Wesley Snipes Net Worth: From Stardom to Debt

Wesley Snipes' Financial Situation and Net Worth

Net Worth

Wesley Snipes currently has a net worth of negative $9 million.

IRS Legal Battle

Earnings and Taxes

Between 1996 and 2004, Snipes earned $37.9 million but paid no taxes. He was convicted of tax evasion and sentenced to nearly 900 days in prison.

He was ordered to pay $17 million in back taxes, interest, and penalties, which grew to $23.5 million. The debt was later reduced to $9.5 million, subject to ongoing disputes and negotiations. Snipes offered to settle the debt for $842,000, claiming financial incapacity.

Early Life

Birthdate and Place

Wesley Snipes was born on July 31, 1962, in Orlando, Florida.

Education

He attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, the State University of New York at Purchase, and Southwest College in Los Angeles.

Career Progression

Early Career

Snipes was discovered in Los Angeles; his early roles included "Wildcats" and a guest appearance on "Miami Vice."

Breakthrough

He gained notable recognition for his role in Michael Jackson's "Bad" music video and his first significant film roles in "Streets of Gold" and "Major League."

Mainstream Success

Collaborations with Spike Lee

Snipes appeared in notable roles in "Jungle Fever" and "Mo' Better Blues."

Iconic Roles

Snipes is known for diverse roles, including characters in "New Jack City" and comedic performances like "White Men Can't Jump."

Action Star

Wesley Snipes became a major action star by starring in films like "Passenger 57," "Money Train," "The Fan," and "Demolition Man." His major commercial success came from the "Blade" trilogy, establishing himself as an action icon with "Blade" (1998), "Blade II" (2002), and "Blade: Trinity" (2004).

Legal Issues

Tax Evasion

In 2006, Snipes was charged with conspiring to defraud the U.S. government and other tax-related offenses. He was acquitted of felony charges in 2008 but convicted of three misdemeanors for not filing tax returns. Snipes was sentenced to three years in prison and released in 2013, continuing to tackle substantial IRS debt.

Post-Prison Career

Film Appearances

After his release, Snipes took on roles in "The Expendables 3" (2014), "Dolemite Is My Name" (2019), and "Coming 2 America" (2021). Recent roles include "Cut Throat City" (2020) and "Back on the Strip" (2023).

Martial Arts and Other Ventures

Martial Arts

Snipes started training in martial arts at age 12 and holds black belts in Hapkido (2nd degree) and Shotokan karate (5th degree). He has also trained in Capoeira, Shaolin Kung Fu, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and kickboxing.

Security Firm

He founded a security company focusing on VIP protection using personnel with law enforcement and martial arts backgrounds.

Film Production

Snipes established his own production company, producing projects like "A Great and Mighty Walk: Dr. John Henrik Clarke."

Authorship

He published the book "Talon of God" in 2017.

Personal Life

Family

Wesley Snipes has five children: one from his first marriage to April Snipes and four with his current wife Nikki Park.

Religion

Raised Christian, he converted to Islam in 1978 but left the religion a decade later.

9/11

Snipes' NYC apartment was destroyed in the 9/11 attacks.

Real Estate

New Jersey Mansion

In 2002, Snipes purchased a 10,000-square-foot mansion in Alpine, NJ, for $5.6 million. He sold it for $3.5 million in 2014, taking a significant financial loss.