What is Kate del Castillo's Net Worth?
Kate del Castillo, a renowned Mexican actress, boasts a net worth of $12 million. She became famous for her leading role in the telenovela "Muchachitas" and later achieved global recognition for her performance in the Telemundo series "La reina del sur". Throughout her career, del Castillo has starred in numerous telenovelas and films such as "American Visa", "Bordertown", "Under the Same Moon", and "Bad Boys for Life".
Kate has also attracted significant media attention due to her association with the drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. In 2012, she tweeted her trust in El Chapo over the Mexican government, sparking a controversial friendship. This relationship led to her involvement in orchestrating a meeting between Sean Penn and Guzman in 2015, which ultimately assisted authorities in capturing and extraditing the notorious drug lord.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born in 1972 in Mexico City, Kate del Castillo is the daughter of the famous soap opera actor Eric del Castillo. She has a sister named Verónica and a half-brother, Ponciano. Kate's acting career began at the young age of six in "Los de abajo". Her breakthrough came in 1991 as Leticia in the telenovela "Muchachitas", which followed the journey of four girls in an arts academy pursuing careers in singing and acting.
Following her success in "Muchachitas", del Castillo starred in "Mágica juventud" and "Imperio de cristal" in the early '90s, solidifying her place in the Mexican entertainment industry.
Telenovelas and American TV
Throughout the '90s and early 2000s, del Castillo continued her success in telenovelas with roles in "Azul", "Alguna vez tendremos alas", "La Mentira", "Ramona", "El derecho de nacer", and "Bajo la misma piel".
Kate's talent extended to American television in 2003 with a recurring role on PBS's "American Family", starring alongside Edward James Olmos and Sônia Braga. She further made her mark with roles in the Showtime series "Weeds" and appearances in "CSI: Miami", "Grimm", "Killer Women", and "Jane the Virgin".
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La reina del sur
In 2011, del Castillo's career soared to new heights with her role in Telemundo's "La reina del sur", based on the novel of the same name. Her portrayal of Teresa Mendoza, a woman rising to power in the international drug trade, made her an international superstar. Telemundo renewed the show for a third season in 2020. Del Castillo continued her partnership with Telemundo in 2015's "Dueños del paraíso" and played the First Lady of Mexico in Netflix's political drama series "Ingobernable" in 2017.
Film Career
After starring in "American Visa", del Castillo made her Hollywood debut in "Bordertown", a film inspired by true events in Ciudad Juárez. She appeared alongside stars such as Jennifer Lopez, Martin Sheen, and Antonio Banderas. Her film credits also include "The Black Pimpernel", "Julia" with Tilda Swinton, and "K-11".
In 2007, del Castillo starred in "Under the Same Moon", a Mexican-American drama about a single mother crossing the border from Mexico to California. Other notable films include the thriller "No Good Deed" with Idris Elba, the drama "The 33", inspired by the 2010 Chilean mining disaster, and "El Chicano", a Latino superhero film. In 2020, she appeared in "Bad Boys for Life" as the ex-lover of Will Smith's character.
Personal Life and El Chapo Controversy
During her career, del Castillo has had notable relationships, including dating Emilio Azcarraga Jean, CEO of the largest mass media company in Latin America. She married football player Luis García in 2001, divorcing in 2004, and actor Aarón Díaz in 2009, divorcing in 2012. A U.S. citizen since 2015, del Castillo resides in Los Angeles.
Her tweet in 2012 expressing trust in Joaquín Guzmán Loera (El Chapo) over the Mexican government marked the beginning of a tumultuous association. Under surveillance and involvement in brokered discussions, she facilitated an interview between Guzmán and Sean Penn, leading to Guzmán's capture. Though the actions of del Castillo and Penn are under investigation, the Attorney General of Mexico issued a detain-and-interrogate order to be effective if she returns to Mexico. Del Castillo has opted to remain outside Mexico since then.
Real Estate
In May 2010, Kate purchased a home in LA's Brentwood neighborhood for $2.29 million, selling it in January 2023 for $4.7 million. In March 2023, she invested $5.375 million in a 5,500 square foot gated home located in Encino, California.
