In 2018, Cobra Kai debuted on YouTube and after finding a dedicated audience, the rights to the show were acquired by Netflix and it calls the streaming service home to this day. Thankfully for everyone involved in the show’s productions, Cobra Kai has millions of fans who want to know everything they can about its production.
Of course, Cobra Kai wouldn’t exist at all if it wasn’t for all of the talented actors who starred in the Karate Kid franchise of films that inspired its creation in the first place. With that in mind, it is interesting to take a look back at the actors who starred in the Karate Kid film franchise and how much money they are worth today.
11 Tamlyn Tomita Is Worth $2 Million
Over the last several decades, Tamlyn Tomita has worked consistently in a series of films and television shows. For example, in recent years Tomita played recurring roles in shows like Teen Wolf and The Good Doctor among others. Long before Tomita became one of the most consistent actors in Hollywood, she made her film debut when she played The Karate Kid Part II’s Kumiko. According to celebritynetworth.com, Tomita is worth $2 million.
10 Martin Kove Is Worth $2 Million
When most people dream of being a movie star someday, they envision getting to portray the hero. However, the actors who bring the villains to life are just as talented and it could be argued that they are more important to Hollywood’s success. After all, moviegoers often seek out films because of villains they love to hate. Fortunately for the Karate Kid film franchise, Martin Kove did such a good job playing Sensei John Kreese that it seemed like he relishes being the villain. Since he is such a talented performer, it makes sense that Kove has found enough success in Hollywood to be worth $2 million according to celebritynetworth.com.
9 William Zabka Is Worth $3 Million
On top of having Martin Kove’s Sensei John Kreese, The Karate Kid featured an even more important villainous character, William Zabka’s Johnny Lawrence. In the years following The Karate Kid’s release, Zabka worked semi-consistently as an actor and by the mid-2000s, he began being cast in roles that had fun with the fact that he was best known as a villain. Then, in 2018, Karate Kid fans got to see Zabka’s Johnny Lawrence in a new light when Cobra Kai debuted. Now that he has starred in four seasons of a hit show, it makes sense that Zabka is worth $3 million according to celebritynetworth.com.
8 Ralph Macchio Is Worth $4 Million
For an entire generation of kids, Ralph Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso is one of the movie characters they care about most. Since Macchio has always been so closely associated with that character, it makes sense that he never really moved past the role aside from memorably starring in My Cousin Vinny. Just like William Zabka, Macchio has starred in four seasons of Cobra Kai and the show has given him the chance to show off much more of his acting range. Of course, Cobra Kai has also allowed Macchio to cash in which is why he now has a $4 million fortune according to celebritynetworth.com.
7 Pat Morita’s Estate Is Worth $5 Million
During Noriyuki "Pat" Morita’s legendary career, he managed to star in a long list of movies and shows that made their mark on pop culture. For example, Morita was a memorable part of shows like Happy Days and movies like Mulan. Still, there is no doubt that Morita’s biggest claim to fame is portraying Mr. Miyagi in four Karate Kid movies. Sadly, Morita passed away in 2005 but according to celebritynetworth.com, his estate is currently worth $5 million.
6 Michael Ironside Is Worth $6 Million
Just like Martin Kove, Michael Ironside seems like he was born to play villains on the big and little screen as he looks like the kind of guy who loves to abuse power. With that in mind, it makes sense that when the decision was made to update this film franchise with the release of The Next Karate Kid, Ironside was cast as a villain that was similar to Kove’s. Also known for his roles in films like Scanners, Top Gun, Starship Troopers, and Total Recall, Ironside has enjoyed an amazing career that allowed him to accumulate a $6 million fortune.
5 Jaden Smith Is Worth $8 Million
After the original plans to update the franchise with The Next Karate Kid failed, the series was rebooted in 2010. Thankfully for everyone involved, 2010’s The Karate Kid with Jaden Smith cast as the titular hero made a lot of money based on its budget. Despite that, the movie never got a sequel to the surprise of many. On top of starring in that film, Smith also has a rap career and he has headlined movies like The Pursuit of Happyness and After Earth. Thanks to those two revenue streams, Smith is worth $8 million according to celebritynetworth.com.
4 Elisabeth Shue Is Worth $20 Million
During the late-‘80s and ‘90s, Elisabeth Shue was one of the most in-demand actors in Hollywood. Cast in movies like Back to the Future Part II, Cocktail, Adventures in Babysitting, Soapdish, and Leaving Las Vegas, Shue was beloved by moviegoers. Of course, it is very likely that Shue wouldn’t have enjoyed all of that success if she didn’t star in The Karate Kid. As a result of her long and illustrious career, Shue has a $20 million fortune according to celebritynetworth.com.
3 Taraji P. Henson Is Worth $25 Million
Easily among the best actors of her generation, Taraji P. Henson is an actor who seem to make every project she stars in better. For fans of this franchise, Henson is memorable for playing the mother of Jaden Smith’s titular character in 2010’s The Karate Kid. Henson also starred in the show Empire from 2015 until 2020 and she earned acclaim for her roles in movies like Hustle & Flow, Hidden Figures, and too many more to list here. A star of film and television, Henson has earned the $25 million fortune that celebritynetworth.com reports she has.
2 Hilary Swank Is Worth $60 Million
Even though The Next Karate Kid certainly wasn’t a box office behemoth, the movie gave Hilary Swank the ability to boast that she is part of Karate Kid's history. A two-time Oscar winner who has starred in a long list of acclaimed and popular films, Swank’s filmography includes films like Boys Don’t Cry, Million Dollar Baby, and Logan Lucky. Since she has enjoyed success as a movie star, it makes sense that Swank is worth $60 million according to celebritynetworht.com.
1 Jackie Chan Is Worth $400 Million
An actor who has been world-famous for decades, Jackie Chan deserves to be called an absolute legend. A gifted martial artist, talented actor, and lovable human being, generations of moviegoers have paid their hard-earned money to see Chan perform on the big screen. As a result of the fact that he is the kind of star that movie studios love to work with, Chan has amassed a truly stunning $400 million fortune.