Djimon Hounsou has opened up about his financial instabilities despite a decade-long career in Hollywood.
In a recent episode of CNN’s African Voices Changemakers, the Beninese-born actor revealed that he is underpaid in the industry. The actor who is known for his roles in Blood Diamond and Gladiator said,
“I’m still struggling to make a living. 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.”
His recent revelation about his financial struggles has sparked interest in his personal life, particularly his kids. Djimon Hounsou is a proud father to four kids.
Djimon revealed in a 2023 interview on The Kelly Clarkson Show that he currently resides with his partner Ri'Za and their toddler son, Fela.
He shares a 13-year-old son named Kenzo Lee Hounsou with his former partner Kimora Lee Simmons. He has two daughters, Ayana and Sienna, with his partner, Camille Sola, according to a report in Reuters.
Here are more details about the actor’s professional life as we explore his net worth.
Djimon Hounsou’s net worth and other details
Born on April 24, 1964, in Cotonou, Benin, the actor was discovered by fashion designer Thierry Mugler who made him a fashion model, stated his IMDb profile page.
In 1990, he made his debut with the film Without You I'm Nothing and gained recognition through music videos and television appearances. The 1997 Steven Spielberg film, Amistad earned him a Golden Globe nomination for his role and established him as a serious actor in the film industry, according to the reports.
Djimon Hounsou has a net worth of approximately $35 million as a report in Hot New HipHop indicated.
According to the latest reports, the actor stated that after he earned a nomination for Golden Globes he was ignored for the Oscars because of xenophobia and racism.
“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.”
Earlier, in a March 2023 interview with The Guardian, the actor revealed about being lowballed in Hollywood. The actor said,
“I still have to prove why I need to get paid. They always come at me with a complete low ball: 'We only have this much for the role, but we love you so much and we really think you can bring so much.'”
In the 2000 film Gladiator, he portrayed the role of Juba, alongside Russell Crowe. Other reports indicated that he twice received Oscar nominations, once for In America (2002) and another for Blood Diamond (2006).
His recent work credits include Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver (2024), A Quiet Place: Day One (2024), Gran Turismo (2023) and Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023).