Jodie Foster Net Worth: From Child Star to $8 Million—How Did Jodie Foster Build Her Fortune?

Jodie Foster. You know her, love her, and want to take a picture with her. Who wouldn’t? The woman has been a Hollywood icon for as long as I can remember.
That got me wondering, how much could she have made in her celebrated career? I immediately researched to find the answer.
Covering every detail of her career, I’ll tell you how much Jodie Foster’s net worth is.
How Much Is Jodie Foster’s Net Worth?
After decades of starring in some of the most successful movies and TV shows ever, Jodie Foster has built a massive net worth of $8 million. That’s it. Thanks for reading!
I’m kidding. You want to know how she made that much money, and I’m here to give you the answer.
Acting
I’m not exaggerating when I say that Foster is one of the most influential actresses of her generation. So, let’s explore how her acting career contributed to her current wealth.

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Early Beginning
Foster started her dazzling acting career at a young age, appearing in a Copperstone advertisement when she was only three. Sure, it was a small gig, but it opened the door for casting agents to notice her potential.
From that day, she kept appearing in one commercial after another. You know what it’s like in the entertainment industry, though. Most people don’t stick to one medium.
It wasn’t long before Foster started appearing in TV shows. Her most prominent early works include The Courtship of Eddie’s Father, Paper Moon, and Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice.
She made her film debut in Napoleon and Samantha in 1972. You might have also seen her in Kansas City Bomber, One Little Indian, and Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
At the age of 12, Foster was already doing better than most aspiring adult actors/actresses out there.
Taxi Driver (1976)
At that point in her career, Foster exclusively played the role of the small child in most of her works. Naturally, her mother was worried that she might stop getting offers as she got older.

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So, when Foster got an offer to play the role of a prostitute in Martin Scorcese’s Taxi Driver when she was 15, her mother agreed right away.
You can probably tell it was a bit awkward for her on the set, but she had the attitude of a professional actress. So, she handled it all gracefully.
You’re probably wondering: “Still, how could they allow a 15-year-old to play that role?”
Well, it’s not like they carelessly threw her at the set and expected her to be seductive. They took all the necessary precautionary measures to ensure she was as safe and comfortable as possible.
Foster went through a thorough psychological assessment to determine whether she was ready for that role or not. She also had a social worker with her on set to make sure she wasn’t doing anything she wasn’t comfortable with.
She didn’t even do the explicit scenes herself. Her sister chimed in and did them for her. Ultimately, Foster ended up being a perfect cast for the role, and Taxi Driver opened the door for her to star in more ambitious movies.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

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You know you’re doing something right when you get cast in one of the most famous psychological thrillers in Hollywood. Clarice Starling might be one of Foster’s favorite characters she portrayed on screen.
Fun fact: Director Jonathan Demme didn’t want to cast Foster at first, but the producers forced him to. He later realized it was a blessing in disguise, as Foster helped define Starling’s character in a unique way.
That’s why it’s not surprising that Foster’s performance earned her critical acclaim and more awards than I could count. Sure, working with Anthony Hopkins was a bit scary for her, but she handled it like a champ.
Now, let’s talk money.
While I can’t say for sure how much she made in every movie, I can tell you that from the late 90s to the late 2000s, Foster made about $100 million from movie revenue. She got $15 million in Anna and the King and another 15 in The Brave One alone.
Directing
As she delved deeper into her acting career, Foster became interested in storytelling. So, she decided to dabble in directing a little bit.
Little Man Tate (1991)

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You’d think that Foster’s debut directorial project would flop, given that she didn’t have any directing experience, but no. Little Man Tate grossed $25 million domestically on a $10 million budget.
Despite setting foot in unknown territory, Foster was comfortable exploring the process and learning new aspects of storytelling. You can clearly see that in the movie.
So, it was time for Foster to let the world know that a talented director was born, right? Not really.
The Beaver (2011)
The Beaver was a challenging project in several ways. Not only did it tackle a heavy subject matter (depression), but it also starred the controversial Mel Gibson.
If you don’t know, Gibson was facing backlash for claims of domestic violence and spitting sexist, anti-semitic, and racist slurs.
Everything about the movie was working against Foster’s will, so it’s no surprise that it was a commercial failure.

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Money Monster (2016)
After the spectacular failure of The Beaver, Foster could’ve lost her confidence and went back to acting. She’s not one to give up, though. She gave it another go with Money Monster.
Sure, it wasn’t a critically acclaimed movie, but it did well overall, grossing $93.3 million on a $27 million budget.
Real Estate Investments
It seems like acting and directing aren’t Foster’s only talents. The celebrated actress has also made a few impressive real estate investments.
In 2005, she bought a Spanish-style home in Calabasas, California for $2.2 million. She sold it in 2020 for $2.65 million.

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She also bought a stunning mansion in Beverly Hills for $11.75 million and listed it in 2019 for $16 million. She ended up selling it for $14.9 million.
So, she’s made a sizable profit in each listing she created. Not bad, Foster.
Wrapping Up
Jodie Foster’s net worth is the result of years and years of grinding in the entertainment industry. From commercials and films to TV shows and direction, she’s dabbled in various aspects of show business and beyond. So, it’s no wonder she’s managed to build a sizable wealth.
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