The prominent celebrity is an environmental campaigner who has financially supported eco-conscious enterprises ranging from meatless food products to synthetic leather alternatives.
Leonardo Dicaprio, the renowned Hollywood actor, has diversified his investment portfolio much like his acting repertoire. His net worth of approximately $300 million primarily stems from his successful acting career and his lucrative real estate holdings. In addition, as an advocate for environmental preservation, he has utilized his wealth to support sustainable enterprises ranging from plant-based food companies to those specializing in vegan leather.
Below are the ways he amassed his fortune.
- Celebrity Net Worth estimates Leonardo DiCaprio’s net worth to be around $300 million.
- As a climate activist, DiCaprio has supported sustainable enterprises ranging from plant-based foods to vegan leather.
- The actor has invested in prominent plant-based food brands including Beyond Meat, HIPPEAS, and Califia Farms.
- Recently, DiCaprio also backed a UK-based vegan fast-food chain, Neat Burger, in partnership with British Formula One champion, Lewis Hamilton.
1. Acting
Leonardo DiCaprio’s fame and fortune are inextricably linked to his numerous iconic performances and box-office hits. His portrayal of Jack Dawson in Titanic opposite Kate Winslet marked a turning point in his career, earning him widespread acclaim and recognition. The film, which grossed $2.24 billion worldwide, is one of the highest-grossing films in history, and DiCaprio’s role in it earned him $2.5 million upfront and a share of the film’s success, netting him a total of $40 million.
DiCaprio’s ability to command massive salaries for his work has also contributed significantly to his wealth. He has been paid more than $20 million for films such as Catch Me If You Can, The Great Gatsby, and The Revenant, according to Celebrity Net Worth. He earned a whopping $25 million upfront for his role as Jordan Belfort in Wolf of Wall Street, as reported by Hollywood Reporter. His hit movie Inception earned him at least $50 million, according to Forbes.
In addition to his work in traditional films, DiCaprio has also cashed in on his talents with streaming services. For instance, he reportedly received a $30 million payout from Netflix for his role in the 2019 apocalyptic satire Don’t Look Up, according to Variety. Similarly, AppleTV paid him $30 million for his upcoming role in director Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, which is set for release in October. DiCaprio’s production company, Appian Way, is among the producers of the film, according to Deadline. Appian Way has produced several of DiCaprio’s films, including Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
2. Green Investments
DiCaprio has a longstanding reputation as a climate change advocate and has made significant financial investments in sustainable businesses ranging from plant-based meat alternatives to vegan footwear. Among the companies in his portfolio are Beyond Meat, which produces vegan meat products, and plant-based food brands such as Hippeas and Califia Farms.
3. Neat Burger
In addition, DiCaprio has also invested in Neat Burger, a UK-based vegan fast-food chain that has gained widespread attention for its plant-based burgers. The company is backed by Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton and has been expanding rapidly in recent years. In 2023, Neat Burger opened its first permanent U.S. location in New York City, signaling its commitment to further growth and expansion in the coming years.
4. LØCI
One of DiCaprio’s investments is LØCI, a UK-based vegan footwear brand that has garnered attention for its cruelty-free sneakers. In 2022, the brand raised a significant £4 million ($4.5 million) in seed funding, just over a year after its launch, with DiCaprio among the investors. The funding will allow LØCI to accelerate its growth and continue promoting sustainable fashion practices to a wider audience.
5. Beyond Meat
In 2017, Leonardo DiCaprio became an investor and supporter of the vegan meat company Beyond Meat. He has actively promoted the brand to his millions of social media followers. Beyond Meat went public as a company in 2019 and saw its shares reach a peak of $239.71 that same year. However, as of now, the company’s shares are worth $14 each, resulting in a market capitalization of around $903 million.
6. Califia Farms
According to VegNews, Leonardo DiCaprio has invested in Califia Farms, a company that produces plant-based food and beverages. In 2020, the company successfully secured $225 million through a Series D funding round.
7. HIPPEAS
HIPPEAS, a vegan snack brand, has also gained investment from Leonardo DiCaprio. The organic chickpea snack company successfully raised $50 million in 2021, with DiCaprio counted as one of its investors.
8. VitroLabs
VitroLabs, a California-based biotechnology company that aims to produce the first-ever cell-cultivated leather, is also one of the sustainable startups that Leonardo DiCaprio has invested in. The company was able to raise $46 million in a Series A funding round in 2022, which will go towards its pilot production of cell-cultivated leather.
9. Cell-Based Meat: Aleph Farms and Mosa Meat
According to VegNews, Leonardo DiCaprio has invested in two companies, Aleph Farms and Mosa Meat, that are pioneering slaughter-free, lab-grown meat. Mosa Meat made headlines in 2013 when they produced the first-ever lab-grown beef hamburger and raised $85 million in a Series B funding round in 2021. Meanwhile, Aleph Farms, an Israeli company that grows steaks in a lab from non-genetically modified animal cells, secured $105 million in a Series B funding round the same year, bringing its total funding raised to over $118 million.
10. Kingo
Leonardo DiCaprio is not only an investor but also an advisor to Kingo, a clean energy company that aims to provide solar energy to families and businesses in remote areas worldwide. As of the latest data available in 2018, Kingo has raised a total of $25 million in funding.
11. Real Estate Empire
Celebrity Net Worth reports that Leonardo DiCaprio possesses a real estate portfolio that is valued at approximately $100 million. According to She Knows, the actor owns multiple properties throughout Los Angeles, including residences in Malibu, Studio City, and the Hollywood Hills. In 2014, DiCaprio purchased Dinah Shore’s Palm Springs estate for $5.2 million. Additionally, The Real Deal notes that in 2008, the actor acquired an apartment in a Battery Park high-rise in New York City for $3.67 million, later purchasing the unit adjacent to it for $8 million in 2014. Business Insider has reported that DiCaprio also owns a private island called Blackadore Caye off the coast of Belize, which he bought for $1.75 million in the early 2000s. He is currently working on developing an eco-friendly resort on the island that will be fully powered by renewable energy.