Elisabeth Shue net worth is estimated at $20 million as of 2026. She earned this fortune through a career spanning over four decades in Hollywood. From The Karate Kid to The Boys, Shue has built a legacy of memorable roles. Her journey from TV commercials to an Oscar nomination proves her lasting talent.
Shue remains one of the most respected actresses in the entertainment industry. She continues to land major roles in both film and television. Her diverse portfolio and smart career choices have helped her maintain steady wealth over the years.
Quick Facts About Elisabeth Shue
- Full Name: Elisabeth Judson Shue
- Date of Birth: October 6, 1963
- Age: 62 years old
- Birthplace: Wilmington, Delaware, USA
- Nationality: American
- Height: 5 feet 2 inches (1.57 m)
- Weight: 119 lbs (54 kg)
- Eye Color: Blue
- Hair Color: Blonde
- Spouse: Davis Guggenheim (married 1994)
- Kids: Miles, Stella, Agnes Charles
- Siblings: Andrew Shue, William Shue (deceased), John Shue
- Education: Harvard University (B.A. in Government, 2000)
- Estimated Net Worth: $20 million
- Source of Income: Acting, Film Production
Elisabeth Shue Salary and Income Sources
Elisabeth Shue earns her income mainly through acting in films and television shows. Her estimated annual income ranges between 3 million, depending on the projects she takes on each year. Her monthly income is estimated at around 250,000.
Shue has starred in major box office hits that contributed to her wealth. Cocktail grossed over $170 million worldwide. The Back to the Future sequels earned hundreds of millions at the box office. These projects likely brought her significant paychecks early in her career.
Her television work also adds a steady stream of income. She earned a regular salary during her three seasons on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Her role as Madelyn Stillwell in The Boys on Amazon Prime Video added another high-profile paycheck. Television roles often pay actors between 150,000 per episode for major productions.
Beyond acting, Shue has also earned money as a producer. She co-produced the 2007 film Gracie with her brothers. This diversified approach to income has helped her build a solid financial foundation.
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Elisabeth Shue Early Life and Education
Elisabeth Shue was born on October 6, 1963, in Wilmington, Delaware. Her father, James William Shue, was a lawyer and real estate developer. He also served as president of the International Food and Beverage Corporation. Her mother, Anne Brewster, worked as a vice president in the private banking division at Chemical Bank.
Shue grew up in South Orange, New Jersey. Her parents divorced when she was nine years old. She was raised alongside three brothers. Her younger brother Andrew Shue became famous for his role in the Fox series Melrose Place.
Shue graduated from Columbia High School in 1981. She first attended Wellesley College before transferring to Harvard University in 1985. She left Harvard during her senior year to focus on acting. However, she returned in 2000 and completed her bachelor of arts degree in government. This decision shows her commitment to education alongside her acting career.
Her mother traces her roots back to Pilgrim leader William Brewster. Her father’s family emigrated from Germany to Pennsylvania in the early 19th century.
Elisabeth Shue Career Highlights
Breaking Into Hollywood
Shue began her career in TV commercials during high school. She appeared in ads for Burger King, DeBeers diamonds, and Hellmann’s mayonnaise. Her first small film roles came in 1982 and 1983, credited as Lisa Shue.
Her big break arrived in 1984 when she co-starred in The Karate Kid opposite Ralph Macchio. She played Ali Mills, the love interest of the main character. This role put her on the map and opened doors to bigger opportunities.
Rise to Fame in the 1980s
Shue quickly became a household name after The Karate Kid. She starred in Adventures in Babysitting in 1987, her first leading role in a major film. The movie became hugely popular and proved she could carry a film.
In 1988, she starred alongside Tom Cruise in Cocktail. The following year, she replaced Claudia Wells as Jennifer Parker in Back to the Future Part II and Part III. During this period, her older brother William tragically died in an accident during a family vacation. Despite her rising career, Shue chose a smaller role in these sequels to cope with her family’s loss.
Oscar Nomination and Critical Acclaim
Shue’s career reached its peak with the 1995 film Leaving Las Vegas. She played a prostitute opposite Nicolas Cage in this critically acclaimed drama. The role earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. She also received BAFTA, Golden Globe, and SAG Award nominations.
Shue won Best Actress at the Independent Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards for this performance. This role proved she could handle complex, dramatic characters far beyond the girl-next-door image.
Continued Success in Film and Television
After her Oscar nomination, Shue took on diverse projects. She starred in The Saint with Val Kilmer in 1997. She appeared in Hollow Man with Kevin Bacon in 2000. She also worked with Robert De Niro in Hide and Seek in 2005.
In 2012, Shue joined the cast of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation as Julie Finlay. She played this role for three seasons until 2015. In 2019, she landed the role of Madelyn Stillwell in the hit Amazon series The Boys. She returned to the show in 2026 and also appeared in the animated spinoff The Boys Presents: Diabolical and Gen V.
In 2020, Shue starred opposite Tom Hanks in the war film Greyhound. That same year, she reprised her Karate Kid role as Ali Mills in the popular series Cobra Kai.
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Elisabeth Shue Personal Life
Elisabeth Shue married film director Davis Guggenheim in 1994. Guggenheim is best known for directing the Oscar-winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth. Together, they have three children.
Their son Miles was born on November 11, 1997. Daughter Stella arrived on March 19, 2001. Their youngest daughter Agnes Charles was born on July 2, 2006. The couple sold their Sunset Strip house for $1.3 million in 2004.
Shue and Guggenheim have maintained one of the most stable marriages in Hollywood. They have been together for over 30 years. Their combined wealth and shared passion for filmmaking keep them connected both personally and professionally.
Elisabeth Shue vs. Other 1980s Actresses
How does Elisabeth Shue compare to other actresses who rose to fame in the 1980s?
- Elisabeth Shue: Net worth of $20 million, Oscar-nominated for Leaving Las Vegas
- Molly Ringwald: Net worth of approximately $11 million, famous for Sixteen Candles
- Lea Thompson: Net worth of approximately $14 million, famous for Back to the Future
- Ally Sheedy: Net worth of approximately $6 million, famous for The Breakfast Club
Shue stands out among her peers for her longevity and ability to land high-profile roles even decades after her initial rise to fame.
Fun Facts About Elisabeth Shue
- She is a huge tennis fan and regularly plays the sport. She once suggested that CSI feature a tennis-themed murder episode, and the producers made it happen.
- Grand Slam champions Chris Evert and Lindsay Davenport appeared as themselves in that CSI tennis episode.
- Shue auditioned for the Ione Skye role in Say Anything but was a runner-up alongside Jennifer Connelly.
- In Hamlet 2, she played a fictionalized version of herself who quit acting to become a nurse.
- She appeared on Curb Your Enthusiasm competing for a role in the Seinfeld reunion.
- Her family produced the 2007 film Gracie, which was inspired by her late brother William and her own experience as the only girl on a boys soccer team.
- She is a descendant of Pilgrim leader William Brewster.
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FAQ About Elisabeth Shue
How rich is Elisabeth Shue?
Elisabeth Shue has an estimated net worth of $20 million as of 2026. She earned her wealth through decades of work in film and television.
How old is Elisabeth Shue?
Elisabeth Shue is 62 years old. She was born on October 6, 1963, in Wilmington, Delaware.
How tall is Elisabeth Shue?
Elisabeth Shue stands 5 feet 2 inches tall, which is approximately 1.57 meters.
Who is Elisabeth Shue’s husband?
Elisabeth Shue is married to Davis Guggenheim, an award-winning film director. They married in 1994 and have three children together.
What is Elisabeth Shue’s most famous role?
Many consider her role in Leaving Las Vegas (1995) her most famous performance. It earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
Is Andrew Shue related to Elisabeth Shue?
Yes, Andrew Shue is Elisabeth’s younger brother. He is best known for his role as Billy Campbell in the Fox series Melrose Place.
Did Elisabeth Shue graduate from Harvard?
Yes, Shue completed her bachelor of arts degree in government from Harvard University in 2000, after initially leaving the school in the late 1980s to pursue acting.
