January Jones is an American actress and former model who has an estimated net worth of $10 million. She is best known for playing Betty Draper on the critically acclaimed television series Mad Men, a role that earned her two Golden Globe nominations and an Emmy nomination.
Jones has also built a successful film career, appearing in movies such as American Wedding, We Are Marshall, The Boat That Rocked, Unknown, Seeking Justice and X-Men: First Class. She later gained another major television role as Melissa Chartres on The Last Man on Earth.
Her wealth has come primarily from acting, television salaries, film roles, modeling work and real estate investments.
- January Jones Net Worth: $10 Million
- Date of Birth: January 5, 1978
- Place of Birth: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Nationality: American
- Career: Actress
Early Life
January Kristen Jones was born on January 5, 1978, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Her parents gave her the unusual first name January after the fictional character January Wayne from Jacqueline Susann’s novel Once Is Not Enough.
When Jones was one year old, her family moved to Hecla, South Dakota. She eventually returned to Sioux Falls at 18 and completed her senior year of high school there.
Jones entered the entertainment industry initially through modeling. She was discovered by a talent scout while still in high school, and after graduating, she moved to New York to pursue modeling professionally.
Modeling Career
Before becoming a successful actress, Jones worked as a model for several major brands. Her advertising work included campaigns for Abercrombie & Fitch, Versace, Clearasil and Kerastase.
Her modeling career also helped her gain exposure in the fashion and entertainment industries. Jones appeared on the covers of numerous magazines, including Interview, Allure, Rolling Stone, Town & Country, The Hollywood Reporter, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, Tatler, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Grazia, Tu Style, Maxim and GQ.
The experience gave Jones a pathway into acting, which eventually became her primary career and source of wealth.
Early Acting Career
Jones began focusing more heavily on acting in the late 1990s. In 1999, she appeared in the television series Get Real and the film It’s the Rage.
She continued building her résumé in the early 2000s with roles in movies such as The Glass House, Bandits and Taboo. She also appeared in several television pilots during this period.
One of her more prominent early film roles came in Anger Management, where she appeared alongside Adam Sandler and Jack Nicholson.
In 2003, Jones also appeared in American Wedding and Love Actually. These mainstream productions helped increase her visibility and opened the door to larger acting opportunities.
We Are Marshall and Other Early Roles
Jones continued working in both film and television during the middle of the 2000s.
She appeared in the television movie Love’s Enduring Promise and the critically acclaimed series Huff. In 2005, she also appeared in The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, directed by Tommy Lee Jones.
Another significant role came in We Are Marshall, where Jones played the wife of football coach Red Dawson. Although the movie received mixed reviews and earned $43.5 million at the box office against a reported $65 million budget, it helped expose Jones to a wider audience.
Her biggest career opportunity, however, was still ahead.
Mad Men
In 2007, Jones joined the cast of Mad Men as Betty Draper, the wife of advertising executive Don Draper.
The series became one of the most acclaimed television dramas of its era. It was praised for its writing, acting and portrayal of American life during the 1960s.
Jones appeared in 67 episodes throughout the show’s eight-season run. Her portrayal of Betty Draper earned widespread critical praise and established her as one of television’s leading actresses.
During her time on Mad Men, Jones received two Golden Globe nominations and one Emmy nomination.
The series itself won numerous major awards, including 16 Primetime Emmy Awards and five Golden Globe Awards. Its success also significantly increased Jones’ profile and earning power.
Jones’ salary increased during her time on Mad Men as the series became more successful.
By the later seasons, she was reportedly earning as much as $100,000 per episode. With an average season consisting of about 13 episodes, that would have amounted to approximately $1.3 million per season at her peak.
The income from Mad Men represented an important part of Jones’ financial success and helped establish her as a highly paid television actress.
Film Career
While starring in Mad Men, Jones continued to work in movies.
Her film credits during this period included The Boat That Rocked, Unknown, X-Men: First Class, Seeking Justice, Good Kill and Unity.
One of her most recognizable film roles came in X-Men: First Class, released in 2011. Jones played Emma Frost, a powerful mutant with telepathic abilities and the ability to transform her body into diamond.
The superhero film introduced Jones to another major global entertainment franchise and expanded her audience beyond television.
The Last Man on Earth
After Mad Men ended in 2015, Jones quickly moved into another prominent television role.
She joined the cast of The Last Man on Earth, playing Melissa Chartres. Jones appeared in 63 episodes of the comedy series, which ran from 2015 to 2018.
The role allowed her to move away from the serious period drama of Mad Men and demonstrate her skills in comedy.
She later appeared in the television series The Politician in 2019. In 2020, she joined the cast of Spinning Out, although the series was canceled after one season.
Personal Life
Jones was in a relationship with singer Josh Groban from 2003 to 2006. She has also been linked romantically to several other celebrities, including Ashton Kutcher, Jim Carrey, Jason Sudeikis and Will Forte.
In 2011, Jones welcomed her first child, a son. She has kept the identity of the child’s father private.
Jones has generally maintained a relatively private personal life while continuing to work in television and film.
Real Estate
Real estate has also been part of Jones’ financial portfolio.
In May 2014, she purchased a home in Los Angeles’ Topanga neighborhood for approximately $1.7 million. The 3,279-square-foot property has four bedrooms and includes a large backyard with a swimming pool and zipline.
The recently renovated property was described as a family-friendly home and provided Jones with a private residence while she was raising her son.
Later that year, Jones sold her previous home in Los Feliz for approximately $1.37 million.
The Mediterranean-style property was built in 1923 and featured about 2,200 square feet of living space, three bedrooms, hardwood floors and French doors. The home also offered views of the Griffith Observatory and surrounding Los Angeles area.
Jones had purchased the Los Feliz property in 2009 for approximately $1.02 million.
Author: Andrew Walyaula
Andrew Walyaula is a seasoned multimedia journalist. Email: [email protected]
