What Is Steven Seagal's Net Worth and Salary?
Steven Seagal is an American martial artist, action movie star, screenwriter, producer, and musician who has a net worth of $14 million. Steven Seagal was one of the biggest movie stars on the planet in the 1980s and 1990s. His career in the entertainment industry began in the 1980s when he was discovered by Hollywood producer Michael Ovitz. His debut film, "Above the Law" (1988), showcased his martial arts skills and launched him into the spotlight. He went on to star in a series of action films, including "Hard to Kill" (1990), "Under Siege" (1992), and "Exit Wounds" (2001), solidifying his reputation as an action movie star.
Aside from acting, Seagal has also ventured into producing and directing. He has produced and starred in numerous films throughout his career. In recent years, he has focused on action and thriller genres, releasing films such as "Attrition" (2018) and "Beyond the Law" (2019). In addition to his film career, Steven is a trained musician and has released several blues albums, showcasing his skills as a guitarist and singer.
In recent years, Seagal has made headlines for his life in Russia. He has developed a close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and has been granted Russian citizenship. Steven has embraced the country, frequently visiting and participating in various public events. He has been involved in Russian cultural initiatives, including music performances and charity work.
Steven Seagal Film Salaries
At the peak of his career in the '80s and '90s, Steven Seagal was one of the highest-paid film stars in the world. Because he was discovered by the most powerful agent in Hollywood, Michael Ovitz, Steven had the best representation possible right out of the gate. As such, he earned substantial upfront salaries, producer credits, and back-end points on his projects. Here are some of Steven Seagal's known salaries:
- $5 million for the film "Under Siege" (1992)
- $6.5 million each for the films "Exit Wounds" (2001) and "Ticker" (2001)
- $20 million for the film "The Glimmer Man" (1996)
- $15 million for the film "On Deadly Ground" (1994)
- $10 million for the film "Marked For Death" (1990)
Also, keep in mind that earning $10 million in 1990 is the same as earning around $25 million in today's dollars.
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Early Life and Martial Arts
Steven Frederic Seagal was born on April 10, 1952, in Lansing, Michigan. When he was five years old, he moved with his parents, Patricia and Samuel, to Fullerton, California. He attended Buena Park High School in Buena Park, California, and continued his education at Fullerton College from 1970 to 1971.
Steven began studying martial arts when he was a child, practicing Shito-ryu karate and aikido. At the encouragement of a friendly Japanese coworker at a Garden Grove dojo, Seagal visited Japan for the first time when he was seventeen years old. In 1974, he met Miyako Fujitani, the daughter of an Osaka Aikido master who was teaching Aikido in Los Angeles. Miyako was also a second-degree black belt. Seagal moved to Japan with her when she decided to return to Osaka, and he taught at the school owned by her family (he is often stated to have been the first non-Asian to open a dojo in Japan).
Steven first returned to Taos, New Mexico, where he opened a dojo with his student Craig Dunn, before going back to Japan. His second return to the United States was in 1983 when he opened an aikido dojo with student Haruo Matsuoka in West Hollywood, California. They parted ways in 1997.
Acting Career
While he left his partners in charge of the dojos they had opened together, Seagal also began pursuing other ventures, one of which was Hollywood action films. He started making important Hollywood contacts who helped him land jobs as a martial arts co-coordinator for the films "The Challenge" and "Never Say Never Again." His first time acting was in the film "Above the Law," which was directed by Andrew Davis and was released in 1988. It was a success, and he starred in the subsequent films "Hard to Kill" (1990), "Marked for Death" (1990), and "Out for Justice" (1991). All of these were a box office success, and they helped to cement his status as an action hero. His mainstream breakthrough came with the 1992 film "Under Siege," also directed by Andrew Davis. The film would go on to earn $156.4 million worldwide. In 1994, Seagal made his directorial debut with the movie "On Deadly Ground." The film (which he also co-starred in) was a departure for him because it dealt heavily with spiritual and environmental issues. It was poorly received by critics, but Seagal considers it an important moment in his career.
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He continued his film career with a follow-up to his most successful film "Under Siege," 1995's "Under Siege 2: Dark Territory." Other films he worked on during the late 1990s include "Executive Decision" (1996), "The Glimmer Man" (1996), and "Fire Down Below" (1997). He shifted to direct-to-video work with the 1998 film "The Patriot," which he produced with his own money and shot on and near his Montana farm. He has continued to work in the direct-to-video format, and with the sole exception of "Machete" (2010), all his film work since late 2001 has been released direct-to-video (DTV) in North America. He is also often credited as producer, and at-times screenwriter, on many of these DTV films, such as "Belly of the Beast" (2003), "Out of Reach" (2004), "Black Dawn" (2005), "Submerged" (2005), "Urban Justice" (2007), "Kill Switch" (2008), "Pistol Whipped" (2008), "Against the Dark" (2009), "Driven to Kill" (2009), "A Dangerous Man" (2009), "The Keeper" (2009) and "Born to Raise Hell" (2010).
Other Projects
In addition to his film career, Seagal has appeared on television as well. He starred in the A&E reality television series "Steven Seagal: Lawman" in 2009 and also produced and starred in the 13-episode series "True Justice" in 2011. Steven, who plays the guitar, has also enjoyed a music career, with his songs having been featured in several of his films. He has released two albums, which have featured songs with artists such as Stevie Wonder and Tony Rebel.
Steven is the founder of Seagal Enterprises. The company marketed an energy drink called Steven Seagal's Lightning Bolt in 2005, although it has now been discontinued. He has also marketed products such as aftershave and a knife range. He joined the newly formed Russian firearms manufacturer ORSIS in 2013, promoting the company and lobbying on behalf of them for easing US import restrictions on Russian sporting firearms.
Personal Life
In addition to his American citizenship, Seagal holds Serbian and Russian citizenship. He owns several properties, including in Louisiana, Colorado and California.
Seagal has a total of seven children from four different relationships. With his first wife, Miyako Fujitani, he has two children. They divorced after Steven left her in Japan and moved back to the United States. Following his divorce from Fujitani, he was briefly married to actress Adrienne La Russa in 1984, but the marriage was annulled that same year. Actress Kelly LeBrock gave birth to his daughter in early 1987, and the couple married later that year. They had two more children before divorcing in 1994. He later married Mongolian dancer Erdenetuya "Elle" Batsukh, and together they have one son.
In early 2018, Seagal took to his social media accounts to let his followers know about a cryptocurrency called "Bitcoiin2Gen." Unfortunately, he failed to disclose that he had been "promised" $250,000 in cash plus another $750,000 worth of Bitcoiin2Gen to promote the crypto's IPO, which is a big no-no for the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). After meeting with regulators, Seagal agreed to pay $157,000 in disgorgement, plus another $157,000 in penalties, all without actually "admitting or denying" the SEC's allegations. He also agreed to not promote any cryptocurrencies or securities on social media for a period of three years.
Arizona Mansion
In 2001, Steven paid an undisclosed amount for a 12-acre property in Scottsdale, Arizona. He proceeded to custom-build what became a 9,000-square-foot stone mansion. Not only is the mansion gated, all the glass is bulletproof. He listed this home for sale in December 2012 for $4.25 million and ultimately accepted $3.55 million in July 2021. Here is a video tour of Steven Seagal's former Arizona mansion:
