James Woods Net Worth

What Is James Woods' Net Worth and Salary?

James Woods is an American actor who has a net worth of $6 million. James Woods gained early critical attention with his performance in the TV miniseries "Holocaust" and the gritty crime drama "The Onion Field," where his portrayal of a sociopathic killer earned him widespread acclaim.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Woods became known for playing complex, morally ambiguous characters. He starred in films like "Videodrome," "Salvador," "True Believer," "Ghosts of Mississippi," and "Casino." In "Casino," he played Lester Diamond, the manipulative hustler tied to Sharon Stone's character. His role added a layer of sleaze and danger that helped elevate the film's tension. Woods earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for "Salvador" and a nomination for Best Supporting Actor for "Ghosts of Mississippi."

In television, Woods starred in the legal drama "Shark," which aired for two seasons from 2006 to 2008. He played Sebastian Stark, a charismatic and ruthless defense attorney who switches sides to become a prosecutor. The role showcased his signature intensity and earned him praise for bringing sharp wit and gravitas to network TV.

He also found success as a voice actor, most notably as Hades in Disney's "Hercules," a role he reprised in various spin-offs and video games. Woods voiced himself in recurring appearances on the animated series "Family Guy."

He has won multiple Emmy Awards for his performances in television movies like "Promise" and "My Name Is Bill W." and received several Golden Globe nominations throughout his career.

Pacific Palisades House

In September 2022, James Woods purchased a 2,500 square foot home in Pacific Palisades for $5,005,000. The property features three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and is located in one of Los Angeles' most desirable coastal neighborhoods. Set on a quiet street with sweeping canyon and ocean views, the home offers privacy and luxury in equal measure.

In 2025, the house came dangerously close to destruction during the Palisades Fire, which swept through the area and forced evacuations across the hillside. Woods was reportedly among the many residents who monitored the blaze from afar as firefighters worked to protect the surrounding homes. Many of James' neighbors lost their homes, including three homes directly across the street and several homes just a few houses away on the same side. Miraculously and against all odds, James' house survived with relatively little damage.

In interviews after the fire, James claimed that he did not have fire insurance because he and many neighbors had been dropped by State Farm without explanation just four months before the Palisades Fire.

Early Life

James Howard Woods was born on April 18, 1947, in Vernal, Utah. Raised in a Catholic household alongside a much older brother, Woods grew up in Warwick, Rhode Island. Woods' father was an army intelligence officer who passed away in 1960.

After graduating from high school, James attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Initially, he saw himself becoming an eye surgeon while studying at MIT, but he quickly fell in love with acting after joining a student theatre group. After acting in a number of school plays, he dropped out of school just one semester short of graduating in order to pursue a career in acting.

Career

James Woods first started acting in off-Broadway plays, and it wasn't until he had appeared in almost 40 stage productions that he was given the chance to appear on Broadway. That chance came with a performance of "Borstal Boy" in 1970. Further Broadway productions came with "The Trial of the Catonsville Nine," "Moonchildren," and "Finishing Touches."

During this period, Woods was also establishing himself as a television and film actor with a number of small roles. His film role came in 1972 with "The Visitors," and in 1973, he followed up with "The Way We Were." Woods truly arrived on the scene with a critically acclaimed performance in the miniseries "Holocaust" alongside Meryl Streep. By 1979, he had booked a starring role in the film "The Onion Field." Critics heaped praise upon Woods for his performance, and he was nominated for a number of awards.

James Woods

Jason Merritt / Getty Images

Another big moment for James Woods came in 1984 when he joined Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci in the film "Once Upon a Time in America." After premiering at the 1984 Cannes Film Festival, the Sergio Leone movie received a 15-minute standing ovation. James followed up in 1986 with "Salvador." Next year, Woods won a Primetime Emmy Award for his role in the television film "Promise." Two years later, he won the award a second time for his starring role in "My Name is Bill W." To wrap up a successful decade, Woods hosted "Saturday Night Live" in 1989.

One of James Woods' most famous roles came in the 90s, when he appeared in Martin Scorsese's "Casino," once again joining Robert De Niro. Another notable role of this decade came in 1995 with "Nixon." In 1997, he established himself as a voice actor, lending his voice to the character of Hades in the Disney animated film "Hercules." He reprised his role in the resulting television spin-off and continued to work as a voice actor in video games like "Kingdom Hearts." To wrap up the 90s, James Woods appeared in the film "The Virgin Suicides."

Woods continued to work as a voice actor throughout the 2000s in a number of animated films, video games, and TV shows. In the mid-2000s, James booked a recurring role in the series "Shark." To kick off the 2010s, he appeared in the film "Too Big to Fail." In 2012, he booked a role in the series "Coma."

Relationships

Woods' first marriage was to costume designer Kathryn Morrison-Pahoa in 1980, but they divorced three years later. Six years later, in 1989, he married Sarah Owens, an equestrian who was 16 years his junior. Their marriage lasted four months before ending in divorce.

In 2005, James began dating a woman named Ashley Madison. At the time, Ashley was 19 years old. Perhaps more controversially, Ashley was reportedly the daughter of one of James' golfing buddies. They broke up in 2013.

Sean Young Lawsuit

James Woods sued actress Sean Young after alleging that she was stalking him. She responded by claiming he was trying to get revenge after she rejected his romantic advances. The suit was settled out of court, and Young was awarded $227,000 to cover her legal fees.

Political Views

Woods started out as a Democrat but became an Independent after Bill Clinton's impeachment. He then became a Republican and supported President Trump. In 2018, James Woods was dropped by his talent agency. He then claimed that he was dropped because of his right-wing views. He also stated that many entertainers are afraid to speak out in support of President Trump because of blacklisting in Hollywood.

Woods frequently voices his political views on Twitter. He has over 2 million followers and is famous for putting forward controversial ideas and theories. He has called George Soros a Nazi collaborator and has criticized figures such as Bernie Sanders.

Real Estate

In 1989, James bought a home in Beverly Hills for $2.14 million. In October 1999, he listed this home for $8.75 million. He accepted a little more than $5 million in October 2002. A future owner tore his former mansion down and replaced it with a 13,600-square-foot mansion. The new mansion sold in December 2018 for $41.5 million.

Woods owns several properties in Rhode Island. In 2018, he listed one of his lakefront homes for sale for $1.4 million. In 2014, Woods purchased a property in the Hollywood Hills for $2.2 million. In 2018, the property was back on the market with a price tag of $2.55 million. In 2015, James acquired a property with a swimming pool in Beverly Hills for $2.25 million.

In 2017, he bought a house in the Beverly Hills area for $2.1 million. He sold this home in July 2018 for $2.35 million.

Today, his primary Los Angeles residence is in the Pacific Palisades. As we mentioned at the top of this article, James bought this home in January 2022 for $5 million, and it came dangerously close to being destroyed in the 2025 Palisades Fire.

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