Laverne Cox’s Net Worth: Struggled Financially Before Orange Is the New Black

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In a September 2015 interview with Women’s Health, Laverne Cox revealed that she struggled to pay rent before her breakthrough role as Sophia Burset on the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black. However, as of 2024, she has an estimated net worth of $6 million.

Laverne Cox and Paul McGill attend the New York City Ballet's 2022 Fall Fashion GalaLaverne Cox and Paul McGill attend the New York City Ballet’s 2022 Fall Fashion Gala at David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on September 28, 2022, in New York City (Credit: John Eddy / INSTARimages / Cover Images)

“Producer, Emmy-nominated actress…this is all new for me. Just a few years ago, I was still struggling to pay my rent. I was thinking of going back to graduate school [for women’s studies] actually because I hadn’t had an acting role for nine months. All the success just reminds me of how far I have come and how much work is still yet to be done.”

Laverne Cox wore an enormous orange gown at the InStyle And Warner Bros. Golden Globe Awards Post-PartyLaverne Cox wore an enormous orange gown at the InStyle And Warner Bros. Golden Globe Awards Post-Party at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on January 5, 2020 (Credit: WENN)

Breakthrough Role in Orange Is the New Black

While it’s unknown how much she made per episode of the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black, her estimated net worth is $6 million. She’s rumored to have been paid $60,000 per episode of OITNB during its final season.

Playing the role of Sophia Burset, a trans woman in prison for credit card fraud used to finance her sex reassignment surgery, she became the first openly transgender person to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in any acting category.

Laverne Cox: Facts, Rumors, and Everything in Between

What is Laverne Cox's net worth?Laverne Cox, an influential American actress, reality TV star, and producer, has an estimated net worth of $6 million as of 2024.
Full Name:Roderick Laverne Cox
How old is Laverne Cox?She was born on May 29, 1972, in Mobile, Alabama, a port city on Alabama’s Gulf Coast.

Laverne Cox celebrated her 51st birthday on May 29, 2023.
Dating: In July 2017, she started dating Kyle Draper, the CEO of a record label called Mateo Sound. They met on Tinder and split in June 2019.

Prior to that, she dated Jono Freedrix, the president of Vancouver-based film and theater company The Virtual Stage, from 2014 to 2018. They announced their breakup in December 2018.
Kids:None
Weight:Laverne Cox is rumored to weigh approximately 76 kg or 167 pounds.
Shoe Size:Laverne Cox's US shoe size 13 translates to a UK size 11, a European size 46, and an Australian size 12.
Is Laverne Cox tall or short?Laverne Cox's height of 5ft 11 (180.3 cm) is taller than the average height for both biological women and men.

On average, adult women tend to be around 5ft 4in (162.6 cm) tall, and adult men have an average height of about 5ft 9in (175.3 cm). Therefore, Laverne Cox is above average height for both genders.
Nationality:Laverne Cox is a citizen of the United States.
Source of Wealth:Laverne Cox has a net worth of $6 million and has earned her wealth through her successful career as an actress, reality television personality, and television producer.

Cox's most notable role is as Sophia Burset in the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black. She was the first transgender person to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance in the show.

She has also appeared in several other films and television shows, including the Rocky Horror Picture Show remake, Promising Young Woman, and Inventing Anna.
Ethnicity:Laverne Cox identifies as African-American.
Siblings:She has an identical twin brother, M Lamar, who is a New York City-based composer, musician, performer, multimedia artist, and counter tenor. He portrayed the pre-transitioning Sophia (as Marcus) in Orange is the New Black.

Advocacy and Influence

In May 2021, she signed a deal with the E! network to take over Giuliana Rancic’s position as host of Live From E!

“Laverne Cox is a risktaker, groundbreaking pioneer, and a fashion tour de force,” executive vice president of E! News, Jean Neal, said in a statement.

“As we continue to evolve the way we cover Hollywood’s biggest nights, Laverne’s passion for, and extensive knowledge of, the fashion community resonates with our audience and we look forward to seeing her shine on the other side of the velvet rope.”

Laverne Cox's estimated net worth is $6 millionLaverne Cox’s estimated net worth is $6 million (Credit: WENN)

Fashion Icon and Red Carpet Sensation

In January 2019, the LGBTQ advocate dazzled on the red carpet in a sheer embroidered Zhivago dress at Entertainment Weekly’s Pre-SAG Awards Party at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles.

She styled her revealing dress with custom Jordan heels by Ruthie Davis.

Laverne Cox in a sheer embroidered Zhivago dress at the Entertainment Weekly’s Pre-SAG Awards Party at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles on January 26, 2019Laverne Cox in a sheer embroidered Zhivago dress at the Entertainment Weekly’s Pre-SAG Awards Party at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles on January 26, 2019 (Credit: WENN)

Also in January 2019, the then-46-year-old actress hit the red carpet in a red slinky Zac Posen Resort 2019 dress at the award ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Laverne Cox looked radiant in red at the 2019 Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on January 27, 2019Laverne Cox looked radiant in red at the 2019 Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on January 27, 2019 (Credit: WENN)

She completed her stunning ensemble with Yvan Tufenkjian jewelry and Kenneth Cole shoes. Christina Joy Pacelli styled her look.

Laverne Cox shows off her necklace-embellished open back dressLaverne Cox shows off her necklace-embellished open-back dress (Credit: WENN)

The transgender Orange Is The New Black star started the new year by attending the InStyle & Warner Bros. Party after the 2019 Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

Dressed in Hamel with an Emm Kuo clutch and Butani earrings, she paired Kenneth Cole shoes with Mattia Cielo, DJula Jewelry, Marli, and Vhernier bracelets and rings

Laverne Cox at the InStyle & Warner Bros. Party held after the 2019 Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on January 6, 2019Laverne Cox at the InStyle & Warner Bros. Party held after the 2019 Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on January 6, 2019 (Credit: WENN)

In September 2018, Laverne flaunted her legs at the 2018 Television Industry Advocacy Awards hosted by the Creative Coalition at the Sofitel Los Angeles At Beverly Hills in Los Angeles.

Laverne Cox's hot legs at the 2018 Television Industry Advocacy AwardsLaverne Cox’s hot legs at the 2018 Television Industry Advocacy Awards hosted by the Creative Coalition at the Sofitel Los Angeles At Beverly Hills in Los Angeles on September 15, 2018 (Credit: WENN)

The American actress and LGBT advocate showed off her enormous feet in metallic ankle-strap sandals.

Laverne Cox's enormous feet in metallic ankle-strap sandalsLaverne Cox’s enormous feet in metallic ankle-strap sandals (Credit: WENN)

Laverne also flashed her big feet in a Nha Khanh dress on the red carpet at the premiere of Glam Masters at Dirty French in New York City.

Laverne Cox at the premiere of Glam Masters held at Dirty French in New York City on February 26, 2018Laverne Cox at the premiere of Glam Masters held at Dirty French in New York City on February 26, 201 (Credit: WENN)

She styled her dress with Stuart Weitzman shoes, Alexis Bittar earrings, and an Irini Design necklace and ring.

Laverne Cox's gigantic feet in Stuart Weitzman sandalsLaverne Cox’s gigantic feet in Stuart Weitzman sandals (Credit: WENN)

In August 2015, Laverne Cox joined Meryl Streep and Rick Springfield at Ricki And The Flash’s premiere at the AMC Lincoln Square Theater in New York City.

Laverne Cox at the New York premiere of ‘Ricki And The Flash’ at AMC Lincoln Square Theater in New York City on August 3, 2015Laverne Cox at the New York premiere of ‘Ricki And The Flash’ at AMC Lincoln Square Theater in New York City on August 3, 2015 (Credit: WENN)

The then-31-year-old American actress, reality television star, television producer, and LGBT advocate donned an “Arron” mini dress from Elizabeth and James featuring a double-layered skirt and an asymmetrical hem.

Laverne Cox's Arron mini dress from Elizabeth and JamesLaverne Cox’s Arron mini dress from Elizabeth and James (Credit: WENN)

She styled the mineral blue dress with studded white Christian Louboutin pumps.

Laverne Cox flaunts her legs in studded white Christian Louboutin pumpsLaverne Cox flaunts her legs in studded white Christian Louboutin pumps (Credit: WENN)

Do you think it was a good idea to wear stockings with her luxurious red bottom shoes?

Laverne Cox's gigantic feet in white shoes and stockingsLaverne Cox’s gigantic feet in white shoes and stockings (Credit: WENN)

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