How Euphoria star Zendaya makes and spends her millions: before Spider-Man: No Way Home and Dune, the actress got her big break with Disney Channel and did a lucrative stint on Dancing with the Stars

Apr 11 , 2023

American actress Zendaya is one of Hollywood’s hottest stars today. Photo: @zendaya/Instagram

Zendaya is one of the most successful actresses working in Hollywood today.

She has earned millions over the entire span of her career in TV, films and endorsements, from starring on Disney Channel’s shows like Shake It Up and K.C. Undercover as a teenager to making the big bucks with Spider-Man: No Way Home and HBO hit series Euphoria. The star has spent her money recently on property purchases, too.

Here we have the lowdown on how Zendaya makes and spends her millions.

Zendaya kicked off her career young

Zendaya was once featured on the musical group Kidz Bop’s albums as a child. Photo: @zendaya/Instagram

After doing some modelling, commercial work and even being on Kidz Bop’s albums as a kid, once she hit her teens, Zendaya got her big break on the Disney Channel.

Actress Zendaya arrives at the premiere of Touchstone Pictures’ You Again at the El Capitan in Los Angeles, California, in 2010. Photo: Getty Images

First, she starred on the series Shake It Up opposite Bella Thorne in 2010. That then led to her starring in Disney Channel’s original films like Frenemies and Zapped. She also scored more TV shows for Disney like PrankStars and K.C. Undercover.

In her teens, Zendaya was already making bank with her acting career. Photo: @zendaya/Instagram

Over this time, she earned hundreds of thousands of dollars for her work, including US$162,000 for PrankStars, US$284,000 for Frenemies and US$200,000 per season to be the star of K.C. Undercover, according to Entity magazine.

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She had a lucrative stint on Dancing with the Stars in 2013

At 16, Zendaya was the youngest contestant on the show Dancing with the Stars. Photo: @zendaya/Instagram

Zendaya went on Dancing with the Stars in 2013. At the time, the then-16-year-old actress was the youngest contestant the show had ever had. She ended up coming in second place with American Idol star Kellie Pickler taking home the top prize.

But Zendaya definitely didn’t go home empty-handed.

Zendaya got paid hefty sums for doing the dance competition series. Photo: @zendaya/Instagram

The star took in over US$200,000, as her pay to be on the show increased the farther she got in the competition, according to E! She earned US$10,000 for weeks three and four, US$20,000 for weeks five and six, US$30,000 for weeks seven and eight and US$50,000 for weeks nine and 10. On top of her weekly pay, she also received a US$125,000 signing bonus just for doing the show.

She will earn US$1 million per episode on season three of Euphoria

Zendaya stars in the HBO drama series Euphoria. Photo: TNS

Zendaya may be on one of the most-watched series on HBO, but her co-star Sydney Sweeney revealed this summer to The Hollywood Reporter that the network doesn’t “pay actors like they used to” and that she wouldn’t be able to live off of just what she earns for acting.

Euphoria star Zendaya will earn US$1 million per episode in season three. Photo: @zendaya/Instagram

But we had a feeling Zendaya is in a different price category on the show and our assumption was confirmed by a Puck News report in late February that revealed for the third season of Euphoria, Zendaya will earn US$1 million per episode.

This will make the Emmy-winner one of the highest-paid actresses in television.

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She earned US$10 million for starring in Spider-Man: No Way Home

Zendaya and Tom Holland attend a photo call for Spider-Man: No Way Home at The Old Sessions House in London, England, in December 2021. Photo: WireImage

… And that was just from bonuses alone.

Though it’s unknown how much she’s making to play MJ in three Spider-Man films, Puck News reported that Zendaya earned north of US$10 million just for bonuses for starring in the 2021 box office sensation Spider-Man: No Way Home.

She also has a tonne of endorsement deals

Zendaya is wanted by luxury fashion brands. Photo: @zendaya/Instagram

Everyone wants a piece of Zendaya and for years she’s signed top-tier endorsement deals, which are likely paying her in the millions.

Zendaya at Valentino’s autumn/winter 2022 show in Paris, France, in March 2022. Photo: Valentino

Lancôme, Tommy Hilfiger, Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino and Bulgari are just some of the brands she’s worked with.

She invests in property

Zendaya bought her first house when she was 20. Photo: @zendaya/Instagram

The star admitted to British Vogue in 2021 that she’s not a big spender as she takes after her mother who is a “saver”, but she has in recent years begun to own some property.

In 2017, at 20 years old, Zendaya bought her first house. She paid US$1.4 million for the Mediterranean-style home located in the Northridge neighbourhood of Los Angeles, according to Observer. It features five bedrooms, five bathrooms and separate dining and living rooms.

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Zendaya is spending her hard-earned money on property. Photo: @zendaya/Instagram

Then, in 2020, she bought a home in Encino for US$4 million, per Dirt. The ranch-style home has six bedrooms and baths, sits on 1.6 hectares and has a large main house, a guest house and a pool.

This article originally appeared on Insider.

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Fame and celebrity

Zendaya has become a household name – the Hollywood actress’ fame, and bank account, skyrocketed after starring in Spider-Man: No Way Home and Dune, with co-stars Tom Holland and Timothée Chalamet
The Euphoria star started making money in her teens with Disney Channel and appearing on Dancing with the Stars in 2013; today, she’s a global ambassador for Italian luxury fashion brand Bulgari