Danny Masterson Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Danny Masterson’s Net Worth and Salary?

American actor, DJ, and convicted criminal Danny Masterson boasts a net worth of $8 million, which he shares with his wife, actress Bijou Phillips. Best recognized for his portrayal of Hyde in the beloved sitcom “That ’70s Show,” Masterson appeared in every episode of the series, which aired from 1998 to 2006. Beyond “That ’70s Show,” he’s also renowned for his role in “The Ranch” and has performed as a DJ under the alias ‘DJ Mom Jeans.’

In 2017, Masterson’s reputation suffered a devastating blow due to multiple rape allegations made by three women. He faced formal charges of three counts of rape in 2020. On May 31, 2023, he was convicted on two of those charges, specifically for the “forceable rape” of two unnamed victims. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison, serving 15 years for each conviction, a sentence delivered on September 7, 2023.

Early Life

Born Daniel Peter Masterson on March 13, 1976, in Long Island, New York, he grew up in Garden City and East Williston. Masterson entered the entertainment industry early in life, becoming a successful child model by the age of four, featuring in magazine articles and various commercials. By eight, he had started acting in musicals, though his singing voice declined during his teenage years. When he turned sixteen, Danny had already starred in over 100 commercials for notable brands including Kellogg’s, Clearasil, and Tang.

Career

Masterson’s notable film debut came in “Beethoven’s 2nd.” He also appeared in the sitcom “Cybill” during the early ’90s. Following two seasons on that show, he auditioned for “That ’70s Show,” despite being older than most of the cast. Impressed by Danny’s comedic audition, the production team reconfigured Hyde’s character to better suit Masterson’s unique style.

This role was a turning point in his career, leading him to star throughout all eight seasons of “That ’70s Show.” After the series concluded, Danny made appearances in shows like “Punk’d” and “MADtv,” and featured alongside Jim Carrey in the 2008 film “Yes Man.” In 2009, he acted with his wife, Bijou Phillips, in “The Bridge to Nowhere.” Subsequently, he took part in series such as “White Collar” and the film “The Chicago 8” before landing a role in the comedy series “Men At Work” in 2012. From 2016 to 2018, he starred in “The Ranch.”

Relationships

A committed member of the Church of Scientology, Masterson started dating Bijou Phillips in 2005, also a Scientologist. After getting engaged in 2009, the couple tied the knot in 2011 and welcomed their first child in 2014. Bijou’s father, John Phillips, was the lead singer of the Mamas & the Papas.

Bijou has two half-sisters; Chynna Phillips, who is married to Billy Baldwin, and Mackenzie Phillips, who has made troubling claims about a history of drug use and a controversial relationship with their father, beginning when she was just 11 and leading to an annulled pregnancy.

Legal Issues

In 2017, sexual assault allegations surfaced against Masterson from four women, all of whom were members of Scientology. All allegations included claims that Masterson spiked their drinks before assaulting them.

An investigation was initiated by the police. Danny denied the allegations made against him. As a result of this information coming to light, Masterson was removed from “The Ranch,” and his talent agency, United Talent Agency, ended their relationship with him. More claims emerged, leading the four original women to file a lawsuit in 2019 against Danny and the Church of Scientology, citing stalking and harassment.

The women stated they were pursued by Scientologists in vehicles, subjected to harassment, and filmed without their consent. Among them was Chrissie Carnell Bixler, who is married to the famous musician Cedric Bixler-Zavala. He alleged that his wife had been raped by Masterson and claimed that their pets had been mysteriously poisoned with rat poison concealed in raw meat. He implied that members of the Church of Scientology were responsible for the poisoned meat. These accusations are deeply disturbing, revealing claims that Danny drugged women and made threats with firearms.

In June 2020, formal charges were brought against Masterson for raping three women. The first incident supposedly occurred in 2001, while the other two were said to have taken place in 2003, involving women between the ages of 23 and 28. This came after a thorough three-year investigation that commenced in 2017. If convicted, Danny could face up to 45 years in prison. On May 31, 2023, he was found guilty on two counts of forcible rape. Subsequently, on September 7, 2023, he received a sentence of 30 years in prison, amounting to 15 years for each conviction.

Real Estate

Back in 2007, Danny was attempting to sell a Los Angeles home located on Holly Mont Drive for $1.595 million. The four-bedroom property was equipped with a marble and gold leaf fireplace, a pool, a multi-terraced yard, a hot tub, and a two-car garage. He had purchased this residence in 1998 for $560,000, soon after he secured his prominent role on “That ’70s Show.” By this time, Masterson had also made investments in a variety of real estate, including six apartments and small apartment complexes. In 2003, he acquired an apartment in LA, which he sold less than a year later to Laura Prepon for $165,000.

For several years, there was a link between Masterson’s residence in Hollywood Hills and his ongoing legal troubles regarding the rape allegations. By 2020, he was residing in a house located in Santa Ynez, situated in Santa Barbara County, while he rented out his property on Hollyridge Drive. He purchased the 4,323-square-foot residence (previously owned by Chuck Berry) for $2.995 million in 2007.

After his arrest in June 2020 on the rape charges, Danny posted a bond of $3.3 million to secure his release, using the Hollyridge Drive home as collateral.

At one point, Masterson initiated multiple lawsuits alleging that the Bank of New York Mellon and the Mortgage Electronic Registrations Systems (MERS) submitted improper paperwork during his home financing. Danny argued that these actions exempted him from making payments on the home. These motions faced repeated dismissals, and one attorney remarked: “Plaintiffs appear to be merely throwing arguments

With the hope of establishing a foundation for canceling their mortgage loan without fully repaying it, they found themselves up against the wall.“

These lawsuits, many of which were personally filed by Masterson, appeared to be efforts to retain his property amid legal challenges. Ultimately, in December 2021, Danny sold the home for $6.2 million after previously listing it for $7 million a few months prior.