- Jason Weaver rejected a $2 million paycheck for his role in Walt Disney’s 1994 animated film The Lion King
- Weaver played the role of young Michael Jackson in the 1994 miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream
- Outside acting, he has released a couple of albums including I Can’t Stand the Pain (1995), and Stay With Me (1996).
Jason Michael Weaver is a 45-year-old American actor and singer whose net worth is around $7 million as of 2023. The Chicago-born who gained fair recognition for his roles in Smart Guy, Thea, and The Jacksons: An American Dream, made a fortune from his 34 years old career in the American entertainment industry.
He was born in Chicago, Illinois, on July 18, 1979, to Robert Lincoln Weaver and Marilyn “Kitty” Haywood, and attended Thornwood High School in South Holland, Illinois.
Is Jason Weaver $7 Million Rich?
As indicated, the net worth of Jason Weaver is currently estimated to be $7 million in 2023. This estimation has been reported by several sources, however, celebritynetworth.com mentioned his net worth as $4 million.
As you will get to find out, the bulk of his wealth was generated from his acting career and the number of credits to his name. Starting in 1990, Weaver made his TV and film debut in Oprah Winfrey’s TV series Brewster Place, and the film The Long Walk Home.
Two years later, he played the role of young Michael Jackson in the 1992 miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream. He went on provide the singing voice of young Simba in Walt Disney’s 1994 animated feature film The Lion King. After release, the animation gained critical acclaim and grossed $968.5 million at the box office against a production budget of $45 million.
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Weaver Turned Down a $2 Million Paycheck For Walt Disney’s The Lion King In Exchange For Royalties
For his part in the animated film, Walt Disney initially offered to pay him $2 million, but his mother foreseeing how far the movie will go rejected the offer and asked for royalties that will come from the songs and movie in subsequent years. He accepted a $100,000 payment instead.
He revealed in a recent interview that he still earns from the movie to this day, and has so far received more than $2 million. However, there are arguments that suggested he would have made about $9 million after taxes if he reinvested the money from the offer.
In the years that follow, the Chicago actor and singer appeared in several other movies and TV series, including The Drumline (2002), The Ladykillers (2004), ATL (2006), Love For Sale (2008), Lottery Ticket (2010), The LeBrons (2011-2014), and Boomerang (2020).
He Also Earns From Music
Outside acting, the 45-year-old is a recording artist. He did vocals for his role as Michael Jackson in The Jacksons: An American Dream and as the cub Simba in The Lion King (1994).
In 1995, he release his debut album, Love Ambition, which was followed by an EP Stay With Me in 1996. Similarly, he has released a couple of singles such as I Wanna Be Where You Are (1992), Love Ambition (Call on Me) (1995), I Can’t Stand the Pain (1995), and Stay With Me (1996).
All these also contribute to the actor’s net worth. They come in form of royalties from his albums, songs, and collaborations with other singers. It is not clear how much he has earned so far as at the time of this writing.
How Does He Spend His Fortune?
Jason Weaver spends his money on houses and cars. According to reports, the actor and singer have a property in Los Angeles and another in his native Chicago. In addition, he has a collection of exotic cars such as Subaru, Lexus, Audi, and the 1969 Ford Mustang Fastback.