Djimon Hounsou’s recent interview with CNN’s African Voices Changemaker has sparked controversy about how much he is currently worth as he reveals his struggles in the industry, which span across stereotypes and racism, due to his skill colour. The Oscar-nominated Beninese-American actor and model revealed that he is underpaid in Nollywood, which makes him struggle to earn a living, despite his cumulative experience of over two decades as an actor in the industry.
Before we explore his net worth, it’s pertinent to delve into his background and career paths that have brought him into stardom and also consider his achievements and investments to ascertain his current net worth.
Profile Summary
| Full name | Djimon Gaston Hounsou |
| Date of birth | April 24, 1964 |
| Age | 60 years old as of January 2025 |
| Nationality | Beninese and American |
| Gender | Male |
| Weight | 175 lbs |
| Height | 6′ 1½″ (1.87 m) |
| Place of birth | Cotonou, Benin Republic |
| Zodiac sign | Taurus |
| Profession | Hollywood actor, Producer and Model |
| Net Worth | $2 Million (Estimated) |
Who is Djimon Hounsou?
Djimon Gaston Hounsou is a Beninese-born American actor and model known for his role as Cinqué in the 1997 Steven Spielberg film Amistad which brought him to the spotlight and clinched him a Golden Globe Award nomination. He has been featured in various incredibly globally recognized movies where he displayed uncommon talents and expertise, which accorded him the honour of being nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for “In America”, making him the fourth African male to be nominated for an Oscar as of 2004.
He has acted in various genres of movies, playing different characters and fitting into them so perfectly; which justifies why he has been severally nominated for awards and has also clinched quite a number of them, including the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Blood Diamond (2006), Screen Actors Guild Award, Broadcast Film Critics Association, among several others.
Djimon Hounsou’s Early Life and Career
Djimon Gaston Hounsou is a professional Nollywood actor and model, born in Cotonou, Benin Republic on April 24, 1964, to the family of Albertine and Pierre Hounsou. At age 12, Djimon and his brother Edmond migrated to Lyon in France where he faced several challenges which made him drop out of school and even become homeless at some point, but his resilience and never-give-up spirit kept him going and trying his hands in several things which includes; photography, fashion design, modelling, before he moved to the United States where he eventually embraced the acting opportunity which turned out to become a fulfilled career for him.
What is Djimon Hounsou’s Net Worth?
The two-time Oscar Award Nominee made a revelatory statement in his recent interview with CNN Africa about the struggle he faces in Hollywood, which has made it difficult to ascertain his authentic net worth as the Furious 7 star revealed that he struggles financially despite his status in the industry. Ordinarily, one would think Djimon is living his dream life as an iconic actor with a decade-long experience, sadly, he disclosed that he is being underpaid.
He said, “I’ve been in the filmmaking business for over two decades with two Oscar nominations and many blockbuster films, and yet, I’m still struggling financially, I’m definitely underpaid.”
He described the reason for his lowball in Nollywood as “Systemic Racism” cum with stereotyping. He said “I was nominated for the Golden Globe, but they ignored me for the Oscars, talking about the fact that they thought that I had just came off the boat and off the streets,” he claimed. “Even though I successfully did that [film], they just didn’t feel like I was an actor to whom they should pay any respect. This conceptual idea of diversity still has a long way to go. Systemic racism don’t change like that anytime soon.”
“I still have to prove why I need to get paid. They always come at me with a complete lowball: ‘We only have this much for the role, but we love you so much and we really think you can bring so much.’” He added.
Despite Djimon Hounsou’s recent claim of being underpaid, CelebrityNetWorth; a website which reports estimates of the total assets and financial activities of celebrities, has claimed that the estimated net worth of Djimon Hounsou is $2 million as of January 2025.
CelebrityNetWorth’s claim about the Gladiator star’s net worth seems to be believable as he allegedly invested in real estate which is worth a fortune. Reports suggest that Djimon bought the property worth over $2.1 million in Los Angeles and has given it out for rent at the rate of $11,750 per month, beginning from October 2023.
Djimon Hounsou is also the owner of Fanaticus, an independent production company that promotes African stories, he is a WildAid Ambassador for pangolins and lions and he is into several other businesses. It is therefore difficult to ascertain the facts embedded in his recent claim of; “I’m still struggling to make a living”. Perhaps, he is only dissatisfied with what Hollywood pays him, considering his status in the industry.
