Reece Witherspoon is the world’s richest self-made actress with huge $440 million net worth

Reese Witherspoon is officially the world’s richest self-made actress.

With the release of Forbes' America’s Richest Self-Made Women list, the Legally Blonde star has been marked as the wealthiest actress sitting at number 59, right in between Dolly Parton and Barbara Streisand.

Her net worth has been listed at a staggering $440 million.

Witherspoon has proved to be a very savvy businesswoman in the past couple of years.

In 2016, the 47-year-old founded the media company Hello Sunshine, which has produced award-winning films and TV shows, including Gone Girl, Big Little Lies, Daisy & The Six and Little Fires Everywhere.

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Witherspoon was frustrated with the roles coming her way at the time, so she decided to launch the production company, Pacific Standard, now a subsidiary of Hello Sunshine.

“I think it was literally one studio that had a project for a female lead over 30,” the actress said, as per Variety.

“And I thought to myself, ‘I’ve got to get busy.’

To leverage more female-led stories, Witherspoon co-founded the production company with Bruna Papandre; however, Witherspoon gained full control after Papandre stepped away from Pacific Standard.

In 2021, the Walk the Line actor sold her subsidiary of Hello Sunshine to a Blackstone-backed media company in August 2021 for a reported staggering $900 million (£718m).

"Today marks a tremendous moment for Hello Sunshine," Reese said in a press release about the company's deal with Blackstone.

Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Alamy

"I started this company to change the way all women are seen in media. Over the past few years, we have watched our mission thrive through books, TV, film and social platforms."

The actor still owns an estimated 18 per cent stake in the business.

In addition to Hello Sunshine and Pacific Standard, Witherspoon launched Reese’s Book Club, which gained a reputation for boosting the careers of female authors, including Delia Owens, Celeste Ng, and Megan Miranda.

Not only that, but Witherspoon is also one of the highest-paid TV actresses, receiving $1.2 million (£957,348) for starring and producing each episode of Apple TV+’s The Morning Show, as per Forbes.

And for films, you bet it’s millions more.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Witherspoon typically earned $15 million (£11.96m) minimum for each picture between 2001 - 2012.

To date, her film salary totals $250 million (£199m).

And just maybe, Legally Blonde 3 will get her higher on that Forbes list next year.

Watch this space.