Michael J. Fox Net Worth (Money & Salary)
was on maternity leave. However, after extensive auditions, Zemeckis was finally able to convince Goldberg, resulting in Fox landing the iconic role. “Back to the Future” was released in July 1985 and became a cultural phenomenon, leading to two sequels and solidifying Fox’s status as a major Hollywood star.
Later Career
Following the success of the “Back to the Future” trilogy, Fox continued to work in both film and television. He starred in “The Frighteners” (1996) and had notable appearances in various series such as “Boston Legal” and “The Good Wife.” In 2000, he returned to television with the series “Spin City,” for which he received critical acclaim. However, by the end of the series, he had to step down due to health issues stemming from his Parkinson’s diagnosis. Despite these challenges, Fox made guest appearances and continued to contribute to the entertainment industry.
Philanthropy
Michael J. Fox’s battle with Parkinson’s Disease has also led to considerable philanthropic efforts. In 2000, he founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, aiming to support scientific research aimed at curing Parkinson’s. The foundation has since become the largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s research in the world, raising significant sums and advocating for more effective treatment options.
maternity leave period, Zemeckis decided to cast Eric Stoltz as Marty and commenced production on “Back to the Future.” Eventually, after Baxter returned to “Family Ties,” he substituted Stoltz with Fox, slightly easing Michael’s schedule.
Fox faced an exhausting timetable to manage both the film and the television series concurrently. He would rehearse for “Family Ties” from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., only to transition to the “Back to the Future” set, where he would rehearse and shoot until 2:30 a.m. This relentless routine continued for two months! Nevertheless, his dedication paid off, as “Back to the Future” emerged as a tremendous commercial and critical triumph. It grossed $381.11 million globally and dominated the US box office for eight straight weekends in 1985. Michael subsequently starred in the successful sequels, “Back to the Future Part II” (1989) and “Back to the Future Part III” (1990).
“Back to the Future” Salaries
In the first “Back to the Future” film, Michael J. Fox received a salary of $500 thousand. When adjusted for inflation, that amounts to approximately $1.4 million in today’s value. For both the second and third films, which were shot back-to-back between February 1989 and January 1990, Michael earned $5 million. Thus, his total earnings from the three movies reached $11.4 million.
Other Salaries
For the 1985 film “Teen Wolf,” Michael earned $750,000.
He received $2 million for “The Secret of My Succe$s” in 1987.
In 1994, he received $5 million for his work in “Greedy.”
Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images
Other Film Work
While working on and immediately following the “Back to the Future” trilogy, Fox starred in several films, including “Teen Wolf” (1985), “Light of Day” (1987), “The Secret of My Success” (1987), “Bright Lights, Big City” (1988), and “Casualties of War” (1989). In 1991, he appeared in “Doc Hollywood” and “The Hard Way.” That same year, a private diagnosis revealed he had Parkinson’s disease. Following the prognosis suggesting he might have “ten good working years left,” Fox hastily signed a three-film agreement. This led to “For Love or Money” (1993), “Life With Mikey” (1993), and “Greedy” (1994). His final major film role was in Peter Jackson’s 1996 film “The Frighteners.” Over the years, he has also made guest appearances in multiple television series, including “The Good Wife,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Designated Survivor,” and “The Good Fight.”
Aside from his screen acting, Fox has provided his voice for various animated films. He voiced Chance, the American Bulldog, in Disney’s live-action feature “Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey” (1993) and its sequel “Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco” (1996). He also voiced the lead character in “Stuart Little” (1999) and its sequels, “Stuart Little 2” (2002) and “Stuart Little 3: Call of the Wild” (2005), along with the character Milo Thatch in Disney’s animated film “Atlantis: The Lost Empire” (2001). As recently as 2021, he voiced Michael J. Bird in the animated film “Back Home Again.”
“Spin City” and More
Later in hisIn 1996, Fox appeared in the ABC series “Spin City,” continuing until the fourth season. Among the significant projects he took on afterward was “The Michael J. Fox Show,” which aired on NBC from 2013 until 2014.
Other Work
Since the year 2000, Fox has authored four books: “Lucky Man: A Memoir” (2002), “Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist” (2009), “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future: Twists and Turns and Lessons Learned” (2010), and “No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality” (2020).
(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Personal Life
In July 1988, Fox wed actress Tracy Pollan, with whom he has four children.
He established The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, aiming to support embryonic stem cell studies that could lead to a cure for Parkinson’s disease. The foundation has successfully raised over $300 million for research initiatives.
During the early stages of his Parkinson’s diagnosis, Michael faced challenges with alcoholism but has remained sober since 1992.
Real Estate
The family primarily resides in Manhattan, while also owning an additional property in Quogue, New York (the Hamptons), acquired in October 2007 for $6.3 million.
In 1997, Michael and Tracy constructed a 5,000-square-foot house on 72 acres in Sharon, Connecticut. They put the property on the market in 2016 for $4.25 million and accepted an offer of $3.9 million in October 2017.