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Did You Know Will Smith’s &#8216;The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air&#8217; Once Saved Him From Going Nearly Bankrupt?

Will Smith

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Shraddha is an entertainment content writer at Netflixjunkie. Not only does she
find immense pleasure in reading literature classics and writing book reviews
about the same, but she's also much into movies and documentaries of
world-renowned personalities as well. She's also been the Editor in chief of two
yearly magazines of an international institute as a high schooler. Having
completed her +2 from KiiT Internationals, she looks forward to expanding her
literary skills in writing and journalism while also pursuing mass communication
as a profession simultaneously.

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The journey of Will Smith Career from going almost bankrupt to becoming one of the most sought-after stars in the industry

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Did You Know Will Smith’s 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' Once Saved Him From Going Nearly Bankrupt? - Netflix Junkie

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Shraddha is an entertainment content writer at Netflixjunkie. Not only does she find immense pleasure in reading literature classics and writing book reviews about the same, but she's also much into movies and documentaries of world-renowned personalities as well. She's also been the Editor in chief of two yearly magazines of an international institute as a high schooler. Having completed her +2 from KiiT Internationals, she looks forward to expanding her literary skills in writing and journalism while also pursuing mass communication as a profession simultaneously.

Rapper and actor Willard Carroll Smith II was born in the United States on September 25, 1968. He has won several honors, including four Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and a British Academy Film Award. His films have generated approximately $9.3 billion in worldwide box office as of 2023, making him one of Hollywood's most bankable performers.

<img class="wp-image-100177 size-full" src="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/imago0154369437h-scaled-e1680162265681.jpg" alt="Will Smith at Oscars" width="2560" height="1299" />
<h2>Will Smith Net Worth 2023</h2>
Will Smith reportedly has a net worth of $350 million, making him one of the world's wealthiest actors. Smith, 54, is an American actor, rapper, and composer. He has had an immensely brilliant career spanning more than three decades, and he is unquestionably one of the most likeable performers. His music career also gave Will incredible popularity and wealth. His hits such as 'Parents Just Don't Understand' and 'Ring My Bell' have charted on the Billboard Hot 100.

[caption id="attachment_101536" align="aligncenter" width="2560"]<img class="wp-image-101536 size-full" src="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/imago0068018975h-scaled.jpg" alt="Will Smith with son Jaden " width="2560" height="1707" /> May 31, 2013 - New York, New York, U.S. - Will Smith and son Jaden at Good Morning America in Central Park. - ZUMAct2[/caption]

Apart from starring in more that 40 films and TV shows, another major contributor to Will Smith's net worth has been his investments in various startups. Will Smith is owner of multiple enterprises such as Overbrook Entertainment, Westbrook, and Dreamers VC. He also is an investor in a number of startups like BioBeats, Carol’s Daughter, and Landis.
<h2>Early Life and Education of Will Smith</h2>
Will Smith was born William Carroll Smith Jr. on September 25, 1968 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Smith was affectionately referred to as 'Prince' by friends, family, and acquaintances. He grew up as a Baptist in West Philadelphia's Wynnefield neighborhood. He has an older sister called Pamela, as well as twins Harry and Ellen.

[caption id="attachment_89055" align="aligncenter" width="2560"]<img class="wp-image-89055 size-full" src="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GettyImages-1353872700-scaled.jpg" alt="Will Smith gave bonus to the King Richard team" width="2560" height="1720" /> LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 17: Will Smith attends the photo call for "King Richard" at Wimbledon on November 17, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Warner Bros.)[/caption]

He attended Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School in Philadelphia, as well as Overbrook High School. His parents divorced in the year 2000 after they parted when he was 13. Smith began rapping when he was 12 years old. When his granny discovered a journal containing his lyrics.
<h2> Will Smith’s Acting and Musical Career</h2>
Smith began his career as the MC of the hip-hop combo DJ Jazzy Jeff &amp; the Fresh Prince, with boyhood buddy Jeffrey "DJ Jazzy Jeff" Townes on turntables and production. Townes and Smith met by coincidence in 1985, when Townes was performing at a house party just a few doors down from Smith's house and was missing his hype guy. Smith volunteered to fill in. They had good connection, and Townes was disappointed when his hype man arrived at the party.

[caption id="attachment_110397" align="aligncenter" width="2000"]<img class="wp-image-110397 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/will-smith-dj-jazzy-jeff.png" alt="will smith and dj jazzy jeff made a song" width="2000" height="1400" /> Credits: Imago[/caption]

Soon after, they agreed to work together. Smith invited a buddy, Clarence Holmes nicknamed Ready Rock C, to join as the group's beatboxer, becoming a trio. Word Records' first single was released in 1986 when A&amp;R man Paul Oakenfold introduced them to Champion Records with their single 'Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble', a story of hilarious misadventures that landed Smith and his former DJ and rap partner Mark Forrest (Lord Supreme) in trouble.

The song used a snippet of the theme music from I Dream of Jeannie. Smith rose to prominence with his lighthearted story-telling raps and proficient, but profanity-free, battle rhymes. A month before Smith graduated from high school, the single became a success.

Smith's breakthrough roles were in the drama Six Degrees of Separation (1993) and the action picture Bad Boys (1995), both of which he co-starred with Martin Lawrence. The latter picture was a commercial success, collecting $141.4 million globally. However, the critical reaction was mixed. Smith appeared in Roland Emmerich's Independence Day as part of an ensemble cast in 1996. The film was a huge box office success, becoming the second highest-grossing picture in history at the time and established Smith as a top box office draw.

[caption id="attachment_89040" align="aligncenter" width="2560"]<img class="wp-image-89040 size-full" src="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GettyImages-495286314-scaled.jpg" alt="Will Smith at 19th Annual Hollywood Film Awards" width="2560" height="1798" /> BEVERLY HILLS, CA - NOVEMBER 01: Actor Will Smith attends the 19th Annual Hollywood Film Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on November 1, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images)[/caption]

Smith co-starred in Enemy of the State alongside Gene Hackman in 1998. He turned down the part of Neo in The Matrix the next year in favour of Wild Wild West (1999). Despite the disappointment of Wild Wild West, Smith stated that he has no regrets about his decision, claiming that Keanu Reeves' performance as Neo was superior to what Smith would have achieved, though in interviews after the film's release, he stated that he "made a mistake on Wild Wild West. That could have been better."

As of present Will Smith has been associated with multiple projects such as Bad Boys 4 and even a Netflix film called Family Man, <a href="https://www.netflixjunkie.com/music-news-its-just-crazy-ghanian-blogger-once-paid-4000-to-see-kanye-west-in-coachella-festival-only-for-the-rapper-to-back-out/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the news of which had a mixed reaction from fans.</a>
<h2>Will Smith’s Involvement in Business</h2>
Smith and his brother Harry operate Treyball Development Inc., a Beverly Hills-based firm named after Trey Smith. He lives in Los Angeles, California with his family. Will celebrated his 50th birthday in 2018 by bungee jumping from a helicopter in the Grand Canyon. Smith was insured for $200 million by Lloyd's of London for the leap, which earned funds for the charity Global Citizen.
<h2>Political View of Will Smith</h2>
Smith grew up in a Baptist family and went to a Roman Catholic school and church. Smith conducted the Hindu ceremony of Shiva abhisheka in Haridwar, India, in 2018. He also did an arti of the sacred Ganga river. He has stated that he has a strong affinity for Hindu mysticism and Indian astrology. Smith and his family also visited and spent time with Sadhguru, the Indian spiritual teacher and stated that he liked their earnest chats.

[caption id="attachment_89034" align="aligncenter" width="2560"]<img class="wp-image-89034 size-full" src="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GettyImages-1353330718-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1853" /> HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 14: Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith, Willow Smith and Jaden Smith arrives at the 2021 AFI Fest: Closing Night Premiere Of Warner Bros. "King Richard" at TCL Chinese Theatre on November 14, 2021 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage )[/caption]

Smith contributed $4,600 to Democrat Barack Obama's presidential campaign in 2008. He and his wife organized the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, on December 11, 2009. It was to commemorate Obama's award. Smith stated his support for same-sex marriage legalization in 2012.

He revealed in 2021 that production of his forthcoming picture, Emancipation, will be relocated from Georgia. This was due to the recent enactment of the Election Integrity Act of 2021. According to the act opponents perceived as a restrictive voting legislation that would negatively affect non-white voters.
<h2>Public Image and Legacy of Will Smith</h2>
Smith has frequently been lauded for his breakthrough achievement in both his musical career and as an actor in television and cinema. Several magazines have named him one of the "greatest actors" of his generation. According to Forbes, he is the "biggest movie star of the post-9/11 era."

[caption id="attachment_104145" align="aligncenter" width="2000"]<img class="size-full wp-image-104145" src="https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/will-smith-dwayne-johnson.png" alt="dwayne johnson wanted to be as big as will smith" width="2000" height="1400" /> credits: Imago[/caption]

His crossover from music to acting has motivated many rappers to become actors, with Complex citing him as a pioneer for rappers transitioning into acting. Not just rappers, even actors like <a href="https://www.netflixjunkie.com/music-news-after-hey-there-delilah-kanye-west-featured-in-yet-another-ai-production-this-time-by-hit-boy-on-his-own-beats/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dwayne Johnson also sought to achieve the same level of stardom as Smith</a>. Time named him one of the world's 100 most important people in 2006, and Esquire named him one of the 75 most influential individuals of the twenty-first century in 2008.
<h2>Will Smith’s Awards and Nomination</h2>
Smith has received numerous awards throughout his career. He has won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Richard Williams. He plays the prolific father and coach to championship tennis players Venus and Serena Williams, in the biopic King Richard (2021). The role that also earned him a Golden Globe Award, BAFTA Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award in the same category, as well as an Academy Award for Best Picture nomination.

[caption id="attachment_89066" align="aligncenter" width="2560"]<img class="wp-image-89066 size-full" src="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GettyImages-1388090285-scaled.jpg" alt="Will Smith has a question for his award" width="2560" height="1795" /> HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Will Smith accepts the Actor in a Leading Role award for ‘King Richard’ onstage during the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)[/caption]

He has previously been nominated for the Academy Award twice (for Ali and The Pursuit of Happiness), the Golden Globe Award five times (for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Ali, The Pursuit of Happyness, and Concussion), and the Screen Actors Guild Award once (for The Pursuit of Happyness).

Perhaps the biggest recognition he received is now tainted by the infamous slapgate.
<h2> Will Smith Oscar Awards Incident</h2>
Smith stepped onstage at the 94th Academy Awards on March 27, 2022, and smacked presenter and comedian Chris Rock, who had joked about Smith's wife Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head with a reference to the main protagonist in the film G.I. Jane. Smith then shouted at Rock, shouting repeatedly, "Keep my wife's name out of your f*#king mouth!" According to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), Smith was asked to leave the event but refused.

[caption id="attachment_89064" align="aligncenter" width="2560"]<img class="wp-image-89064 size-full" src="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GettyImages-1239559669-scaled.jpg" alt="Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at 2022 Academy Awards" width="2560" height="1979" /> HOLLYWOOD, CA - March 27, 2022. Chris Rock and Will Smith onstage during the show at the 94th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 27, 2022. (Myung Chun / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)[/caption]

Later that night, Smith won Best Actor for King Richard. In his victory speech, he apologized to the Academy and the other candidates, but not to Rock. Following popular outrage, Smith apologized in a public Instagram post. Following the event, ABC, AMPAS, and the Screen Actors Guild all criticized Smith, forcing the Academy's Board of Governors to launch an inquiry. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, Rock declined to seek charges against Smith.
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Name</td>
<td>Willard Carroll Smith, Jr</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Born</td>
<td>September 25, 1968</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Place of Birth</td>
<td>Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nationality</td>
<td>American</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Education</td>
<td>Overbrook High School, Julia R. Masterman School</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Parents</td>
<td>Willard Carroll Smith Sr., Caroline Bright</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Height</td>
<td>6 feet 2 inches (approx. 1.88m)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Weight</td>
<td>180 lbs (approx. 82 kg)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Wife</td>
<td>Jada Pinkett Smith (m. 1997), Sheree Zampino (m. 1992)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kids</td>
<td>Trey Smith, Jaden Smith, and Willow Smith</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Social Media</td>
<td>@willsmith</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp;

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