It's safe to assume there isn't a person that doesn't know the name, Shia LaBeouf. LaBeouf is one of the most well-known and unique actors in Hollywood today. Indeed, he doesn't care about being famous or rich. LaBeouf cares deeply about his body of work and art.
Shia LaBeouf went from being a child star to an action hero. His current net worth is an estimated $25 million. Of course, there are many actors of LaBeouf's caliber or less that are significantly wealthier. It's safe to assume that LaBeouf doesn't care.
Shia LaBeouf's career has its up and downs. At times, he was starring in a new blockbuster movie every month. Suddenly, LaBeouf's career went in a direction nobody was expecting. He is one of the most vocal and outspoken celebs. There are times when he has a cause close to his heart that motivates him. Other times, it's not clear what is driving him. LaBeouf has experienced success, failure, and been at the center of controversy.
It's time to take a closer look at Shia LaBeouf and his $25 million net worth.
14 Difficult Childhood
Shia LaBeouf had a tough childhood and upbringing. His family struggled and lived in the poor part of Los Angeles. LeBeouf's mother was a jewelry designer, and his father never had a stable job. Indeed, LaBeouf began pursuing a career in acting because his family was so broke and needed the money.
13 Even Stevens
From 2000 to 2003, Shia LaBeouf starred in the Disney Channel series Even Stevens for three seasons. LaBeouf was the breakout star and soon branched out into a film career. Fans and critics praise LeBeouf for his performance. Indeed, he even won a Daytime Emmy Award for his performance in the show.
12 Career Breakthrough
In the mid-2000s, Shia LaBeouf was on the verge of a significant breakthrough in his career. Indeed, he starred in numerous films such as Holes, The Greatest Game Ever Played, and Surf's Up. LaBeouf went from Disney star to a top leading man. In 2007, he impressed audiences with his performance in Disturbia. LaBeouf was about to enter a new phase in his career.
11 More Than Meets The Eye
In 2007, Shia LaBeouf took his career to a whole new level. He became a household name with his universally praised performance in Transformers. LaBeouf portrayed Sam Witwicky to rave reviews. It was the highest-grossing film of 2007 and made $705 million worldwide. LaBeouf earned $750,000 for his role in the movie.
10 I’m Not Famous Anymore
Shia LaBeouf's career was steady for several years. However, his career soon went down a new path. In 2014, LaBeouf walked the red carpet wearing a brown paper bag over his head with the words "I'm not famous anymore." The media assumed he had a breakdown of some kind. LaBeouf later revealed it was all part of his performance art.
9 Performance Art
Shia LaBeouf's performance art became his main focus for a few years. He admitted the "I'm not famous anymore" moment was examining the celebrity lifestyle. LaBeouf followed up with several more performance art projects such as I Am Sorry, All My Movies, Touch My Soul, Take Me Anywhere, and He Will Not Divide Us.
8 Howard Cantour Plagiarism
In 2013, Shia LaBeouf was accused of plagiarism after he released the short film Howard Cantour. Fans noticed similarities with LaBeouf's short and the indie comic Justin M. Damiano by Dan Clowes. Clowes noted he never met LaBeouf and didn't give permission to use his work. LaBeouf claimed that he didn't intend to steal the idea and got lost in the creative process.
7 Personal Problems
Shia LaBeouf's personal life began to spiral out of control. In 2014, the police arrested LaBeouf for trespassing at the Studio 54 theatre. He was intoxicated and caused a big scene. Of course, it didn't stop when the cops showed up. LaBeouf swore and spat at the officers during the incident. Later, LaBeouf willingly began treatment for alcoholism.
6 More Plagiarism Accusations
As noted, Shia LaBeouf faced accusations of plagiarism for his short-film, Howard Cantour. LaBeouf's other work came under scrutiny, and more allegations of plagiarism followed. LaBeouf again attempted to use one of Dan Clowes's comics without permission. Later, LaBeouf claimed that copyright laws are too strict and stifle the creative process.
5 Real Estate Investments
Shia LaBeouf focuses on his career and his art. He has very little business ventures outside of showbiz. However, LaBeouf purchased a few beautiful homes. In 2009, he bought a $1.9 million home in Sherman Oaks, California. In 2020, LaBeouf purchased a $5.4 million mansion in Pasadena, California. He came along way from the poor neighborhood he grew up in.
4 Rant And Rehab
In 2017, Shia LaBeouf had another run-in with the law. Police arrested LaBeouf for public drunkness and disorderly conduct after he caused a scene in downtown Savannah. Bodycam footage caught LaBeouf going on a belligerent tirade against the arresting officers. LaBeouf had to pay a fine and went on probation. LaBeouf publicly apologized for the rant and reentered rehab.
3 Turning Down Transformers 4
As noted, Shia LaBeouf had his big breakthrough with his role in Transformers. He received $5 million for his role in the sequel and $15 million for the third installment. LaBeouf decided not to return for the fourth film and demanded $18 million. The studio turned him down, and the franchise moved on without LaBeouf.
2 Taking On Smaller Budget Roles
Shia LaBeouf started taking on roles in smaller budget films. Indeed, his career found new life as he took on roles that matter to him. In 2013, he starred in the Lars von Trier film Nymphomaniac. In 2017, LaBeouf portrayed tennis star John McEnroe in Borg vs. McEnroe. In 2019, he starred in the film The Peanut Butter Falcon. LaBeouf continues to find work in the industry.
1 Honey Boy And Dealing With His Childhood
In 2019, Shia LaBeouf wrote and starred in the film Honey Boy. The film takes inspiration from LaBeouf's childhood and career. Indeed, LaBeouf plays a fictionalized version of his father. The movie tells a very personal story and examines LaBeouf's relationship with his father. LaBeouf wrote the film after leaving rehab, and it helped him deal with many issues. Critics praise the film and LaBeouf's stellar performance.