Last Updated on March 3, 2024
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Who Is Tom Hanks?
Thomas Jeffrey Hanks, popularly known as Tom Hanks, is an American actor and filmmaker who’s known for his stellar performance, both on comedic and dramatic films.
Hanks is one of the most accomplished actors, with numerous commercially successful movies to his name. His films have grossed an estimated $5 billion in North America alone, and up to $10 billion worldwide. Presently, Tom Hanks is North America’s fifth-richest grossing actor.
Quick Facts
| Full Name: | Thomas Jeffrey Hanks |
| Popular Name: | Tom Hanks |
| Gender: | Male |
| Birth Date: | July 9, 1956 |
| Age: | 66 years |
| Parents: | Amos Mefford Hanks and Janet Marylyn |
| Siblings: | Sandra Hanks Benoiton, Larry Hanks, and Jim Hanks |
| Birth Place: | Concord, California |
| Nationality: | American |
| Ethnicity: | English and Portuguese, Christian |
| Education: | Skyline High School in Oakland, California, Chabot College in Hayward, California, and California State University, Sacramento |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Wife/Spouse: | Married to Rita Wilson, divorced first wife, Samantha Lewes |
| Children: | Colin Hanks, Chet Hanks, Truman Hanks, and Elizabeth Hanks |
| Dating: | N/A |
| Net Worth: | 450 million |
| Source of Wealth: | Professional acting, Film production and directing, Television production and directing, and Personal investments |
| Height: | 6′ 0 (1.83 m) |
| Weight: | 176 lb(80 kg) |
Early Life and Career Information
Tom Hanks was born on July 9, 1956 in Concord, California. His father, Amos Mefford Hanks, was an itinerant cook while his mother, Janet Marylyn, was a hospital worker. In 1960, his parents divorced and Tom moved with his father.
Hanks studied theatre at the California-based Chabot College before transferring to California State University, Sacramento. He began his acting career in 1978 by starring in The Two Gentlemen of Verona.
Tom debut film was a great success, winning him the Best Actor award. Tom’s next big hit was the 1980 movie He Knows You’re Alone. The actor has featured in scores of films since then, most of which have achieved commercial success both at the box office and globally.
Here are some of Tom Hanks’ notable works:
• A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019)
• A Hologram for the King (2016)
• A League of Their Own (1992)
• Angels & Demons (2009)
• Apollo 13 (1995)
• Bachelor Party (1984)
• Big (1998)
• Bosom Buddies (TV series) (from 1980 to 1982)
• Bridge of Spies (2015)
• Captain Phillips (2013)
• Cars (2006)
• Cast Away (2000)
• Catch Me If You Can (2002)
• Charlie Wilson’s War (2007)
• Cloud Atlas (2012)
• Dragnet (1987)
• Elvis Has Left the Building (2004)
• Every Time We Say Goodbye (1986)
• Extremely (Loud & Incredibly Close 2011)
• Forrest Gump (1994)
• He Knows You’re Alone (1980)
• Inferno (2016)
• Ithaca (2015)
• Joe Versus the Volcano (1990)
• Larry Crowne (2011)
• Nothing in Common (1986)
• Philadelphia (1993)
• Punchline (1988)
• Road to Perdition (2001)
• Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
• Saving Private Ryan (1998)
• Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
• Splash (1984)
• Sully (2016)
• That Thing You Do! (1996)
• The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990)
• The ‘Burbs’ (1989)
• The Circle (2017)
• The Da Vinci Code (2006)
• The Great Buck Howard (2008)
• The Green Mile (1999)
• The Ladykillers (2004)
• The Man with One Red Shoe (1985)
• The Money Pit (1986)
• The Polar Express (2005)
• The Post (2017)
• The Simpson’s Movie (2007)
• The Terminal (2004)
• Toy Story (1995)
• Toy Story 2 (1999)
• Toy Story 3 (2010)
• Toy Story 4 (2019)
• Turner & Hooch (1989)
• Volunteer (1985)
• You’ve Got Mail (1998)
Tom Hanks Net Worth
Tom Hanks has an estimated net worth of $450 million, as of 2023. He compares side by side with some of the richest celebrities in Hollywood, such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
In 1984, Tom Hanks earned $70, 000 from the movie Splash. After adjusting for inflation, the salary translates to around $172,000 today. The 1988 movie, Big, was another high-earning film for Tom Hanks.
The actor took home a whopping $1.75 million, which translates to $4 million today after adjusting for inflation. The same year, Tom netted $5 million for Punchline, which works out as $11 million today.
Reports indicate that Tom Hanks earned an estimated $300 million in movie salary between 1988 and 2010, which would translate to $450 million today. The following decade, the actor is believed to have netted another $100 million in movie salary.
One of the reasons behind Tom Hanks’ high net worth is the fact that he has maintained consistency from the 80s. Plus, most of the movies he has featured in became commercially successful.
Tom’s love for his job is another reason his movies registered tremendous success. In 1993, while filming Forrest Gump, the actor’s expected salary was $7 million. However, the movie crossed the budget in the course of its production.
To ensure that things proceed as planned, Tom forfeited his salary in exchange for backend points. And as expected, the movie went on to achieve incredible success, with Tom earning an average of $70 million in backend points the first year. After adjusting for inflation, the figure translates to roughly $120 million today.
The following are some of Tom Hanks’ other biggest-earning movies.
• Saving Private Ryan – $40 million
• You’ve Got Mail – $20 million
• Cast Away – $20 million
• The Green Mile – $20 million
• The Da Vinci Code – $80 million plus another $50 million for the movie’s sequel – Angels & Demons
In addition to acting, Tom Hanks is also a real estate mogul. According to reports, real estate takes up roughly $150 million of his net worth. In 1991, he purchased a house in Malibu Colony at $2.95 million. The property’s current value is estimated to be more than $20 million.
In 2010, the actor purchased his official residence in Pacific Palisades for $26 million. He has since acquired five more lavish homes in the same neighborhood. Tom Hanks also owns properties in Florida and Sun Valley Idaho.
Life Lessons from Tom Hanks
1. Persistence is key to success
Tom Hanks is one of the few actors who enjoy a successful career spanning more than three decades. And that takes persistence and resilience. Like most actors, his career has been marked by highs and lows. But Tom has continued doing what he does best, despite the obstacles.
2. Passion for the job overrides everything else
If actors were to be awarded based on their passion for their jobs, Tom Hanks would undeniably be a worthy contender. When financial hitches were threatening to derail the movie Forrest Gump, Hanks didn’t mind giving up his salary to ensure the production process went on as planned.
3. You can make it regardless of your background
Tom Hanks adds to the long list of celebrities who have succeeded despite their childhood challenges. Tom’s parents divorced when he was only four. Then he had to move home every other day. However, these challenges didn’t deter him from pursuing his acting dreams.
Here are some of the best quotes by Tom Hanks
“Everybody has something that chews them up and, for me, that thing was always loneliness. The cinema has the power to make you not feel lonely, even when you are.”
“From now on we live in a world where man has walked on the Moon. It’s not a miracle; we just decided to go.”
“If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it. It’s the hard that makes it great.”
“It’s just as hard… staying happily married as it is doing movies.”
“Never give up because you never know what the tide will bring in the next day.”
“Some people go to bed at night thinking, ‘That was a good day.’ I am one of those who worries and asks, ‘How did I screw up today?’ “
Conclusion
Thomas Jeffrey Hanks has deservedly earned himself a spot among the most successful actors of all time. And he has a humongous net worth to show for it.
Posted by:Igor Ovsyannnykov
Igor is an SEO specialist, designer, photographer, writer and music producer. He believes that knowledge can change the world and be used to inspire and empower young people to build the life of their dreams.When he is not writing in his favorite coffee shop, Igor spends most of his time reading books, taking photos, producing house music, and learning about cinematography. He is a sucker for good coffee, Indian food, and video games.
