What is Kerry Washington’s Net Worth and Salary?

Kerry Washington, the American actress, has an impressive net worth of $50 million. She gained worldwide recognition for her role as Olivia Pope in the ABC drama “Scandal” from 2012 to 2018.

Early Life and Education

Kerry Marisa Washington was born in The Bronx, New York City, on January 31, 1977. Her mother Valerie was a professor and educational consultant, and her father Earl was a real estate broker. She attended the Spence School in Manhattan, graduating from high school in 1994. As a teen, she also performed with the TADA! Youth Theater group.

Washington pursued higher education at George Washington University, graduating in 1998 with a double major in anthropology and sociology. She returned to her alma mater in 2013, when she served as the commencement speaker for that year’s graduation ceremony. She was then presented with an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts.

Kerry Washington’s Acting Career

Kerry Washington’s first on-screen role was in the ABC telefilm “Magical Make-Over” (1994). She went on to appear in several films, including “Our Song” (2000), “Save the Last Dance” (2001), “Bad Company” (2002), and “The Human Stain” (2003).

In 2004, Washington landed her first major starting role in Spike Lee’s “She Hate Me”, which received positive reviews. She continued to appear in films such as “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” (2005), “Little Man” (2006), “Fantastic Four” (2005), “The Last King of Scotland” (2006), and “I Think I Love My Wife” (2007). She also appeared on television shows such as “Boston Legal”, “100 Centre Street”, “Law and Order”, “Psych”, and “NYPD Blue”.

In 2010, Washington made her Broadway debut in David Mamet’s “Race”. She also appeared in Tyler Perry’s film “For Colored Girls”. In 2012, Washington starred in Quentin Tarantino’s “Django Unchained”, which led to her being invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Washington’s most recognizable role came in the form of crisis manager Olivia Pope on ABC’s “Scandal” from 2012 to 2018. The show was a commercial and critical success, earning Washington several awards and nominations, including an NAACP Image Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Golden Globe Award. She also starred in the HBO movie “Confirmation” (2016), which earned her Emmy and Critics’ Choice Award nominations.

In 2020, Washington starred in and executive produced the Hulu show “Little Fires Everywhere”, based on the novel by Celeste Ng.

Kerry Washington’s Earnings from Scandal

Kerry Washington’s salary for the early seasons of Scandal was $80,000 per episode, adding up to roughly $1.5 million per year. At the peak of the series, she earned $250,000 per episode, which amounts to $4.5 million per year. Her endorsement contracts with companies like Neutrogena, Apple, and Movado further boosted her earnings, making her earn $13 million in 2016, $11 million in 2017, and $12 million in 2018. In total, she earned $36 million in just three years.

Kerry Washington’s Earnings from Little Fires Everywhere

Kerry Washington joined the list of actors who earned over $1 million for a single episode of television with the Hulu show Little Fires Everywhere. She earned $1.1 million per episode in the first season, which had eight episodes, making her earnings almost $9 million for the season.

Kerry Washington’s Activism and Personal Life

From 2004 to 2007, Kerry Washington was in a relationship with actor David Moscow. She married NFL cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha in 2013 and they have a daughter and a son together.

Washington is an active supporter of LGBT rights and has been named an honorary chairperson of the GLSEN Respect Awards. She also received the GLAAD Vanguard Award in 2015. Washington is a member of the Creative Coalition, which explores various issues, and of V-Day, a global movement that campaigns for more awareness on violence against women and girls.

Kerry Washington’s Real Estate Portfolio

In 2013, Kerry Washington and her husband Nnamdi Asomugha purchased a Los Angeles home from actress and comedian Nicole Sullivan for $1.9 million. They sold the property for $2.7 million in 2016. In the same year, they bought a private Beverly Hills home for $6.75 million. A year later, they purchased an adjacent property for $4 million, creating a gated compound. Additionally, Kerry owns an apartment in New York City and Nnamdi owns a townhome in Manhattan Beach, CA, both of which were purchased before they met.

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