Shia LaBeouf Net Worth 2026: The Full Financial Story

How can an actor who earned over $20 million from a single movie franchise have a net worth of just $20 million today? This isn’t a riddle. It’s the perplexing financial reality of Shia LaBeouf.

His career is a study in contradictions. He was a Disney kid who became a blockbuster titan, a blockbuster titan who became a performance artist, and a performance artist now navigating a path toward spiritual redemption — all while making headlines for the wrong reasons. Each pivot came with a price tag, both literal and figurative.

This article unpacks the complete story behind the Shia LaBeouf net worth. We’ll dissect his massive Transformers paydays, explore the staggering opportunity cost of walking away, detail his real estate portfolio, and examine how his public controversies and surprising spiritual journey have shaped his financial standing in 2026.

Shia LaBeouf Net Worth at a Glance

Category	Details
Net Worth (2026)	$20 Million
Full Name	Shia Saide LaBeouf
Date of Birth	June 11, 1986
Age	39
Birthplace	Los Angeles, California
Primary Career	Actor, Performance Artist, Screenwriter
Highest Single Paycheck	$15 Million (Transformers: Dark of the Moon)
Best Known For	Transformers, Honey Boy, Even Stevens

From Echo Park to Hollywood: The Origin Story

Shia LaBeouf’s story doesn’t start on a pristine Hollywood set. It begins in Echo Park, Los Angeles — a neighborhood far removed from Beverly Hills glamour — where he was born on June 11, 1986, into what he describes as a “hippie” household. His mother, Shayna, was a former ballerina turned visual artist. His father, Jeffrey, a Vietnam War veteran, struggled with addiction and drifted between odd jobs.

After his parents divorced, Shia was raised primarily by his mother. Financial pressure was a constant. It wasn’t passion that drove him to perform — it was necessity. “My motivation to act was born out of financial necessity rather than passion,” he has said.

This pressure ignited a rare kind of hustle. At just ten years old, he started performing stand-up comedy. He famously found his first agent by picking up a phone book, cold-calling agencies, and pretending to be his own manager. It was a bold, borderline absurd move. It worked.

His breakthrough came with the Disney Channel series Even Stevens. From 2000 to 2003, his portrayal of the hyperactive, lovable Louis Stevens earned him a Daytime Emmy Award and a generation of devoted fans. But he was already looking beyond television. The 2003 film Holes proved he could carry a major studio production, setting the stage for everything that followed.

The Transformers Goldmine — How Shia Made (and Left) a Fortune

The role of Sam Witwicky changed everything. When Michael Bay cast LaBeouf in 2007’s Transformers, produced by Steven Spielberg, it launched him into global superstardom and a new financial stratosphere. His paychecks grew exponentially with the franchise’s success.

For the first film, he earned a respectable $750,000. By the second, Revenge of the Fallen, that jumped to $5 million. For the third installment, Dark of the Moon — which grossed $1.1 billion worldwide — he commanded a massive $15 million salary. In total, Shia LaBeouf earned approximately $20.75 million from the three movies before taxes.

Career Earnings Breakdown

Film / Project	Year	Reported Salary
Transformers: Dark of the Moon	2011	$15,000,000
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps	2010	$8,000,000
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen	2009	$5,000,000
Transformers	2007	$750,000
Disturbia	2007	$400,000
Surf’s Up	2007	$400,000
Bobby	2006	$400,000

The Opportunity Cost: LaBeouf vs. Wahlberg

To understand the financial impact of his decision, look no further than his replacement. Mark Wahlberg stepped in for Transformers: Age of Extinction and continued the franchise’s box office dominance. This comparison is stark.

Actor	Film	Reported Salary
Shia LaBeouf	Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)	$15 Million
Mark Wahlberg	Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)	$17 Million

Had he stayed through the fourth installment, LaBeouf’s total franchise earnings could have easily surpassed $35 million, fundamentally altering the current state of his net worth. The decision to leave wasn’t just artistic — it was one of the most expensive choices of his career.

Beyond the Blockbusters — The Artistic Pivot

Leaving the Transformers universe was a deliberate choice to pursue more artistically fulfilling work. LaBeouf actively pivoted away from commercial blockbusters and toward intense, character-driven roles. This shift didn’t always come with a franchise-sized paycheck, but it redefined his legacy.

He delivered a gritty performance in David Ayer’s World War II drama Fury (2014) alongside Brad Pitt. He followed that with the indie road movie American Honey (2016), which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2019, he starred in the critically acclaimed The Peanut Butter Falcon, showcasing a more restrained and emotionally grounded side of his talent.

However, his most significant artistic statement was Honey Boy (2019). LaBeouf wrote the semi-autobiographical film while in court-ordered rehabilitation, dramatizing his own traumatic childhood and his complex relationship with his father. In a bold and vulnerable move, he played the role of his own father on screen. Critics praised his raw honesty. The film marked a definitive turning point — proof that he was not just a former blockbuster star, but a genuine artist willing to excavate his own pain for his craft.

Shia LaBeouf’s Real Estate Portfolio

Property	Year	Price	Notes
Sherman Oaks, CA	Bought 2009	$1.8 Million	Sold in 2020 for $2.4M (+$600K profit)
Pasadena, CA	Bought March 2020	$5.475 Million	New-build; still held
New Orleans, LA (Uptown)	Bought Dec 2025	~$1 Million	3-bed, 3.5-bath cottage; post-Mia Goth split

The most recent addition is particularly telling. After his separation from Mia Goth, LaBeouf packed up his Los Angeles life and relocated to New Orleans in December 2025. He purchased an Uptown cottage for just over $1 million, reportedly to be closer to his father and to find a new focus. Locals described him as “friendly and approachable,” far from the turbulent image he projects in headlines.

The Controversies That Cost Him — Career and Financial Impact

No discussion of Shia LaBeouf’s career is complete without addressing the controversies. A series of public incidents and legal troubles have repeatedly overshadowed his acting talent, carrying significant financial and professional costs. These events have likely cost him millions in potential earnings from major studio roles and brand endorsements.

The timeline is long. In 2013, he faced plagiarism accusations for a short film that closely mirrored a comic by artist Daniel Clowes. In 2014, he was arrested for disrupting a Broadway play. In 2017, he was arrested in Savannah, Georgia, for public intoxication and disorderly conduct, resulting in a year of probation and a $1,000 fine.

The most serious allegations came in 2020 when his former partner, musician FKA Twigs, filed a lawsuit accusing him of sexual battery and assault. The case cast a long shadow over his career and led to him stepping back from several projects. In a moment of public accountability, he stated:

“I have been abusive to myself and everyone around me for years. I have a history of hurting the people closest to me. I’m ashamed of that history and am sorry to those I hurt.”

The FKA Twigs lawsuit was ultimately settled and dropped with prejudice in 2025. Yet, just months later, history repeated itself. In February 2026, LaBeouf was arrested in New Orleans during Mardi Gras celebrations on two counts of simple battery, casting fresh scrutiny on his ongoing personal struggles.

The Unexpected Chapter — Faith, Redemption, and Comeback

Just as his career seemed defined by controversy, LaBeouf embarked on his most unexpected chapter yet: a genuine journey into faith. While preparing for his role in the 2022 biographical film Padre Pio, what began as research for a character blossomed into a profound personal transformation.

This wasn’t a fleeting Hollywood phase. On December 31, 2023, he was officially confirmed into the Catholic Church by Bishop Robert Barron at Old Mission Santa Inés Parish in Solvang, California. He has since expressed a desire to become a deacon — an aspiration that signals a fundamental shift in his personal priorities. This spiritual journey adds a fascinating dimension to the Shia LaBeouf net worth narrative, suggesting a man who is actively seeking value beyond monetary wealth.

His professional comeback is also underway. Two key films arrived in 2025: the David Mamet-directed prison drama Henry Johnson and the boxing film Salvable. These projects signal a deliberate return to serious, independent work. Yet, the path to redemption is never a straight line. His February 2026 arrest in New Orleans creates a stark, uncomfortable tension between his stated spiritual aspirations and his ongoing personal struggles.

What Is Shia LaBeouf Worth Compared to His Peers?

Context is crucial when evaluating wealth. While $20 million is an impressive figure by any standard, it appears modest when placed alongside the fortunes of actors he has worked with or who occupy a similar space in Hollywood history. This comparison illuminates the financial trajectory he might have had — and the cost of the road he chose instead.

Actor	Estimated Net Worth	Connection to LaBeouf
Shia LaBeouf	$20 Million	—
Megan Fox	$8 Million	Transformers co-star
Mark Wahlberg	$400 Million	Replaced him in Transformers
Harrison Ford	$300 Million	Indiana Jones co-star
Brad Pitt	$400 Million	Fury co-star

His net worth is significantly lower than his blockbuster-era peers. This is a direct reflection of two compounding factors: his conscious decision to step away from major franchise work, and the financial impact of his personal controversies, which limited his earning potential for nearly a decade. Mark Wahlberg, who simply took the job LaBeouf declined, is now worth twenty times as much.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Shia LaBeouf’s net worth in 2026?

As of 2026, Shia LaBeouf’s net worth is estimated to be $20 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. This figure reflects his film earnings, real estate holdings, and other ventures, balanced against his extended periods away from major studio projects and the financial impact of legal controversies.

2. How much did Shia LaBeouf make from the Transformers movies?

Shia LaBeouf earned approximately $20.75 million for his role as Sam Witwicky across the first three Transformers films. His salary grew from $750,000 for the original film (2007) to $5 million for Revenge of the Fallen (2009), and reached $15 million for Dark of the Moon (2011).

3. Why did Shia LaBeouf leave the Transformers franchise?

LaBeouf has stated he left to pursue more artistically challenging roles, expressing dissatisfaction with blockbuster filmmaking. He reportedly demanded $18 million to return for the fourth installment, a figure the studio declined. He subsequently gave up an estimated $15 million payday.

4. What is Shia LaBeouf doing now in 2026?

In 2026, LaBeouf is navigating a career comeback with independent films, including Henry Johnson (directed by David Mamet) and the boxing drama Salvable, both released in 2025. He relocated to New Orleans in late 2025 after separating from Mia Goth. He is also dealing with the legal aftermath of a February 2026 arrest during Mardi Gras, while continuing his personal journey within the Catholic Church.

5. Did Shia LaBeouf convert to Catholicism?

Yes. After studying for his role in the 2022 biographical film Padre Pio, LaBeouf underwent a genuine conversion to Catholicism. He was officially confirmed into the Church on December 31, 2023, by Bishop Robert Barron. He has since expressed a desire to become a deacon.

6. What happened with the FKA Twigs lawsuit against Shia LaBeouf?

The lawsuit filed by musician FKA Twigs in 2020, which accused LaBeouf of sexual battery, assault, and emotional distress, was settled out of court. In 2025, the case was officially dropped with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled. At the time of the suit, LaBeouf publicly apologized, acknowledging a history of abusive behavior.

The Bottom Line: A $20 Million Story Worth Far More

The Shia LaBeouf net worth of $20 million tells a story far more complex than a simple number. It speaks of a career that reached the highest peaks of commercial success before deliberately pivoting toward artistic and personal discovery. His fortune was built on blockbuster paydays but has been shaped — and capped — by the conscious decision to walk away from guaranteed millions in favor of creative integrity.

His journey is compelling, often chaotic, and stubbornly human. He is an artist wrestling with fame, trauma, and accountability in public. While controversies have undeniably impacted his earning potential, his recent spiritual conversion and burgeoning career comeback suggest a man actively redefining his own meaning of value.

Whether his next chapter leads back to mainstream stardom or deeper into independent filmmaking, one thing is certain: Shia LaBeouf’s financial story will remain as unpredictable and fascinating as the man himself. For more background on his life and career, see his Wikipedia profile.