 billion. Currently, her worth stands at $4 billion. This makes Margarita and Julia second cousins, once removed, by marriage.

“Seinfeld Salary”

During the early seasons of “Seinfeld,” supporting cast members such as Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards, and Jason Alexander received meager pay for their performances. However, they successfully negotiated increases prior to season five in 1993, resulting in each of them earning $150,000 per episode, or roughly $3.8 million per season. In May 1997, the supporting cast members pushed for a hefty raise, aiming for $1 million per episode. The network first offered $200,000, then raised it to $400,000. They ultimately agreed on receiving $600,000 per episode for the last season, leading to around $15 million each, which translates to about $24 million in today’s terms. In total, excluding inflation, the supporting cast earned approximately $45 million in base salary from “Seinfeld.”

“Seinfeld” Syndication Earnings

Contrary to common belief, Julia, Michael, and Jason do not receive substantial earnings from the syndication of “Seinfeld,” which has yielded nearly $4 billion to date. To profit from syndication sales, one must possess equity ownership points on the show. Unfortunately, the supporting cast never obtained backend points. While they do earn royalties when the show airs, these payments tally up to hundreds of thousands annually, rather than millions, as many believe. In stark contrast, Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld each amassed $250 million in 1998 alone from syndication sales. Even a decade later, they were making at least $50 million per year from syndication points. Although they were denied backend points in 1997, they secured profit-sharing points on DVD sales, yielding a modest windfall during the DVD buying boom.

“Veep” Salary

In the final seasons of “Veep,” Julia earned $500,000 for each episode. Combined with endorsement deals and other income sources, she accrued approximately $8 million annually during her tenure on “Veep,” positioning her among the five highest-paid TV actresses globally.

Early Life

Born as Julia Scarlett Elizabeth Louis-Dreyfus on January 13, 1961, in New York City, Julia is the first daughter of billionaire financier Gerard Louis-Dreyfus and writer Judith LeFever. Gerard, who was the former Chairman of the Louis-Dreyfus Group and originally from France, had a fortune of $4 billion. The founder of the Louis-Dreyfus Group, Julia’s great-great-grandfather, Léopold Louis-Dreyfus, established the international commodities and shipping conglomerate in 1851. Following the divorce of her parents, Judith married L. Thompson Bowles, the Dean of George Washington Medical School, and moved with Julia to Washington, D.C., when she was just four. Her formative years were spent shifting among various states and countries, including Columbia and Tunisia, due to her stepfather’s involvement with Project HOPE. In 1979, she completed her studies at Holton-Arms School located in Bethesda, Maryland.

Early Career

Julia initially enrolled at Northwestern University but left before obtaining her degree to follow her passion for acting. She trained with the Chicago improv group known as The Second City. At age 21, she was cast in “Saturday Night Live” after being noticed while performing with The Practical Theatre Company at their 50th Anniversary Jubilee. At that moment, Louis-Dreyfus became the youngest female cast member ever on the show, which she was a part of from 1982 until 1985. During her final year on “SNL,” she encountered Larry David, who would later co-create “Seinfeld,” as he was there for his only season. After departing from the show, she took roles in several well-known films, such as Woody Allen’s “Hannah and Her Sisters” in 1986 and starred alongside Chevy Chase in the 1989 film “Christmas Vacation.” Additionally, Julia participated in a few television pilot projects that were ultimately never produced.

“Seinfeld”

In the early ‘90s, Julia Louis-Dreyfus rose to fame when she took on the role of Elaine Benes in NBC’s “Seinfeld.” For nine seasons, she appeared in almost every episode, missing only three. She did not take part in the pilot because her character was not intended to be a part of the show initially. NBC executives, however, after viewing the pilot, felt that the show had a male-centric focus and requested that Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld create a female role. Louis-Dreyfus received widespread critical praise for her performance, leading her to frequently win and be nominated for prestigious awards. In 1996, after seven nominations, she clinched the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. The series finale of “Seinfeld” aired on May 14th, 1998, and became one of the most-watched television events in history.

Life after “Seinfeld”

Following the conclusion of “Seinfeld,” Julia faced what the media dubbed the “Seinfeld Curse,” leading to the cancellation of various pilots and short-lived series. This curse suggested that the stars of the show would struggle to replicate their former success. However, both Louis-Dreyfus and Larry David regarded this speculation as absurd. In 2005, Julia managed to achieve some short-lived success through a guest appearance on “Arrested Development.”

In 2005, prospects improved for Louis-Dreyfus when she was cast in a new CBS sitcom, “The New Adventures of Old Christine.” The show proved to be a success, earning high ratings, and Julia secured another Emmy for her role, alongside multiple nominations. The series concluded after five seasons in May 2010.

Following this, Julia portrayed Vice President Selina Meyer in the comedy “Veep,” which aired from 2012 to 2019. The series was extremely successful and gained recognition as one of HBO’s most acclaimed comedies. Louis-Dreyfus garnered six consecutive Emmy awards for her depiction of the vice president. In 2020, she announced a deal with Apple TV+, where she would be involved in developing new content and acting as an executive producer.

In 2020, Louis-Dreyfus was featured in the comedy-drama “Downhill” alongside Will Ferrell. The film debuted in February and was presented at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Additionally, she lent her voice to the elf mother in Pixar’s “Onward,” which starred Tom Holland and Chris Pratt.

In 2021, Louis-Dreyfus ventured into the Marvel universe, portraying Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in the Disney+ series “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.” She reprised her role in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” in 2022 and is scheduled to appear in the upcoming “Thunderbolts” movie in 2024.

Personal Life

Since 1987, Julia has been married to comedian Brad Hall. Their paths crossed while they were students at Northwestern University, and they now share two sons, Henry and Charlie. Henry Hall is a singer/songwriter who has performed on “The Tonight Show,” while Charlie Hall is an actor on television. Julia recently disclosed that her initial pregnancy, which coincided with the premiere of “Seinfeld,” ended in a miscarriage.

Julia’s maternal half-sister, Lauren Bowles, is also an actress. Additionally, she has two paternal half-sisters, Phoebe and Emma; however, Emma passed away in August 2018. Julia’s cousin, Robert Louis-Dreyfus, was formerly the CEO of Adidas and owned the Olympique de Marseille football club.

In September 2017, Louis-Dreyfus was diagnosed with breast cancer, with the news breaking just one day after she won an Emmy for her role in “Veep.” She shared the diagnosis on Twitter. By October 2018, during her appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” she announced that she was cancer-free. Politically, she has shown support for the presidential campaigns of Al Gore, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton.