Jet Li Net Worth

Jet Li is a Chinese actor, producer, martial artist, and Wushu champion with a net worth of $250 million. Li has enjoyed a successful career both in China and internationally, starring in blockbuster films while maintaining his status as one of the most respected martial artists in the world.

Early Life

Li Lianjie, known professionally as Jet Li, was born April 26, 1963, in Beijing, China. He was the youngest of four children and lost his father at age two, growing up in poverty.

• At age 8, his talent for Wushu was recognized during a summer school course.
• He joined the Beijing Wushu Team, training under masters Li Junfeng and Wu Bin.
• Before his teenage years, Li competed against adults in Chinese Wushu Championships, winning 15 gold medals and one silver medal.

Li specialized in Chángquán (Northern Longfist) and Fānziquán (Tumbling Fist), and also trained in styles such as Taijiquan, Xing Yi Quan, Zui Quan, Eagle Claw, and Praying Mantis.

Acting Career

Li’s acting debut was in 1982’s Shaolin Temple, a mainland Chinese martial arts film that sold around 300 million tickets, grossing $85 million. He starred in two sequels and became China’s first mainland star to cross into Hong Kong cinema.

Notable Chinese works include:

• Once Upon a Time in China series (1991–1997)
• Fist of Legend (1994) – a remake of Bruce Lee’s Fist of Fury
• Fong Sai-yuk (1993) and Fong Sai-yuk II (1993)

Hollywood

Li made his American debut in 1998’s Lethal Weapon 4, playing a villain. This led to starring roles in:

• Romeo Must Die (2000) with Aaliyah
• The One (2001) and Kiss of the Dragon (2001)
• Cradle 2 the Grave (2003), Unleashed (2005), Fearless (2006)
• War (2007), The Warlords (2007), The Forbidden Kingdom (2008)
• The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008), The Expendables trilogy (2010–2014)
• Mulan (2020, live-action remake)

Li also returned to Chinese cinema with Hero (2002), which grossed $177.4 million worldwide and became the highest-grossing film in Chinese history at the time.

Personal Life

• Married first to Huang Qiuyan (1987–1990), with daughters Si and Taimi
• Married Nina Li Chi in 1999, with daughters Jane and Jada
• Held Chinese citizenship, then U.S. citizenship (2003–2009), and became a Singaporean citizen in 2009 to provide his daughters with access to Singapore’s education system

Philanthropy

Li is a noted philanthropist:

• Appointed “philanthropic ambassador” for the Red Cross Society of China in 2006
• Named first International Red Cross Goodwill Ambassador in 2010
• Founded The One Foundation to support disaster relief, helping victims of events such as the 2008 Sichuan earthquake and 2009 Typhoon Morakot in Taiwan
• His foundation is the first Chinese NGO unaffiliated with government entities

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