Cameron Diaz, an American actress and former model, has an estimated net worth of $140 million. Her success in Hollywood spans decades, with box office ticket sales exceeding $7 billion, making her the fifth highest-grossing U.S. actress.
She accumulated her fortune primarily through acting, endorsement deals, and real estate investments.
During her career peak (1998–2011), Diaz earned over $160 million in base film salaries alone. Her minimum salary per movie is reported at $10 million, though she has earned as much as $20 million for major roles.
In a unique deal for 2011’s “Bad Teacher,” she took a low upfront fee ($1 million) in exchange for a share of profits, resulting in a $42 million payday—one of the highest single-film earnings in history.
Also Read: Steve Harvey Net Worth 2025: Career, Salary, Real Estate & Personal Life
Early Life and Modeling Career
Cameron Diaz was born on August 30, 1972, in San Diego, California, and raised in Long Beach. She attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School, where she was classmates with Snoop Dogg.
Despite a frugal upbringing—her family even collected soda cans for extra income—Diaz entered the world of high fashion at age 16 when she signed with Elite Model Management.
She quickly gained prominence, appearing in campaigns for Calvin Klein and Levi’s and landing on the cover of Seventeen Magazine. Her modeling career took her around the world, including stints in Japan, Australia, and Paris.
Breakthrough in Acting: “The Mask” and Early Success
At 21, with no prior acting experience, Diaz auditioned for and won the female lead role in “The Mask” (1994) opposite Jim Carrey. The film was a huge commercial success, grossing over $340 million worldwide, and instantly catapulted Diaz into stardom.
Following this breakthrough, Diaz focused on honing her craft, taking acting lessons and appearing in smaller independent films before returning to mainstream Hollywood.
Major Film Roles and Career Highlights
Diaz starred in numerous successful films throughout the late 1990s and 2000s, including:
- “My Best Friend’s Wedding” (1997) – A box office hit that strengthened her rom-com credentials.
- “There’s Something About Mary” (1998) – Grossed $369 million worldwide, earning Diaz her first Golden Globe nomination.
- “Being John Malkovich” (1999) – A critically acclaimed film that earned Diaz additional award nominations.
- “Charlie’s Angels” (2000) and “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle” (2003) – Diaz earned $12 million for the first film and $20 million for the sequel.
- “Vanilla Sky” (2001) – Diaz starred alongside Tom Cruise and received four prestigious award nominations.
- “Gangs of New York” (2002) – A historical epic for which she earned $17.5 million.
- “Shrek” franchise (2001–2010) – Diaz voiced Princess Fiona, with the sequel “Shrek 2” (2004) grossing $919 million worldwide. She earned $3 million for the first film and $10 million for the second.
- “Bad Teacher” (2011) – A highly profitable project where Diaz took a lower salary in exchange for backend earnings of $42 million.
- “Annie” (2014) – Her last film before retirement.
Retirement and Comeback
Diaz retired from acting in 2014 and maintained that decision for nearly a decade. However, in June 2022, it was announced that she would return to acting in a Netflix action-comedy “Back in Action” alongside Jamie Foxx.
Netflix reportedly paid her $45 million to star in two films, signaling a lucrative comeback.
Also Read: Ravindra Jadeja Net Worth 2025: Salary, Endorsements & Assets
Real Estate Investments
Diaz has made smart real estate investments over the years, owning several luxurious properties:
- Los Angeles: Purchased a home above the Sunset Strip for $1.34 million in 2001, later selling it to Ariana Grande in 2022 for $4.9 million.
- Beverly Hills: Bought a $9.5 million compound in 2010 from actress Candice Bergen.
- New York City: Previously owned a Greenwich Village loft ($4 million) before buying a Chelsea condo for $9.5 million in 2013.
- Montecito, California: In 2022, she and her husband Benji Madden bought an 11,000-square-foot mansion for $12.67 million.
- Beverly Hills (2020): Diaz and Madden purchased a 9,000-square-foot mansion for $14.7 million, which they listed for sale in July 2024 for $17.8 million.
Personal Life
Diaz has been married to Benji Madden, co-founder of the band Good Charlotte, since 2015. They were introduced by Nicole Richie, who is married to Benji’s twin brother, Joel Madden. In December 2019, Diaz and Madden welcomed their daughter via surrogate.
