Harrison Ford's Net Worth is Something to Witness
Harrison Ford is one of those actors who has remained viable and successful even as he aged. Well into his 70s, Ford remains a high-earning actor and a respected professional, someone who viewers trust to provide an entertaining movie. Ford has also mostly avoided controversy throughout his career, living a relatively private life that mostly hit the tabloids when he married the much younger actress Calista Flockhart.
And while Ford's success is highly tied into his work with major producers, directors, and friends Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, Ford has proven that he can venture beyond his comfort zone in multiple roles. Whether playing a beer-loving post-teen in “American Graffiti” or the President of the United States in “Air Force One,” he brings his subtle but powerful acting ability to every role.
But just how successful has Ford been in his career? He's currently tied with many others as the 21st richest actor on the planet. How Ford got his massive fortune is a fascinating story, one that's almost as good as “The Empire Strikes Back” and better than “The Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls.” So let's take a deep look into this fascinating actor's career to discover Harrison Ford's net worth.
Harrison Ford Breaks Down His Career, from 'Star Wars' to 'Indiana Jones' | Vanity Fair
Ford's Wildly Successful Career
Though Harrison Ford has many talents and likely could have thrived in just about any field he attempted, acting was basically in his blood. And while it took time for him to get some success under his wing finally, that success was big enough on its own to make him a legend.
Early Years
Harrison Ford was born in Chicago in 1942 to a former radio actress and former actor and advertising executive. Raised primarily in Park Ridge, Illinois, he discovered an interest in acting during high school when he was the first student voice broadcast on the school's radio station, getting work as a sportscaster. His college years focused heavily on philosophy and inward thinking, as Ford was a late bloomer (his words) who finally got over his shyness by taking an acting class in his final quarter of college.
A Slow Start to a Promising Career
Harrison Ford in “A Time For Killing”
Image Source: IMDB
Some actors achieve almost overnight success when they're young. Unfortunately, Harrison Ford was not one of those actors. During 1964, as a promising 22-year old actor, he moved to Los Angeles to get work in radio voice-overs, a medium he enjoyed. While he didn't get the job, he did find a $150-weekly contract with Columbia Pictures. However, placed on the bottom of the “extras” list after offending a producer with his method acting style, Harrison's roles were primarily uncredited until a part in “A Time for Killing” in 1967.
Other minor roles, including television work in “Gunsmoke” and a brief spot in “Zabriskie Point” in 1970, seemed to promise little to the struggling actor. For a time, he supported himself and his wife as a carpenter.
Finally, however, a successful audition with George Lucas for 1973's “American Graffiti” gave him his first real success and helped him get minor roles in Francis Ford Coppola films, including “Apocalypse Now.”
Harrison Ford in “American Graffiti”
Image Source: IMDB
Rising Success and Star Wars
Throughout the mid to late 70s, Ford's success rose until the surprise hit of “Star Wars” in 1977 made him an overnight sensation. Further success with “Raiders of the Lost Ark” not only solidified Steven Spielberg and George Lucas as visionary producers and directors but gave Ford a starring series in which he could show off his expert comedic timing, action skills and dramatic chops.
From there, Ford appeared in three more Star Wars movies, three more Indiana Jones films, and broke the potential risk of typecasting by starring in sci-fi classic “Blade Runner”. From there, his career went from success to success, including dramatic films like “Witness” and “Frantic,” comedic work in “Working Girl,” and retained his action chops with “The Fugitive” and “Air Force One.”
Han Solo
Image Source: StarWars.com
Later Struggles and Triumphs
The late 1990s saw some struggles in his career, with movies like “Six Days, Seven Nights” and “Hollywood Homicide” failing to earn much box office or get much critical success. And while “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” made a considerable profit, its core audience was not highly appreciated, and critics were mixed over its overall success.
Since then, he has continued to act in more diverse and surprising roles, such as his appearance in “Ender's Game,” a 2013 disappointment that nevertheless saw Ford get praised for his subtle and emotionally dense acting. He earned nominations for several awards during this time, even when appearing in films like the critically derided “The Expendables 3” or in unexpectedly successful romantic films.
His most recent roles include reprising Han Solo in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” a film that shocked fans everywhere by killing off the popular character. Interestingly, this death mirrored Ford's initial suggestion to George Lucas for “The Return of the Jedi.” Ford thought Solo's death would make the film more robust, while Lucas wanted to keep Solo alive for more potential sequels.
Ford also reprised his role as Rick Deckard in the film “Blade Runner 2049,” doing well enough to get a notice for his rich interpretation of his most complex acting. In 2020, he did his best to act opposite an awkward CGI dog in an anticipated adaptation of “The Call of the Wild.” In spite of solid work, the film did not do well in theaters, though the COVID-19 pandemic is at least partially to blame.
So, What Is Harrison Ford's Net Worth?
Throughout this winding and successful film history, how much money has Mr. Han Solo himself earned over the years?
Over the years, his films have made over $5.4 billion in North America alone and $9.3 billion worldwide. Of this cash, Ford has netted $300 million.
Of course, compared to his buddies Spielberg and Lucas, that's peanuts. But at one point, it made him the richest actor in Hollywood.
How exactly did Ford earn this much money? A lot of it has to do with his roles in the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises. Surprisingly, though, he's made far more money for his work outside these franchises. Let's break down where he made most of his money through the years to get an idea of why Ford is so successful.
Ford's Early Star Wars Earnings Weren't Always Huge
Fun fact: Harrison Ford earned just $500 per week while working on “American Graffiti.” At the time, this was still the best wage he'd made as an actor in his life. So while Ford was not Lucas' initial choice for Han Solo (this uncertainty about Ford remains a theme throughout his early career), he initially hired Ford for the role after Harrison was hired to read parts during casting.
Harrison Ford as Han Solo
Image Source: Digital Spy
What was Ford's big paycheck from what could be considered his star-making role? Check this out: he made just $10,000 for “Star Wars” or around “$42,000” today. The thing about “Star Wars” is that nobody expected it to be a success. Lucas was sure he'd hitched himself to a career-ending dud before it was released. So there wasn't a lot of excess money, Ford was not a prominent actor, and the part was not a big deal at the time.
Well, after the success of “Star Wars,” Ford's paycheck jumped from $10,000 to $100,000 for “The Empire Strikes Back” and $500,000 for “The Return of the Jedi.” Those combined paychecks are about $1.6 million today, making Ford a wealthy man. The irony of this situation is that Ford earned $15 million in acting fees and a further $10 million in box office gross from “The Force Awakens,” a far inferior film to the original trilogy.
Ford's Indiana Jones Paychecks are Mysterious
Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones
Image Source: GQ
While Ford's “Indiana Jones” films are insanely profitable, with an estimated $1.98 billion box office gross, Ford's earnings on these films are reasonably mysterious. By the time Lucas and Spielberg made “Raiders of the Lost Ark” in 1981, it is estimated that Ford was making about $500,000 per film. After that movie's massive success, he was probably banking $1 million per film.
What is known is that Ford had more or less retired from acting by the time 2008's “The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” was made. Ford only reprised his role after Lucas and Spielberg agreed to split profits with him. It is estimated that he earned about $65 million for this role, which is the 12th-largest acting paycheck ever. That represents 21% of his total wealth. Not bad for a movie nobody liked.
Ford Continued to Draw a High Salary Elsewhere
Unlike other franchise-based actors, Ford found most of his financial success away from his franchises. For example, he was earning between $10-12 million per movie in the mid-1990s, clearing $10 million for “Clear and Present Danger” and even earning $20 million for the film “The Devil's Own,” “Air Force One,” “Random Hearts,” and “What Lies Beneath.” However, many of these films weren't highly successful. He also earned about $25 million from the unsuccessful “K-19: The Widowmaker.”
Savvy Real Estate Deals Boost Ford's Earnings
Ford purchased his first significant home in Los Angeles in 1983, spending just $1 million at the time. He later sold the property for $8.2 million and has invested in various properties around the area. The exact earnings from these other deals are sketchy at best. Public records show that he owns at least three or more houses in the area that he likely rents out to other people.
If Ford is renting out these properties, he could be grossing an average of $7,500 per month or more, based on average LA rent prices. That's about $90,000 or more every year. While he undoubtedly has to pay upkeep and other expenses on these homes, they likely bring in a lot of passive income that boosts his net worth even further. But, again, few public records exist regarding his real estate value, so this information is speculation.
A Costly Divorce Took One-Quarter of Ford's Net Worth
Celebrity divorces are rarely pretty and almost never cheap. Harrison Ford's 2004 divorce from “E.T.” screenwriter Melissa Mathison cost him one-quarter of his worth and dropped him from tying as the eighth-highest-valued actor down to the 21st. When Ford and Mathison divorced after 21 years of marriage, Ford paid her $90-100 million in the settlement.
The only word we can think to say here is “ouch.” This divorce is still considered one of the most expensive of all time and is one that Ford doesn't like to talk about even now. But, in Mathison's defense, Ford was dating Calista Flockhart for two years before the divorce, so one can't honestly blame her for being a little vindictive. Thankfully, Ford and Flockhart seem happy after 20 years together.
Harrison Ford and ex wife
Image Source: Flickr
Is Ford Charitable? Yes
Harrison Ford has long been a passionate friend for the environment, working with Conservation International as early as 1991. He has helped this firm raise over $100 million over the years and has continually donated to its many causes. While Ford's very private nature limits how much is known about his donation amounts, he is known to give regularly and campaign for this group.
Beyond that, Ford also works with Riverkeeper, the Young Eagles flying program, the African Rainforest Conservancy, the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, Elton John AIDS Foundation, K9 Connection, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Film Foundation, Orca Network, Peace Over Violence, Prince's Rainforests Projects, and much more.
Hard to Believe, Huh?
When examining Harrison Ford's net worth, it's fascinating to remember that he's always remained a down-to-earth and approachable person. Much like Tom Hanks, a similarly respected and high-earning actor, Ford seems incapable of snobbishness. Perhaps it's because Ford, like Hanks, spent over a decade honing his craft in poor-paying roles before hitting it big. Whatever the case, Ford's sustained success is an inspiration for struggling actors in their 30s, who may just need one Han Solo to make it big.
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