Jean-Claude Van Damme's Net Worth (Updated 2024) ·

03 Aug 2024, 00:00

What is Jean-Claude Van Damme’s net worth?

Net Worth:	$40 Million
Age:	62
Born:	October 18, 1960
Gender:	Male
Height:	1.77 m
Country of Origin:	Belgium
Source of Wealth:	Professional Actor
Last Updated:	September 22, 2023

Table of Contents

Introduction

Jean-Claude Van Damme, the world-renowned actor and martial artist from Belgium, made his mark in classic martial arts films such as Kickboxer and Bloodsport.

He is viewed as the softer version of the legendary Arnold Schwarzenegger and developed a fan base in the action movie genre.

As of January 2024, Jean-Claude Van Damme’s net worth is estimated to be $40 Million.

Jean-Claude Van Damme Facts

Jean-Claude earned a black belt in karate at the age of 18, in 1978.
In 1976, as a 16-year-old, Jean-Claude took up ballet and continued to study dance for five years.
He became a part of the Belgian Karate Team in 1979, during which time, the team won the European Karate Championship.
Jean-Claude appeared as an extra and can be seen dancing in the background in a scene in Breakin’ in 1984.
Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude joined teams in a Christmas TV commercial for Volvo in 2013.

Early Life

Jean-Claude Camille Francois Van Varenberg was born October 18, 1960, in Sint-Agatha-Berchem, Brussels-Capital, Belgium.

He is the child of Eliana and Eugène Van Varenberg, an accountant and florist, and has a sister, Veronique Van Varenberg.

His father enrolled him in a martial arts school when he was 10 years old with Karate and Kickboxing as his predominant skills.

Jean-Claude became a part of the Centre National de Karate at the age of 12 and with four years of constant training, was able to land a spot in the Belgian Karate Team.

He was able to successfully reach a total of 44 victories and only four defeats between 1976 and 1980.

At the age of 18, he received a black belt in karate and began lifting weights to strengthen his physique, which led to his winning the Mr. Belgium bodybuilding championship.

Career

Jean-Claude started his full-contact career in 1977 but retired from competitions after 5 years, in 1982 with the intention of becoming a movie star.

By the time he moved to California, Jean-Claude was already a millionaire through his business success, with the extra cash making his way into acting a lot smoother.

After being cast in his first role as an extra in the movie Breakin’, it wasn’t until Bloodsport that Jean-Claude started to gain attention and became a serious action star.

The movie was the beginning of a long line of successful films, such as Kickboxer, Death Warrant, Double Impact, and Lionheart.

Another successful film was his 1992 hit, Universal Soldier, which became one of the leading blockbusters of the year, after which he was able to sign a contract with Columbia Pictures for his next three action films.

He followed up his initial success with multiple films for Universal, including, Timecop, Hard Target with Scott Adkins, and director John Woo, Street Fighter, and Sudden Death.

However, his fame did not last and his career took a nose-dive as he took on roles that failed to play to his strengths as an action star.

Jean-Claude made a big comeback with a drama and crime film called JCVD, which portrayed his version of himself in 2008.

Since his comeback, he has starred in several big-budget action films and voiced in many children’s movies, such as Kung Fu Panda with Jack Black, Seth Rogan, and Jackie Chan.

His most recent work includes voicing a character named Jean-Clawed, in the animated movie Minions: The Rise of Gru.

He joins other action heroes like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Norris, Jet Li, and Michael Jai White as one of the most memorable faces on the big screen.

Jeanne Claude is far from the richest actor in the world, as other action stars like Jet Li are worth more than $250 million.

Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Career Earnings

Jean-Claude Van Damme is a household name in the action movie world and he achieved international fame through his martial arts and action films.

He began his competitive karate career at age 15 and won the European Professional Karate Association’s middleweight championship as a light-contact karate competitor.

Here’s an estimated overview of Jean-Claude Van Damme’s annual income:

Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Salary In 2013 – $10 Million
Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Salary In 2014 – $12 Million
Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Salary In 2015 – $18 Million
Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Salary In 2016 – $15 Million
Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Salary In 2017 – $10 Million
Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Salary In 2018 – $12 Million
Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Salary In 2019 – $15 Million
Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Salary In 2020 – $6 Million
Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Salary In 2021 – $12.5 Million
Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Salary In 2022 – $8 Million

From 1976 to 1980, he compiled a record of 44 victories and 4 defeats in tournament and non-tournament semi-contact matches.

Van Damme rose to fame in the late 1980s and early 1990s with major roles in films such as Bloodsport, Kickboxer, Universal Soldier, Hard Target, Street Fighter, Timecop, and Sudden Death.

Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Net Worth Annually

His signature move, the “spinning kick,” was an instant hit, and his movies quickly became some of the biggest box office successes of the late 80s and early 90s.

In 1994, he starred in the action-comedy movie, The Quest, alongside Roger Moore and had cameo roles in several other major films, including The Expendables 2.

Here’s a breakdown of Jean-Claude Van Damme’s annual net worth:

Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Net Worth In 2013 – $22.5 Million
Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Net Worth In 2014 – $25 Million
Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Net Worth In 2015 – $27 Million
Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Net Worth In 2016 – $28.5 Million
Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Net Worth In 2017 – $30 Million
Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Net Worth In 2018 – $32 Million
Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Net Worth In 2019 – $35 Million
Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Net Worth In 2020 – $36.5 Million
Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Net Worth In 2021 – $38 Million
Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Net Worth In 2022 – $40 million
Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Net Worth In 2023 – $40 Million

Van Damme has been nominated for numerous awards throughout his career, including an MTV Movie Award for Best Fight in 1994 for his role in Universal Soldier.

He was also nominated for a BAFTA Film Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 1994 for his performance in Timecop.

Personal Life

Jean-Claude married Maria Rodriguez in 1980 but got divorced in 1984 and then met and married Cynthia Derderian in 1985 before divorcing again in 1986.

He married once again to an ex-bodybuilder named Gladys Portugues, with the couple having a son and daughter, Kris and Bianca Brigitte.

Unfortunately, Jean-Claude and Gladys Portugues got divorced after rumors were spread about an apparent affair.

He married Darcy LaPier in 1994 and had a child together named Nicolas Van Varenberg before getting a divorce in 1997.

Jean Claude developed a cocaine addiction which heavily affected both his career and personal life during the mid-1990s.

After overcoming his drug addiction, he rekindled his relationship and remarried his wife Gladys in 1999.

Jean-Claude’s online presence includes an official Instagram account and an official Twitter account, so be sure to follow for the latest updates.

Awards & Achievements

Van Damme is also a two-time recipient of the Saturn Award for Best Actor in an Action Film for Universal Soldier and Hard Target.

Jean-Claude Van Damme’s career has been marked by a series of highs and lows, but his determination to persevere and make a name for himself has been remarkable.

Here are some of the more memorable moments from Jean-Claude Van Damme’s career:

Jean-Claude had a statue attributed to him in Westland Shopping Center, Belgium in 2012.
In 1988, Jean-Claude earned a Golden Raspberry Award for Double Team.
He was voted an International Action Super Star and earned a Bollywood Movie Award in 2004.
In 2014, Jean-Claude won a Macau International Film Festival Golden Lotus Award.
He has been nominated for an MTV Movie Award three times between 1992 to 1994.

He continues to be a successful action star over the years, starring in movies such as The Expendables 2, Maximum Risk alongside Natasha Henstridge, and Replicant.

He has also ventured into television, appearing in shows such as Friends, Monk, and The League.

How Does Jean-Claude Van Damme Spend His Money?

Jean-Claude’s real estate portfolio is extensive and he was the owner of a six-bedroom mansion in Marina Del Rey which he purchased for $6 million.

He later sold the unique mansion for a tidy $1.5 million profit to legendary rapper Ice Cube for $7.25 million in 2016.

He owns some of the most expensive cars in the world including a Bentley Continental, a Lamborghini, a Ferrari, and a McLaren P1.

Highlights

In 2015, Van Damme starred in the web series Jean-Claude Van Johnson, which was nominated for a People’s Choice Award for Favorite Streaming Series.

He has also appeared in several music videos, including Madonna’s “Hanky Panky” and the Beastie Boys’ “Body Movin’”.

Here are some of the best highlights of Jean-Claude Van Damme’s career:

Jean-Claude began training in martial arts when he was only 10 years old in 1970.
He had his first major box office hit after releasing the classic, Bloodsport, in 1982.
Jean-Claude gained positive reviews from critics for JCVD, which was released in 2008.
Michael Qissi and Jean-Claude wanted to fulfill their dreams of becoming actors and moved to the United States in 1982.

In addition to his numerous nominations, he was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2016 and was honored with a lifetime achievement award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2018.

His films have also been nominated for several awards, including a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for Double Impact in 1991.

Favorite Jean-Claude Van Damme Quotes

Van Damme has also been inducted into the International Martial Arts Hall of Fame and is a five-time World Karate Champion.

Here are our favorite quotes from Jean-Claude Van Damme:

“You know, I looked at my face in the mirror this morning, and I like being old.” – Jean-Claude Van Damme
“When you finish a film, if you believe in your character, you’re empty.” – Jean-Claude Van Damme
“What is a movie star? It is an illusion. It was everything I ever wanted to be, but it became a kind of shell, non?” – Jean-Claude Van Damme
“Believe me – I’ve done very good stuff and very crazy stuff, and I don’t regret the crazy stuff.” – Jean-Claude Van Damme
“It’s time for me to do things I like so I will be happy, my wife will be happy, my friends will be happy” – Jean-Claude Van Damme

3 Amazing Lessons From Jean-Claude Van Damme

He is a testament to the fact that hard work and determination can lead to success, no matter what age you are.

Now that you know all about Jean-Claude Van Damme’s net worth, here are some of the best success lessons to learn from Jean-Claude Van Damme:

1. Keep Moving Forward

When life has you down keep moving forward and Jean-Claude is a firm believer in the power of perseverance and hard work.

He has often stated that regardless of the circumstances, it is important to keep moving forward and never give up.

2. People Make Mistakes

With his history of making some poor life choices, Jean-Claude Van Damme is an advocate for forgiveness and understanding.

He believes that people make mistakes, and we should learn to forgive and move on rather than dwell on the past.

3. No Obstacle Is Unassailable

Jean-Claude Van Damme is a firm believer in the power of concentrated desire to get something done.

He feels that no obstacle is unassailable given time and perseverance and that anything can be achieved with the right attitude and effort.

Summary

With the many ups and downs in his career and personal life, Jean-Claude kept fighting no matter what was in his way.

At one time, Jean-Claude’s face was everywhere on movie posters and billboards and he was recognized as the face of popular action films.

He has earned an impressive living for himself and continues to do what he loves – pursuing his career in acting but mainly focusing on his family.