Eric Roberts's net worth is estimated at around $4 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth's most recent public estimate, though other outlets have put the figure as high as $8 million. Rather than one blockbuster payday, that estimate reflects a working actor's income built up over more than 700 screen credits across five decades -- Roberts is one of the most prolific character actors in Hollywood history, frequently cast as the villain in film, television, and music videos.
Roberts is the older brother of Julia Roberts and Lisa Roberts Gillan and the father of Emma Roberts, but his own career includes an Academy Award nomination, three Golden Globe nominations, and a reputation for saying yes to almost any role.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Eric Anthony Roberts |
| Born | April 18, 1956, Biloxi, Mississippi |
| Known For | King of the Gypsies (1978), Star 80 (1983), Runaway Train (1985) |
| Awards | Academy Award nomination (Best Supporting Actor, Runaway Train); 3 Golden Globe nominations; Satellite Award winner (Less than Perfect) |
| Family | Siblings Julia Roberts and Lisa Roberts Gillan; daughter Emma Roberts; wife Eliza Roberts |
| Recent Work | 2024 memoir "Runaway Train: or, The Story of My Life So Far"; competed on Dancing with the Stars season 33 (2024) |
| Estimated Net Worth | $4 million (Celebrity Net Worth) |
Early Life
Eric Roberts was born on April 18, 1956, in Biloxi, Mississippi, to Betty Lou Bredemus and Walter Grady Roberts, both of whom worked as actors and playwrights before moving into education and sales. He has spoken about overcoming a childhood stutter through acting, saying that memorizing scripted lines let him perform without stumbling over his words. His younger sisters, Julia Roberts and Lisa Roberts Gillan, also grew up around the family's acting classes and went on to their own careers in the industry.
Career and Awards
Roberts made his acting debut in 1974 on the soap opera How to Survive a Marriage. His breakout role came in 1978's King of the Gypsies, which earned him his first Golden Globe nomination. Two more Golden Globe nominations followed, for Star 80 (1983) and Runaway Train (1985); the latter also brought him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, though the Oscar went to Don Ameche that year. He later won a Satellite Award for his television work on Less than Perfect.
Roberts has built a reputation as one of English-language film's most prolific actors, with more than 700 screen credits and, by his own account, as many as 74 films made in a single year. He has said he rarely turns down a role, a work ethic that has kept him steadily employed even during stretches when he wasn't landing lead parts. In 2024, he published a memoir, "Runaway Train: or, The Story of My Life So Far," co-written with Sam Kashner, and competed on season 33 of Dancing with the Stars.
Family: Julia Roberts, Emma Roberts, and Grandson Rhodes
Roberts's sisters Julia Roberts and Lisa Roberts Gillan both became actors as well, with Julia going on to a much larger box-office profile. His daughter, Emma Roberts, born February 10, 1991, with his former partner Kelly Cunningham, also became an actress. Emma had a son, Rhodes Robert Hedlund, born December 27, 2020, with her former partner Garrett Hedlund, making Eric a grandfather; Emma and Hedlund separated in January 2022 but continue to co-parent.
Roberts has said his relationship with Julia became strained during the years he struggled with drug addiction, and that the two reconciled after the birth of her twins in 2004. He has described their current relationship as friendly, staying in touch by email.
Marriage to Eliza Roberts
Roberts met his wife, Eliza Roberts (born Eliza Garrett), on a 1986 flight from New York to Los Angeles, while he was still in his relationship with Kelly Cunningham. The two began dating in 1991 after that relationship ended, and married on August 16, 1992. Eliza, a casting director and actress in her own right, later became Eric's talent manager and has been credited with helping steady his career during his struggles with addiction in the mid-1990s.
Health and Legal History
In 1981, while under the influence of cocaine, Roberts was in a serious car accident that left him in a coma for three days; he spent months afterward relearning to walk and talk. In December 1987, he was arrested in New York for possession of cocaine and marijuana. In February 1995, he was arrested on suspicion of spousal abuse after allegedly shoving Eliza into a wall, according to contemporaneous news reports; he has since said the incident was a turning point that led him to give up drug use. He later spoke publicly about his cocaine addiction on the reality series Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Eric Roberts's net worth?
Celebrity Net Worth's most recent public estimate puts it at around $4 million, though some outlets have cited figures as high as $8 million.
Is Eric Roberts related to Julia Roberts?
Yes. Julia Roberts is his younger sister; their other sister, Lisa Roberts Gillan, is also an actress.
Did Eric Roberts win an Oscar?
No. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Runaway Train (1985), but the award went to Don Ameche.
Who is Eric Roberts's daughter?
Emma Roberts, an actress born in 1991 to Roberts and his former partner Kelly Cunningham.