The American actress known for her roles in both television and film, Blake Lively, rose to prominence with her portrayal of Serena van der Woodsen in the hit TV series “Gossip Girl.” Lively has since established herself as a versatile and talented actress in Hollywood. Beyond acting, she has ventured into entrepreneurship and activism, making her mark across various industries.
As of 2024, Lively’s net worth is estimated to be $30 million. This substantial wealth primarily stems from her successful acting career, lucrative endorsement deals, and entrepreneurial ventures. Lively’s financial success reflects her dedication to her craft and her ability to diversify her income streams beyond traditional acting roles.
A reluctant debut
Born on Aug. 25, 1987, in the Tarzana neighborhood of Los Angele, Blake Ellender Brown, known professionally as Blake Lively, was introduced to the world of acting at a young age. Her parents, both acting instructors, took her along to their classes instead of leaving her with a babysitter. Observing her parents teach, she absorbed the fundamentals and grew more confident as she matured and ventured into the industry.
Making her debut at the age of 10 in “Sandman,” directed by her father, Lively initially played a minor role. Despite not initially harboring a strong interest in acting, she landed her breakthrough role as Bridget in “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” after her brother urged his talent agent to arrange auditions for her during the summer. Filming her scenes between her junior and senior years of high school, Lively began to realize her potential in the field.
Despite her early inclination towards attending Stanford University, her budding acting career soon took precedence.
Financial snapshot
Lively’s net worth of $30 million is largely attributed to her iconic portrayal in “Gossip Girl” and earnings from her film ventures. Lively earned $60,000 per episode for her role in “Gossip Girl,” totaling $7.26 million over six years (121 episodes), and pocketed $800,000 for her role in “A Simple Favor.”
Her involvement in numerous advertising campaigns has further bolstered her financial standing. Fans eagerly anticipate her upcoming role in “It Ends with Us,” a Sony production set for release in June 2024, which Lively not only stars in but also produces. Additionally, Lively has nine other projects in various stages of development, including a sequel to the 2018 hit “A Simple Favor”.
Early career beginnings
Lively’s journey in the entertainment industry took a significant turn when her brother Eric facilitated auditions through his agent, ultimately leading her to her breakthrough role in “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”. Starring as one of the four female leads, the film garnered over $42 million at the box office, marking a promising start to her career. Following this success, Lively landed leading roles in “Accepted” the following year and earned critical acclaim for her performance in the lesser-known film “Anabelle and Elvis.”
She achieved breakthrough success with her central role in the popular TV series “Gossip Girl,” which catapulted her to stardom. Amidst her television commitments, Lively still found time to appear in film sequels like “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2” and “New York, I Love You”. Despite facing criticism for her role in “The Green Lantern,” opposite Ryan Reynolds, the movie’s commercial success further solidified her presence in Hollywood. Her career continued to flourish with box office hits like “The Age of Adaline” and the critically acclaimed “A Simple Favor”.
Lively’s versatility extended beyond acting as she ventured into directing and co-writing the music video for Taylor Swift’s “I Bet You Think About Me” featuring Chris Stapleton. Most recently, it was announced that Lively would portray the lead character Lily Bloom in “It Ends With Us,” showcasing her ongoing commitment to diverse and compelling projects.
Ventures and initiatives
Lively’s diverse endeavors in the fashion and beauty industry saw her become the face of L’Oreal and feature prominently as the ambassador for the fragrance Gucci Premiere. The deals reportedly fetching her $4 million for a two-year Gucci campaign and around $50,000 per attended store opening. She made notable appearances in The Lonely Island’s music video “I Just Had Sex,” alongside Jessica Alba.
In 2014, she launched Preserve, an e-commerce platform and digital magazine promoting handmade products, which was later closed but with plans for a future relaunch. Furthermore, she delved into the beverage industry with the introduction of Betty Buzz, a line of non-alcoholic mixers, followed by Betty Booze, an alcoholic canned cocktail line.
Beyond her ventures in fashion and business, Lively has expressed a keen interest in the culinary arts and interior design.
Her home, shared with husband Ryan Reynolds, is valued at $5.7 million.
Advocacy campaigns
Lively participated in a promotional video for Gucci’s “Chime for Change” campaign, dedicated to raising both funds and awareness for women’s issues, particularly in the realms of education, health, and justice. Moreover, she has been actively involved in raising awareness about missing and exploited children, and has supported law enforcement efforts dedicated to their rescue and protection.
From her breakthrough role in “Gossip Girl” to her successful forays into entrepreneurship and activism, Lively has made a significant impact both on and off-screen. With her impressive net worth and ongoing projects, she continues to captivate audiences and inspire aspiring artists worldwide.
