What Is George Clooney’s Net Worth and Salary?
With a net worth of $500 million, George Clooney stands out as an American actor, screenwriter, director, entrepreneur, and activist. Although he ranks among the highest-paid actors in Hollywood, a large portion of his wealth stems from ventures outside the film industry. Notably, George co-founded Casamigos Tequila, which was sold to Diageo for $1 billion in 2017. More details about this sale will be discussed in the following sections.
Being one of the most in-demand A-List actors, Clooney routinely commands a salary of at least $20 million per film, excluding any backend profits and royalties. He gained fame during the 1990s for his portrayal of Dr. Doug Ross on the acclaimed medical series “ER.” Transitioning to film, he has starred in significant titles such as “From Dusk Till Dawn,” “Out of Sight,” and “Three Kings,” while earning critical recognition for roles in “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” and “The Perfect Storm.”
Clooney’s string of successes continued with the “Ocean’s Eleven” series and his directorial debut, “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.” He received Academy Award nominations for his work in “Syriana” and “Michael Clayton,” securing the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for the former. His directorial films, including “Good Night, and Good Luck” and “The Ides of March,” received acclaim as well. He co-founded Smokehouse Pictures and has engaged in numerous humanitarian efforts, leveraging his fame to spotlight political and social issues. Among his notable later works are “Up in the Air,” “The Descendants,” “Gravity,” and “The Midnight Sky,” which he also directed. Remarkably, Clooney is one of only two individuals (the other being Walt Disney) to have garnered Academy Award nominations in six distinct categories.
Earnings From Casamigos Tequila
In 2013, George, alongside entrepreneurs Rande Gerber and Michael Meldman, launched Casamigos Tequila. Gerber is widely recognized for his marriage to Cindy Crawford, while Meldman is a prominent real estate entrepreneur. The brand started as a private label intended to provide tequila for friends and family, transitioning into a public label the same year.
On June 21, 2017, Clooney, Gerber, and Meldman finalized the sale of Casamigos to Diageo, an alcohol conglomerate, for $1 billion. The trio received $700 million in cash, accompanied by $300 million in performance-related bonuses set to be paid in the future. If this sum were divided equally, George’s pre-tax share would approximate $230 million, leaving him with about $150 million after taxes.
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Early Life
Born George Timothy Clooney on May 6, 1961, in Lexington, Kentucky, Clooney is the child of Nina Bruce, a beauty queen and city council member, and Nick Clooney, a former television anchor and host. Raised in the Roman Catholic faith, Clooney has expressed that he identifies as somewhat agnostic in his adulthood. He was educated at Blessed Sacrament School in
After residing in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, the family subsequently relocated to Mason, Ohio.
The Clooneys made their way back to Kentucky, where George, during his seventh-grade year, faced a challenge when he developed Bell’s Palsy, a condition that results in partial facial paralysis. It subsided after a year, but Clooney has noted the struggles he encountered in school, primarily due to bullying. Passionate about basketball and basement games, he even tried out for the Cincinnati Reds after completing high school, though he did not secure a spot on the team. Clooney attended Northern Kentucky University from 1979 to 1981, pursuing a major in broadcast journalism, but ultimately did not graduate.
Early Career
Upon moving to Los Angeles, George experienced a period of living in his car. Notably, this vehicle was parked in the driveway of a Beverly Hills mansion owned by his celebrated aunt, singer Rosemary Clooney. Additionally, Rosemary’s son, the late Miguel Ferrer, also carved out a successful career in acting. Shortly thereafter, George began landing minor roles in various television shows, including “The Facts of Life,” “Roseanne,” and “The Golden Girls.”.
Breakthrough
His debut significant role was in the sitcom “E/R” in 1984, which should not be confused with his breakthrough role on the NBC drama “ER,” where he was cast as Dr. Doug Ross beginning in 1994.
While still involved with “ER,” he had appearances in several films, such as “From Dusk Til Dawn,” “One Fine Day,” and “Out of Sight.” He also took over the role of Batman from Val Kilmer, although he featured in just one “Batman” film. Clooney’s stint on “ER” lasted from 1994 until 1999, with further appearances in 2000 and 2009, accumulating a total of 109 episodes. His time as Dr. Ross earned him two Primetime Emmy Award nominations, as well as three Golden Globe nominations for Best Actor.
After “ER”
In 1999, Clooney departed from “ER” and soon found success at the box office, highlighted by the hit “Ocean’s 11” in 2001. The year 2000 saw his performances in “The Perfect Storm” and “O’ Brother, Where Art Thou.” He later reprised his role in both “Ocean’s 12” and “Ocean’s 13.” In 2005, he starred in “Syriana,” for which he received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Additionally, he earned nominations for both writing and directing “Good Night, and Good Luck,” making history as the first individual nominated for directing one film while being recognized for acting in another within the same year.
Clooney’s success continued with his role alongside Ewan McGregor in 2009’s “The Men Who Stare at Goats,” as well as appearances in “Up in the Air” and “Fantastic Mr. Fox” that same year. He garnered critical acclaim for “The Descendants” in 2011, “The Ides of March” in 2013, and “Argo.” Moreover, he also received accolades for co-starring with Sandra Bullock in the 2013 film “Gravity.” In 2016, he took on the role of Baird Whitlock in “Hail, Caesar!” In recognition of his contributions to the entertainment industry, Clooney was honored with the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2018.
After a four-year hiatus from acting, Clooney made a comeback in 2019 with the science fiction film “The Midnight Sky.” He also directed the Amazon Prime Video film “The Tender Bar” featuring Ben Affleck in the lead role. In 2021, he reunited with Brad Pitt for an untitled thriller written and directed by Jon Watts, followed by a reunion with Julia Roberts in the romantic comedy “Ticket to Paradise” in 2022.
Net Worth Milestones
- 1993: $500 thousand
- 1995: $3 million
- 2000: $10 million
- 2005: $50 million
- 2007: $70 million
- 2012: $100 million
- 2015: $200 million
- 2024: $500 million
(Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Turner)
Personal Life
Engaging in various political efforts, Clooney advocates for the situation in Darfur, Sudan, and has contributed to relief initiatives following the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti. His commitment extends to the Not On Our Watch project. After the catastrophic explosion in the capital in 2020, George and his wife made a generous donation of $100,000 to three Lebanese charities: the Lebanese Red Cross, Impact Lebanon, and Baytna Baytak.
In 1989, George married Talia Balsam, but the couple divorced four years later in 1993. Following this, he lived with his beloved pet pig, Max, until its passing in 2006. On April 28, 2014, he proposed to British-Lebanese human rights attorney Amal Alamuddin, a fact confirmed by a representative from Alamuddin’s law firm, Doughty Street Chambers. The couple tied the knot on September 27, 2014, at Ca’ Farsetti, officiated by Clooney’s friend Walter Veltroni, who previously served as the mayor of Rome. They welcomed twins, Ella and Alexander, into their family on July 6, 2017. In interviews from 2020, Clooney disclosed that the twins are fluent in Italian, despite neither parent speaking the language.
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Salary Highlights
George Clooney received $40,000 for each of the 19 episodes he appeared in on “Sisters,” totaling $760,000. For “ER,” he earned $100,000 per episode and decided against asking for raises, choosing instead to concentrate on building a successful movie career. In total, his earnings from “ER” amounted to approximately $11 million. Below are 10 other significant salaries from George Clooney’s career:
George Clooney’s Career Highlights
- The Monuments Men – $2 million
- The Peacemaker – $3 million
- One Fine Day – $3 million
- The Perfect Storm – $8 million
- Out of Sight – $10 million
- Batman & Robin – $10 million
- Intolerable Cruelty – $15 million
- Ocean’s Thirteen – $15 million
- Ocean’s Eleven – $20 million
- Gravity – $20 million (+ revenue share)
- Wolfs – $35 million
Total = $141 Million
Career Earnings
One of Clooney’s substantial earliest paychecks came from the 1996 film “One Fine Day,” netting him $3 million. His earnings included $10 million for his role in “Batman,” another $10 million for “Out of Sight,” $8 million for “The Perfect Storm,” as well as $15 million for “Intolerable Cruelty,” and a high of $20 million for “Ocean’s Eleven.”
For “Ocean’s Thirteen,” George received $15 million. In 2024, he earned $35 million for his role in the film “Wolfs,” which was picked up by Apple. His film and TV career has reportedly earned him approximately $300 million before taxes.
Nespresso Paycheck
Starting in 2013, George has starred in various commercials for Nespresso, accumulating a total of $40 million from this endorsement deal.
It is well-known that George allocates a portion of each paycheck to finance a spy satellite that continuously monitors Sudan. For most of the last decade, this satellite’s focus has been primarily on the former Sudanese dictator, Omar al-Bashir, who faced accusations of severe human rights abuses and hate crimes resulting in numerous fatalities. This satellite tracked Bashir’s movements and the activities of Sudan’s armed forces to predict movements and potential violations of human rights. Following a military coup in April 2019, Omar was removed from power. A few months later, he was captured, tried, and imprisoned.
Skipped $35 Million Paycheck
During a December 2021 interview, George disclosed that he had once received a $35 million offer to shoot a commercial for an airline in just one day. He characterized the airline as being owned by a country he considered an “ally” of the United States, although he noted it “is questionable at times.” After discussing the proposition with Amal, they agreed that the money “wasn’t worth it,” leading him to decline the offer.
If he had accepted the job and filmed the commercial in six hours, he would have effectively been earning $5.8 million PER HOUR.
Lake Como “Villa Oleander”
George and Amal possess residences throughout the globe.
Among their properties, George’s most notable is the Villa Oleander located on Lake Como in Italy, which he purchased in 2002 for $30 million. This 18th-century villa resides in Laglio, Italy, on the shores of the lake. The estate boasts 15 bedrooms, a private swimming pool, a tennis court, a fully equipped gym, landscaped gardens, intricately carved ceilings, expansive bathrooms, a dedicated “pizza room,” and an elegantly constructed wall designed to prevent the lake from flooding the house.
Villa Oleander has gained a legendary status in Hollywood, as George frequently hosts friends for special celebrations. Notably, Viola Davis, an Oscar nominee who collaborated with Clooney on “Syriana” and “Solaris,” celebrated her honeymoon there. In 2010, he graciously opened the villa for John Krasinski and Emily Blunt’s wedding festivities. Due to the frequent visitors, the small town of 900, where the Villa is situated, implemented a rule that fines groups larger than three for loitering, staring, or taking photographs. Given how much he has utilized the property since acquiring it in 2002, it’s clear he has certainly made the most of his investment.
In September 2023, rumors surfaced indicating that George and Amal might be seeking to sell Villa Oleander for an estimated $100 million.
GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images
GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images
Photo by Getty Images
Other Real Estate
Owning a six-bedroom mansion in Studio City, California, George and Amal purchased it for $2.2 million in 1995, during the peak of his “ER” fame. Today, this property likely holds a value of over $10 million. Additionally, they have a $7 million estate in Berkshire, England, as well as an apartment located in New York City, among other properties.
In July 2021, the Clooneys acquired a vineyard near Brignoles, France, which features an 18th-century manor equipped with a swimming pool and tennis court. Following a legal dispute regarding the purchase of Domaine du Canadel, they officially obtained the keys for the price of $7.5 million.
Overall, the real estate portfolio of George and Amal is valued at around $100 million.