Linda Hamilton Net Worth 2025: Career, Earnings & Personal Life

American actress Linda Hamilton net worth is $70 million. The "Terminator" movie series' Sarah Connor is Linda Hamilton's most well-known performance.

Mar 07, 2025

American actress Linda Hamilton net worthis $70 million. The "Terminator" movie series' Sarah Connor is Linda Hamilton's most well-known performance.

In the late 1980s, she received praise for her portrayal of Catherine Chandler in the CBS television series "Beauty and the Beast."

She has also appeared in the catastrophe thriller "Dante's Peak," the horror movie "Children of the Corn," and the NBC espionage comedy "Chuck," where she had recurring roles.

1. Quick Facts About Linda Hamilton

Name	Linda Carroll Hamilton
Date Of Birth	September 26, 1956
Age	67 (as of 2025)
Birthplace	Salisbury, Maryland, USA
Profession	Actress, Voice Actress
Nationality	American
Net Worth	$70 Million
Height	1.64m
Notable Role	Sarah Connor in The Terminator franchise
Education	Washington College (dropped out), Acting studies with Lee Strasberg
Marriages	Bruce Abbott (m. 1982–1989), James Cameron (m. 1997–1999)
Children	Bruce Abbott –1 son, Dalton Abbott, James Cameron – 1 daughter, Josephine Archer Cameron
Awards & Nominations	Emmy & Golden Globe nominations for Beauty and the Beast

Early Life and Career Beginnings

2. Early Life And Career Beginnings

Linda Carroll Hamilton was born on September 26, 1956, in Salisbury, Maryland. Her father, Carroll Stanford Hamilton, was a physician, and her mother, Barbara, later remarried a police chief after his untimely passing when Linda was just five years old.

Growing up, Linda had an older sister, Laura, a younger brother, Ford, and an identical twin sister, Leslie Hamilton Gearren, who tragically passed away in 2020. This dynamic family environment shaped her early years.

Her educational journey took her through Wicomico Junior High and Wicomico High School, followed by two years at Washington Collegein Chestertown, Maryland.

However, her passion for acting led her to New York City, where she honed her skills under the tutelage of the legendary Lee Strasberg. Even prior to her move to New York, her interest in acting was evident, as she participated in local children's theater groups and received dramatic lessons conducted by former director Nicholas Ray.

Hamilton's professional acting career began in 1980 with an episode of the NBC drama "Shirley," followed by television films such as "Reunion" and "Rape and Marriage: The Rideout Case."

That same year, she landed a significant role as Lisa Rogers in the primetime soap opera "Secrets of Midland Heights." Her transition to the silver screen occurred in 1982 with the thriller "TAG: The Assassination Game," co-starring Robert Carradine.

The Terminator Saga

3. The "Terminator" Saga: A Cultural And Financial Phenomenon

Breakthrough With The Terminator (1984)

The "Terminator" franchise stands as a monumental chapter in Linda Hamilton's career. In 1984, James Cameron's science-fiction thriller "The Terminator" catapulted her to international fame. Her portrayal of Sarah Connor, a woman relentlessly pursued by a cyborg assassin, resonated deeply with audiences.

The film's financial success was undeniable, grossing over $78 million worldwide on a modest budget of approximately $6 million. This role not only established her as a formidable action heroine but also laid the foundation for her future financial achievements.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) – A Game Changer

"Terminator 2: Judgment Day" in 1991 further cemented her iconic status. The film shattered box office records, earning over $520.88 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing film of that year. For her portrayal, Hamilton received a salary of $1 million. The physical demands of the role were immense, requiring intense training and dedication.

In 2009, Hamilton lent her voice to the sequel "Terminator Salvation." In 2019, she returned to the role in "Terminator: Dark Fate," further solidifying her connection to the franchise.

The box office numbers speak volumes:

"The Terminator" (1984): $78,019,031
"Terminator 2: Judgment Day" (1991): $520,880,000
"Terminator Salvation" (2009): $371,350,000
"Terminator: Dark Fate" (2019): $250,372,367

These figures illustrate the immense financial impact of the franchise and its contribution to Hamilton's overall net worth.

4. Beyond Sarah Connor: Diverse Roles And Lasting Impact

While Sarah Connor remains her most iconic role, Linda Hamilton's career extends far beyond the "Terminator" franchise. She has demonstrated her versatility in a wide range of film and television projects.

In 1984, she starred in the horror film "Children of the Corn" and "The Stone Boy." Other notable film roles include "Black Moon Rising" (1986), "King Kong Lives" (1986), "Mr. Destiny" (1990), "Silent Fall" (1994), "Separate Lives" (1995), "Dante's Peak" (1997), and "Shadow Conspiracy" (1997).

Her television career is equally impressive. In the late 1980s, she gained critical acclaim for her role as Catherine Chandler in the CBS series "Beauty and the Beast," earning Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.

Beauty and the Beast, The Pilot

More recently, she has appeared in popular series such as "Resident Alien," "Chuck," and "Stranger Things," ensuring her continued relevance in pop culture.

Hamilton has accumulated over 80 acting credits throughout her career.

Some of the box office numbers of her other movies are:

"Children of the Corn" (1984): $14,600,000
"Dante's Peak" (1997): $180,440,000
"Separate Lives" (1995): $961,150
"Silent Fall" (1994): $3,180,000
"Mr. Destiny" (1990): $15,380,000
"Black Moon Rising" (1986): $7,000,000
"King Kong Lives" (1986): $4,350,000

5. Financial Acumen: Investments, Real Estate, And Divorce

Divorce Settlement With James Cameron

One of the most significant financial events in Hamilton’s life was her $50 milliondivorce settlement from director James Cameronin 1999. The couple had been married for two yearsbut had been in a relationship since 1991. Reflecting on the experience, Hamilton once stated:

"I was completely devastated for years, but I’m so glad to be free of that. I would never, ever put that much energy again into something that is not working."

Real Estate And Investments

Hamilton has also made smart real estate moves:

Sold her Malibu homefor $4 millionin 2012.
Purchased a five-bedroom farmhouse in Virginiafor $998,000in 2011.
Owned properties in Floridaand New Orleans, diversifying her financial portfolio.

While her divorce settlement played a major role in her wealth, her real estate investments and career earnings have ensured long-term financial security.

6. Linda Hamilton's Net Worth: A Comprehensive Overview

Linda Hamilton's estimated net worth is approximately $70 million. This figure reflects a combination of her successful acting career, strategic real estate investments, and the significant divorce settlement.

Her wealth has evolved over time, with major milestones including the "Terminator" franchise's box office success, the financial gains from real estate transactions, and the substantial settlement from her divorce.

Her primary sources of wealth include:

Acting Career:Earnings from film and television roles, including substantial salaries and box office success-driven bonuses.
Real Estate Investments:Profits from property sales and the appreciation of her real estate portfolio.
Divorce Settlement:The $50 million settlement from her divorce with James Cameron.

These combined elements have contributed to her substantial net worth, solidifying her financial stability and legacy.

7. Personal Life: Strength And Resilience

Beyond her professional achievements, Linda Hamilton's personal life has been marked by both triumphs and challenges. She married actor Bruce Abbott in 1982, and they had a son, Dalton, before divorcing in 1989.

Subsequently, she entered a relationship with "Terminator" director James Cameron, with whom she had a daughter, Josephine, in 1993. They married in 1997 but divorced in 1999.

Born on September 26, 1956, Hamilton is a Libra, standing at approximately 5'4".

Hamilton has been remarkably open about her struggles with mental health. She has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and has battled depression and compulsive eating. She courageously shared her experiences, aiming to raise awareness and reduce stigma.

As she articulated on Larry King, she had “depression since I was a child, but no one noticed it and even I didn’t know what it was in those days. I just felt different.” She has also discussed her post-partum depression. Her father also suffered from bipolar disorder.

During the filming of "Terminator 2," Hamilton suffered hearing damage in one ear when co-star Arnold Schwarzenegger fired a shotgun in an elevator after she had removed her earplugs. This incident added another layer of resilience to her already remarkable story.

8. Lifestyle

Linda Hamilton Smiling

Real Estate

Linda purchased a 25-acre parcel of land in Lucketts, Virginia, for $998,000 in 2012. 2016 saw her sell this home for $1.3 million.

She has a number of residences in Los Angeles in the past. She made $4 million through the sale of a Malibu property in 2012. When the house was initially advertised, she asked for $5.5 million.

She also has a townhouse in New Orleans and a $850,000 seaside property close to Sarasota, Florida.

Car Collection

The majority of Linda Hamilton's automobiles were parked close together. Although she doesn't own many automobiles, we do know the names of a handful of them, including Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari, and a few more.

9. Top 10 Interesting Facts About Linda Hamilton

Hamilton is regarded as one of the first female action stars in Hollywood, and her toned physique has earned her the nickname "Body of the Nineties."
On September 26, 1956, Linda Carroll Hamilton was born in Salisbury, Maryland, in the United States to Barbara and Carroll Stanford Hamilton. She also has an older sister named Laura Hamilton, a younger brother named Ford Hamilton, and a twin sister named Leslie Hamilton Gearren.
She struggled to set herself apart from her cheerleader-loving twin sister Leslie as she grew up in "a very boring, white Anglo-Saxon" Maryland home. She gained weight and read a lot. She shaved off her eyelashes and hair in an effort to seem hideous.
When she was five years old, she lost her father, Carroll Stanford Hamilton, in a car accident. She struggled with cocaine addiction at one point in her life.
Hamilton studied Yiddish in preparation for her role as Ethel Rosenberg in Lou Shaw's play Worse Than Murder: Ethel and Julius Rosenberg. In 1953, Ethel and her husband were put to death in the electric chair for divulging atomic secrets to the Soviet Union.
'Shirley,' 'Reunion,' and 'Rape and Marriage: The Rideout Case' marked Hamilton's television acting debut before she was cast as Lisa Roger in the CBS prime-time serial opera 'Secret of Midland Heights.'
She made her feature film debut in Nick Castle's 1982 film "Tag: The Assassination Game." In John Willis' Screen World, she was listed as one of the twelve most promising new actorsof 1982.
They were married for seven years before divorcing in 1989 while she was pregnant with their son Dalton. She first met Bruce Abbott on the set of "Tag: The Assassination Game."
Vicky Baxter, Hamilton's character in the supernatural folk horror movie "Children of the Corn," was the main character. Despite receiving negative reviews from critics, the movie grossed a ton of money at the box office.
She returned to the role of Sarah Connor in the wildly successful "Terminator 2: Judgement Day." In moments when there were two Sarah Connors, her twin sister Leslie Hamilton served as a stand-in.

Conclusion

Linda Hamilton's journey from a young actress in Maryland to a Hollywood icon is a testament to her talent, resilience, and astute financial decisions. Her portrayal of Sarah Connor in the "Terminator" franchise not only solidified her place in cinematic history but also contributed significantly to her financial success.

Beyond her acting career, her strategic real estate investments and the substantial divorce settlement have played key roles in building her impressive net worth.

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