Michael J. Fox Net Worth (Money & Salary)
was on maternity leave. Eventually, after an extensive search for the right actor, the producers decided they could not find anyone else who fit the role quite like Fox. Consequently, he was officially cast, and the movie became a massive hit, further solidifying Fox’s status as a leading star of the era.
Continuing Career
Following the success of “Back to the Future,” Fox starred in several prominent films throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, including “The Secret of My Success,” “Teen Wolf,” and “Doc Hollywood.” In 1996, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame due to his contributions to the film industry. Although his battle with Parkinson’s became more challenging, he continued to act in various projects, embracing both film and voice work.
Philanthropy and Advocacy
In addition to his acting career, Fox has actively worked to raise awareness and money for Parkinson’s disease research. In 2000, he founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, which aims to find a cure for the disease. The foundation has been pivotal in funding research and has contributed to significant advancements in treatment and understanding of the condition.
Personal Life
Michael J. Fox married actress Tracy Pollan in 1988, whom he met while filming “Family Ties.” The couple has four children together. Despite the hurdles presented by his illness, Fox remains optimistic and is often seen engaging in various public speaking events, sharing his personal experiences to inspire others.
maternity leave period, Zemeckis initially selected Eric Stoltz to portray Marty and commenced the production of “Back to the Future.” However, once Baxter returned to “Family Ties,” Zemeckis made the decision to replace Stoltz with Fox, allowing Michael to adjust his schedule accordingly.
To balance both the film and the television series simultaneously, Fox faced a demanding routine. His day would start with rehearsals for “Family Ties” from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., followed by rehearsals and shooting for “Back to the Future” that would continue until 2:30 a.m. This challenging schedule persisted for two whole months! Nevertheless, his hard work paid off, as “Back to the Future” emerged as both a major commercial and critical hit. It grossed a remarkable $381.11 million globally and retained the #1 position at the US box office for eight consecutive weekends in 1985. Michael went on to feature in the two successful sequels: “Back to the Future Part II” (1989) and “Back to the Future Part III” (1990).
“Back to the Future” Salaries
For his role in the initial “Back to the Future” film, Michael J. Fox received a salary of $500 thousand, which, after inflation adjustment, equates to approximately $1.4 million today. In the filming of the second and third installments, shot back-to-back from February 1989 to January 1990, Michael earned $5 million. Altogether, his earnings from the trio of movies amounted to $11.4 million.
Other Salaries
Michael received $750,000 for his contribution to the 1985 film “Teen Wolf.”
He was compensated with $2 million for the 1987 film “The Secret of My Success.”
In 1994, he gained $5 million for his role in “Greedy.”
Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images
Other Film Work
Throughout and shortly after the production of the “Back to the Future” trilogy, Fox showcased his talent in a variety of films including “Teen Wolf” (1985), “Light of Day” (1987), “The Secret of My Success” (1987), “Bright Lights, Big City” (1988), and “Casualties of War” (1989). In 1991, he appeared in “Doc Hollywood” and “The Hard Way.” That same year, he received a private diagnosis confirming Parkinson’s disease. After being informed that he potentially had “ten good working years left,” Fox promptly signed a three-film contract. This decision led to the creation of “For Love or Money” (1993), “Life With Mikey” (1993), and “Greedy” (1994). His last prominent film role occurred in Peter Jackson’s 1996 film “The Frighteners.” Additionally, he has made guest appearances in various television shows and series, such as “The Good Wife,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Designated Survivor,” and “The Good Fight.”
Beyond live-action roles, Fox has also contributed his voice to numerous animated films. He voiced Chance the American Bulldog in Disney’s live-action adaptation “Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey” (1993) and its sequel “Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco” (1996). Additionally, he lent his voice to the main character in “Stuart Little” (1999) and its follow-ups “Stuart Little 2” (2002) and “Stuart Little 3: Call of the Wild” (2005), as well as the character Milo Thatch in the animated Disney film “Atlantis: The Lost Empire” (2001). Most recently, in 2021, he voiced the character Michael J. Bird in the animated film “Back Home Again.”
“Spin City” and More
In his later career, Fox continued to take on new challenges and roles.Fox starred in the ABC series “Spin City,” which debuted in 1996, but departed after the fourth season. Among the significant projects he has undertaken since that time is “The Michael J. Fox Show,” which was broadcast on NBC from 2013 to 2014.
Other Work
Since the year 2000, Fox has authored four books: “Lucky Man: A Memoir” (2002), “Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist” (2009), “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future: Twists and Turns and Lessons Learned” (2010), and “No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality” (2020).
(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Personal Life
In July 1988, Fox married actress Tracy Pollan, and they are the parents of four children.
He founded The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, aimed at promoting advancements in embryonic stem cell studies to ultimately discover a cure for Parkinson’s disease. To date, the foundation has successfully raised more than $300 million for Parkinson’s research.
While battling alcoholism during the early phase of his Parkinson’s diagnosis, Michael has remained sober since 1992.
Real Estate
The family primarily resides in Manhattan but also owns an extra property in Quogue, New York (the Hamptons), acquired in October 2007 for $6.3 million.
In 1997, Michael and Tracy designed and constructed a 5,000-square-foot residence on 72 acres in Sharon, Connecticut. They put the home on the market in 2016 for $4.25 million, eventually accepting an offer of $3.9 million in October 2017.