Share and Follow
Dakota Fanning has been a familiar face in Hollywood since she was a child and is popularly known and acclaimed for her role in the popular 2001 film, I Am Sam, which brought her to the limelight. She made history as the youngest nominee in SAG when she was only eight though she didn’t win.
Some child actors have garnered immense wealth before hitting their teenage years, affording them luxuries that adults can only dream of. But how has Fanning’s success and outrageous salary as a child actor secured a future of luxury for her family and even a chance for her sister, Elle, to carve her own identity as a child actor?
How Old Was Dakota Fanning When She Started Acting?
The I Am Sam star, Dakota Fanning started acting when she was only five years old. She starred in a 1999 Tide Commercial, before landing her first significant acting role on the NBC series, ER.
Describing her experience in ER, she said “I played a car accident victim who has leukemia. I got to wear a neck brace and nose tubes for the two days I worked.” Fanning’s childhood revolved around nurturing her talent. This started when her parents took her to a local playhouse, where her natural talent caught the attention of the caretakers, and they advised her parents to seek agency representation for her.
Born into a family with strong athletic background, it only seemed natural for her to continue her family’s athletic legacy, following in her mother’s footsteps.
In a conversation with The Scotsman, she revealed that “I was being groomed to be a tennis player for sure, My grandparents and parents realized I had a natural athletic ability and if I was forced to do it, I could probably do well. But all I wanted was to play pretend.”
Her unwavering passion for acting eventually won over her family’s hearts. Fanning went on to make notable appearances in various television shows and popular series.
How Much Did Dakota Fanning Make As A Child Star?
Fanning was earning about $4 million per movie by the age of 12, and Forbes even ranked her 4th on the 2007 Top Earning Stars Aged Under 21 List. “I know of course that I make money on movies [but] it’s not what motivates me,” she explained.
“I don’t pay attention to that. I’ve never been talked to about it, and I don’t want to be yet.” Fanning achieved her career breakthrough in the critically acclaimed I Am Sam in 2001, portraying the character of Lucy Dawson where she left a lasting impression on viewers and industry insiders alike.
The director, Jessie Nelson revealed, “We’d seen a lot of girls for the role who couldn’t really hit the emotional beats of the script, And then Dakota walked in, and I remember thinking, ‘How does she know what she knows?’”
In 2002, Fanning starred in Trapped as Abigail Jennings, in Sweet Home Alabama as young Melanie, and in Hansel and Gretel as Katie.
How Dakota Fanning Has Contributed To Her Family’s Luxurious Life
When Dakota began securing consistent commercial gigs, the Fanning family bid farewell to their small town in Georgia and embarked on a journey to Los Angeles where she and her sister, Elle Fanning would go on to become famous child actors in Hollywood, with Elle riding on her sister’s fame.
While Fanning’s parents were already accomplished in their respective fields, it appears that she played a significant role in elevating their living situation to a stunning French country-style residence in Studio City, spanning an impressive 3,582 square feet.
Read Related Also: Jimmy Fallon Was One Of The Only Late Night Show Hosts That Got To ‘Mess Up’ Donald Trump’s Hair During Their Interview
The mansion was purchased by the family in 2003 and the price tag was revealed to be a whopping $1.325 million. Trulia described it as “Tucked away on a quiet, hillside cul-de-sac, the property is surrounded by oak trees with expansive views of the Hollywood Hills and beyond.”
In 2017, the Studio City Mansion was put up for sale at $2.85 million, and Fanning and her sister bought a $2.3 million house in San Fernando Valley.
Later in 2019, Fanning bought a personal house in the Toluca Lake area of L.A, “With nearly 4,500 square feet of living space, the family-sized abode features five bedrooms and generously-scaled public rooms with high ceilings.”
Inside Dakota Fanning’s Current Net Worth And Salary
Dakota Fanning has accumulated a substantial fortune through her successful acting career, particularly from her highly lucrative films, enabling her to lead a life of great comfort and fulfillment.
Despite her young age, Fanning possesses an impressive net worth, providing her with the means to pursue her passions and live a lifestyle that remains beyond the reach of many due to financial constraints.
Fanning’s current net worth is estimated at around $12 million and Net Worth Celebrities estimated Fanning’s current annual salary to be $5.5 million, which translates to around $459,000 per month, $115,000 per week, and $17,000 per day.
Fanning’s actual earnings for movies may vary depending on some factors like negotiations, budget, level of experience and popularity at that time of the project.
Fanning also makes money from voice acting, having lent her voice to animated films like Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch and Coraline. Voice actors typically earn an average of $200,000 per project for their voice work in animated films, and Fanning has likely enjoyed similar or more compensation for her contributions to these films.
How Much Is Dakota Fanning’s Sister Elle Worth?
Celebrity Net Worth estimates Fanning’s worth to be around $6 million. Despite having a career spanning more than two decades and appearing in several major films, Elle Fanning’s personal wealth is relatively modest compared to other movie stars like her sister.
During the early stages of her career, she portrayed younger versions of characters played by her sister, most notably in the film I Am Sam and the miniseries Taken. However, at the age of four, she started securing roles independently, separate from her sister’s.
Fanning’s quick rise to fame as a child actor was able to provide the actor and her family with a life of ease and luxury. Since her debut in the industry, she has featured in over 50 films and established herself as one of the most talented icons of her time.
