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What is Denzel Washington's net worth? Hollywood legend hauls in at least $60 million a year

With 17 NAACP Image Awards, three Golden Globes, one Tony, and two Academy Awards, Washington's career is marked with box office hits
PUBLISHED JAN 21, 2021
Denzel Washington speaks at the 47th AFI Life Achievement Award on June 6, 2019, in Hollywood, California  (Getty Images)
Denzel Washington speaks at the 47th AFI Life Achievement Award on June 6, 2019, in Hollywood, California (Getty Images)

Born in 1954 to a beauty parlor owner and a Pentecostal minister/municipal employee, Denzel Washington grew up to be one of La La Land's most celebrated actors. With a career that's spread across over 40 years, Washington's contribution to cinema through iconic characters has been acknowledged with 17 NAACP Image Awards, three Golden Globes, one Tony, and two Academy Awards.

His most recent work sees him play Deputy Sheriff Joe 'Deke' Deacons in John Lee Hancock's upcoming HBO production, 'The Little Things'. It's your classic serial killer cat and mouse chase, and with a cast that brags of the likes of Jared Letto and Rami Malek, it's expected to be among 2021's finest. It is perhaps this sixth sense of choosing his roles and films so impeccably that has contributed to Washington's inspiring success, and a whopping net worth of $250 million.

Hollywood wins

Denzel Washington at the 47th AFI Life Achievement Award honoring Denzel Washington at Dolby Theatre on June 6, 2019, in Hollywood, California (Getty Images)

Washington's dazzling career is widely acclaimed for his real-life personalities on the screen. He first played the titular Muslim priest and civil rights protestor in 'Malcolm X' (1992) and then fighter Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter in 'The Hurricane' (1999). Soon came the football trainer Herman Boone in 'Remember the Titans' (2000); 'The Great Debaters' (2007) poet and teacher Melvin B; and American Gangster's (2007) medicine authority Frank Lucas.

With roles in some of the biggest blockbusters of all times like 'Training Day', 'Fallen', and 'The Siege', Washington's work in the industry has seen him earn $12 million for each of those movies. The critically acclaimed 'Malcolm X', 'Philadelphia', and 'Glory' were also on the lists of big box office hits that shot Washington's career into directing, producing, and more, amounting to an estimated $60 million per year income.

Early life

Denzel Washington in 'Carbon Copy' (IMDb)

A career this illustrious doesn't happen by chance, Washington was always pretty focused on it. The 2017 Fordham University graduate spent a good deal of time after college at the American Conservatory Theater. Before he took up an acting career in New York, Washington played small roles in TV and on the stage. His screen debut was in the comedy 'Carbon Copy' (1981), but the role that shot him to fame was that of Dr Phillip Chandler on the TV show 'St Elsewhere' (1982-1988).

Awards and accolades

Denzel Washington accepts the Cecil B. Demille Award during the 73rd Annual Golden Globes in 2016 (Getty Image)

Washington was an instant hit with the industry. His portrayal of South African activist Stephen Biko in the 1987 film 'Cry Freedom' got him an Academy Award nomination for best-supporting actor. In 1989, he was once again nominated in that category for playing a freed slave fighting in the Union army in the American Civil War film 'Glory' (1989).

Among 'Training Day's (2001) monumental success was also Washington winning the Oscar for the best actor that year, as he became the second African American actor after Sidney Poitier, to win an Oscar in that category. A decade later, Washington was still scoring Oscar nominations for the category, especially with his role of a heroic pilot with a secret drug problem in 'Flight' (2012). In 2016, he was awarded the Cecil B DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award at the 73rd Golden Globes.

Direction highlights 

Actor/director Denzel Washington attends the film premiere of Antwone Fisher on November 7, 2002, in Hollywood, California (Getty Images

Washington's 2002 directorial debut in the biographical movie 'Antwone Fisher' saw a steady career in direction rising. His second project was 'The Great Debaters' where he also starred. And his third one was 'Fences' (2016) where he once again starred and even bagged an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.

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