Salma Hayek

Salma Hayek was born on September 2, 1966, in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico, to a Lebanese-Mexican father and a Spanish-Mexican mother. She first gained fame in Mexico as a telenovela star on “Teresa” (1989) before making the bold decision to move to Hollywood to pursue an international career. Despite facing significant language barriers and limited roles for Latina actresses in the 1990s, she persevered and began landing increasingly prominent parts in American films.

Hayek’s breakthrough in Hollywood came with “Desperado” (1995), directed by Robert Rodriguez, in which she starred opposite Antonio Banderas. She followed this with memorable roles in “From Dusk Till Dawn” (1996), “Dogma” (1999), and “Wild Wild West” (1999). Her most acclaimed performance came in “Frida” (2002), which she also produced. Her portrayal of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, making her the first Mexican actress to receive such a nomination.

Over the following decades, Hayek built an impressive career spanning drama, comedy, and action films, including “Grown Ups” (2010), “Savages” (2012), “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” (2017), and “Eternals” (2021) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As a producer, she has championed diverse stories and Latino representation in Hollywood through her production company Ventanarosa. She has also been a prominent voice for women’s rights and immigrant communities.

Hayek married French billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault, CEO of Kering (parent company of Gucci, Balenciaga, and other luxury brands), in 2009. While her personal net worth is estimated separately from her husband’s fortune, her own earnings from decades of acting, producing, brand ambassadorships with companies like Revlon and Gucci, and her entrepreneurial ventures have helped her accumulate an estimated net worth of $200 million by 2026.