Taraji P. Henson is an American actress, producer, author, and filmmaker whose career spans film, television, theater. Born September 11, 1970, in Washington, D.C., she became widely recognized through Baby Boy and Hustle & Flow, followed by an Academy Award-nominated performance in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Her television profile grew through Person of Interest and Empire, where she played Cookie Lyon and won a Golden Globe. She later portrayed NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson in Hidden Figures and appeared in The Color Purple and Straw. In 2026, Henson added a major stage credit with Broadway’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone. This profile covers Taraji P. Henson’s net worth, age, height, career, education, family, income sources, and recent work.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Taraji Penda Henson |
| Born | September 11, 1970 |
| Age in 2026 | 56 |
| Birthplace | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Profession | Actress, producer, author, filmmaker |
| Education | Howard University, BFA |
| Height | About 5 ft 4 in to 5 ft 5 in |
| Weight | Not reliably publicly verified |
| Son | Marcell Johnson |
| Estimated net worth | About $14 million |
Early Life and Background
Henson grew up in Washington, D.C., and attended Oxon Hill High School. She initially studied electrical engineering at North Carolina A&T State University before transferring to Howard University for theater. While studying, she worked to support herself and her young son. Howard University records list her as a 1995 BFA graduate. Afterward, she moved to Los Angeles and pursued acting professionally.
Education
Henson earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Howard University in 1995. Her theater training became a foundation for film, television, production, and Broadway.
Career Journey / Rise to Fame
Henson began securing television work in the late 1990s and made an early impact in Baby Boy in 2001. Hustle & Flow brought broader attention in 2005, while The Curious Case of Benjamin Button earned her an Academy Award nomination. Her role as Joss Carter on Person of Interest expanded her television profile. Empire then made her widely recognized as Cookie Lyon.
Major Career Achievements
Her documented achievements include a Golden Globe win for Empire, multiple Emmy nominations, an Academy Award nomination for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and a Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the Hidden Figures ensemble. She received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2019 and published Around the Way Girl, a New York Times bestselling memoir.
What Taraji P. Henson Is Known For
She is particularly known for Cookie Lyon in Empire, Katherine Johnson in Hidden Figures, Queenie in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and roles in Hustle & Flow, Person of Interest, The Color Purple, and Straw.
How Much Taraji P. Henson Earns
Henson’s exact current annual income is not publicly established. Earnings can vary with acting projects, production work, theater engagements, publishing. Public estimates should therefore be treated as approximations.
Sources of Income
Her documented professional income has primarily come from acting across film, television, and stage work. Other career-related sources include producing, writing and publishing, and creative projects connected to entertainment. Exact private earnings are not publicly disclosed.
Taraji P. Henson Net Worth 2026
Celebrity Net Worth lists an estimated $14 million net worth as of September 2026. This is a third-party estimate, not a figure audited or publicly confirmed by Henson. Other online estimates vary considerably, so celebrity net-worth figures should be treated cautiously.
Net Worth Breakdown
No verified public breakdown shows exactly how Henson’s assets are divided. Factually, her wealth has been built over a long entertainment career, with acting as the central professional foundation and additional contributions from producing, publishing, and creative ventures.
Personal Life, Family & Relationships
Henson has one son, Marcell Johnson, whom she had in 1994. She was previously engaged to former NFL player Kelvin Hayden; Henson confirmed in 2020 that their engagement had ended. She generally keeps her current personal life private.
Physical Appearance
Henson is commonly listed around 5 feet 4 inches to 5 feet 5 inches tall. IMDb lists her at 5 feet 4 inches. A reliable current weight is not publicly established, so older online figures should not be presented as confirmed 2026 information.
Social Media Presence
Henson maintains a substantial Instagram presence under @tarajiphenson. Third-party social analytics recorded roughly 21.6 million followers around late September 2026, although follower counts change continuously.
Lifestyle & Assets
Details about Henson’s private assets and lifestyle are limited. Her public career includes film, television, publishing, production, and stage work, but specific property values, investments, and personal spending are not publicly documented.
Recent Updates in 2026
A major 2026 development was Henson’s Broadway appearance as Bertha Holly in August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, directed by Debbie Allen. The limited engagement ran at the Barrymore Theatre and closed July 26, 2026, adding a major stage chapter.
Interesting Facts
Henson studied electrical engineering before switching to theater. She graduated from Howard University in 1995 and released her memoir Around the Way Girl in 2016. She founded the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation in 2018 in honor of her father, focusing on mental-health initiatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Taraji P. Henson’s net worth in 2026?
Celebrity Net Worth estimates it at about $14 million, but this is not an independently verified figure.
How old is Taraji P. Henson in 2026?
She is 56, having been born September 11, 1970.
How tall is Taraji P. Henson?
IMDb lists her at 5 feet 4 inches, while some sources list about 5 feet 5 inches.
What is Taraji P. Henson best known for?
She is especially known for Empire, Hidden Figures, Hustle & Flow, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
Conclusion
Taraji P. Henson’s career spans film, television, publishing, production, and theater. Her best-known roles include Cookie Lyon, Katherine Johnson, and Queenie, while her 2026 Broadway work added another major dimension. Her exact wealth and annual earnings remain private, so the reported $14 million net-worth figure should be understood as an estimate rather than a confirmed financial statement.
Harvey Glen