Tia Carrere Net Worth

What is Tia Carrere's Net Worth?

Tia Carrere is a Hawaiian actress, singer, and former model who has amassed a net worth of $5 million. Becoming a household name through her role on the soap opera 'General Hospital' in the mid-80s, Carrere cemented her place in Hollywood with appearances in iconic films like 'Wayne's World,' 'True Lies,' and 'Lilo & Stitch.' Winning multiple Grammy Awards for her music albums, she has also lent her talent to popular TV shows such as 'Relic Hunter,' 'AJ and the Queen,' and animated series like 'Duck Dodgers' and 'Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated.'

Early Life and Career Breakthrough

Born Althea Rae Duhinio Janairo on January 2, 1967, in Honolulu, Hawaii, Tia Carrere hails from a diverse heritage of Chinese, Spanish, and Filipino descent. Raised by her mother Audrey, a computer supervisor, and her father Alexander, a banker, she attended the all-girls Sacred Hearts Academy. Carrere’s aspiration to become a singer led her to compete in 'Star Search' in 1985, although she was eliminated in the first round. Despite this setback, she landed notable roles in 'Airwolf' and 'Cover Up' the same year. Her breakout role came when she joined 'General Hospital' as Jade Soong from 1985 to 1986.

Television Career

Post 'General Hospital,' Carrere made numerous guest appearances in the late 80s on shows like 'The A-Team,' 'MacGyver,' and 'Tour of Duty.' She also featured in the miniseries 'Noble House' and the TV movie 'The Road Raiders.' The 1990s saw her in series such as 'Quantum Leap,' 'Married… with Children,' 'Tales from the Crypt,' and 'Veronica's Closet.' Her recurring role came with ABC's legal drama 'Murder One.'

From 1999 to 2002, she starred as Sydney Fox, an archeology professor, on 'Relic Hunter,' making it her most significant television role. She continued her animation work with main roles in 'Duck Dodgers' and 'Lilo & Stitch: The Series.' Notable guest roles include 'Curb Your Enthusiasm,' 'Warehouse 13,' 'Hawaii Five-0,' and the Netflix series 'AJ and the Queen.' Carrere's voice acting extends to 'Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated,' 'Family Guy,' among others.

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Film Career

Tia Carrere debuted in the 1987 Canadian film 'Zombie Nightmare.' She appeared in 'Aloha Summer,' 'Fine Gold,' and action films 'Showdown in Little Tokyo' and 'Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man.' Her mainstream breakthrough came in 1992, portraying rock singer Cassandra Wong in 'Wayne's World,' a role she reprised in the 1993 sequel.

In the 90s, she starred in movies with leading actors, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger in 'True Lies' and Kevin Sorbo in 'Kull the Conqueror.' She also had parts in 'Jury Duty,' 'Rising Sun,' 'The Immortals,' and 'High School High.' Moving into animated films, she voiced Nani Pelekai in Disney's 'Lilo & Stitch,' continuing in its various sequels and spinoffs. More recent appearances include 'Wild Cherry,' 'Hard Breakers,' 'You May Not Kiss the Bride,' and 'Showdown in Manila.'

Music Career

As a musician, Tia Carrere released her first solo album 'Dream' in 1993, which went Platinum in the Philippines. That year, she also performed a song for 'Batman: Mask of the Phantasm.' After an extended break, she returned with the Grammy-nominated 'Hawaiiana' in 2007, a collaboration with Daniel Ho. Her subsequent albums, 'Ikena' won a Grammy, followed by nominations for 'He Nani,' and another Grammy win for 'Huana Ke Aloha.'

Personal Life

Tia Carrere married film producer Elie Samaha in 1992, divorcing in 2000. She later married photojournalist Simon Wakelin, with whom she has a daughter. The couple divorced in 2010 but share custody of their daughter. Carrere currently resides in Los Angeles, California.

Real Estate

In 2005, Tia Carrere purchased a home in Topanga, California, for $1.625 million. She listed this property in 2014 for $2.6 million and eventually sold it for $2.5 million in December 2014.