Danny Trejo Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Danny Trejo’s Net Worth and Salary?

With a net worth estimated at $500 thousand, Danny Trejo is a renowned American actor in film and television. His roles often portray hyper-masculine, villainous anti-heroes, and his film credits include popular titles such as “Desperado,” “Heat,” the “From Dusk Till Dawn” series, “Con Air,” “Reindeer Games,” and “Grindhouse.” Beyond his acting career, Danny is also a businessman, owning a record label, a chain of coffee and donut shops, and notably, Trejo’s Tacos, a restaurant chain with five locations spread across Los Angeles.

Bankruptcy

In February 2023, Danny Trejo submitted a Chapter 11 personal bankruptcy application following the accumulation of approximately $2 million in IRS debt. In an interview with TMZ coinciding with the filing, he revealed that the debt primarily stemmed from erroneous deductions. An agreement was reached between Trejo and the IRS, which would see him making four annual payments of $200,000 until early 2028 to settle his debt. However, recent strikes by writers and actors have complicated Danny’s strategy, pushing him to consider selling one of his properties.

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 young toddler, the family fled to San Antonio, Texas, following his father’s accusation of stabbing a man. After a year spent evading the law in Texas, they returned to Los Angeles, where his father turned himself in. At the age of thirteen, the family relocated to the Pacoima area of Los Angeles.

During the 1960s, Trejo frequently found himself in California’s jails and prisons. By age 12, he had already developed a substance abuse and crime habit, and he was first arrested at 10, eventually being sentenced to a juvenile facility.

While incarcerated in San Quentin, Danny discovered boxing, eventually becoming a champion in both the lightweight and welterweight divisions. It was also during this period that he entered a 12-step program which aided him in overcoming his drug addiction. After finally being released, he briefly attended Pitzer College in Claremore, California, but left after just one semester.

Career Beginnings

Danny Trejo met a young man at a Cocaine Anonymous meeting in 1985, who later contacted him for assistance. This led to Trejo meeting him on the set of “Runaway Train” (1985), where he was offered a role as a convict extra, presumably due to his rugged looks. On set, Trejo caught the attention of Edward Bunker, a respected crime writer and the film’s screenplay author, who recognized him from their shared experiences in San Quentin and remembered Trejo’s boxing prowess. Consequently, Bunker offered Trejo $320 per day to help train Eric Roberts, one of the film’s stars, for a boxing scene they needed to film. The film’s director, Andrei…Konchalovsky was captivated by Trejo’s performance and provided him an opportunity for a minor role as a boxer.

Acting Career

Renowned for his unique look, Trejo features facial scars, long hair, a mustache, and numerous tattoos. Since starring in “Runaway Train,” he has maintained a remarkably busy acting career, often featuring in five or more films annually across various genres. Major films he has acted in 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). His life story is also featured in the independent biographical film “Champion,” released in 2005. In 2014, Trejo produced his inaugural film, “Ambition,” and followed it up with “Bad Asses” in the same year.

Apart from his film engagements, Trejo has made over seventy appearances in various television shows since 1990. Notable series include “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 portrayed the Ghost of Huet in the Disney+ Halloween special “Muppets Haunted Mansion,” and in 2022, Trejo made his “Star Wars” debut as Rancor in the Disney+ series “The Book of Boba Fett.”

While Trejo is frequently typecast in rugged, thuggish roles, he has also taken on sympathetic parts, such as in “Spy Kids,” “Bubble Boy,” and “Monk.” His role in the second season of “Desperate Housewives,” where he aids Gabrielle in coping with the loss of her unborn child, is another example of him portraying a more compassionate character.

Furthermore, Trejo has made numerous cameo appearances in music videos. Some notable ones include “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 contributed his voice to video games like “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City” (2002), “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories” (2006), and “Fallout: New Vegas” (2010). He also made appearances in “Call of Duty: Black Ops” (2010), “Taco Run!” (2018), and “Call of Duty: Black Ops 4” (2019). In 2019, he participated in promotions for “Magic: The Gathering Arena” and featured in guest roles in the DLC expansions for “Far Cry 6: Danny and Dani vs. Everybody” (2021), “Olli Olli World” (2022), and the “SCUM: Danny Trejo Character Pack” (2022).

Additionally, Danny is a thriving restauranteur. The firstThe restaurant that he opened in 2016 was Trejo’s Tacos, followed by Trejo’s Cantina and Trejo’s Coffee & Donuts in 2017. Executive chef Mason Royal oversees these establishments.

Personal Life

Danny has experienced marriage and divorce four times. His marriage to Debbie Shreve lasted from 1997 to 2009, and they share three children.

Interestingly, Trejo is related to filmmaker Robert Rodriguez as second cousins, a connection they only discovered during the filming of “Desperado.”

Real Estate

Danny possesses multiple homes in the L.A. region.

In June 1999, he acquired a residence in the suburb of Pico Rivera for $130,000, which appears to be occupied by a relative currently.

Since 2012, his primary home has been situated in Mission Hills, California, which he purchased in that same year for $550,000. This property is now valued at $1.2 million and has been central to his bankruptcy issues. Additionally, Trejo inherited a Pacoima property from his mother, worth $750,000, which may need to be sold to facilitate IRS payments.