Kathy Bates’s net worth over time
This is the only published estimate we have found so far. More bars will appear as new estimates are published. Tap or hover a bar to see the source.
See the numbers as a table
| Date | Estimate | Source |
| Oct 2026 | $20 million | Celebrity Net Worth · page last updated October 13, 2026 |
Where the money comes from
These are the main sources of wealth named in the reporting we cite. No published source breaks the total into exact amounts, so we do not show percentages.
Kathy Bates’s fortune in real-life terms
Based on the Celebrity Net Worth estimate above. Median full-time U.S. pay is $65,416 a year ($1,258 a week, BLS, Q2 2026), before taxes. Typical (median) U.S. family net worth is $216,100 (Federal Reserve, 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances).
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Kathy Bates has an estimated net worth of $20 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth, Kathy Bates net worth page (figures as of October 13, 2026).
Kathy Bates is an American actress and director who was born on June 28, 1948, in Memphis, Tennessee. She studied theater at Southern Methodist University and worked on the stage in New York for years before finding screen fame. She won an Obie Award for the play Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune and received a Tony nomination for 'night, Mother.
In 1990 she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for playing the obsessive fan Annie Wilkes in Misery. Her other films include Fried Green Tomatoes, Dolores Claiborne, Titanic, About Schmidt and Richard Jewell, which earned her another Oscar nomination. On television she appeared in American Horror Story, Harry's Law, Boston Legal and the CBS series Matlock, and she has directed episodes of several series.
How Kathy Bates makes her money
Film roles are the base of her earnings. A late start in major film roles, followed by an Oscar win, led to decades of steady supporting and leading parts.
Television has become a major stream. She has starred in series such as Harry's Law and American Horror Story and in more recent shows.
Directing adds a second job. She has directed television episodes and a feature, earning directing fees.
Stage work continues as a smaller stream and keeps her connected to her roots.
Voice and guest roles bring occasional pay.
Awards recognition has supported her bargaining power through decades of work.
Her late rise to leading film roles means she has had a long career at a high level, which supports steady offers even into her seventies.
Residuals from classic films like Misery and Titanic add steady payments.
Her estimate
Celebrity Net Worth estimates Kathy Bates's net worth at $20 million, on its page last updated October 13, 2026. That figure is an outside estimate of what the star has earned and kept after taxes, fees and spending. It is not an official number, and the star has not confirmed it or published personal finances.
Her figure reflects a stage career that turned into an Oscar-winning film career and many television roles. We will add any newer dated estimate from a named outlet to the chart above, and we never fill in the years between published figures.
Career and money timeline
- 1990
Wins the Academy Award for Best Actress for Misery.
- 1997
Appears in Titanic.
- 2002
Receives an Oscar nomination for About Schmidt.
- 2019
Receives an Oscar nomination for Richard Jewell.
Kathy Bates net worth FAQ
What is Kathy Bates's net worth?
Kathy Bates's net worth is an estimated $20 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth, Kathy Bates net worth page (October 13, 2026). It is an estimate, not an official figure.
How did Kathy Bates get so rich?
The main sources named in the reporting we cite are: Film roles, Television, Directing, Stage.
Is Kathy Bates a billionaire?
Not by current published estimates. Kathy Bates is estimated at $20 million.
What film won Kathy Bates an Oscar?
She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Misery, released in 1990.
Sources
- Celebrity Net Worth, Kathy Bates net worth page (October 13, 2026)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Usual Weekly Earnings (Q2 2026) (July 2026)
- Federal Reserve, 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances (median family net worth, Table 4) (October 2026)
- Background facts: Wikipedia, Kathy Bates (accessed November 10, 2026). Used for career facts only, never for figures.
Photo: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Every number on this page is an estimate published by the source named next to it. We never fill in years with our own guesses. How we handle estimates.