Emma Watson, a British actress, model, and activist, boasts a net worth of $85 million. She gained worldwide fame for her portrayal of Hermione Granger in the eight films based on JK Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series. After the conclusion of these films, Watson successfully made the transition to adult roles, proving her versatility as an actress. Her career has flourished, and she has starred in films such as “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” the biblical epic “Noah,” and the live-action version of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” where she portrayed the iconic character of Belle. This role solidified her reputation as a leading actress in Hollywood. In addition to acting, Emma Watson has earned substantial income from endorsement deals with major brands like Calvin Klein, Lancome, Dolce & Gabbana, and Burberry, accumulating tens of millions of dollars.
Emma Watson’s impressive earnings include $70 million from the “Harry Potter” franchise. She earned $15 million for her role in “Beauty and the Beast” and has ranked as high as the sixth highest-paid actress globally. Additionally, Watson’s endorsement deals generate $5-10 million per year. During the peak of her “Harry Potter” career, she earned between $15-20 million annually.
Early Life
Emma Charlotte Duere Watson was born on April 15, 1990, in Paris. She has four siblings and moved to England at the age of five after her parents’ divorce. She lived with her mother, Jacqueline Luesby, and spent weekends with her father, Chris Watson, in London. Emma first became interested in acting at the age of six. Her parents enrolled her in Stagecoach Theater Arts in Oxford, where she trained in acting. At just nine years old, she landed her first major acting role as Hermione Granger in the “Harry Potter” films. Prior to this, she had no professional film experience and had only appeared in a few stage productions.
Rising to Stardom
At the height of her “Harry Potter” fame, Emma Watson earned $15-20 million per year in acting salaries alone. Her performances in the films, alongside Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint, garnered widespread recognition and multiple awards. By 2007, her earnings from the franchise had surpassed $13 million, allowing her to reach financial independence. In 2009, she was ranked sixth on Forbes’ “Most Valuable Young Stars” list, and in the same year, she was named the highest-paid female star in Hollywood, earning $24.8 million. By 2017, Watson remained one of the highest-paid actresses, with earnings of $14 million annually.
“Harry Potter” Earnings
Emma Watson earned $4 million for her role in 2007’s “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.” For the final two films, “Deathly Hallows Parts 1 and 2,” she earned a combined total of $30 million. When adjusted for inflation, it is estimated that she made at least $70 million in base salaries from the “Harry Potter” series.
Continued Success
After the last “Harry Potter” film, Watson transitioned to diverse roles in various films. She starred in “My Week with Marilyn” (2011), “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” (2012), “The Bling Ring” (2013), “This Is the End” (2013), “Noah” (2014), “Colonia” (2015), “Regression” (2015), “Beauty and the Beast” (2017), “The Circle” (2017), and “Little Women” (2019). Watson earned around $15 million for her work in “Beauty and the Beast,” with bonuses included. Her base salary for the film was $3 million.
Emma Watson has won numerous awards throughout her career, including a Young Artist Award in 2002, People’s Choice Awards in 2012 and 2013, British Artist of the Year by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in 2014, and Teen Choice Awards in 2011 and 2017. She has also received several award nominations, such as the Critic’s Choice Awards in 2005, 2006, and 2020, MTV Movie Awards in 2006, 2011, and 2013, and Saturn Awards in 2002, 2012, and 2018.
Fashion Modeling
Aside from acting, Watson has made a name for herself in the fashion world. Her modeling career began in 2005 with a photo shoot for “Teen Vogue,” where she became the youngest person to appear on the magazine’s cover. Watson went on to model for British fashion house Burberry in 2009 and 2010. She reportedly received a six-figure fee for her 2009 campaign with the brand. Watson was also chosen as the face of Lancôme in 2011. In 2020, she joined the board of directors for luxury brand Kering, advocating for sustainable fashion. Later, in 2022, she became the face of Prada Beauty’s new fragrance campaign, which she also directed, wrote, and narrated.
Personal Life
From 2011 to 2014, Emma Watson balanced her acting career with education. She studied at Brown University and Oxford’s Worcester College, ultimately graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English literature in 2014. In 2013, Watson became certified to teach yoga and meditation, attending a week-long silent meditation course in Canada as part of her certification process. When asked about her faith during her work on the 2014 film “Noah,” she identified as a spiritual Universalist.
Advocacy for Women’s Rights
Emma Watson is a passionate advocate for women’s rights. In 2014, she was appointed as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador and delivered a groundbreaking speech at the UN Headquarters in New York to launch the HeForShe campaign. The campaign calls for men to become active advocates for gender equality. That same year, Watson also visited Uruguay to speak about the importance of women’s involvement in politics. Later, she was recognized as the Ms. Foundation for Women’s Feminist Celebrity of 2014. Emma was named one of “TIME’s” 100 most influential people in the world in 2015, one day after turning 25. In 2016, she founded the feminist book club Our Shared Shelf. In 2019, Watson helped launch a legal advice line with Rights of Women for individuals who had experienced sexual harassment in the workplace.
Personal Life and Relationships
In 2019, Emma Watson introduced the term “self-partnered,” describing herself as happy and content without being in a relationship. She began dating American businessman Leo Robinton later that year, but the couple split in 2021. She was subsequently linked to Brandon Green, the son of billionaire Sir Philip Green.
Real Estate
Emma Watson’s concern for her privacy led her to purchase a home with a paparazzi-proof entrance, arranged through a Skype call with a real estate agent, without ever seeing the property in person. In 2019, she mentioned that she divides her time between London and New York City. Watson reportedly purchased a $3.3 million home in London. Her first property was bought in 2008 when she turned 18. She purchased a luxury ski chalet in Meribel, France, for $1.2 million.