Jesse Williams Net Worth: Movies & TV Shows
Jesse Williams, an American director, actor, and activist has a net worth of a staggering $12 million as of 2024.
He is best recognized for his role as Dr. Jackson Avery on “Grey’s Anatomy,” an ABC medical drama series.
In addition, he has acted in films such as “The Cabin in the Woods,” “The Butler,” and “Band-Aid.”
Williams is an activist who works with organizations that fight racial inequality and civil rights.
Jesse Williams was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1981 to Reginald and Johanna Williams, a skilled potter. He is of mixed race, with African-American descent from his father and Swedish lineage from his mother.
Williams has two younger brothers, both of whom have pursued careers in the arts. He attended Moses Brown School in Providence, Rhode Island, as a child, graduating in 1998.
Williams went on to Temple University in Philadelphia, where he majored in African-American studies and cinema and video arts.
He appeared on the cover for Levi’s, Tommy Hilfiger, and Kenneth Cole occasionally during this time. Williams went on to teach high school for six years in the Philadelphia public school system.
Williams was one of 14 performers chosen to participate in the New York Actors Showcase, hosted by ABC Television, while studying acting in 2005.
Quick Facts
So, let’s get to know Jesse Williams a little better, starting with some basic facts about him.
| Name | Jesse Williams |
| Birthplace | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Birthdate | August 5, 1981 |
| Age | 43 years old |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Biracial |
| Religion | Christian |
| Father’s Name | Reginald Williams |
| Mother’s Name | Johanna Chase |
| Siblings | Yes – 2 |
| School | Moses Brown school |
| College | Temple University |
| Profession | Actor, Director, Activist |
| Nickname | Jesse Williams |
| Height | In Centimetres – 185 cm In Feet and Inches – 6′ 1″ |
| Weight | In Kilograms – 80 Kg In Pounds – 176 lbs |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Zodiac Sign | Virgo |
| Net worth | $12 million |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| Marital status | Divorced |
| Spouse | Aryn Drake-Lee (m. 2012–2017) |
| Children | Maceo Williams, Sadie Williams |
| Social Media | Facebook, Instagram, Twitter |
| Last Update | November, 2024 |
Jesse Williams | Net Worth and Income
Jesse Williams: Net Worth
An American director, actor, and activist, Jesse Williams, has a net worth of a staggering $12 million as of 2024.
Following a change to his divorce deal with ex-wife Aryn Drake-Lee, the actor is now obligated to pay $100,000 in alimony and child support per month.
He was also ordered to pay Drake-Lee’s bills, which were estimated to be around $270,000.
He was a high school teacher for six years before entering the world of Hollywood, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
While the actor is best known for his portrayal as Jackson Avery, he has had a number of film roles throughout the years, all of which have paid off well.
He starred as Holden in The Cabin in the Woods in 2012, and he also appeared in The Butler in 2013 and Jacob’s Ladder in 2019.
In addition, he played Joe in Celeste Ng’s novel Little Fires Everywhere, which he adapted for Amazon TV.
Jesse Williams: Income
Williams is undoubtedly well compensated for his efforts. The Grey’s Anatomy salary of Jesse Williams is extremely amazing. In a month, he earns more than most individuals do in a year.
According to the Daily Mail, court documents from his divorce procedures revealed that the actor earns $521,000 each month (approximately $6 million per year).
Williams’ fortune stems from more than just his roles in films and television shows.
He is also the executive producer of “Question Bridge: Black Males,” a series of transmedia art installations, films, and curriculum, and the creator of his own production business, farWord Inc.
He has since gone on to create and direct television and cinema projects. In 2011, he produced the short film JAW, which was his first production role.
According to IMDb, he also directed one episode of Grey’s Anatomy in 2018.
In addition, Williams earns a living as a model. Kenneth Cole and Tommy Hilfiger have both used him in their advertisements.
Jesse Williams: Net Worth in Different Currencies
Let’s look at the Net Worth of Jesse Williams in several currencies, including BitCoin, the cryptocurrency.
| Currency | Net Worth |
| Euro | € 10,284,780 |
| Pound Sterling | £ 8,881,140 |
| Australian Dollar | A$ 16,553,784 |
| Canadian Dollar | C$ 15,227,400 |
| Indian Rupee | ₹ 889,374,000 |
| BitCoin | ฿ 2,84 |
Jesse Williams: House & Cars
House
There’s very little information regarding Jesse Williams’s house.
However, it is known that during the divorce or his and his spouse, Aryn kept the family home in Los Angeles, as well as apartments in Brooklyn and Oakland.
Other than that, there is no information about the house nor the worth of it.
Cars
Jesse Williams has been spotted driving an Audi. However, there is no information available about the worth of the car.
Jesse Williams: Lifestyle & Vacation
Lifestyle
The net worth of Jesse Williams is projected to be $12 million, as previously indicated.
He is able to live a luxurious life in Los Angeles with his family because of his multi-million dollar fortune. With such a vast fortune, Jesse may have to pay a significant sum in taxes.
Furthermore, we can see from his Instagram that he has a variety of gold chains that he enjoys wearing.
He likes an active lifestyle. His workout consists of swimming, running, cardio, resistance training. He also takes a liquid diet. All of this combined is the reason behind the actor’s good physique.
Williams, based on his total earnings, is, without a doubt doing extremely well for himself.
Vacation
Jesse Williams was on holiday with his girlfriend, and he used social media to document their journey.
While on vacation in Colombia, the famed “Grey’s Anatomy” star proudly flaunted his lovely girlfriend, Taylour Paige.
Movies, Television Series, Film Making, Model, Activism, Other Ventures
Movies
Williams made his cinematic debut in 2008 in the sequel to The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, in which he played a supporting part.
He starred alongside Don Cheadle, Richard Gere, Ethan Hawke, Wesley Snipes, and Ellen Barkin in Brooklyn’s Finest (2010).
In 2008, Williams landed his first main part in the MGM/United Artists horror-thriller The Cabin in the Woods, as Holden McCrea.
It was released on April 13, 2012, and was produced by Joss Whedon and directed by Drew Goddard.
Variety reported on June 9, 2015, that Jamie Bamber, Kellan Lutz, Jesse Williams, and Jess Weixler had joined the cast of Martin Rosete’s thriller Money, directed by Atit Shah and produced by him.
Stay Woke: The Black Lives Matter Movement, a documentary film, was executive produced by Williams in May 2016.
Williams produced Two Distant Strangers, an American short film created by Travon Free and Martin Desmond Roe, in 2021.
In 2021, this short film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film.
| Movies | Box Office Collections |
|---|---|
| The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 | $44.1M |
| Brooklyn’s Finest | $27.2M |
| The Cabin in the Woods | $42M |
| Lee Daniels’ The Butler | $116.6M |
| Snake & Mongoose | $129.3K |
| Band Aid | $245.1K |
| Survivors Guide To Prison | $8,982 |
Television Series
Jesse has also appeared in television shows in addition to movies. He made his television debut in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
Williams has since appeared in a number of programs, including Beyond the Break, Greek, Most Expensive, Power, Little Fires Everywhere, Rebel, and others.
An actor’s average salary is $58,017; therefore, he must have made a lot of money in his early years.
Jesse has played a variety of characters in a variety of television shows, but he is best known for his role as Jackson Avery on ABC’s medical drama Grey’s Anatomy.
Jesse was paid $260,000 every episode (roughly $6.25 million), according to The Richest. His monthly income was recorded at $521,000 during the time of his divorce.
Jesse Williams’ net worth must have climbed dramatically over the years, with a monthly income of more than $500,000.
Jesse announced his departure from the show in a May 2021 interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
Nonetheless, he earned a lot of money during his time on the show, which helped him to improve his financial situation.
Film Making
In addition to his outstanding performance, Williams has directed and produced several films and television programs.
As a producer, he has contributed to films such as With Drawn Arms, Snake & Mongoose, Random Acts of Violence, The Burial of Kojo, JAW, and Survivors Guide to Prison.
Jesse has also directed three Grey’s Anatomy episodes and one episode of Rebel.
Modeling
Williams worked as a model on occasion during his college days but never regarded it as a vocation. He has modeled for Kenneth Cole Productions, Levi’s, and Tommy Hilfiger.
He plays the romantic interest in the music video for Rihanna’s track “Russian Roulette” from her 2009 album Rated R.
Williams also appears in Estelle’s “Fall In Love” music video from her album All of Me.
Williams starred in Demi Lovato’s video for “Tell Me You Love Me” in 2018. In 2012, Williams also modeled for Lane Bryant.
Jesse worked as a model during his undergraduate years before pursuing an acting career.
He worked as a model for Tommy Hilfiger, Kenneth Cole Productions, and Levi’s.
Activism
The Advancement Project, a civil rights research tank and advocacy organization, has Williams on its board of directors.
He is also the executive producer of Question Bridge: Black Males, a multimedia project, exhibition, and teacher and student curriculum about black male identity.
Williams’ humanitarian work earned him the BET humanitarian award in 2016.
Other Ventures
Jesse has also voiced Markus in the video game Detroit: Become Human and performed performance capture for him. It was released in May 2018 for the PlayStation 4.
Similarly, he voiced Duke in NBA 2K21 and performed performance capture for the game. In September 2020, it was released internationally for numerous consoles.
Jesse joined the Greenwood ownership group in November 2020 as an investor and collaborated to generate content about financial empowerment.
In September 2016, he joined as Chief Brand Ambassador and spokesperson for Scholly, a Philadelphia-based scholarship guidance app.
Jesse also co-founded Ebroji, a curated gif keyboard, with his ex-wife, Aryn Drake-Lee, and Glenn Kaino Studio.
He has also created a gaming app called Ya T Sabes with the goal of celebrating Latinx culture through games like BleBRiTy.
Moreover, he must have obtained various endorsement deals from brands, which have considerably contributed to his net worth.
In addition, Jesse has founded farWord Inc., a production firm. As a result, Jesse Williams’ net worth of $12 million becomes reasonable.
Career
Jesse Williams has had a long and illustrious career in acting, modeling, and activism, for which he has won tremendous acclaim.
Over the years, Williams has been in a number of TV shows, including Greek, Law & Order, Beyond the Break, and, most notably, Grey’s Anatomy. Since 2010, he has played Jackson Avery in the series.
Furthermore, Jesse has appeared in a number of films, including The Cabin in the Woods, Brooklyn’s Finest, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and others.
During college, Williams worked as a model on occasion but never regarded it as a vocation.
He’s also appeared in the videos of a few well-known musicians.
Putting his modeling and acting careers aside, Williams has dedicated most of his time and energy to advocacy.
He is the youngest member of The Advancement Project’s board of directors, having received the Humanitarian Award at the 2016 BET Awards.
You might also be interested in Michael Douglas’s Net Worth: Career & Charity.
Divorce Settlement
Jesse Williams’ work life has been a success, but his personal life has been a failure. After five years of marriage, he and his estranged wife, Aryn Drake-Lee, split.
Williams filed for divorce from his wife in April 2017, five years after they married. Three years later, in October 2020, the divorce was finally formalized.
The ex-couple has joint legal and physical custody of their children, according to their divorce agreement.
Jesse will also be required to pay $40,000 in child support each month.
He was also ordered to pay more than $100,000 in spousal support in two upcoming payments.
When it comes to the assets, Jesse’s separated wife, Aryn, kept their home in Los Angeles, while the former couple kept their cars.
In addition, since their split, Williams has not had to split the $936,810 in profits he earned from Grey’s Anatomy.
His wealth may be impacted by the substantial amount of child and spousal support he receives.
However, a gifted artist will undoubtedly earn millions in the future to compensate.
Charity
Jesse Williams uses his fame platform to make a difference and give back to his community when he’s not acting.
The BET Humanitarian Award recipient is helping impoverished children pay for college tuition in his most recent charitable effort.
Students now have quicker and simpler access to eligible scholarships for continuing education thanks to Williams’ relationship with app developer Scholly.
Williams was a teacher before pursuing his acting career, according to an Instagram post announcing his new endeavor.
The Grey’s Anatomy star will join Scholly’s advisory board. Their mission is to assist children in “realizing their full potential through education.”
After a police officer killed Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, Williams, joined activists and community members in protest in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014.
He is also the board member of the Advancement Project, a human-rights organization, and has participated in #JusticeForFlint, a charity event for underprivileged Michiganders who have lost access to clean water.
3 Interesting Facts About Jesse Williams
- Jesse Williams had a real full-time job before dabbling in acting — he was a teacher for six years. Williams admitted in an interview with The Guardian that he preferred working as a teacher to working as an actor.
- Another fascinating detail about Jesse Williams is that he has a college diploma, having graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia with a double major in African-American Studies and Film and Media Arts.
- Williams has been dating actress Taylour Paige since September of last year. The actor said in an interview with GQ that they met at Williams’ Emmys celebration.
FAQS
Is Jesse Williams a tattooed man?
A new tattoo has been debuted by one of our favorite TV physicians! Dr. Avery, Jesse Williams, flaunted a gigantic pair of angel wings tattooed on his back. Grey’s Anatomy actor Jesse Williams got fans their first look at a big tattoo on his back just two weeks after revealing a dramatic hair makeover!
Is Jesse Williams still married?
After a protracted legal struggle, the couple struck an agreement in September 2019, and their divorce was finalized on October 9. After 5 years of marriage, Williams finally filed for divorce from Drake-Lee in April 2017.
Is Jesse Williams going to leave Grey’s Anatomy in 2021?
Jesse Williams has officially left Grey’s Anatomy and the ABC medical drama Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital after a more than decade-long tenure.
