Richard Tiffany Gere was born on 31 August 1949, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA, into a family descended from ‘Mayflower’ passengers who arrived in America 400 years previously. Richard is a popular and sought-after actor, who is perhaps best know for his starring roles in ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’ and ‘Pretty Woman’.
So just how rich is Richard Gere? Sources estimate that Richard has an estimated net worth of $100 million, which wealth he has earned mainly through his career as a film actor which began in the late 1960s. He is a nominee and the winner of various awards including a Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award among others.
Richard Gere Net Worth $100 Million
Richard Gere’s family were relatively normal, with no connections to the entertainment industry; his father, Homer was an insurance agent and his mother, Doris a housekeeper. Richard was educated at North Syracuse Central High School, and then at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, but didn’t graduate, leaving to begin his career as an actor, actually on the stage. His first starring role was in ‘Grease’ on the London stage in 1973, but he then moved to California to break into film acting, but live performances had seen the start of growth to his net worth.
In 1975 Gere appeared on the big screen with his first role of Billy in the Milton Katselas directed film ‘Report to the Commissioner’. Later, Richard took part in the films ‘Baby Blue Marine’ directed by John D. Hancock, ‘Looking for Mr. Goodbar’ written and directed by Richard Brooks and ‘Bloodbrothers’ directed by Robert Mulligan.
In 1978 Richard increased his net worth considerably by starring in the drama film written and directed by Terrence Malick, ‘Days of Heaven’, which brought him a David di Donatello Award for the Best Foreign Actor. In 1980 his sudden prominence as a sex symbol brought him the role of Julian in ‘American Gigolo’, written and directed by Paul Schrader. Moreover, Gere continued his successful net worth accumulation with a nomination for a Golden Globe Award for the Best Actor in a drama film directed by Taylor Hackford – ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’ in 1982. Since then he has starred in many films, including ‘The Honorary Consul’ directed by John Mackenzie, ‘Breathless’ co-written and directed by Jim McBride, ‘The Cotton Club’ co-written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, ‘King David’ directed by Bruce Beresford, ‘No Mercy’ directed by Richard Pearce, ‘Power’ directed by Sidney Lumet, ‘Miles From Home’ directed by Gary Sinise and ‘Internal Affairs’ directed by Mike Figgis.
In addition to the above, Richard Gere’s net worth rose significantly after he landed the role of Edward Lewis alongside Julia Roberts who took the role of Vivian Ward in the romantic comedy film ‘Pretty Woman’ directed by Garry Marshall. It is considered to be the most financially successful film in this category as the box office takings were over $463 million. Moreover, the film brought a Golden Globe nomination for the Best Actor. Richard was then nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for an Outstanding Supporting Actor for his role in ‘And the Band Played On’ directed by Roger Spottiswoode.
In 1997, Richard increased his net worth winning a National Board of Review Freedom of Expression Award for a leading role in ‘Red Corner’ directed by Jon Avnet. Gere’s net worth jumped again after Rob Marshall’s directed film ‘Chicago’ was released, in which Gere starred alongside Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Richard also won a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award, a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for his outstanding acting in the film. The other films that have brought Gere awards or nominations have been ‘The Hoax’ directed by Lasse Hallstrom, ‘I’m Not There’ directed by Todd Haynes and ‘Arbitrage’ directed by Nicholas Jarecki.
Overall during an acting career spanning almost 40 years, Richard Gere has appeared in over 50 films, and been nominated for 15 awards of which he has won six. Of course this recognition did wonders for his net worth too.
In his personal life, Richard Gere has been married twice, firstly to model Cindy Crawford from 1991 to 1995. His second marriage was to actress and model Carey Lowell in 2002 – they have a son, but the couple separated in 2013. Gere is known as a strong advocate for Tibetan independence, partly through his long-term interest in Buddhism, and for supporting tribal peoples. He has written a book, ‘We Are One: A Celebration of Tribal Peoples’, released in 2009, some royalties of which he has donated to the aforementioned struggles.
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