Tom Cruise Biography Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, known professionally as Tom Cruise, was born on July 3, 1962, in Syracuse, New York. He is an acclaimed American actor and producer, regarded as a Hollywood icon. Throughout his career, Cruise has received multiple accolades, including an Honorary Palme d’Or and three Golden Globe Awards, in addition to four Academy Award nominations. With his films grossing over $12 billion globally, he ranks as one of the highest-grossing actors in history and consistently remains one of the world’s highest-paid stars. Cruise began his acting career in the early 1980s, achieving breakout roles in Risky Business (1983) and Top Gun (1986). His roles in the dramas The Color of Money (1986), Rain Man (1988), and Born on the Fourth of July (1989) earned him critical acclaim.
Tom Cruise Biography
In 1976, if you had told 14-year-old Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, a Franciscan seminary student, that he would one day become Tom Cruise, one of the top 100 movie stars of all time, he likely would have smiled and explained that his goal was to join the priesthood. Despite being a sensitive and deeply religious teenager, born in 1962 in Syracuse, New York, he was destined for a very different path, one that would lead him to become one of the highest-paid and most sought-after actors in film history. Tom is the only son of four children, born to nomadic parents Mary Lee (Pfeiffer), a special education teacher, and Thomas Cruise Mapother III, an electrical engineer. Both of his parents were from Louisville, Kentucky, and he has a mix of German, Irish, and English ancestry.
Tom Cruise Biography Details
| Born | Thomas Cruise Mapother IV July 3, 1962 (age 62) Syracuse, New York, U.S. |
| Occupations | Actor producer |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Works | Full list |
| Spouses | Mimi Rogers (m. 1987; div. 1990) Nicole Kidman (m. 1990; div. 2001) Katie Holmes (m. 2006; div. 2012) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | William Mapother (cousin) |
| Category | Singers Bio |
About Tom Cruise
Thomas Cruise Mapother IV is an American actor and producer. Regarded as a Hollywood icon, he has received various accolades, including an Honorary Palme d’Or and three Golden Globe Awards, in addition to nominations for four Academy Awards.
- Born: 3 July 1962 (age 62 years), Syracuse, New York, United States
- Spouse: Katie Holmes (m. 2006–2012), Nicole Kidman (m. 1990–2001), Mimi Rogers (m. 1987–1990)
- Height: 7 m
- Upcoming movies: Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Untitled Alejandro G. Iñárritu Film
- Children: Suri Noelle, Connor Cruise, Isabella Jane Cruise
- Siblings: Marian Mapother, Cass Mapother, Lee Ann Mapother
Early life
Tom Cruise was born on July 3, 1962, in Syracuse, New York, to electrical engineer Thomas Cruise Mapother III (1934–1984) and special education teacher Mary Lee (née Pfeiffer; 1936–2017). Both of his parents hailed from Louisville, Kentucky, and his ancestry includes English, German, and Irish roots. Cruise has three sisters: Lee Anne, Marian, and Cass. One of his cousins, William Mapother, is also an actor and has appeared in five films alongside Tom.
Cruise’s upbringing was marked by financial hardship, and he was raised in a Catholic household. He later described his father as a “merchant of chaos,” a “bully,” and a “coward” who was physically abusive. He explained, “My father was the kind of person where, if something went wrong, they’d kick you. It was a great lesson in my life—how he’d lull you in, make you feel safe, and then, bang! For me, it was like, ‘There’s something wrong with this guy. Don’t trust him. Be careful around him.'” His biological father passed away from cancer in 1984.
Tom Cruise at a Glance
- Category: Richest Celebrities › Actors
- Net Worth: $600 Million
- Salary: $50 Million Per Year
- Birthdate: July 3, 1962 (62 years old)
- Birthplace: Syracuse, New York
- Gender: Male
- Height: 5 ft 7 in (1.71 m)
- Profession: Actor, Film Producer, Screenwriter, Television Director
- Nationality: American
Early Career
After high school, Cruise moved to New York City to pursue acting, eventually relocating to Los Angeles for television roles. His film debut came in 1981 with a minor role in Endless Love, followed by critical praise for his performance in Taps. This led to a signing with talent agency CAA, where agent Paula Wagner played a significant role in his career, eventually leading to a partnership in forming Cruise/Wagner Productions in the 1990s. Cruise’s early career also included acclaim for The Outsiders (1983), where he solidified his rising star power.
Success
Cruise’s breakthrough role came in 1983 with Risky Business, which grossed $64 million on a $6 million budget and earned him his first Golden Globe nomination. However, it was Top Gun (1986) that catapulted him to worldwide fame, grossing $360 million globally and securing his position as one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. In 1988, Cruise starred in Cocktail and Rain Man, the latter winning four Academy Awards. He also received his first Oscar nomination for his role in Born on the Fourth of July (1989).
The 1990s brought more hits, such as Days of Thunder (1990), A Few Good Men (1992), The Firm (1993), and Interview with the Vampire (1994), with the latter film earning him additional acclaim. He also starred in and produced Mission: Impossible (1996), which grossed $457 million globally, solidifying the start of a hugely successful franchise.
Real Estate and Personal Life
Tom Cruise has owned several high-end properties, including a multi-residence estate in Beverly Hills, which he sold for $40 million in 2016. He also built a 10,000-square-foot mansion in Telluride, Colorado, on 320 acres, later listed for $39.5 million in 2021. Cruise was married to actress Mimi Rogers (1987–1990), Nicole Kidman (1990–2001), and Katie Holmes (2006–2012). His divorce from Katie Holmes was highly publicized, with the terms including $400,000 per year in child support for their daughter, Suri, until 2024. Cruise has been known for his association with Scientology, with his first wife Mimi Rogers introducing him to the religion.
Cruise/Wagner Productions
Tom’s partnership with Paula Wagner in 1993 led to the creation of Cruise/Wagner Productions. The company produced several successful films and secured funding from hedge funds and Dan Snyder after parting ways with Paramount in 2006. They also revived the United Artists studio in 2006, where they hold a 30% stake.
Salary and Earnings Milestones
Tom’s early career saw modest earnings: $50,000 for Taps, $75,000 for Risky Business, and $500,000 for Legend (1985). By the time Top Gun rolled around, his salary had risen to $2 million, a significant jump from his earlier roles. Cruise’s salary reached new heights after Mission: Impossible (1996), where he earned $70 million due to his producer credit. He has earned $100 million from both Mission: Impossible 2 (2000) and War of the Worlds (2005), thanks to backend points from the films’ profits. His total career earnings from 1983 to 2019 exceed $745 million, with substantial income from both his acting salary and producing credits.
Tom Cruise Net Worth 2025
Tom Cruise, an American actor and producer, is worth $600 million. Widely regarded as one of the most iconic stars in Hollywood, he is one of the highest-paid and richest celebrities globally. As of now, his films have earned over $11.5 billion at the worldwide box office. However, for most of his career, none of his films surpassed the $1 billion mark in earnings. His biggest success, Top Gun: Maverick, finally reached that milestone in 2022, earning $1.5 billion globally, surpassing his previous record held by Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018), which earned $800 million.