How did Gal Gadot make it to the list of highest-paid actresses in Hollywood? How did this simple girl from a small town in Israel attain the heights of fame? What is the current Gal Gadot net worth?
This former Miss Israel’s estimated net worth is quoted at $31.5 million, making her the third highest-paid actress in the world.
According to Insider, the actress received $10 million for WW84, more than thirty times the amount she made from the first Wonder Woman film. The most recent installment from the franchise may not have done as well as the initial films, but WW84 officially marked Gal Gadot as a true Hollywood A-lister.
Contrary to her alter ego’s image as a serious heroine, Gal Gadot, the actress, is notorious for triggering a contagious string of giggles while on set.
The title for the best nasal laugh still goes to Nanny Fine. It must’ve been very empowering for Drescher, a victim of violence, that a woman from similar Jewish roots was chosen to play the most iconic female comic book hero.
Read about Gal Gadot’s amazing journey towards becoming one of the greatest icons in films and real life.
Gal Gadot – Short Bio
Gal Gadot was born in Petah Tikva, Israel, on the 30th of April, 1985. The family later moved to the city of Rosh HaAyin, where Gal and her younger sister Dana were raised. The sisters grew up in a Jewish, Israeli environment but were encouraged to explore their interests.
The family’s life was quite comfortable. Michael Gadot, Gal’s father, was an engineer, while her mother, Irit, was a teacher. Though her parents could provide everything she needed, Gal preferred to work to earn some extra allowance. She knew how to make money as a teen, like babysitting and working at a nearby fast food restaurant.
At 18 years old, Gal found herself in a beauty pageant. Her mother sent her picture to the pageant committee without her knowledge. She competed without aiming for a title, but Gal gave it her best. And to her surprise, she won the Miss Israel title in 2004 and was off to compete in the Miss Universe pageant in Ecuador.
Everyone probably heard the rumor about how Gal devised her loss. She arrived during rehearsals with no makeup, deliberately wore the wrong dress during the competition, and pretended that she couldn’t speak English.
At 20 years old, Gal served as a combat fitness instructor at the Israel Defense Force. As in her country, everyone was required to finish two years of mandatory military service.
Gal Gadot – Professional Career
To be an actress was never part of Gal’s original plan. After her mandatory military service, Gal studied law to become a lawyer.
Still, she started receiving calls to audition for big roles, like the chance to be the Bond girl for Quantum of Solace. However, she lost the role of Olga Kurylenko.
Gal was showered with projects and sponsorship deals from famous brands.
Fast & Furious
In 2009, Gal appeared in her first major film role in the fourth installment of the Fast & Furious franchise as Gisele Yashar. Gal’s military background allowed her to perform her stunts. Her knowledge of weapons and martial arts helped her make the character a very believable one.
After being introduced in Fast & Furious 4, Gal Gadot continued to play the role of Gisele in Fast & Furious 5 until the 6th installment, where her character died.
After participating in the famous film franchise, Gal’s career dangled for a while. After her first daughter was born, Gal considered quitting the business altogether. A rather slow career and a newborn child gave her more than enough reason to rethink her future.
Just when she’s almost made up her mind, Gal received the call that would change her world..
The New Wonder Woman
The “Secret Project”
Gal Gadot shared how she was kept in the dark during Wonder Woman’s audition. She was made to read lines from Pulp Fiction, which felt even stranger than the camera test she did with Ben Affleck a week before her audition.
Shortly after, Gal was asked to fly to L.A. At that moment, no one was willing to tell her anything. Finally, she was on the phone with film director Zack Snyder. He answered all of the actress’ questions with just one of his own.
“Have you ever heard of Wonder Woman?”
Wonder Woman Origin Story
For those who haven’t seen the film or know the background of the Wonder Woman movie, the scene begins with Diana Prince reminiscing the past with an old photo taken during World War I. The memory triggers a story of how the Amazonian princess became a protector of humankind.
Diana is the child of Queen Hippolyta and the god Zeus, but the explanation young Diana heard from her mother is that she was molded from clay and the king of the gods gave her the breath of life. Of course, the truth was kept from everyone as there were no men on the island.
While trying to prove herself as a warrior, Diana saves Steve Trevor, played by Chris Pine, from drowning after his plane crashes into the sea. After revealing his intentions with the help of the Lasso of Truth, he was allowed to stay on the island under the watchful eye of Diana.
Realizing the destruction of war will soon reach their homeland, Diana leaves Themyscira after stealing a few necessities from the armory like the golden Lasso of Hestia, the Bracelets of Submission, and a sword called the God Killer.
Batman vs. Superman
Gal Gadot first appeared as the Amazonian heroine in the 2016 Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Despite all the criticisms, Gal Gadot’s version of the warrior princess is perfectly convincing. Even her natural, thick accent seemed to have been made for the role.
Warner Bros and DC Entertainment spent up to $300 million to finish and distribute the film. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was a smashing success, grossing $873.6 million worldwide.
Wonder Woman Redux
For all the superheroine fans worldwide, we still respect the classic Wonder Woman that Lynda Carter breathed life into during the 70s. To say that Gal Gadot embodied a more than the acceptable portrayal of the modern Wonder Woman is an understatement.
In real life, the actress has a black belt in Karate and Krav Maga. The physical demands of the movie were a welcome challenge for the new Princess of Themyscira.
Gadot also trained in sword fighting and kung fu to portray the character perfectly. Like Fast & Furious, Gal did almost all of her stunts just as the film’s director, Patty Jenkins, preferred to use fewer computer-generated scenes and effects for the movie.
The success of the film was expected, but the turnout was unprecedented. From a budget of no more than $150 million, the new Wonder Woman movie topped the box office charts with $822.9 million. After raking so much from theater sales, one would assume that the movie’s star had been well compensated.
Paycheck Rumors
A columnist from Teen Vogue tweeted (now deleted) that Gal Gadot was only paid $300,000 for Wonder Woman while Henry Cavill received $14 million for the Man of Steel. DC Entertainment received a considerable amount of backlash, and for a short time, the malicious tweet was thought of as a legitimate cry about gender inequality.
The issue was set straight with a few facts about how the other actors who played superheroes were compensated. Chris Evans was paid no more than $300,000 for Captain America: The First Avenger. Chris Hemsworth only made $150,000 for Thor. Both facts were laid down by Deadline and the Hollywood Reporter, two of the most reliable industry publications.
There’s also Robert Downey Jr, who made $500,000 from Iron Man, the success of the movie granted the actor the privilege of up to $50 million compensation for the following sequels.
In short, the tweet was only made to create drama without proper research. There was no mention that Gal Gadot received the “normal” debut rate for superhero films. Gal was also poised to receive a much higher contract from the movie sequel.
In 2020, fans of the franchise and the actress were thrilled to hear that Gal Gadot received $10 million to do Wonder Woman 1984. The film was very interesting, especially how comedian Kristen Wiig, the actress who played Cheetah, kept up with the highly athletic Gal Gadot.
Gal Gadot as Role Model
Above the money and fame, Gal Gadot expressed her desire to become a role model for young women worldwide. She got especially emotional while watching her first battle scene as “the” female superhero because there are not many of them out there.
To Gadot, Wonder Woman was a revelation of what the industry is missing. Of course, the character promotes feminism and empowerment toward women, but it also carries a positive message for young boys. They must see that women can be just as great, strong, and reliable as their male role models.
Gal Gadot – Other Projects
Since debuting as Wonder Woman, Gal has been involved with many big projects besides DC films. She starred with Ryan Reynolds and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in the 2020 action-comedy film Red Notice. Then in 2022, she appeared in the mystery film Death on the Nile, which was based on Agatha Christie’s famous novel of the same title.
Gal Gadot has two in post-production: a spy-thriller film, Heart of Stone, and Snow White, a live-action adaptation of the 1937 Disney film.
While many are praying for the speedy announcement of Wonder Woman 3, Gadot also has 2 films in pre-production, one of which is Cleopatra, with her playing the lead role, and a biographical mini-series.
Gal Gadot – Personal Life
Gal Gadot got married in 2008 to Israeli film producer and real-estate mogul Jaron Versano. The couple has three daughters named Alma, Maya, and Daniella.
In 2019, the couple formed their film and TV production company, Pilot Wave. The duo had successfully collaborated in a business before, a boutique in Tel Aviv which they sold for $26 million to Russian politician and businessman Roman Abramovich.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Gal Gadot Net Worth
How Much Is Gal Gadot Net Worth?
Gal Gadot net worth is estimated at $31.5 million. Aside from her successful career as an actress, she is also a model and has endorsement deals with companies such as Rebook (reportedly worth $10 million) and Revlon as its global brand ambassador.
How Long Was Gal Gadot in the Military?
The actress began her mandatory military service when she was 20, she was there for two years. Gal has a black belt in Karate and Krav Maga, so she served as a combat fitness instructor for the Israeli Defense Force. During her service, Gal Gadot had the rank of sergeant.
What Kind of Car Does Gal Gadot Drive?
Gal Gadot’s favorite vehicle is somewhat of a muscle car. She owns a high-performance variant of the X5, a luxury SUV model of BMW. The car features the first M Power V-8 Turbo engine.
Final Thoughts – Gal Gadot Net Worth
Even before she took up the mantle of playing the most influential female superhero of all time, Gal Gadot was already a vision of confidence. She didn’t want to be just an object of beauty; hence, at a very young age, she took control of her future by deliberately abandoning her chance in the most prestigious beauty pageant in the world.
While she is considered one of the highest-paid actresses in the world, Gal Gadot teaches her children that there are no shortcuts in life. Just like she did as a child, Gal encourages her daughters to give their all for their dreams because there is no such thing as a small dream.
She is all for empowering the women in the world but also wishes to be a role model for the younger generation, including young boys. The key word is not just feminism but, more importantly, equality and inclusion.
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