Julia Stiles Net Worth

Julia Stiles first captured attention as a talented teen actress starring in late 1990s films like Wicked and 10 Things I Hate About You. 

Her memorable performance as a defiant teenager in the romantic comedy cemented her status as one of Hollywood’s brightest new stars. 

While she went on to garner praise for her work in prestigious, Oscar-nominated films like The Business of Strangers, she has been far less prolific on screen in recent years. She has maintained a relatively low-key presence and media profile over the last decade. 

Today, in 2023, we will take a closer look at what Stiles is up to now, along with an overview examining her current net worth.

Julia Stiles’ net worth, estimated earnings, and career

With an estimated net worth of $12 million, Stiles has accrued impressive wealth through her nearly 30-year acting career. 

Though concrete salary details from her films aren’t public information, she likely earned sizable paychecks for lead roles in box office hits like Save The Last Dance, The Prince and Me, and 10 Things I Hate About You during her late 90s/early 2000s peak. 

For example, Save the Last Dance grossed over $131 million globally, while 10 Things I Hate About You earned $53 million. 

Stiles went on to her star status as a talented dramatic lead actress in acclaimed indie films like The Business of Strangers and mainstream fare such as Mona Lisa Smile. 

Julia Stiles in ’10 Things I Hate About You’ (Source: Insider)

She expanded her Hollywood prowess by joining the lucrative Bourne action franchise, appearing in three installments from 2004 to 2016. The second film, The Bourne Supremacy, brought in over $290 million worldwide. 

Away from film, she found success on TV with award-nominated roles in Dexter and the web series Blue. Her consistent work has enabled her to amass assets like the $2 million NYC apartment she owned and sold.  

While she has been less prolific in recent years, Stiles has carved out an eclectic, respected acting career since getting her start as an 11-year-old with experimental theater.

Her shrewd investments and acting fees have grown her net worth to a comfortable $12 million mark today.

Julia Stiles had moments of uncertainty in her career

After seeing success in popular teen movies like 10 Things I Hate About You, Stiles’ career path became less defined in the mid-2000s.

Films like the 2005 releases A Little Trip to Heaven and Edmond failed to capture the same audience attention and box office numbers as her earlier hits. 

Around this time, she also took a break from acting to attend Columbia University to pursue an English Literature degree. This break to focus on school likely reduced her acting income during those years. 

In interviews looking back on that period, Stiles admits she needed more clarity on the direction she wanted her career to take after her initial breakout.

Julia Stiles in ‘Save the Last Dance’ (Source: IMDb)

Her hiatus from Hollywood to enroll in university came just as her fame was rising, slowing her momentum. In her 20s, she was trying to find her way and where she fit in the industry.

Though she worked consistently, she reveals struggling with a sense that nobody knew quite what to do with her or how to cast her. 

Films she made in the late 2000s and early 2010s tended to stay under the mainstream radar. Stiles suggests it wasn’t when being cast in the 2019 film Hustlers that she regained confidence in having found her footing again. 

After years of feeling she was aimlessly jumping between jobs and unsatisfying roles, her enthusiasm for acting was renewed. She recognizes that fans primarily associate her with the wildly popular teen movies that launched her stardom.

But through periods of uncertainty where she feared being unable to evolve her career, she ultimately emerged feeling happy and grateful to keep doing what she loves – even if it means her net worth isn’t as high as it could have been had she not stepped back.

Julia Stiles is currently focusing on her family

While Stiles remains active in her acting career, with recent roles reprising her parts in Dragons: The Nine Realms and The Lake in 2023, her priority and focus at this stage is her family. 

After fading from her “it girl” Hollywood star status years ago, she has embraced motherhood and raising her two young children. She welcomed her first child, son Strummer, with husband Preston Cook in late 2017. 

Though she continued working, she was open about her attention shifting to being a new mom, feeling it made her a better actress when she did return to projects like the TV series Riviera. 

Julia Stiles with her husband Preston Cook (Source: Us Weekly)

In early 2022, Stiles gave birth to her second baby, son Arlo. She had confirmed her pregnancy months earlier while doing press for her film Humans. 

Now, as a mother of two, it’s presumed she will take more time to recover and bond with her extended family before resuming acting regularly. 

Though she no longer holds the widespread fame of her millennial teen movie days, Stiles seems content putting family first over striving to reclaim “it girl” Hollywood status once more.

Julia Stiles’ surprise cameo on ‘Saturday Night Live’

Over 20 years after skyrocketing to fame through her iconic turn as a dancer in Save The Last Dance, Stiles delighted fans by channeling her character Sara once more in a surprise Saturday Night Live appearance. 

During the “Weekend Update” sketch on SNL’s final December episode, cast member Chloe Fineman highlighted an “intimate” holiday gift idea – recreating the climactic audition dance routine that Stiles performed in the 2001 film.

As Fineman summarized the movie’s plot and attempted to mimic Stiles’ moves herself, the camera panned to reveal Stiles, now 41, joining while clad in Sara’s signature black leotard. 

Without missing a beat, Stiles jumped right in to perform the “street ballet” sequence that became etched in viewers’ memories, nailing all the dramatic, emotional flair that made it so impactful. 

The audience cheered wildly for her as she seamlessly picked up those dance steps over two decades later. 

Stiles and Fineman finished the number by triumphantly pumping their fists, copying Sara’s celebration when she aces the intense routine, proving herself worthy of attending the prestigious Juilliard School. 

It was a full circle moment for Stiles to revisit her career-defining role as Sara, the defiant teen dancer, and demonstrate how ingrained that iconic scene remains.

This surprise cameo marked Stiles’ first SNL appearance since her hosting stint in 2001 alongside musical guest Aerosmith.

With Save The Last Dance continuing to resonate with viewers even today, Stiles’ unexpected return to the film’s legendary dance sequence was a nostalgic treat for fans.