John Travolta Net Worth (Money & Salary)
the remarkable turnaround in his career. Travolta’s earnings did not stop there; he received similar salaries for other hit films like “Mad City,” “A Civil Action,” and “The General’s Daughter” in 1998 and 1999, each bringing in $20 million. His performance in “Battlefield Earth” (2000) netted him $10 million, while “Swordfish” (2001) marked another peak with a $20 million paycheque.
By 2003’s “Basic,” Travolta commanded $15 million, and he continued to maintain a strong earning power with $20 million for both “Ladder 49” (2004) and “Be Cool” (2005). His later success was evidenced in “Hairspray” (2007), for which he earned $14 million.
The cumulative earnings from these 16 films alone reflect an impressive $230 million, highlighting Travolta’s journey through the industry and showcasing his resilience and adaptability over the years.
to reclaim his box office dominance.
Both “Mad City” (1997) and “Primary Colors” (1998) maintained his high earning streak, generating $20 million and $17 million, respectively. His paycheck for “A Civil Action” (1998) was again $20 million, reaffirming his star power. By the end of the millennium, Travolta’s prominence was undeniable, as evidenced by “The General’s Daughter” (1999), which also earned him $20 million.
As the new millennium began, “Battlefield Earth” (2000) marked a decline in his salary to $10 million, likely reflecting the film’s mixed reviews. Nonetheless, this was a short-lived dip, with “Swordfish” (2001) restoring his $20 million salary standard. The subsequent years displayed a steady pattern of impressive earnings for Travolta, such as “Basic” (2003) at $15 million, while both “Ladder 49” (2004) and “Be Cool” (2005) earned him $20 million each. His role in “Hairspray” (2007) also brought in an impressive $14 million, showcasing his versatility and enduring allure.
Early Life
Born on February 18, 1954, Travolta was the youngest of six siblings. His mother, Helen Cecilia, had a successful career as both an actress and singer with The Sunshine Sisters, a radio vocal ensemble, before transitioning to a high school teaching position. His father, Salvatore, was a semi-professional American football player who later became a tire salesman.
Beginnings of Success
Travolta made the decision to leave high school in 1971 at the age of 17, relocating to New York City, where he landed a role on Broadway in Over Here! and joined the touring cast of Grease. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue greater opportunities. His first notable screen appearance came in the 1976 horror film Carrie, and he also secured the part of Vinnie Barbarino in ABC’s sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter (1975-79).
Throughout the late 1970s into the early 1980s, Travolta experienced considerable success both on and off the screen. His hit single “Let Her In” reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in July 1976. He starred in several notable films, particularly Saturday Night Fever (1977), Grease (1978), and Urban Cowboy (1980). For his memorable performance in Saturday Night Fever, Travolta was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor, making him one of the youngest recipients of such recognition at just 24.
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Decline and Return
Following his achievements in the 1970s, the 1980s proved to be riddled with setbacks that adversely affected his career. His films Two of a Kind (1983) and Perfect (1985) failed both commercially and critically; even with Staying Alive, the 1983 sequel to Saturday Night Fever, grossing over $65 million, it did not impress critics.
Yet, despite these challenges, Travolta orchestrated a remarkable comeback.In 1989, with Look Who’s Talking, which grossed $297 million—this was his most successful film following Grease. His status as an A-list actor was reaffirmed and solidified by his Academy Award-nominated performance in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction (1994). With a greater number of movie offers coming his way, the 1990s proved to be a fruitful decade for Travolta. During this time, he starred in notable films such as Get Shorty (1995), Face/Off (1997), and A Civil Action (1998).
Travolta remained busy throughout the 2000s, appearing in a variety of films including Swordfish (2001), Ladder 49 (2004), Be Cool (2005), Lonely Hearts (2006), Wild Hogs (2007), and Old Dogs (2009). He also marked his return to musicals, performing in drag as Edna Turnblad in the 2007 remake of Hairspray, his first musical since Grease.
In this era, Travolta ventured into different types of projects beyond his traditional acting roles. In 2008, he voiced the lead character in the animated film Bolt and contributed voiceovers for the 2005 documentary Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D. Additionally, he pursued a personal project in 2000 by both starring in and co-producing the science fiction film Battlefield Earth. This film, based on the novel by L. Ron Hubbard, had been one of Travolta’s dream projects since the book’s release in 1982, when Hubbard personally contacted him for assistance in adapting it into a film.
Since 2010, Travolta’s acting endeavors have primarily been focused on action and thriller genres. Titles from this period include Savages (2012), Killing Season (2013), In a Valley of Violence (2016), Speed Kills (2018), Trading Paint (2019), The Poison Rose (2019), The Fanatic (2019), and Paradise City (2022). He has also continued his production efforts, serving as both star and executive producer for the films Criminal Activities (2015) and Gotti (2018).
In February 2023, John Travolta recreated the iconic “Summer Nights” scene from Grease in a Super Bowl commercial for T-Mobile.
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Personal Life
In 1991, Travolta married actress Kelly Preston, and they had three children together. Sadly, their eldest son, Jett, passed away on January 2, 2009, at the age of 16 during a vacation in the Bahamas, with the official cause of death attributed to a seizure. Travolta has revealed that Jett had autism and frequently experienced seizures. In tribute to his son, Travolta established the Jett Travolta Foundation to support children with special needs.
In a tragic turn of events, Kelly Preston succumbed to breast cancer on July 12, 2020, at the age of 57.
Raised in a Catholic household, Travolta converted to the Church of Scientology in 1975, a belief system he continues to adhere to. He has acknowledged the support of his family and Scientology in helping him navigate the grief of losing his son.
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Sexual Assault Allegations
A masseur, remaining anonymous, lodged a lawsuit against Travolta in May 2012, claiming sexual assault and battery. Following the assertion from Travolta’s legal representatives that these allegations were “complete fiction and fabrication,” another masseur subsequently joined the suit with similar accusations. Ultimately, both lawsuits were withdrawn by the plaintiffs and were dismissed.
Real Estate
In 1993, the Travoltas acquired a residence in LA’s Brentwood neighborhood for $3.5 million, encompassing 2.35 acres. The estate features an 8,100 square-foot main house that includes seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a tennis court, a playground, and a spacious swimming pool. In January 2020, the couple sold the property to their neighbor, mega-producer/manager Scooter Braun, for $18 million. Braun, along with his wife, Yael Cohen, bought the adjacent lot in 2014 for $13.1 million. Additionally, John purchased a home in Calabasas for $2.65 million in September 2019.
Beyond LA, Travolta possesses a 50-acre estate in Maine, which he attempted to sell in 2022 for $5 million, a Clearwater, Florida mansion near Scientology’s headquarters that he sold for $4 million in 2021, and a distinctive property in Ocala, Florida, situated in the Jumbolair Aviation Estates neighborhood. Currently, the Ocala property is valued at roughly $10 million. This area features a functioning private airport catering to large aircraft, and they were among the initial buyers of land in this development. The runway’s size allows Travolta, a passionate aviator, to fly his numerous aircraft; reports indicate he owns at least seven jets and additional smaller planes.