Val Kilmer Net Worth: How Much Did Kilmer Make for Batman?

By Willie Neal Last updated Sep 17, 2022

Val Kilmer, also known as Val Edward Kilmer, is an actor from the United States. Kilmer began his career as a stage actor before becoming well-known and famous for his roles in comedy films. Top Secret! and Real Genius are two of his films. He also appeared in the military action film Top Gun. His first fantasy film was Willow.

Kilmer is best known for portraying real-life figures in films, the most notable being The Doors, in which he played Jim Morrison. In True Romance, he appeared as an apparition of Elvis Presley, in Tombstone, he played Doc Holliday, and in The Ghost and the Darkness, he played John H. Patterson.

He was also seen as John Holmes in Alice in Wonderland and Philip II of Macedon in Alexander. Some of his most famous roles include Bruce Wayne/Batman in Batman Forever, Simon Templar in The Saint, and Moses in The Prince of Egypt. He was also nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor for his outstanding performances in Heat as Chris in 1995 and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang as “Gay Perry” in 2005.

Kilmer is not only an actor but also the author of I’m Your Huckleberry: A Memoir. He is also an advocate for Native American issues. Aside from that, Kilmer is a strong supporter of environmental protection.

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Early Life

Val Edward Kilmer was born in Los Angeles on December 31, 1959. Val’s parents divorced when he was eight years old, and his younger brother died when he was 19 years old. Deaths would continue to strike the Kilmer family, as Val Kilmer’s father died in 1993.

Kilmer transferred to Chatsworth High School after attending a Christian Science school until ninth grade. Kevin Spacey was one of his high school classmates, and Kilmer would later follow in Spacey’s footsteps when he was accepted into the Juilliard School. Val Kilmer was the youngest person ever accepted into the prestigious acting school at the time.

Career

Val Kilmer co-wrote and starred in the play How It All Began, which premiered at the Public Theater during the New York Shakespeare Festival in 1981, while still a student at Juilliard. Kilmer turned down a role in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1983 film The Outsiders due to prior commitments in the theatre. He appeared off-Broadway in The Slab Boys in 1983, alongside Kevin Bacon, Sean Penn, and Jackie Earle Haley.

Kilmer’s first off-stage acting role (excluding television commercials) was in an ABC Afterschool Special called One Too Many, which was an educational drama about drinking and driving and starred a young Michelle Pfeiffer. In 1983, Kilmer self-published My Edens After Burns, a collection of his own poetry that included poems inspired by his time with Pfeiffer. The book of poems is difficult to find and expensive; even used copies sell for $300 and up.

His big break came when he got top billing in Top Secret!, a comedy spoof of spy movies in which he played an American rock and roll star. Kilmer sang all of the songs in the film and later released an album under the name “Nick Rivers.” While gaining more significant roles and prestige, he also developed a reputation as a ladies’ man, dating a number of women, some of whom were many years his senior, including Cher and Ellen Barkin.

During a brief hiatus, he backpacked through Europe before starring as the lead in the 1985 comedy Real Genius. He turned down a role in David Lynch’s Blue Velvet before being cast as naval aviator “Iceman” alongside Tom Cruise in the action film Top Gun. Top Gun grossed over $344 million worldwide, propelling Kilmer to stardom.

Personal Life

Val Kilmer established a reputation for being extremely popular with women early in his career. He also made headlines for dating women much older than him, such as Cher and Ellen Barkin.

In 1988, Kilmer met his first wife, Joanne Whalley, on the set of Madmartigan. The couple divorced in 1996 after having two children. Val Kilmer is a Christian Scientist who has appeared in numerous films with religious themes.

Real Estate

Val previously owned a 6,000-acre ranch in New Mexico that he planned to develop into a resort/ranch/bed and breakfast. He listed the entire property for sale for $33 million in 2009.

In October 2011, he agreed to sell approximately 5,300 acres to an oil billionaire couple for $18.5 million. Val Kilmer sold a second portion in the years that followed. He still owns approximately 160 acres of the property.

Val Kilmer’s Net Worth

According to Parade Val Kilmer’s net worth is expected to be around $25 million in 2022. Kilmer was one of the most recognizable and sought-after acting talents of the 1990s, though his career has recently stalled due to a devastating health setback.

At the height of his career, Kilmer made a fortune through side projects, theatre, and the sale of a vast New Mexican property, in addition to extraordinarily high salaries for high-profile projects like Batman Forever and The Saint.

How Much Did Val Kilmer Make for Batman?

After Michael Keaton hung up the cowl, Kilmer was paid $6 million (about $11.4 million today) to play the title role in Joel Schumacher’s Batman Forever. Batman & Robin, which was campier in tone than Tim Burton’s previous films, received mixed reviews but was a significant box-office hit. Kilmer famously declined to reprise his role in the sequel (he was replaced with George Clooney in the maligned Batman & Robin).

Is Val Kilmer Still Acting?

Though the tragic loss of his commanding, distinctive voice was a major blow to Kilmer’s career, the actor has continued to work on various recent projects, only increasing his fan base’s admiration. Kilmer was the subject, star, and writer of the acclaimed documentary Val, which premiered at Cannes 2021 and is now available on Prime Video. Then there’s Top Gun: Maverick, of course.

In his 2020 autobiography, Kilmer admits to “begging” producers to include him in the mega-budget sequel, and thanks Cruise for his role in making it happen. Top Gun: Maverick has received rave reviews from critics and is expected to be a box office smash in the summer of 2022. According to Cannes Film Festival reports, Kilmer’s appearance is a highlight.

Also read: Kim Basinger Net Worth: Why Did Kim Stop Making Movies?

Frequently Asked Question

How Much Did Val Kilmer Make for Top Gun 2?

Jon Hamm, who plays Vice Admiral Cyclone, received a $1.2 million salary. It is unclear how much Val Kilmer earned, as some reports claim he earned $400,000 while others claim he earned $2 million.

What is Val Kilmer’s Medical Condition?

“I was diagnosed with throat cancer, which quickly healed. Because the glands in my throat swelled, I needed a tracheotomy to help me breathe.”

How Much Did Val Kilmer Make for Top Gun 2?

Jon Hamm, who plays Vice Admiral Cyclone, received a $1.2 million salary. It is unclear how much Val Kilmer earned, as some reports claim he earned $400,000 while others claim he earned $2 million.