Best known for her roles as Donna Pinciotti in That ’70s Show and Alex Vause in Orange Is the New Black, Laura Prepon has captivated fans with her talent, towering height, and ever-changing hair color.
But beyond the screen, many are curious about the woman behind the roles—her real hair color, relationship history, net worth, and style evolution. From red carpet heels to her signature ‘70s-inspired fashion, here’s everything you need to know about the actress’s life, career, and fashion choices.
Ben Foster kept it classic in a blue blazer and rugged boots, while Laura Prepon turned heads in a chic tan pantsuit and nude suede heels at the “Orange Is the New Black” Final Season Premiere on July 25, 2019, in New York City (Credit: Avalon / WENN / Chris Connor / Nikki Nelson / Emily Grant / Michael Carpenter / FayesVision / Patricia Schlein)
With a little bit of digging, we’ve got the answers to these pressing questions! However, before we delve into the more personal topics, let’s take a moment to explore who Laura Prepon is and where she grew up.
Laura Prepon’s Early Life and Rise to Fame
Laura Helene Prepon was born on March 7, 1980, in Watchung, New Jersey. Her father, Michael Prepon, was an orthopedic surgeon who died during heart surgery when Prepon was just 13 years old.
Her mother, Marjorie Prepon, was a high school teacher. Prepon expressed an interest in acting from a very early age. After graduating from high school in New Jersey, she went on to study at Total Theatre Lab in New York.
Mila Kunis as Jackie Burkhart, Lisa Robin Kelly as Laurie Forman, and Laura Prepon as Donna Pinciotti on That ’70s Show
While in New York, Prepon starred in several plays and began modeling, which led her to Paris and Milan. Although she was experiencing some success in her acting career, it wasn’t until she landed the role of Donna in That ’70s Show that fame and fortune began to pour in.
Since playing Donna, Prepon has gone on to star in several TV shows and movies. With a successful career like Prepons’, we can assume she has earned a substantial amount of money. But what is her exact net worth? Here’s what we know…
How Much Is Laura Prepon Worth Today?
Prepon’s breakthrough role as Donna in the Fox sitcom That ’70s Show ran from 1998 to 2006 – that’s a long time for a sitcom!
It is Fox’s second-longest-running sitcom in the network’s history and launched the careers of all the actors who starred in it, including Mila Kunis. Laura was 18 years old when the first episode of the series aired on August 23, 1998.
Prepon has built a successful career spanning more than two decades, and as she turns 45 in 2025, her estimated net worth is $12 million, following the conclusion of Orange Is the New Black.
Although the amount she earned per episode remains unknown, we can assume that she received a substantial paycheck that increased with the show’s success.
Laura Prepon’s Height and Why Fans Are Always Surprised
Portraying Eric’s longtime girlfriend (and briefly fiancée) Donna Pinciotti on That ’70s Show, many fans were impressed by her height.
When asked about her tall stature on Twitter, Laura confirmed that she measures 5’10 (178 cm) without heels. Her husband, Ben Foster, could need a pair of elevator shoes when posing with his wife.
Laura Prepon confidently confirms her height as 5’10” (178 cm) without heels in this tweet, embracing her statuesque frame with a thumbs-up
While the show was still airing, Prepon worked on additional projects. In 2002, she starred in a college comedy called Slackers. That same year, she was nominated for a Teen Choice Award and also named one of Stuff magazine’s “Sexiest Women in the World.”
In 2004, her voice was featured in the United Nations Space Command for the Halo 2 video game, and she also appeared in the film Lightning Bug.
Laura Prepon kept it edgy and minimalist in black leather pants, a fitted V-neck sweater, and chunky black platform sandals at the 1999 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas
In 2005, Prepon dyed her hair blonde for her role in Karla. The movie was based on a true story about Canadian couple Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka, who abused and murdered three girls in Ontario.
The same year, she appeared on Maxim’s “Hot 100” lists and was the executive producer of E! Hollywood Hold ’em, a poker television show. Her height becomes even more apparent when standing next to the petite Mila Kunis, who is 5ft 4 in (162.6 cm).
Mila Kunis and Laura Prepon pose together at the FOX 2004–2005 Prime Time Upfront Afterparty in New York City on May 20, 2004, showcasing their height difference—Kunis in a cropped pink top and black trousers with pointed heels, and Prepon towering in a white pantsuit and strappy white sandals
For the next few years, Prepon had several minor roles, appearing as a guest star in TV shows like How I Met Your Mother, Castle, and House, among others.
In February 2011, she was cast in a new sitcom, this time with NBC, where she played the lead role of Chelsea Newman. The show was called Are You There, Chelsea? and was inspired by Chelsea Handler’s popular 2008 book, which is available for purchase on Amazon.
Unfortunately, the show didn’t see the same level of success as That ’70s Show and was canceled the following year.
Laura Prepon, in a black top, flared jeans, and open-toe heels, poses with then-boyfriend Christopher Masterson at a That ’70s Show event, highlighting their casual couple style during their relationship from 1999 to 2007
In 2013, she made her debut in the Netflix original series Orange Is the New Black as Alex Vause. In the show, Prepon plays an ex-drug dealer and Piper Chapman’s (the lead character’s) ex-girlfriend. Her role expanded as the series progressed, and she became a key member of the cast. The series ended last year, lasting an impressive six years.
Laura Prepon’s diverse roles and acting ability have as much range as her color. It seems that with each new role, Prepon changes the color of her hair.
What Is Laura Prepon’s Real Hair Color? A Look Through the Shades
In That ’70s Show, she had red and blonde hair, in Are You There, Chelsea? she had blonde hair, and in Orange Is the New Black, she has black hair. The fact that Prepon can pull off every shade of hair color out there is just as impressive as her acting abilities!
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Thanks to some old childhood photos she shared on her Instagram page, we now know that Laura Prepon’s natural hair color is indeed red. After seeing these adorable pictures of her as a little girl with red hair, I’m a little biased and think this color looks best on her!
Who Has Laura Prepon Dated? Inside Her Relationship History
This natural redhead rose to fame at just 18 years old. Since then, Prepon has done a good job of keeping her personal life out of the media. That said, we do know a bit of her dating history.
When she started filming the show, she was introduced to co-star Danny Matheson’s brother, Christopher Masterson, who starred on the show Malcolm in the Middle. The relationship was short-lived.
Following that, Prepon dated Scott Michael Foster, an actor known for roles in the television series Greek and Chasing Life. The two broke up in 2013.
Laura Prepon, who wears a US shoe size 9, shows off her pink pedicure in elegant blush satin peep-toe slingback heels adorned with feminine bow accents
Prepon is known to remain quiet and private about her personal life, but she did reveal on Live with Kelly and Ryan in 2017 that she and her fiancé Ben Foster were expecting their first child. Their daughter, Ella, was born in August 2017, and the couple married in June 2018. They later welcomed a second child, whose name has not been publicly shared.
For years, Prepon and Foster kept their family life out of the spotlight, choosing not to post their children’s faces on social media.
However, in 2024, Foster filed for divorce after nearly six years of marriage. In an amended petition, he accused Prepon of “inappropriate marital conduct,” while Prepon responded by accusing him of “cruel and inhuman treatment” and “habitual drunkenness.” As of early 2025, their divorce proceedings are ongoing.
Laura Prepon towers over her husband Ben Foster as they pose together—she exudes elegance in a sheer navy lace dress, while Foster keeps it classic in a textured three-piece brown tweed suit paired with a maroon patterned tie and striped shirt
She has denied ever dating fellow Scientologist Tom Cruise, who was previously married to Katie Holmes (m. 2006–2012), Nicole Kidman (m. 1990–2001), and Mimi Rogers (m. 1987–1990).
“It’s just so funny that when people don’t know, they just make stuff up, [like], apparently I’m dating Tom Cruise right now. And apparently, he doesn’t want me doing the show because I portray a lesbian and I’m a Scientologist,” she told SheKnows in April 2014. “This is false; where are they even getting this stuff? It’s unbelievable to me.”
A glowing and pregnant Laura Prepon cradles her baby bump in a navy off-the-shoulder polka-dot dress at a Netflix event in June 2017
Despite keeping her family life very private, Prepon is open about her religious beliefs.
Laura Prepon’s Controversial Ties to Scientology and How It Affects Her Career
Prepon’s father was Jewish, and her mother Catholic, so her conversion and choice to join the Church of Scientology in 1999 came as a shock to her family. It is believed that Prepon was introduced to the religion by her then-boyfriend, Christopher Masterson, who is a Scientologist along with his brother Danny Masterson.
Prepon has spoken out about her involvement with, and appreciation for, the Church of Scientology. In interviews, she has said that it had changed her and her life for the better.
Laura Prepon shows off her feet in striking Christian Louboutin pumps featuring a bold black-and-white woven pattern, intricate detailing, and signature red soles
In Scientology, “auditing” is the route of traveling to a higher state of spiritual awareness, which is achieved by ridding yourself of spiritual disabilities and increasing spiritual abilities.
When asked about it, Prepon says, “The auditing has stripped away all of this charge, false ideas, decisions and mis-emotions that were affecting me. I recently had one of my biggest cognitions in a New Era Dianetics session. I spotted this decision I made a long time ago that was affecting me to this day. It was a huge realization.”
She has also said that this auditing has helped her in her roles, and because of it, she can be vulnerable and immerse herself in her scenes.
In 2016, Laura and her nutritionist pal Elizabeth Troy released the book “The Stash Plan” on Amazon. It outlines their 21-day food preparation-based detox plan.
Laura Prepon promotes her book The Stash Plan: Your 21-Day Guide to Shed Weight, Feel Great, and Take Charge of Your Health
Some negative press has accompanied her involvement with Scientology. Former That ’70s Show co-star and Scientology member Danny Masterson was charged with criminal rape. Prepon, along with the Church of Scientology, was accused of trying to silence the victims.
Although Prepon’s PR team attempted to handle the situation and downplay her involvement with the church, it didn’t slow rumors. At specific points throughout the Orange Is the New Black series, Prepon is seen less frequently.
A pregnant Laura Prepon exudes elegance in a form-fitting navy midi dress and classic black pointed-toe pumps, posing with Ben Foster in rugged boots and an all-black ensemble at the Film Independent Spirit Awards
Some believe that it is because the LGBTQ+ storyline is against Scientology beliefs, and so Prepon was pulling back. She has denied this, but former Scientology star Leah Remini believed this to be true and said that Scientology is against the LGBTQ+ community.
Laura Prepon is a red-headed Scientologist with a successful acting career spanning two decades. Although not currently acting, we can still catch Prepon in reruns or online streaming of That ’70s Show and Orange Is the New Black.
The actress is pausing the camera and now focusing on her family, while remaining active on Instagram with her Instagram series #PrepOn, where she shares cooking tutorials from her home kitchen.
Lisa Nishimura, Laison Goss, Cindy Holland, Jane Wiseman, Cathy Schulman, Jane Fonda, Laura Prepon, Krysten Ritter, Chelsea Handler, Dominique Crenn, Jenji Kohan, Carol Kane, Moira Demos, Laura Ricciardi, Gabrielle Carteris, Abby Fuller, and Lena Waithe at Netflix’s Rebels and Rule Breakers celebrating The Women of Netflix held at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on May 14, 2016, in Beverly Hills, California
We are pretty confident Prepon will soon find another awesome role to showcase her acting abilities, but what remains unknown is the color of her hair. Perhaps if we see her hair color change, we can expect an exciting new role to be announced soon after.
For more stunning stars who rock their natural crimson locks, you must visit our roundup of natural redhead actresses.
Laura Prepon channels her iconic Donna Pinciotti style in flared jeans and classic tan leather boots—an effortlessly cool nod to ’70s fashion
That ’70s Show didn’t just make Laura Prepon a household name—it sparked a fashion revival. Airing from 1998 to 2006, the series reignited interest in 1970s retro style, inspiring a wave of flared jeans, platform heels, and boho-chic vibes that still influence today’s fashion.
From feathered hair to fringe jackets, the show’s nostalgic aesthetic became a pop culture touchstone both on-screen and off.
Retro Revival: Celebrities Embracing ’70s-Inspired Fashion
The influence of ’70s fashion continues to resonate, with celebrities channeling the era’s iconic styles. Here are some standout moments where stars embraced ’70s-inspired looks:
Mila Kunis’ Journey from ‘That ’70s Show’ to Hollywood Stardom
- Background: Mila Kunis began her career on That ’70s Show, where she portrayed Jackie Burkhart, a role that catapulted her to fame.
- Style Evolution: Over the years, Mila has showcased a range of fashion styles, from casual chic to red carpet glamour.
- Read more: Mila Kunis’ transition from ‘That ’70s Show’ to Hollywood stardom
Emma Roberts Channels ’70s Vibes at Paris Fashion Week
- Event: Paris Fashion Week
- Outfit: Emma Roberts embraced vintage elegance in a Chloé Pre-Fall 2017 floral suit, exuding ’70s charm.
- Footwear: She paired the ensemble with nude Chloé “Harper” pumps, completing the retro-inspired look.
- Discover more: Emma Roberts’ vintage Chloé ensemble at Paris Fashion Week
Flare Pants and More: The ’70s Fashion Comeback
- Trend: Flare pants have made a significant return, reminiscent of the ’70s disco era.
- Celebrity Inspiration: Stars like Olivia Palermo have been spotted embracing this trend, adding a modern twist to classic styles.
- Explore the trend: Celebrities embracing the ’70s fashion comeback
Mastering the Modern ’70s Look: Style Tips
- Guide: Incorporate 1970s elements, such as bold prints, fringe details, and platform shoes, into contemporary outfits.
- Celebrity Examples: Fashion icons demonstrate how to blend retro styles with modern aesthetics.
- Get inspired: 5 chic tips to revive retro fashion
These highlights showcase how ’70s fashion continues to influence modern style, with celebrities leading the way in reviving retro trends.