Taraji P. Henson may be one of the most prolific Black actresses of this generation.
To say she has range is an understatement. She has given us so many iconic roles over the course of her career. From playing Cookie in the hit drama series Empire to starring alongside Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the actress has wowed us onscreen for nearly three decades.
Career Beginnings
She wasn’t always a major star. Taraji’s ascent to the top came with a lot of hard work and undeniable talent. The actress was born in Washington D.C. but spent her formative years in Maryland.
She was very close to her grandmother Patsy Ballard, who has attended many major industry events with her. Including, The Academy Awards and her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony.
“She been to the Oscars with me. She’s been to both Emmys… I know she’s praying for me cuz I know God is listening,” she said in her tribute speech. “And I know her prayers brought me here.”
Love Life
She initially studied electrical engineering in college before transferring to Howard to study drama. Shortly after graduating college, Henson gave birth to her first son, Marcell, with her high school sweetheart. Unfortunately, Marcell’s father, LaMarr Johnson was murdered in 2003.
She went on to find love in 2018 and became engaged to NFL player Kelvin Hayden, but she announced their separation on The Breakfast Club in 2020.
“You don’t get claimed until you claim me. Period. You don’t get to say I dated Taraji P. Henson,” she has shared. “Because with all this social media, it’s not private.”
Career Success
Henson has had one of the most successful careers for any actress in Hollywood. Starting with her breakout role in the film Baby Boy alongside Tyrese Gibson. Henson received critical acclaim and the movie put her on the map.
She said the character felt true to her and what she was experiencing in her life at the time.
“I was Yvette, you know, that was me,” she shared. “I had a son that I had out of wedlock at a young age…When you’re exhausted and it’s like, the baby’s crying. ‘Oh, can you go get him, honey?’ There was no honey. I was honey…Everything fell on me.”
From there, she starred in Hustle & Flow, I Can Do Bad All By Myself, and Person of Interest to name a few. She won a Golden Globe for her role in Empire. She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button at the 2008 Academy Awards.
Net Worth
With all of these accolades under her belt, how much is Taraji P. Henson actually worth? According to Celebrity Net Worth, her net worth is calculated at roughly $12 Million. This comes from her lucrative career in television and film.
She has been on the front lines fighting for higher wages for women and actresses of color. Henson revealed she was lowballed for her fee on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button while Brad Pitt was paid millions.
“I asked for half a million. That’s it, and they gave me $150,000,” she shared. After taxes and agent fees she netted roughly $40,000.
Although she’s one of the highest paid Black actresses in the industry who consistently works, it sometimes comes at a steep price.
Of her work ethic she said, “I hear people go, ‘You work a lot.’ I have to. The math ain’t mathing. And when you start working a lot, you know, you have a team. Big bills come with what we do.”
