Biography
Jussie Smollett net worth is estimated at $1 million, dramatically reduced from its peak due to legal battles and career collapse following a 2019 hate crime hoax. He rose to fame playing Jamal Lyon on the Fox drama Empire, a breakout role that earned him critical acclaim and a reported $125,000 per episode. In January 2019, Smollett reported being the victim of a racist and homophobic attack, which Chicago police later concluded was staged; he was convicted of felony disorderly conduct in 2021. The scandal effectively ended his mainstream acting career, and ongoing legal proceedings have depleted his finances.
Net Worth Timeline
| Year | Net Worth | Change | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | $200K | +$0.2M | Early acting work in TV and film; appeared in The Mighty Ducks (1992) as a child |
| 2008 | $500K | +$0.3M | Steady acting work in independent films and music career |
| 2015 | $2M | +$1.5M | Empire premieres on Fox; plays Jamal Lyon to critical acclaim |
| 2017 | $4M | +$2M | Empire becomes massive hit; salary rises to $125,000/episode |
| 2019 | $3M | -$1M | Staged hate crime scandal breaks; fired from Empire; legal fees begin |
| 2021 | $1.5M | -$1.5M | Convicted of felony disorderly conduct on five counts |
| 2023 | $1M | -$0.5M | Sentence overturned on procedural grounds; continued legal and financial drain |
| 2025 | $1M | $0 | Limited acting opportunities; legal costs continue to drain finances |
2000 $200K +$0.2M
Early acting work in TV and film; appeared in The Mighty Ducks (1992) as a child
2008 $500K +$0.3M
Steady acting work in independent films and music career
2015 $2M +$1.5M
Empire premieres on Fox; plays Jamal Lyon to critical acclaim
2017 $4M +$2M
Empire becomes massive hit; salary rises to $125,000/episode
2019 $3M -$1M
Staged hate crime scandal breaks; fired from Empire; legal fees begin
2021 $1.5M -$1.5M
Convicted of felony disorderly conduct on five counts
2023 $1M -$0.5M
Sentence overturned on procedural grounds; continued legal and financial drain
2025 $1M $0
Limited acting opportunities; legal costs continue to drain finances
💰 How Much Does Jussie Smollett Earn?
$548
Per Day
$23
Per Hour
$0
Per Minute
Estimated based on reported annual earnings of $0.2M/year across all income sources.
🤯 $1 Million in Perspective
- 2 average American homes ($420K each)
- 18 years of the average US salary ($56K/yr)
- 22 Tesla Model 3s
- 175,747 Big Macs