Celebrity Net Worth: Keanu Reeves earns $39,473 a word for John Wick 4
In our fortnightly celebrity investment and wealth round-up, Priyanka Chopra Jonas joins a series A investment in Rob’s Backstage Popcorn and Venus Williams aces her way into the private equity world
Words are more valuable than ever, it seems, going by Keanu Reeves’s reported salary in John Wick: Chapter 4. The Hollywood superstar banked $15 million in pre-release takings for the film, according to Cosmopolitan magazine.
But the role includes more than just dialogue and the actor performs a lot of his own stunts.
The film hits UAE cinemas in time for Eid Al Fitr. It raked in $150.1 million in box-office revenue around the world during its opening weekend, including $86 million in the US, according to film research website The Numbers.
Reeves reportedly earned between $1 million and $2.5 million for the first two movies in the franchise.
The Beirut-born Canadian has a fortune estimated at $380 million, according to wealth-tracking website Celebrity Net Worth.
Reeves, 58, has earned his fortune from an acting career that dates back to the mid-80s.
Films starring Keanu Reeves — in pictures
A Scanner Darkly (2006): Keanu Reeves stars in this Rotoscope-style-animation action film adapted from the book by famed sci-fi writer Phillip K Dick, and directed by Richard Linklater. The premise puts Reeves in the role of an undercover drug enforcement agent who must take down a narcotics distribution operation from within. All photos: Shutterstock
Constantine (2005): Adapted from the 'Hellblazer' comic book series, Constantine is an apocalyptic romp, with Reeves going up against angels, demons, and even the devil himself. The film was not a hit at the box office, but it has garnered appreciation over the years for its better-than-average CGI and big confrontation scenes.
The Replacements (2000): This movie doesn’t force the sport element, but it has you focusing on the characters and events surrounding the game, in this case, American football. But the story of how a franchise team must recruit a whole roster of amateurs and has-beens to replace their stars is fascinating. Reeves plays the leader and captain of this “replacement” team.
The Devil’s Advocate (1997): There’s a lot to like about this film, mainly Al Pacino. Most forget that Reeves appears at all, seeing as what people mostly remember is the larger-than-life performance by Pacino. But Reeves does more than enough to hold his own in his role as the conflicted lawyer who doesn’t know what he’s getting himself into.
Chain Reaction (1996): Political thrillers were all the rage in the ’90s. But one that doesn’t get mentioned often enough is 'Chain Reaction', which follows scientists who discover a source of clean energy, but whose lab is attacked and sabotaged. Reeves is excellent, and he’s supported by Morgan Freeman.
Johnny Mnemonic (1995): This film is an adaptation of a story by William Gibson. The film centres around a dystopian world controlled by computer hackers and big, evil corporations.
His films have grossed close to $4 billion, according to The Numbers. The total does not account for inflation.
The actor’s biggest salary comes from The Matrix franchise. The four films netted Reeves $250 million when upfront fees and his percentage of box-office takings are factored in, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Outside of acting, Reeves co-founded a production house called Company Films, and has launched a small press and a motorcycle company.
Reeves is notoriously reserved when it comes to his investments. He also appears in few endorsements, although in 2019 he fronted an Yves Saint Laurent fall-winter menswear campaign.
He owns an $8 million home in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles. He purchased it in 2003 after years of living at the city’s Chateau Marmont hotel, paying close to $5 million, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The actor has a reputation for philanthropy. He has set up a cancer charity but it does not carry his name. In addition, he supports Peta, Stand up to Cancer and the SickKids Foundation.
Last year, he and his partner, artist Alexandra Grant, became advisers to the non-profit Futureverse Foundation, which promotes underrepresented artists.
Venus Williams has a fortune estimated at $95 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Getty
Venus Williams
As tennis player Serena Williams focused on shattering records in recent years, her big sister Venus Williams has been playing a long game, focusing on her off-court passions and other life goals.
Now 42, the older Williams sister is serving out a midlife career shift into private equity.
Last month, she was appointed an operating partner of private equity firm Topspin Consumer Partners, the company said.
The tennis champion and entrepreneur will help Topspin and its consumer-focused portfolio companies in their marketing and brand exposure, identifying ways of enhancing value and helping to source new investment opportunities.
She has been working with Topsin since November, the company said.
“What resonated with me most about Topspin was the team’s deep understanding of consumer investing and genuine desire to help entrepreneurs and visionaries reach their full potential,” Venus said.
“I’ve learnt so much about navigating the competitive consumer landscape from my own ventures, and strongly believe this is the perfect opportunity for me to leverage my expertise to add value — whether it be helping the firm’s portfolio companies improve their marketing efforts or identifying up-and-coming businesses to partner with.”
Venus has been a rarer presence on tennis courts in recent years because of Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease that causes fatigue, joint pain and dry eyes and mouth.
The four-time Olympic gold medallist and seven-time Grand Slam tennis champion has a net worth estimated at $95 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
She has earned slightly under half of that — $42.4 million — on court. The rest has come from a range of off-court activities.
Brand endorsements deliver between $5 million and $10 million a year, Celebrity Net Worth reports.
The former world number one has also founded several consumer brands, including lifestyle and activewear brand EleVen, plant-based superfood nutrition company Happy Viking and interior design company V Starr.
She is also chief brand officer of health brand Asutra and has launched a line of clean, mineral-based SPF products with retailer Credo Beauty.
She has nine portfolio investments, according to market intelligence platform CB Insights. Many of these are financial or investment companies.
Among the oldest is women-focused investment company Ellevest, commercial property ownership platform withco, as well as money she and her sister Serena ploughed into London-based social investing app Shares.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas and her husband Nick Jonas have a combined net worth of $70 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. AFP
Priyanka Chopra Jonas
Actor and producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas has joined a $7 million fundraising round into Rob’s Backstage Popcorn, which is co-owned by her husband Nick Jonas and e-commerce consumer products good retailer The Naked Market.
The company will use the funds to expand distribution across the US, including into stores such as Walmart and Albertsons, Forbes magazine reported.
Rob’s Backstage Popcorn was first created by Rob Garbowsky, father of the Jonas Brothers’ manager Greg Garbowsky.
Last month, Chopra also launched Mumbai Nights, a new Indian-inspired flavour for the brand.
“Mumbai is my home — I’ve spent about 15 or 20 years of my life there. And it’s a very specific, alive, cosmopolitan, glamorous city. And to me, this flavour is that,” Chopra said in an online presentation ahead of the launch, EatingWell magazine reported.
The couple have made several joint investments together since marrying in 2018. Last July, they signed up to back French luxury ski and surfwear brand Perfect Moment.
They have also invested in alternative beverage brand Olipop and in HumanCo, which makes healthy, gluten-free, dairy-free and organic foods.
Chopra, 40, is one of the highest-paid actors in India.
She built a successful career in Hollywood after finding she was being “pushed into a corner” in Bollywood. The former Miss World has starred in more than 70 films, including Baywatch, The Matrix Revolutions and The White Tiger.
She revealed last month that she only achieved pay parity for the first time as an actor while filming the upcoming Amazon Prime series Citadel.
Actor Robert Downey Jr has a net worth estimated at $300 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. AFP
Robert Downey Jr
Iron Man actor Robert Downey Jr will take on a layered new role as strategist, board member and spokesman at online safety company Aura, the company said.
The multiyear partnership will see the actor pay particular attention to online safety for children.
Downey Jr made his first appearance for the brand at last month’s South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, where he moderated a discussion on online security.
“Honestly, the exponential growth of online crime, just in the last several years, is truly terrifying,” he said.
“It requires an innovative solution to protect our families, which is why I'm joining Hari [Ravichandran, founder and chief executive] and his team at Aura to tackle the crisis head-on.”
The Boston-based unicorn was valued at $2.5 billion in 2021, when it raised $200 million in series F funding. A unicorn is a start-up company valued at more than $1 billion.
Downey Jr, 57, has a net worth estimated at $300 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
The bulk of his earnings have come from his work as an actor and producer, in particular the Iron Man franchise.
Honestly, the exponential growth of online crime, just in the last several years, is truly terrifying
Robert Downey Jr, actor
From 2013 to 2015, he was the world’s highest-paid actor, Forbes magazine estimates.
His fee for the first Iron Man film was $500,000, but Downey Jr went on to earn a reported $345.5 million playing the superhero in various Marvel movies, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
The actor has several equity investments to his name, according to financial information platform Crunchbase.
These include security start-up 1Password, calendar-based social platform Saturn, classic car restoration company Kindred Motorworks, and AI platform Forethought, alongside actors Gwyneth Paltrow and Ashton Kutcher.
Downey Jr’s real estate portfolio is worth $50 million, Celebrity Net Worth calculates, with properties in Malibu, Venice and Manhattan Beach, all in California.
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11 What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time. TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
Cry Macho
Director: Clint Eastwood
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Dwight Yoakam
Rating:**
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Aaron Finch (captain), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, David Warner, Adam Zampa
Manchester City 6
(D Silva 26', Sterling 38', 81', 87', De Bruyne 61', Jesus 68')
Watford 0
Man of the match: Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
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Tips for job-seekers
Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
