Tom Cruise – Hollywood legend

Hollywood legend Tom Cruise has a net worth of $600 million.

Tom Cruise, who has a net worth of more than $600 million, is among the most successful performers in Hollywood history. He has acted in some of the greatest blockbusters of all time, such as Jerry Maguire, Top Gun, and Mission: Impossible. Celebrity actor Tom Cruise is renowned for his commitment to his art and willingness to pull off his own stunts. In addition, he is a prosperous producer and businessman.

Tom is the only son (among four children) of nomadic parents, Mary Lee (Pfeiffer), a special education teacher, and Thomas Cruise Mapother III, an electrical engineer. His parents were both from Louisville, Kentucky, and he has German, Irish, and English ancestry. Young Tom spent his boyhood always on the move, and by the time he was 14 he had attended 15 different schools in the U.S. and Canada. He finally settled in Glen Ridge, New Jersey with his mother and her new husband. While in high school, Tom wanted to become a priest but pretty soon he developed an interest in acting and abandoned his plans of becoming a priest, dropped out of school, and at age 18 headed for New York and a possible acting career. The next 15 years of his life are the stuff of legends. He made his film debut with a small part in Endless Love (1981) and from the outset exhibited an undeniable box office appeal to both male and female audiences.

Childhood and Education

Tom Cruise, born in 1962 in Syracuse, New York, had an upbringing marked by financial struggle and a Catholic background. His parents, Thomas Cruise Mapother III and Mary Lee, hailed from Louisville, Kentucky, with a mix of English, German, and Irish roots. Growing up with three sisters, he faced a difficult relationship with his father, whom he described as a “merchant of chaos” and a “bully.” Cruise learned not to trust him due to his erratic behavior. His biological father passed away from cancer in 1984. Additionally, Cruise’s cousin William Mapother is an actor who has shared the screen with him in five films.

Cruise attended 15 schools within 14 years, moving frequently due to his father’s job, which led him to spend part of his childhood in Canada. In Ottawa, he attended Robert Hopkins Public School and became involved in drama under teacher George Steinburg. His talent for drama was recognized during a performance called IT at Carleton Elementary School’s festival. Following his mother’s separation from his father, they returned to the United States, where Cruise briefly pursued priesthood at St. Francis Seminary in Ohio. However, he left after a year, allegedly due to relocation and also being caught drinking. Despite setbacks like being cut from the football team for drinking, he starred in Guys and Dolls at Glen Ridge High School, where he eventually graduated in 1980.

Career in Acting

At 18, Cruise moved to NYC to pursue acting, later heading to LA for TV roles. He joined CAA and started acting in films, debuting in 1981’s “Endless Love” and gaining notice in “Taps.” In 1983, he was in “The Outsiders,” “All the Right Moves,” and “Risky Business,” marking a pivotal moment in his career. He starred in Ridley Scott’s “Legend” in 1985 and solidified his superstar status with 1986’s “Top Gun.”

Following “Top Gun,” Cruise appeared in Martin Scorsese’s “The Color of Money” (1986) alongside Paul Newman, earning praise for their chemistry and performances as pool hustlers. In 1988, he starred in “Cocktail,” a box office hit but critically panned, landing him a Razzie Award nomination for Worst Actor. However, he redeemed himself with “Rain Man,” co-starring Dustin Hoffman, which won an Academy Award for Best Film and earned Cruise the Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor.

In 1989, Cruise portrayed Vietnam War veteran Ron Kovic in Oliver Stone’s “Born on the Fourth of July.” Roger Ebert praised Cruise’s exceptional performance, stating it surpassed anything he had done before. Cruise’s portrayal earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor, recognition from the Chicago Film Critics Association, and a nomination for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor. Additionally, it marked Cruise’s first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.

1990s

In the 1990s, Cruise starred alongside then-wife Nicole Kidman in “Days of Thunder” (1990) and “Far and Away” (1992), followed by the successful legal thriller “The Firm.” In 1994, he featured in “Interview with the Vampire” with Brad Pitt and faced initial criticism from the author, Anne Rice. However, she later praised his performance. Cruise produced and starred in “Mission: Impossible” (1996), earning acclaim despite some criticism about the character. He also starred in “Jerry Maguire” the same year, garnering a Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination. In 1999, he reunited with Kidman for Stanley Kubrick’s “Eyes Wide Shut,” receiving positive reviews. Cruise showcased his versatility in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Magnolia,” earning further critical acclaim, including another Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination.

2000s

In the 2000s, Cruise reprised his role as Ethan Hunt in “Mission: Impossible 2” (2000), directed by John Woo, a box office hit with mixed critical reviews. He followed this with successful films like “Vanilla Sky” (2001) and “Minority Report” (2002), gaining acclaim for both. In 2003, Cruise starred in “The Last Samurai” and received a Golden Globe nomination. His role in “Collateral” (2004) was praised for his villainous performance. He continued with hits like “War of the Worlds” (2005) and earned nominations for various awards. Cruise returned as Ethan Hunt in “Mission: Impossible III” (2006), which was better received by critics. He took a supporting role in “Lions for Lambs” (2007) and gained attention for his comedic turn in “Tropic Thunder” (2008), earning a Golden Globe nomination. He also starred in the successful thriller “Valkyrie” (2008).

2010s

In the 2010s, Cruise filmed “Knight and Day” with Cameron Diaz and confirmed his role in “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol,” released in 2011 to critical acclaim and great success. He received a humanitarian award in 2011 for his philanthropy. In 2012, he starred in “Rock of Ages,” receiving positive reviews despite its box-office underperformance. Cruise played Jack Reacher in the film adaptation of Lee Child’s novel “One Shot” (2012), which was well-received and successful. He appeared in “Oblivion” (2013) and “Edge of Tomorrow” (2014), both achieving varying critical responses but performing well at the box office. In 2015, Cruise produced and starred as Ethan Hunt in “Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation,” featuring Simon Pegg and Jeremy Renner, directed by Christopher McQuarrie. The film received critical acclaim and was a box office hit. In 2017, he starred in “The Mummy,” a reboot that garnered negative reviews and performed poorly at the box office. In 2018, Cruise returned as Ethan Hunt in “Mission: Impossible – Fallout,” earning positive reviews and becoming his highest-grossing film at that time, making over $791 million worldwide.

2020s

In the 2020s, Cruise planned a space movie with Doug Liman, intending to fly to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Dragon 2 spacecraft. He returned his Golden Globe Awards in May 2021 over the HFPA’s lack of diversity issues. In 2022, Cruise produced and starred in “Top Gun: Maverick,” earning critical acclaim and becoming his highest-grossing film, surpassing $1 billion. He also received an Honorary Palme d’Or at Cannes. Cruise reprised Ethan Hunt in “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One,” released in 2023 to critical acclaim but faced box office competition leading to lesser-than-expected earnings despite positive reviews.

Production

Cruise formed Cruise/Wagner Productions with Paula Wagner in 1993, co-producing several of his films. Their collaboration began with “Mission: Impossible” in 1996, marking Cruise’s debut as a producer. He’s known for securing highly profitable film deals and was regarded as one of Hollywood’s most influential figures by industry experts. Cruise’s ability to ensure billion-dollar franchises was compared to a select few like George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and Jerry Bruckheimer. Despite tabloid controversies, his remarkable commercial success remains underappreciated. He has produced and starred in various films, including “Mission: Impossible,” “Without Limits,” “Mission: Impossible 2,” “The Others,” and “Vanilla Sky.”

Break with Paramount

In August 2006, Paramount Pictures ended its 14-year partnership with Cruise, citing economic concerns due to his controversial public behavior. Sumner Redstone, Viacom’s chairman, mentioned the negative impact on Cruise’s value as an actor and producer. Cruise/Wagner Productions countered, stating Paramount’s announcement was a response to their success in securing financing from private equity firms. Industry analysts, like Edward Jay Epstein, suggested that the split stemmed from Paramount’s dissatisfaction with Cruise/Wagner’s substantial share of DVD sales from the Mission: Impossible franchise.

Management of United Artists

In November 2006, Cruise and Paula Wagner assumed control of United Artists. Cruise took on producing and acting roles for UA while Wagner became the chief executive. They began production on “Valkyrie” in 2007, based on an assassination attempt against Hitler. Cruise signed on to play Claus von Stauffenberg. “Lions for Lambs” was UA’s first film under their leadership, directed by Robert Redford and featuring Redford, Meryl Streep, and Cruise. Despite a disappointing reception and box office revenue, it was released in November 2007. Wagner stepped down from her UA position in August 2008, maintaining ownership alongside Cruise, totaling 30 percent of the studio.

Return to Paramount

Cruise reunited with Paramount for “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” as both producer and star, this time without Wagner. The film achieved critical acclaim and commercial success. Later, Cruise and Wagner joined forces again for the Jack Reacher series, which, while modestly successful, was also produced for Paramount.

Individual Life

Marriages and Relationships

Cruise divides his time among residences in Beverly Hills, California, Clearwater, Florida, and various locations in the South of England, including Central London, Dulwich, East Grinstead, and Biggin Hill.

During the early-to-mid-1980s, Cruise was involved in relationships with Melissa Gilbert, Rebecca De Mornay, Patti Scialfa, and Cher.

Cruise married Mimi Rogers on May 9, 1987, divorcing on February 4, 1990. Rogers, a Scientology practitioner, met Cruise during her auditing sessions. Initially, she suggested Cruise considered becoming a monk, impacting their intimacy, but later retracted the statement. Rogers received a $4 million divorce settlement.

Cruise met Nicole Kidman on the set of “Days of Thunder” (1990), marrying her on December 24, 1990. They adopted two children but divorced in February 2001, amid rumors of a pregnancy that Kidman later clarified as an ectopic pregnancy in 2007.

Following his divorce from Kidman, Cruise dated Penélope Cruz, his co-star in “Vanilla Sky” (2001), until 2004. Reports suggested Scientology conducted auditions for Cruise’s partner, allegedly leading to a brief relationship with Nazanin Boniadi. Cruise then began dating Katie Holmes in April 2005, leading to a highly publicized relationship and marriage at Odescalchi Castle in Bracciano in November 2006. Holmes filed for divorce in June 2012, with a settlement reached in July. Cruise suggested the divorce aimed to protect their daughter from Scientology.