The Kingpin: 7 Ways Woody Harrelson Earns And Spends His Millions

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He’s known over generations as a funny, charismatic, ‘bad boy’ who first made it into our homes on the television hit sitcom Cheers but today, Woody Harrelson has proven a massive talent in a wide variety of roles. The People vs. Larry Flynt, The Messenger, and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, all earned Harrelson Academy Award nominations, but it was perhaps those classic films like White Men Can’t Jump, Indecent Proposal, and Natural Born Killers that fans will remember him most.

With a net worth of $70 million today, Harrelson has the funds to live a life, unlike the childhood he had with a father in prison and several run-ins with police but due to those hardships early on, perhaps dictates some of the choices he makes when spending his money.

Check out the top ways Harrelson has chosen to earn and spend his fortune.

Television

Harrelson has earned a large portion of his fortune by appearing in “Cheers”, the television sitcom that earned him a 1987 American Comedy Award for Funniest Newcomer and a 1989 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. He's eluded to the fact that royalties earned from that first sitcom is enough to live on each year.

Film

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Harrelson won four awards for his turn in “The Messenger” including an Independent Spirit Award and Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award. Other awards have come through “Zombieland”, “Rampart” and the star was nominated for “The People vs. Larry Flynt” among others.

Producer

The “True Detective” star has worked behind the scenes in several projects, including “The White House Plumbers” and “The Most Dangerous Man in America”. While Harrelson and his co-star and close friend, Matthew McConaughey starred in the first season of “True Detective”, the pair have served as executive producers over all three seasons. His production company, 40 Acres and a Mule is responsible for more than 35 films since 1983.

Theatre Life

In 1985, Harrelson served as understudy in the Neil Simon play “Biloxi Blues”. From there, he’s starred in a variety of theatre productions including “Night of the Iguana” in 2005 and “The Rainmaker”. The highly talented actor also wrote his own play, “Furthest From the Sun” and directed the production at the Theatre de la Jeune Lune in Minneapolis in 1999. He directed another of his own writings, “Bullet for Adolf” in Toronto and Off-Broadway in 2012.

Real Estate

Harrelson enjoys investing in real estate according to MSN. He once owned property in Costa Rica in an attempt to shelter family from the public eye. The A-lister recently purchased an 8.5-acre property in Maui for just under $2 million. In fact, the “Natural Born Killers” star has lived in Hawaii for some time now, in part, due to his friendship with Willie Nelson.

In 1999, he purchased his first home, overlooking Hamoa Beach. The original property came with a small home, but he’s transformed that slice of land into a large retreat. His second Hawaiian location is located against the Haleakala volcano overlooking the northeast coastline and large forest. Harrelson also owns a $4.8 million mansion in Beverly Hills, allowing him to split his time between work and relaxation.

Business Investments

As a long-time vegan, Harrelson said his diet is driven by his love for the environment. He recently invested in the vegan seafood brand, Good Catch along with others like Shailene Woodley, Paris Hilton and Lance Bass.

In 2018, the actor partnered with a local banker in Baltimore to purchase a former inn for $4.5 million. The inn was converted into a 12-unit luxury residence called Point Place.

Activism

As a staunch supporter of marijuana legalization, Harrelson has served on the NORML advisory board as well as spoken publicly for environmental causes. He once traveled in a hemp oil-fueled biodiesel bus and narrated the 1999 documentary, “Grass”. In 1996, Harrelson invited the media to watch him plant four seeds in the ground in protest of Kentucky laws regarding the right to grow hemp, which can be used in manufacturing goods.

Also, due to his passion for the environment, Harrelson co-founded the website “Voice Yourself”, encouraging the protest of pollution. He was named 2012’s PETA Sexiest Vegetarian and has attended events such as the PICNIC’07, a festival held in Amsterdam to explore new solutions for the environment. In 2020, Harrelson was the voice behind a climate change documentary, “Kiss the Ground”.

According to Know Net Worth, his strong beliefs have also led Harrelson to back charities, “Racing for Kids” to benefit a children’s hospital, “American Red Cross”, “Chandler Sky Foundation”, “Focus the Nation” and “Global Fund for Women”.

Despite having millions today, Harrelson has made it clear he hasn’t forgotten his roots, as a young, self-described angry troublemaker. His career has been full of ups and downs; however, his talent is undeniable based on his success.

Sources: Celebrity Net Worth, MSN, Know Net Worth