Blake Lively has always turned heads, whether it’s on the red carpet, in popular film and TV shows, or as one half of an A-list power couple with husband Ryan Reynolds.
Through her 25-year Hollywood career, the statuesque actor, producer, and entrepreneur has amassed millions in net wealth — although lately, she’s been generating headlines for an offscreen drama involving her “It Ends with Us” costar and director, Justin Baldoni.
Why is Blake Lively in the news?
On December 20, 2024, Lively officially began legal proceedings against Baldoni by filing a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department.
The complaint, which also listed Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer Studios, and Wayfarer’s CEO, Jamey Heath, alleged that they had created a hostile work environment on the set of the 2024 film, “It Ends with Us,” detailing numerous incidents of sexual harassment and “other disturbing behavior” that had caused Lively “severe emotional distress.”
The allegations included:
Entering her trailer uninvited while she was partially undressed and breastfeedingCommenting on Lively’s bodyDiscussing personal sexual experiences and previous “porn addictions”Pressuring Lively to discuss her personal life
The complaint also included details about a January 2024 meeting that Lively, Reynolds, and their legal team held with Baldoni, laying out 30 safeguards in order for Lively to continue to work on the film.
This stipulated that a full-time intimacy coordinator and an outside producer were to be hired and that Baldoni and Heath would not physically touch or make sexual comments to “any female cast or crew without their express consent.”
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On December 21, The New York Times reported on the allegations as well as thousands of behind-the-scenes texts between Baldoni and his crisis PR firm. These messages outlined a “multi-tiered plan” to “destroy” Lively’s reputation by planting negative stories on social media and online message boards ahead of the film’s premiere. (Baldoni hired the same publicist that Johnny Depp used during his defamation trial against Amber Heard.)
In response, Baldoni filed a $250 million lawsuit against The Times over its coverage of the accusations on December 31; that same day, Lively filed a civil lawsuit against Baldoni in New York federal court.
Lively’s lawyers released a statement on January 7 that said, “While we go through the legal process, we urge everyone to remember that sexual harassment and retaliation are illegal in every workplace and in every industry.”
The statement continued:
“A classic tactic to distract from allegations of this type of misconduct is to ‘blame the victim’ by suggesting that they invited the conduct, brought it on themselves, misunderstood the intentions, or even lied. Another classic tactic is to reverse the victim and offender, and suggest that the offender is actually the victim.”
Both Baldoni and Lively are seeking a jury trial for their respective cases. Regardless of whether these cases go to trial or are settled out of court, Baldoni’s career seems to have been irrevocably tarnished. He was dropped from his talent agency, William Morris Endeavor (WME), on December 21; in addition, on December 23, the nonprofit, Vital Voices, which had previously praised Baldoni’s efforts “advocating on behalf of women and girls” rescinded the award it had given him.
Baldoni could also be liable for paying out millions in damages, and with a net worth of just $4 million, it seems that he has much more to lose if Lively wins her case — or he loses his.
What is Blake Lively’s net worth in 2025?
Although she’s not yet 40, Lively has already spent over two decades in show business, amassing a net worth of $30 million in the process, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
The website says its calculations come from “public sources, private tips and feedback received from the celebrities or their representatives,” although specifics are decidedly vague.
Cosmopolitan, on the other hand, reported that Lively’s net worth stood at a mere $16 million in 2020, with nearly half of her fortune coming from her role on the hit TV series “Gossip Girl,” where Lively reportedly took home over $7 million over the show’s six-year run. Cosmo also pointed out a few lucrative endorsement deals Lively later inked as a fashionista and trendsetter (more on that below).
Related: Justin Baldoni’s net worth amid Blake Lively scandal
If Lively had amassed $16 million by 2020 and $30 million by 2025, that means she nearly doubled her wealth in five years … yet only starred in three films over the same period.
So, where did the rest of her money come from?
Lively (far right) with lifelong friends and “Sisterhood” co-stars America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel and Amber Tamblyn in 2005.
L. Cohen/WireImage/Getty Images
Blake Lively’s early life and career
Blake Ellender Lively was born on August 25, 1987, in Los Angeles, California. You could say she was a “nepo baby,” since both of her parents were involved in show business.
Her father, Ernie Lively, was an actor and director, while her mother, Elaine, worked as a talent scout. Lively was named after her grandmother’s brother. She has one older brother, Eric, and three half-siblings, Lori, Robyn, and Jason, from her mother’s first marriage. Her brothers and sisters also work in show business.
Related: Ryan Reynolds’ net worth in 2025: From blockbusters to billions in business
Lively attended her parents’ acting classes, where she quickly learned the ropes. Her first film appearance was in 1998’s “Sandman,” which was directed by her father. Lively graduated from Burbank High School, where she was both a cheerleader and class president.
She had hoped to enroll at Stanford University, but a leading role in the 2005 hit film “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” took her life in a different direction.
Lively’s most famous role was as Serena van der Woodsen on the hit CW series “Gossip Girl.”
James Devaney/WireImage/Getty Images
Blake Lively’s films
Lively’s breakout role was in the 2005 film “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” which detailed the unbreakable bond shared by four best friends during their summers in high school.
Critics praised Lively’s performance as the outgoing and free-spirited Bridget, who falls in love at a soccer camp in Mexico. After generating $41 million at the box office, the friends reprised their roles in a second installment of the film, which made $44 million in 2008.
The “Sisterhood” stars became real-life friends, often referring to each other as “family” and praising one another on social media. After the revelations of Baldoni’s behavior surfaced, America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel issued statements of support on Lively’s behalf.
But Lively’s acting ability isn’t the only thing to earn her praise. Her talents as a style star also became apparent from day one: Wearing a flowing orange cowl neck dress and stacks of gold bangles to the Los Angeles premiere of “Sisterhood” in 2025, her bohemian style was quickly featured in the pages of fashion magazines and gained her legions of followers on social media (she currently has 45 million on Instagram alone). It was later revealed that she doesn’t use a stylist and often prefers to do her own hair and makeup, too.
More on celebrity net worth:
RuPaul’s net worth: Everything to know about the cultural icon and force behind ‘Drag Race’Jay Leno’s net worth: How much the former ‘Tonight Show’ host made from his comedy careerJennifer Lopez & Ben Affleck’s net worths: What’s at stake in their divorce
Lively’s acting encompassed a range of abilities in subsequent films: She displayed a comedic turn in the 2006’s “Accepted” with Justin Long, which made $38 million at the box office. She appeared in romantic dramas like “Age of Adaline” (2015) with Harrison Ford, which took home $65.7 million, and thrillers like “A Simple Favor,” which co-starred Anna Kendrick and Henry Golding and grossed $97.6 million. She even starred in a horror film — 2016’s “The Shallows” — which made $119 million.
The Daily Mail reported that Lively pocketed $800,000 from “A Simple Favor,” and a sequel featuring all members of the original cast is set to be released sometime in 2025.
Lively and Reynolds met on the set of “Green Lantern;” they were married in 2012.
Lester Cohen/WireImage/Getty Images
In 2011, Lively entered the rarefied air of DC Comics and Marvel superheroes as Carole Ferris in “Green Lantern,” and although the film tanked at the box office, it was where she met her future husband, Ryan Reynolds.
In 2024, Lively appeared in Reynolds’ “Deadpool” smash franchise as Lady Deadpool, Reynolds’ on-screen wife in “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
When “Nicepool,” who ironically resembled Baldoni, made comments about her postpartum body, Deadpool scolded him. Nicepool replied, “That’s okay. I identify as a feminist,” which fans believe parodied Baldoni’s stance as a “pro-women” champion.
The film generated $1.3 billion at the box office, and “Deadpool” director Shawn Levy has already hinted that audiences may be seeing Lady Deadpool again.
(We’re not so sure about Nicepool.)
Also in 2024, Lively was reportedly paid $3 million for her role as Lily Bloom in “It Ends with Us.” In yet another ironic twist, the movie was based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel about an abusive relationship. That film grossed $350 million at the box office.
Blake Lively’s TV shows
Lively’s most famous role comes courtesy of the small screen, as Serena van der Woodsen on the CW series “Gossip Girl,” which ran from 2007 through 2012. Lively reportedly took home $1.1 million in the third season and was making $60,000 per episode by the end of its run, for a grand total of $7.2 million.
The series followed a group of students at a prep school on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Lively’s character, Serena van der Woodsen, embodied the spirit of easy privilege with her effortless charm, complicated relationships, and fabulous fashion. The star frequently appeared in designs by Ralph Lauren, a brand that matched the show’s preppy, upscale aesthetic.
It’s believed that Lively’s friendship with the designer inspired her first invitation to the Met Gala in 2007 — and soon, the 5’10” actress would become just as well known for her Red Carpet style as the characters she portrayed, making appearances at the Met Gala from 2008–2012, 2013–2014, 2016–2018 and 2022–2024, where she also co-chaired the event.
Blake Lively’s business interests
Lively’s cool California style and innate fashion sense made her a natural choice for beauty endorsements, and in 2013, she became the face of L’Oreal.
She reportedly made $4 million from a two-year Gucci campaign in 2012, and she’s been known to command $50,000 for attending store openings.
Betty Buzz
But Lively’s wealth doesn’t stop at acting and modeling. Like her entrepreneurial-minded husband, she has diversified her interests into an array of projects, including Betty Buzz, a line of non-alcoholic mixers that launched in 2021.
The brand sold 2.5 million units in seven months and became the number-one mixer on Instagram one year later, according to Forbes.
Preserve
Forbes also recounted how, as a child, Lively idolized Martha Stewart, one day hoping to create her own lifestyle business, but her only misstep may have been Preserve, a short-lived website that featured high-end clothing, home décor, and jewelry from a curated list of artisans launched in 2014.
Related: How Martha Stewart became the first self-made female billionaire
Named to Forbes’ list of 30 under 30 that same year, Preserve received comparisons to Goop, Gwyneth Paltrow’s successful label; however, after just one year in operation, Lively shut down the site, admitting that its rollout had been premature and telling Vanity Fair that it was “not making a difference in people’s lives, whether superficially or in a meaningful way.”
Blake Brown
Capitalizing on her perfect blonde locks, Lively launched Blake Brown, her own line of hair products in August 2024. The line, which was sold at Target, broke records in its first week, with sales totaling $16 million./
However, Baldoni’s alleged smear campaign appeared to have worked against the celebrity, as Yahoo! reported that according to Lively’s lawyers, sales slid as much as 78% in subsequent weeks.
Only time will tell if she can regain momentum.
Blake Lively and Taylor Swift attended Super Bowl LVIII with other famous friends Ice Spice and Jason Kelce.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Blake Lively’s personal life
Lively dated her “Gossip Girl” co-star, Penn Badgley from 2007 to 2010.
In 2011, she began seeing Reynolds; they were married one year later on September 9, 2012, at Boone Hall Plantation in South Carolina.
Together, the couple has a slew of A-list celebrity friends ranging from Hugh Jackman, Reynolds’ “Deadpool & Wolverine” co-star, to singing legend Taylor Swift.
Reynolds and Lively share four children together: James (born 2015), Inez (2016), Betty (2019), and Olin (2023). Swift is godmother to three of Lively’s daughters and even mentioned them in the song “Betty” from her 2020 album, “Folklore.”
Lively and Swift are often seen together on “girls’ nights out,” celebrating birthdays or cheering on the NFL games of Swift’s boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce. Lively and Swift even attended the Super Bowl together in 2024.
Lively and Reynolds are known to humorously poke fun at each other on social media to the delight of their nearly 100 million combined social followers.
For example, in the midst of promoting “Deadpool” during the Super Bowl, Reynolds commented ,“Anybody seen my wife?”
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