How is The Net Worth of Jussie Smollett an Amazing $17m?

What is Jussie Smollett’s Net Worth?

Net Worth$17 million
Source of WealthProfessional actor
Date of BirthJune 21, 1982
NationalityAmerica
Height 6 ft 2 inches
Place of BirthSanta Rosa, California
Star SignCancer
ReligionChristianity 
Marital StatusUnmarried

The Usual Intro

Jussie Smollett is an American actor and singer, a career he began as a child. He rose to fame from his portrayal of musician Jamal Lyon in the drama series Empire. As of 2022, it was estimated that the 40-year-old actor’s net worth was about $17 million.

Before the Spotlight

Smollett was born on the 21st of June 1982 in Santa Rosa, California. He is the third born to Joel Smollett and Janet Smollett. He has three brothers and two sisters, most of whom have also ventured into acting careers.

The Smolletts moved to the Borough of Queens, a neighborhood in New York City, when he was two years and then to Los Angeles when he was about seven years old.

He graduated from Paramus Catholic High School in Paramus, New Jersey. At the age of 19, Smollett made his parents aware of his sexual orientation as gay.

Smollett began his acting career as a child actor in 1991, featuring in films such as The Mighty Ducks (1992) and Rob Reiner’s North (1994).

The Journey to Success

Smollett began his career as a child actor. He was cast in The Mighty Ducks (1992) and North (1994). He also took part in television episodes, starring in On Our Own, alongside his siblings, on ABC Sitcom. In 2012, he resumed his acting career, starring in an LGBT-themed comedy-drama, The Skinny, and later released his film, The Poisoned Hearts Club.

However, his breakthrough came when he was cast as Jamal Lyon in Fox’s musical TV series Empire. The show was based on a hip-hop music company called Empire Entertainment and depicted the gaps between the families of the founders who control the company.

In 2016, Smollett was a guest star in the WGN American series Underground, cast as a slave named Josey, a film in which his younger sister Jurnee was the lead role. As of July 2022, his net worth was estimated to be about $17 million.

The Best Moments

Some main highlights of Jussie Smollett’s career include:

  • Cast as Terry Hall in The Mighty Ducks (1992)
  • Cast as Adam in the North (1994)
  • Cast as Mike in the short film Pitch this (2009)
  • Cast as Magnus in The Skinny (2012)
  • Cast as Tariq in Born to Race: Fast Track and as John in the short film The Tale of Four, both in 2014
  • Cast as Jamal Lyon in the television series Empire (2015 – 2019) and was nominated for the BET Award for Best Actor and Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actor: Drama.
  • Won the NAACP Image Awards in 2016 as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, Outstanding New Artist, Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration, and also Outstanding Song
  • Released his album, Sum of My Music, in 2018.
  • Directed B-Boy Blues movie released in December 2021.

The Private Side

Smollett revealed to his parents at the age of 19 that he was gay, and publicly came out as gay during a televised interview with Ellen DeGeneres in March 2015. In another interview on his sexual orientation, he said, “If I had to label myself, I would label myself as a gay man.”

Smollett pleaded no contest to providing false information to law enforcement in a 2007 misdemeanor case resulting from a DUI stop in which Smollett gave police a false name and signed his brother’s name on the summons promising to appear in court.

He also pleaded no contest to driving with a blood-alcohol level over the legal limit and driving without a valid driver’s license, being sentenced to a fine and two years of probation. 

Jussie Smollett’s Related YouTube Video

The Fictional Case of Jussie Smollett


Jussie Smollett Has Courtroom Outburst After Judge Sentences Him To Jail

Famous Quotes of Jussie Smollett

  • “There really is no weight to telling the truth. It’s a little scary sometimes, but if you tell the truth, you don’t have to be looking over your shoulder.” – Jussie Smollett
  • “Some of the greatest films and television have only been seen by the people that make them. And some of the greatest music is only heard by the people who make it.” – Jussie Smollett
  • “There’s not one human being on the planet earth who has never felt, at some point, unaccepted. At some point in our lives, we feel like we’re not good enough, but we have to step back and realize that we are.” – Jussie Smollett

The Social World

Here are the social media stats of Jussie Smollett:

Lessons for Entrepreneurs

Let’s take a look at some success lessons from Smollett here:

1. Creation beats reaction

Be proactive in your life, and decide what you want rather than reacting to what life gives you. Creation empowers you and expands your opportunities. Reacting disempowers you and limits your options. 

2. Action beats malaise

Action is the cure for procrastination, indecision, anxiety, and frustration. Stop thinking and take action. Create the momentum that leads to something valuable.

3. It’s Never Too Late

Time should never limit your dreams. Great things can be accomplished at any age. Go for it when you see the opportunity.

The Unusual Stuff

Here are some interesting facts about Smollett; –

  • All his siblings bear a resemblance in their names, Jack, Jocqui, Jojo, Jurnee, and Jazz.
  • Despite coming out as gay, he believes openness to love is more important than gender. He may fall for a woman someday!
  • Hoaxed an attack that attracted the attention of the then and now USA vice president Kamala Harris, which later turned out to be a publicity stunt after investigations.
  • He began his career as a child actor, featuring in his early films as an extra.

Answering Frequent Questions

Why did Jussie Smollett stage a hoax attack?

Police investigations indicated that the attack was staged as a publicity stunt.

What is Smollett’s sexuality?

Smollett acknowledged his sexual orientation as gay, having been rumored to have dated Lee Daniels.

What is Smollett’s net worth?

As of July 2022, it is estimated that the actor’s net worth is $17 million. 

The Closing Remarks

Jussie Smollett’s career has been excellent since his childhood, taking up both acting roles and also doing music. Even though his 2019 hate crime hoax was low on his career, he is still hailed for his groundbreaking role as a black gay man in the drama series Empire. His net worth is estimated to be $17 million.

Featured image credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com 

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Asad Elahi

Asad Elahi is a personal finance expert and author with over 5 years of experience in the industry. He has written extensively on topics such as saving, investing, and building wealth, focusing on helping individuals achieve financial independence. His work has been featured in major publications such as Forbes and The Wall Street Journal, and he is a regular contributor to financial websites and blogs.