ECONOMY & WORK
MONEY 101
NEWS
PERSONAL FINANCE
NET WORTH
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use DMCA Opt-out of personalized ads
© Copyright 2023 Market Realist. Market Realist is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
MARKETREALIST.COM / NET WORTH

It Was More Than Muscles That Made Jean-Claude Van Damme One of the Wealthiest Action Stars

While waiting tables at a Los Angeles restaurant, Van Damme impressed producer Menahem Golan, landing the lead role in "Bloodsport".
PUBLISHED AUG 9, 2023
Getty Images | 	Matt Winkelmeyer
Getty Images | Matt Winkelmeyer

Jean-Claude Van Damme, also popular as JCVD is a celebrated martial artist and action hero who rose to fame in the 80s and 90s, appearing in popular action movies, and TV shows. The actor's first big break came with the movie "Bloodsport", which catapulted his fame to another level. Van Damme earned a $25,000 paycheck for the movie which solidified his position in the industry. His journey to the Hollywood Walk of Fame began with the movie's success at the box office, and his salary swelled to $75k for projects like, "Kickboxer", "Death Warrant" and "Black Eagle."

He became a household name in the 90s, garnering a massive fortune. Here's an account of his net worth, career, and more.

Getty Images | 	Evan Agostini
Getty Images | Evan Agostini

The retired movie star has a net worth of $40 million, which is mostly derived from all the projects he was a part of in his prime. The martial artist born in Brussels, Belgium, in the year 1960, forayed into the world of martial arts at the tender age of 10. His father got him enrolled at a Shotokan Karate school, where he learned the style that he is now known for. He joined the Centre National de Karate when he was only 12, and trained for four years before making it to the national Karate Team. He was a celebrated martial artist with over 40 wins and only four defeats, even before he stepped into Hollywood. 

Cover Image Soure: Getty Images | Mark Metcalfe
Getty Images | Mark Metcalfe

Van Damme moved to the United States when he was just 22 pursuing the dream of joining Hollywood. His first-ever role was that of an extra in the movie "Breakin" in 1984, but his breakthrough movie was just around the corner. While waiting tables at a Los Angeles restaurant, Van Damme impressed producer Menahem Golan, landing the lead role in "Bloodsport". The success of "Bloodsport" brought him into the limelight, and he went on to bag films like "Double Impact" (1991), for which he made a staggering $600,000. He went on to earn another $1.5 million for "Universal Soldier" and $3.5 million for "Hard Target," as per Celebrity Net Worth.



 

The first installment of "Bloodsport" was essentially a biopic of a man named Frank Dux, but Van Damme didn't play Dux in his directorial debut "The Quest" which was the second part. It was reported that Van Damme was sued by Frank Dux for this, since he claimed that they had a verbal agreement to share the profits and credits for the film's script, as per The Things. 

When asked for proof, Dux said that he had an audio recording, which he later failed to produce, saying that it had been destroyed by an earthquake. That's how Van Damme saved $900,000, thanks to an earthquake.

Earning big bucks in Hollywood, Van Damme paid $6 million for a brand new spec mansion in Marina Del Rey that featured six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, eight fireplaces, a home gym, an elevator, a billiard room, a rooftop spa, and also a garden attached to it. The actor sold the house to rapper Ice Cube in 2016 for a cool $7.25 million.

MORE ON MARKET REALIST
Steve Harvey bowed out as a standup comedian after 27 years in 2012, and since then he has been a sought after host.
2 days ago
The man who announced his retirement after the 2023 season was first introduced on television by Oprah.
6 days ago
Nicholas Puech, who owned a 5.7% stake in the luxury brand, has claimed he has nothing left in bank.
Dec 1, 2024
Pat Sajak has also bagged roles in movies and appeared as a guest host on other game shows.
Nov 20, 2024
The legendary lead vocalist of the celebrated rock band U2 has built a vast empire and is now the second richest rockstar on the planet.
Oct 3, 2024
Trump's impressive car collection includes McLaren Mercedes SLR, Rolls-Royce, and even an exclusive Cadillac.
Sep 27, 2024
The nursing student from Georgia found his trading account balance rise to a whopping $1,309,245,148,628.7
Sep 26, 2024
Is it surprising that the billionaire isn't a frequent shopper at the grocery store?
Aug 31, 2024
The pay gap led to her passing over the role and it ultimately went to a newcomer.
Aug 20, 2024
American businessman Charles Francis Feeney was called the "James Bond of Philanthropy" by Forbes.
Aug 14, 2024
Swift's partner Travis Kelce is estimated to be worth $70 million and the cat is richer than him
Aug 5, 2024
He spent his teenage years earning just $1 per hour by offering tourist tours
May 14, 2024
The rapper earns primarily from album and mixtape sales, endorsements, concerts, tours, live performances, and shows.
May 3, 2024
From real estate mavens and fashion PR queens to content creators and resilient entrepreneurs, these women bring a diverse range of experiences to RHONY.
Apr 27, 2024
For two years, soaring inflation eroded most workers' wage gains but recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that the tide is turning.
Apr 7, 2024
From global show to international tours, delve into the singing maestro Taylor Henderson's net worth
Apr 7, 2024
Today, many artists don't limit themselves to one art form but expand by launching their fashion lines or tieing up with charitable organizations
Mar 24, 2024
Take a look at how the financial maestro Carlos Slim Helubuild himself and his generations a legacy
Mar 24, 2024
These changes represent significant adjustments to the program, impacting millions of recipients across the United States.
Mar 16, 2024