Key Takeaways
- Despite coming from a wealthy family, Jaden Smith's net worth is significantly lower than that of his parents, which was a deliberate choice by Will Smith to teach his children financial independence.
- Jaden Smith earned around $3 million for his role in "Karate Kid" and approximately $250,000 for his first acting role in "The Pursuit of Happyness."
- Jaden Smith's current income streams include his environmentally friendly bottled water company, Just Water, his record label, and various acting and influencer opportunities. He is on track to achieve financial success in his own right.
As the firstborn child of Jada and Will Smith, fans typically think that Jaden Smith is flush with cash. Between his megastar parents and his childhood acting jobs, the thought comes to others as a natural one. However, that's not the case.
When it comes to Jaden Smith, his net worth is quite low compared to the level other members of his family possess. Being that his parents have had more years in the spotlight, this is to be somewhat expected. In the case of Jaden, his path to success looks different, which comes with a different income bracket as well.
Jaden Smith's Net Worth Is Only A Fraction Of Will Smith's
As the song of an A-list actor, Jaden Smith has the ability to make powerful connections in the entertainment industry. While Will Smith has a substantial net worth, son Jaden comes in at a much smaller amount. However, this wasn't done by accident.
In 2010 during an interview with Oprah, Will Smith stated that he and his wife have always made it clear to their children that although their mom and dad have money, the children do not. He was quick to inform Oprah that he deems his children broke and that they must forge their own way in the world.
How Much Money Did Jaden Smith Make For 'Karate Kid'?
One of Jaden's acting jobs took place when he was just ten years old. Acting alongside Taraji Henson and Jackie Chan, Jaden rose to fame in his role in a remake of Karate Kid.
Even as a young actor, he was able to bring in a considerable amount from his efforts. Additionally, he became a household name due to the success of the film.
Related: Did Will Smith Take Jaden Smith's Earnings During His Days As A Child Actor?
It is estimated that Jaden Smith earned around $3 million from a combination of his acting fee and box office sales from the Karate Kid film.
How Much Did Jaden Smith Make For 'The Pursuit Of Happyness'?
Among fans of Will Smith, many were excited to see his son Jaden cast in the same role in the movie The Pursuit of Happyness. Within the movie and entertainment industry, however, this didn't appear to be the case. It appears that many insiders felt that favoritism came into play when it came to picking a child actor for the film.
Related: How Will Smith Coached Jaden Into Failure During 'After Earth'
As his first acting role, the pay is expected to be substantially less than what more experienced actors would amass. However, it is assumed that Jaden Smith brought in around $250,000 for his work in the movie.
How Is Jaden Making His Money Today?
One of Jaden Smith's more significant endeavors is the creation of his company Just Water. In this role, Jaden made strides to create an environmentally friendly version of bottled water to help both the environment and those who are in a water crisis.
While sales vary, some speculate that Smith nets around $3 million annually from this work.
Related: A Look Inside Jaden Smith's Music Career
In addition to Just Water, Jaden has also forayed into other acting jobs. After a disastrous outcome in the movie After Earth, in which he acted alongside his father once again, Jaden announced to his parents that he wanted to take steps to emancipate himself from his family.
With this in place, he would be able to take on salary negotiations and work without the influence of his parents. However, he ultimately decided against taking this legal path.
Instead, Jaden continued to work to make his own place in the entertainment world. He created his own record label, MSFTS Music, and became a rap star with a top hit being released in 2017. Acting-wise, Jaden Smith collaborated with Netflix on two different projects and performed various voice-over jobs as well as the movie Life In a Year.
Another income stream that Jaden Smith enjoys is that of an influencer. Like many celebs, companies want big stars and names to represent their products. With a significant social media presence and platform, Jaden Smith has been able to take advantage of many promotion deals.
While Jaden Smith has his own record label and has released his music through that route for years, he was signed to ROC Nation in 2017 with his sister Willow. Since then, he has worked on and released several albums under the label.
Overall, while Jaden Smith isn't at the same income level as his father he is well on his way to obtaining a similar amount in the future. Between his business ventures and ongoing projects, it is likely that he won't have to worry about money throughout his life.
It would appear that through their unique parenting style, Will and Jada were able to instill in their son that hard work and perseverance will pay off. In Jaden's case, pushing through despite challenging setbacks has allowed him to find a place in the world where he can exercise his creative skills and participate in projects that make him happy.
