Kelly Preston was an American actress and former model who had an estimated net worth of $180 million at the time of her death. This was a combined net worth with her husband, actor John Travolta, whom she was married to for nearly three decades. Much of the family’s fortune came from Travolta’s long and successful Hollywood career.
Preston passed away on July 12, 2020, at the age of 57, after a private battle with Breast Cancer. Throughout her acting career, she appeared in several popular films, including Mischief (1985), SpaceCamp (1986), Twins (1988), and Jerry Maguire (1996).
| Kelly Preston Net Worth | $180 Million |
| Date of Birth | October 13, 1962 |
| Place of Birth | Honolulu, Hawaii |
Early Life
Kelly Preston was born Kelly Kamalelehua Smith on October 13, 1962, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Her mother, Linda Carlson, worked as an administrator at a mental health center, while her father worked for an agricultural company.
When Preston was just three years old, her father died in a drowning accident. Her mother later married Peter Palzis, a personnel director, and the couple had a son named Chris, Preston’s half-brother.
During her childhood, Preston lived in several countries, including Iraq and Australia, in addition to Hawaii. At age 16 while living in Australia, she was discovered by a fashion photographer who helped her begin working in commercials. Around this time, she adopted the stage name Kelly Preston.
She graduated from Punahou School in 1980 and later attended the University of Southern California, where she studied drama and theater.
Acting Career
Preston began auditioning for film and television roles in California during her early twenties. Her first major breakthrough came in 1985 when she starred as Marilyn McCauley in the teen comedy Mischief.
She quickly gained more roles in the mid-1980s, including appearances in Secret Admirer (1985) and SpaceCamp (1986).
In 1988, she appeared in the comedy Twins, starring alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito.
One of her most notable roles came in 1996, when she played Avery Bishop in the sports drama Jerry Maguire, starring Tom Cruise.
Throughout the late 1990s, Preston remained active in Hollywood, appearing in films such as:
- Nothing to Lose (1997) with Martin Lawrence and Tim Robbins
- Holy Man (1998) with Eddie Murphy and Jeff Goldblum
- For Love of the Game (1999) with Kevin Costner
- Jack Frost (1998)
In 2000, she appeared alongside her husband John Travolta in the science-fiction film Battlefield Earth, which later won several Golden Raspberry Awards, including Worst Supporting Actress for Preston.
She also appeared in the Maroon 5 music video for She Will Be Loved in 2004.
Other projects included roles in:
- Sky High (2005)
- Death Sentence (2007) with Kevin Bacon
- Medium
- CSI: Cyber
Her final film appearance came in the 2021 comedy-drama Off the Rails, which was released after her death.
In addition to acting, Preston served as a spokesperson for the skincare brand Neutrogena.
Personal Life
In 1985, Preston married actor Kevin Gage, though the marriage ended in divorce in 1987.
During the late 1980s, she dated George Clooney and was briefly engaged to Charlie Sheen in 1990.
She later met John Travolta while working on the film The Experts. The couple began dating and married in September 1991 at the Hôtel de Crillon in Paris. They later held a second ceremony in Florida after the first wedding was ruled invalid because it had been performed by a Scientology minister.
Both Travolta and Preston were members of the Church of Scientology.
The couple had three children:
- Jett Travolta
- Ella Bleu Travolta
- Benjamin Travolta
In 2009, tragedy struck when their eldest son, Jett, died after suffering a seizure while the family was vacationing in the Bahamas. He had a history of seizures and had also been diagnosed with autism.
Death
In her mid-50s, Preston was diagnosed with breast cancer, though she kept the diagnosis largely private. She underwent treatment for about two years before passing away on July 12, 2020, in Clearwater, Florida.
Real Estate
Kelly Preston and John Travolta owned several luxury properties in the United States.
In 1993, the couple purchased a 2.35-acre estate in Brentwood, Los Angeles for $3.5 million. The property featured an 8,100-square-foot mansion, tennis court, playground, swimming pool, and landscaped grounds.
In January 2020, the home was sold for $18 million to music executive Scooter Braun, known for managing artists like Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande.
The couple also owned:
- A home in Calabasas, California
- A 50-acre estate in Maine
- A mansion in Clearwater, Florida near the Church of Scientology headquarters
- A unique aviation property in Jumbolair Aviation Estates in Ocala, Florida, where Travolta could park and fly large aircraft, including his Boeing 707.
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