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Academy Award-winner Charlize Theron has been a mainstay in Hollywood for decades but there’s still a lot to learn about the South African born actress. Ahead, find out how much money the mother of two has amassed throughout her acting career and what’s next for Theron following 2019’s Bombshell. 

Theron modeled before landing her first acting role in 1995

In the early days of her career, 44-year-old Theron worked as a model. It wasn’t until the 1990s she began acting. Her debut role on the big screen — a non-speaking part — came in 1995 with the release of Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest, according to IMDb. Theron, who had been 20-years-old when the movie premiered, played a cult member.

She landed other small parts and eventually got more screen time. Theron’s early acting credits include That Thing You Do! (1996), The Astronaut’s Wife (1999), Mighty Joe Young (1998), The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000), Sweet November (2001), and The Italian Job (2003).

Her portrayal of a serial killer earned her an Oscar

Theron’s come very far since her first acting gig. In 2004, she won an Academy Award for Best Actress following her role in Monster, where she portrayed real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos. 

The actress gained 30 pounds for the part and thanks to makeup and movie magic, criticism that she’d been too attractive for the role stopped when the film’s first set photos were released and Theron looked unrecognizable. Not only did the actress win an Oscar for her performance, but she also took home her first (and only) Golden Globe Award.

Charlize Theron is a producer

Not only is Theron an actress, but she’s also a producer. Her production company, Denver and Delilah Productions is responsible for numerous films including 2019’s Long Shot starring Theron and Seth Rogen, Brain on Fire (2016), Atomic Blonde (2017), A Private War (2018), and Tully (2018), and most recently Bombshell (2019). The Netflix original series, Mindhunter, that may or may not be returning for Season 3, is also from Denver and Delilah Productions.

She’s among the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood

Theron has an estimated net worth of $160 million per Celebrity Net Worth. She’s steadily been making more money in Hollywood since the early 2000s. 

According to OK!, Theron reportedly took home $10 million for North Country making her one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actresses in 2006. A decade later she made an estimated $16.5 million, according to Forbes.

Charlize Theron attends the 68th Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 14, 2015
Charlize Theron attends the 68th Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 14, 2015 | Le Segretain/Getty Images

In recent years, her earnings have continued to increase. She earned approximately $23 million in 2019, making her the ninth highest-paid actress in Hollywood behind her Bombshell costar, Margot Robbie, and ahead of Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo, Forbes reported in Aug. 2019.

She’s got a lucrative deal with Dior

In 2004 —  the same year she won her first Oscar and Golden Globe for Monster — Theron signed a deal with Dior to become the face of their J’Adore Dior perfume.

Initially inking a three-year deal reportedly worth $5 million annually, according to The Hollywood Reporter, the actress’s contract with the brand still exists today. Surely, as Theron’s star status has grown so has her paycheck for being the face of J’Adore Dior.

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