Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P. Henson

Current Networth - $12 Million

Personal Stats

NameTaraji P. Henson
RoleActress
IndustryEntertainment
Net Worth$12 Million
Date of Birth and AgeSeptember 11, 1970 (age 54)
Accolades12x NAACP Image Awards, 1x Golden Globe Awards, 1x BET Awards

Table of Contents

  • About Taraji P. Henson
  • Businesses Owned
  • Early Life
  • Family
  • What is Taraji P. Henson’s net worth? 
  • What is Taraji Henson’s claim to fame?

About Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P. Henson is an accomplished American actress, producer, and author known for her powerful performances in film and television. Henson pursued a degree in theater arts at Howard University, where she honed her craft. Her breakout role in Baby Boy (2001) led to a series of celebrated performances, including Hustle & Flow (2005), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), for which she earned an Academy Award nomination, and her widely acclaimed role as Cookie Lyon in Empire (2015–2020). Known for her versatility and dynamic screen presence, Henson has become an influential figure in Hollywood, earning numerous awards and recognition. Beyond acting, she’s an advocate for mental health, founding the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation to provide mental health resources in African American communities. Henson's contributions to entertainment and her advocacy work have solidified her status as both an industry icon and a champion for change.


Businesses Owned

  • TPH by Taraji

  • TPH Entertainment


Early Life

Taraji P. Henson's early years shaped her resilience and passion for the arts.

  • Born on September 11, 1970, in Washington, D.C., to Bernice Gordon, a corporate manager, and Boris Lawrence Henson, a janitor and metal fabricator, in Washington, D.C.
  • Attended Oxon Hill High School in Maryland, where her love for performing arts began to develop.
  • Initially enrolled at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University to study electrical engineering.
  • Transferred to Howard University to pursue her true passion for acting, taking on multiple jobs to support herself and her son.
  • Worked as a secretary at the Pentagon and entertained as a cruise ship performer to fund her studies at Howard.
  • Graduated from Howard University with a degree in theater arts, setting the foundation for her acting career.

Family

Family has been a significant influence zn Henson's life, shaping both her career and advocacy.

  • Henson raised her son, Marcell Johnson, born in 1994, as a single mother.
  • Has spoken candidly about the struggles and rewards of single motherhood, often sharing how her journey with Marcell has motivated her.
  • Her father, Boris, a Vietnam veteran, influenced her understanding of mental health and inspired her foundation in his name.
  • In 2018, Henson became engaged to former NFL player Kelvin Hayden, although they amicably ended their engagement in 2020.
  • Remains close with her extended family, crediting their support for much of her personal and professional success.
  • Established the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation to honor her father and help address mental health issues, particularly in African American communities.

Taraji P. Henson’s net worth of $12 million might not justify her success. She has worked in many versatile films like “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” and drama series like "Empire.” that brought her to the limelight.

She has been an advocate for equal pay for women in Hollywood. Besides making a decent sum of money from her acting career, her business ventures and endorsements helped rake in even more money.

Net Worth$12 Million
Salary$4-$5 million 
ProfessionActor and Singer
NationalityAmerican
No. of Houses
No. of Cars3+

What is Taraji P. Henson’s net worth? 

Taraji P. Henson’s estimated net worth of just $12 million sounds pretty low to be honest, especially considering the kind of work she has done in her career.

Taraji P. Henson has been a part of many successful projects in her life. She has been credited for her strong presence and versatility in acting. She even received an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress in the film “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." She made $150,000 for her role in the movie.

In 2008, she appeared in the movie “The Family That Preys” and received a salary of $500,000. For her magnificent performance in the “Empire” series on FOX, she made about $175,000 per episode. For a total of 6 seasons and 102 episodes, that translated to a mighty $17.85 million.

However, Taraji once said that she makes much less money as she has to pay 30% to her team and 50% to the federal government in taxes. Overall, that brings down the number to just $4.65 million. Overall, considering her line of work, business ventures, and endorsement deals, Taraji’s net worth figure seems to be very conservative. Experts say that it should be at least in the $20-$40 million bracket. 


What is Taraji Henson’s claim to fame?

Taraji’s rise to fame was not easy like most other celebrities. She did an office job before in Los Angeles and got small roles in a few television series.

  • Baby Steps Via Baby Boy: Taraji P. Henson came to be known with her role in the film Baby Boy in 2001. From there, she worked in many different films and started tasting success.
  • Academy Award Nomination: In 2008, finally her hard work paid off, and she was nominated for her role in the movie “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.”
  • “Empire” Reigns: From 2008-2015, Taraji focused completely on films. However, her fate changed once again when she opted for the role of Cookie Lyon in "Empire." She received an Emmy nomination and a Golden Globe Award for her role in the series.
  • Rise Continues: In 2016, she appeared as Katherine Johnson in the film “Hidden Figures." She became a prominent actress in Hollywood after the success of this film.

What businesses does Taraji P. Henson own?

Well, Taraji P. Henson tried her hands at business and tasted success. She is the founder of her own haircare line.

  • TPH by Taraji: Taraji P. Henson founded this brand with a “scalp-first” approach to hair care. It is also a luxury self-care brand. The brand manufactures products like cleansers, conditioners, bath scrubs, body lotions, and much more.
  • TPH Entertainment: Taraji P. Henson launched TPH Entertainment in fall 2020 along with producing partner Christine Conley. Taraji recently signed a deal with BET Studios that will supply premium content from leading Black creators.

What brands has Taraji P. Henson endorsed? 

Currently, Taraji is associated with only a few brands but receives handsome money by promoting them.

  • Always Discreet: Taraji has been an advocate of women's health, and hence she partnered with the bladder leak protection brand.
  • MAC Cosmetics: Taraji partnered with MAC Cosmetics to launch a limited edition of her make-up line taking inspiration from her iconic roles.
  • TPH by Taraji: Of course, this one’s no surprise considering she is the founder of this cosmetic and body care brand.

How does Taraji P. Henson spend her millions? 

Well, Taraji P. Henson has used her money to grow her wealth. She has invested in real estate and has an interesting car collection. She also has a good taste in expensive jewelry and owns about $1.5 million worth of the same. 


How many houses does Taraji P. Henson own? 

As mentioned above, she invests in real estate, aiming to keep them or sell them at an appreciation. Some of the examples are as follows:

  • Streeterville Condos: In 2017, Taraji bought a $1.92 via her Appian Trust to buy a luxurious condo to make her travel on the sets of “Empire” much easier and more convenient. After two years, she bought another one next door for $1.55 million. However, she never combined them together, and now both are up in the market for $3.38 million.
  • “Starter Home” near Glendale, CA: In 2015, Taraji Henson started renting this home for $3,700 per month. However, the purpose behind this move was not known to anyone.
  • Los Angeles Mansion: Bought in 2016 for a whopping $64 million, Taraji’s this home in the Hollywood Hills area is an icon of luxury.

How many cars does Taraji P. Henson own? 

Well, her car collection might be smaller than that of other female celebrities but nonetheless interesting. Some of the cars are mentioned below:

  • Rezvani Tank: The most rugged and rare car in her collection is the Rezvani Tank. The rugged styling makes it unlike any other SUV on the market. Surely, it matches the determination and grit of the actress. It could have cost her $195,000 without any second thoughts.
  • Ford Expedition: To hide from the limelight, Taraji P. Henson bought a black 2019 Expedition model. It would have cost her around $39,000 at that time.
  • Volvo S90: Well, Taraji P. Henson is known to own this Scandinavian sedan in her car collection. It is a rare combination of power, safety, and comfort in one package. It could have cost her $72,000 before taxes.
  • Land Rover Range Rover Sport: Taraji P. Henson had been seen getting out of her silver Range Rover Sport in style. It could have cost her anywhere between $80,000 and $100,000, depending on the trim.

What are Taraji P Henson’s charitable contributions?

Besides making big bucks, the prominent actress is known for her philanthropic efforts as well. Some of her charitable contributions include:

  • Boris Lawrence Foundation: Named after Henson’s father, who faced mental challenges, this foundation helps with healing and directing black communities to walk towards a life of joy.
  • PETA: The talented actress literally went nude to protest the killing of animals for their fur. She clearly stated that, “Fur? I’d rather go naked," fighting against cruelty. She also participated in another PETA campaign to help dogs, but this time with enough clothes.
  • A Place Called Home: Through this foundation, Taraji does charity for inner city kids, to which she devotes her time and resources. She stresses to kids the need to have faith in themselves and that the greatest recipe for success is self-confidence and hard work.
  • Keep A Child Alive: Taraji joined hands with Alicia Keys’ and became ambassador for the fights against HIV and AIDS alongside Janelle Monae and Laila Ali.

The “Empire” actress is also associated with Hope North, The Heart Truth, and UNICEF to support and empower other people.


What’s next for Taraji P. Henson? 

Well, Taraji is too good with hosting, and she returned as one for the 2024 BET Awards for the third time. However, it is said that a couple of months after she talked about pay disparity in Hollywood and made Oprah Winfrey look like a villain, she’s having a hard time getting new projects. She even had to sell her condos for a listing price of $3.4 million. Taraji even fired her entire team for being unable to get new work for her. Fortunately, times are changing for her, and she will lead the cast of the new Tyler Perry movie “Straw” on Netflix. She will be seen alongside Sherri Shepherd and Teyanah Taylor.


Also Read:


Write a comment

Comments

No Comments Yet