Nicole Kidman, an Australian actress, producer, and philanthropist, has an estimated net worth of $250 million. Her career spans more than four decades, during which she has earned critical acclaim, commercial success, and a reputation for versatility. Starting from television in Australia, Kidman eventually became one of Hollywood’s most respected actresses.
Her breakthrough came in the early 1990s, with roles in “Dead Calm” and “Days of Thunder,” but it was “To Die For” (1995) that truly showcased her acting abilities. Kidman’s career reached new heights with her Oscar-winning role in “The Hours” (2002), solidifying her as one of Hollywood’s leading actresses. She has taken on a wide variety of roles in both film and television, ranging from musicals like “Moulin Rouge!” to dramas such as “The Others” and “Lion.” More recently, she made a significant impact in television with shows like “Big Little Lies” and “The Undoing.”
In the first season of Big Little Lies, Kidman earned $250,000 per episode, while for the second season, her salary increased to $1 million per episode. This highlights her successful transition to television, where her performances have been praised widely.
Nicole Kidman is One of the Highest Paid Actresses
Nicole Kidman has consistently ranked among the highest-paid actresses for several decades. Between September 2019 and September 2020 alone, she earned around $22 million from her acting projects. This includes a reported $10 million for her role in Netflix’s The Prom and $1 million per episode for her work in HBO’s The Undoing. Over her career, she has accumulated more than $350 million in acting salaries, excluding endorsements.
Nicole Kidman was born on June 20, 1967, in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Australian parents. They were living in the U.S. temporarily while her father pursued graduate studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. After completing his degree, the family relocated to Washington, D.C., before moving back to Australia when Kidman was four. She went on to study at Sydney’s Phillip Street Theatre and the Australian Theatre for Young People, where her passion for acting began to take shape.
The Path to Stardom
Kidman’s rise to stardom started in Australia, where she first appeared on television as a teenager in the early 1980s. Her breakthrough came with her role in the 1987 miniseries Vietnam, which earned her local recognition. This laid the foundation for her move to Hollywood, where she made her debut in Days of Thunder (1990), starring opposite Tom Cruise. This film marked both her entry into international stardom and her high-profile relationship with Cruise. Throughout the 1990s, she continued to take on diverse roles, including Far and Away (1992), Batman Forever (1995), and Eyes Wide Shut (1999), directed by Stanley Kubrick.
The new millennium brought even more success for Kidman. Her role in Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge! (2001) earned her her first Academy Award nomination and showcased her singing talent. Shortly after, she portrayed Virginia Woolf in The Hours (2002), winning the Oscar for Best Actress. During this period, she alternated between big-budget productions like The Others (2001) and smaller, character-driven films like Dogville (2003) and Birth (2004). Her ability to take on complex and sometimes controversial roles established her as a respected figure in Hollywood.
Continued Success in Film and Television
As her career progressed, Kidman continued to challenge herself with a wide range of projects. She received additional Oscar nominations for her roles in Rabbit Hole (2010) and Lion (2016), in which she portrayed deeply emotional maternal characters. In recent years, she has also made her mark in television, particularly through her performance in Big Little Lies (2017-2019), for which she won an Emmy and a Golden Globe. Her success in television continued with her performances in The Undoing (2020) and Nine Perfect Strangers (2021), further cementing her adaptability in the evolving entertainment.
Throughout her career, Kidman has also worked as a producer, often backing projects with strong female characters. Her production company, Blossom Films, has been behind many of her recent successes, including Big Little Lies and The Undoing.
Nicole Kidman’s Personal Life
Nicole Kidman’s personal life has been as high-profile as her career. She married actor Tom Cruise in 1990, and the couple adopted two children before divorcing in 2001. In 2005, she met country musician Keith Urban at a gathering of Australians in Los Angeles. The two married in 2006 and have two daughters, Sunday Rose (born in 2008) and Faith Margaret (born in 2010). Nicole and Keith divide their time between homes in Sydney, Sutton Forest (New South Wales), Los Angeles, and Nashville.
Salary Milestones
Nicole Kidman’s salary increased significantly throughout her career. She began with modest paychecks, earning $200,000 for Days of Thunder (1990) and $250,000 for Far and Away (1992). By 1995, she earned $2 million for her role in To Die For, and her pay continued to climb with subsequent films. For Batman Forever (1995), she earned $2.5 million, and for The Peacemaker (1997), her salary was $5 million. By the time she starred in Moulin Rouge! (2001), she was earning $7 million per film.
By 2003, Kidman was commanding $15 million per film, as seen in movies like Cold Mountain and The Interpreter (2005). Her career reached its peak salary-wise with a $17.5 million payday for Bewitched (2005). Between 1990 and 2008, Kidman earned over $180 million in movie salaries alone. To date, her acting earnings have surpassed $350 million.
In television, her salary per episode in Big Little Lies rose significantly. For the first season, Kidman earned about $250,000 per episode. However, by the second season, her salary increased to $1 million per episode.
Nicole Kidman’s Real Estate Ventures
Nicole Kidman and her husband Keith Urban have invested significantly in real estate, with properties around the world worth at least $30 million. Some of their notable properties include a $2.7 million home in Franklin, Tennessee, which they purchased in 2007 and sold in 2018 for the same price.
They also own a 12,000-square-foot mansion in an exclusive Nashville neighborhood, bought for $3.5 million in 2008. That same year, they purchased a Beverly Hills property for nearly $5 million and a 111-acre farm in Bunya Hill, Australia, for $4.1 million.
In 2009, they bought a penthouse in Sydney for $4.2 million, and in 2012, they added a neighboring unit for $4.85 million, creating a sprawling all-floor penthouse. In 2010, they paid $9.6 million for a duplex in New York City, which includes a car elevator that takes them directly to their apartment door.
Through her career, real estate investments, and various other ventures, Nicole Kidman has continued to build on her success and wealth, ensuring her place as one of Hollywood’s highest-earning and most influential figures.
