How much is Jean-Claude Van Damme worth?
Jean-Claude Van Damme (also known as JCVD) is a Belgian actor, retired martial artist, and has a net worth in excess of $40 million. Jean-Claude Van Damme was THE MAN for a time between the 80s and the early 90s. He was seen in action movies, awards ceremonies, talk shows, as well as on entertainment news programs all over the globe. The “Muscles from Brussels”, was a true superstar. Jean-Claude Van Damme started martial arts training at the age of ten. He won numerous honors in his teens and twenties and was awarded “Mr. Belgium” for bodybuilding.
In 1982, he moved to the U.S. and began to focus on acting. He scored a major hit in 1988 with “Bloodsport”. He would make a number of action films over the next few years including “Cyborg”, ‘Kickboxer”, ‘Double Impact”, ‘Universal Soldier”, Nowhere to Run”, Hard Target”, and “Timecop”, which was hugely popular. He began to lose his way, as did many other stars. His career was ruined by his substance abuse and undiagnosed bipolar disorder. His projects were being distributed straight-to-video by 1998. He had gone from being “on top” to “under the rock”. He made a comeback, and is now a star and celebrity.
Early Life
Jean-Claude Camille Francois van Varenberg was born in Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, Brussels, Belgium on October 18, 1960. At the age of ten, he began to practice martial arts. His father then enrolled him at a Shotokan Karate academy. His fighting style is a combination of Shotokan Karate, kickboxing and karate. At the age of eighteen, he received his black belt in Karate. Later, he began to practice Taekwondo, Muay Thai and ballet at the age of sixteen. He continued studying ballet for five years.
Martial Arts Career
Van Damme, who was twelve years old, joined the Centre National de Karate (National Center of Karate). He trained there for four years and was selected to the Belgian Karate Team. At the age of fifteen, he began his competitive karate career in Belgium. He won 44 matches and lost four in tournament and semi-contact matches between 1976 and 1980. He was also part of the Belgian Karate Team that won the European Karate Championships in December 1979. After completing his full-contact training in 1977, he won 18 victories and lost one before retiring from competition in 1982.
Acting Career
Jean-Claude, then 22, moved to America in 1982 with a friend to pursue a career as a Hollywood actor. He was already a millionaire after launching a chain private gyms in his country. When he decided to make a move to California to pursue a career as an actor, he was said to be already a millionaire. He was soon cast in “Breakin”, but it was “Bloodsport” that made him an action star.
Cannon Films produced “Kickboxer”, a film starring Van Damme. Van Damme, after the success of his films was over, joined The Cannon Group’s action star lineup alongside Charles Bronson and Sho Kosugi. He also made several other films, including “Death Warrant”, “Lionheart,” and “Double Impact” (1991), in which he played the double role of Chad Wagner and Alex Wagner. Roland Emmerich directed his 1992 blockbuster “Universal Soldier”. It grossed $102 million worldwide despite a modest $23 million budget.
Columbia Pictures offered him a deal for three films, which reportedly cost him $3.5 million. The deal included “Nowhere to Run”, his first film, which starred Rosanna Arquette. He went on to appear in many films for Universal including “Hard Target” (1993),”Street Fighter”, (1994),”Timecop” (1994),”Sudden Death,” (1995) and “Street Fighter”. He returned to Columbia in 1996 with “Maximum Risk” (1996), and “Double Team” (1997). Van Damme starred with NBA star Dennis Rodman in “Double Team”, which was directed by Tsui Hark from Hong Kong. Van Damme’s debut big box-office bomb was the film. His 1998 film “Knock Off”, also failed to make it into the top 10. The 2008 Belgian crime drama, “JCVD”, is another notable Van Damme project. Van Damme is a fictionalized version of himself in this film.
Van Damme is also an actor in film. In the episode “The One After the Superbowl”, he guest starred as Van Damme on the television series “Friends”. In 1996, he directed “The Quest”, and also co-starred with Roger Moore in the film. He also directed, edited and produced the film “Full Love” in 1996. Jean-Claude Van Damme, who has been in over 50 films during his 40-year-long film career, includes the hit international series “The Expendables”. He is an actor who is highly respected, but he has won only a few awards. A Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screen Couple (with Dennis Rodman), a Bollywood Movie Award For International Action Super Star (2004), and a Macau International Film Festival Golden Lotus Award (2014).
Personal life
Van Damme was addicted to cocaine in the mid-1990s and had to go into rehab. Van Damme was using cocaine at a rate of $10,000 per week. He was later diagnosed with rapid cycling bipolar disorder. He was married to five different women, and he has three children.
Real Estate
Van Damme paid $6million in 2012 for a new mansion in Marina Del Rey. This was $125,000 more than the asking price. Eight fireplaces, a billiard area, a home gym and an elevator make up the six-bedroom, eight-bathroom house. There is also a roof garden, a spa, and a home gym. The property has a bike path, fire pits, and waterfalls. In 2016, Ice Cube bought the house for $7.25million.
Salary Highlights
Van Damme made a mere $25,000 for 1988’s movie “Bloodsport,” which made him a superstar. For each of his movies “Black Eagle,” Kickboxer, and “Death Warrant,” he earned $75,000. In the 1990s, his salary jumped when he earned $600,000. This was for 1991’s “Double Impact.” He earned $1.5 million the following year for “Universal Soldier.” He made $3.5 million the following year for “Hard Target.” He made $5 million the following year for “Timecop.” In 1994, Van Damme made $8 million for “Street Fighter” which was a record. He earned $5 million in 1995 for “Sudden death.”
Van Damme made around $40 million in salary base before taxes during the period 1991-1995. This is equivalent to about $70 million today.
