Inside LeVar Burton's Fortune: LeVar Burton - Is the Star a Billionaire? Net Worth 2026: Career Earnings & Assets

As one of the most talked-about figures, LeVar Burton has built a significant fortune. In this article, we dive deep into the assets and career highlights.

What Is LeVar Burton's Net Worth?

"Roots" and Early Screen Career

LeVar Burton was born Levardis Robert Martyn Burton Jr. on February 16, 1957, in Landstuhl, West Germany. His father was stationed in Landstuhl as a photographer for the US Army Signal Corps, while his mother was a social worker and educator. Alongside his two sisters, Burton was brought up by his mother in Sacramento, California, and was raised Roman Catholic. As a teenager, LeVar attended St. Pius X Minor Seminary in Galt, with the intention of becoming a priest. However, due to his skepticism of the Catholic faith, he switched his career goals to acting when he was 17. He subsequently enrolled at the University of Southern California.

Other Television and Film Roles

"Reading Rainbow" and "Star Trek: The Next Generation"

In 1986, Burton landed his next biggest part when "Star Trek" creatorGene Roddenberryoffered him the role of Geordi La Forge in the "Stark Trek: The Next Generation" television series. LeVar starred on the show for all its 178 episodes and also directed two episodes himself. Later, he reprised his role in the four feature films based on the series: "Star Trek Generations," "Star Trek: First Contact," "Star Trek: Insurrection," and 2002's "Star Trek: Nemesis." Additionally, he directed numerous episodes of subsequent "Star Trek" television series, including "Deep Space Nine" and "Voyager."

LeVar Burton is an American actor, author, director, producer, and presenter who has a net worth of $6 million. LeVar Burton's acting debut was in 1977 as he played the role of Kunta Kinte on the popular ABC drama series "Roots." This was also his first professional acting audition. For his performance, LeVar was nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series. Burton is well known for his time on the PBS program "Reading Rainbow." He hosted and executive produced the show starting in 1983. The show was on the air for 23 seasons and ended up winning more than 2000 awards, including 26 Emmys. Burton is also known for his role as Geordi La Forge on "Star Trek: The Next Generation." He has directed episodes of Star Trek, Charmed, JAG, Las Vegas, and more. He also serves on the board of directors for the AIDS Research Alliance.

Burton began one of his greatest career successes in 1983 when he became the host and executive producer of the PBS children's series Reading Rainbow. The program, which ran for 23 seasons, earned Burton a plethora of accolades, including 24 Daytime Emmy Award nominations and 12 wins. He also received multiple NAACP Image Awards and a Peabody Award in 1992. When the show concluded in 2006, LeVar and his business partner Mark Wolfe launched a new children's media company called RRKIDZ.

After making his feature film acting debut in 1976's "Almos' a Man," Burton had his breakthrough role in the ABC miniseries "Roots," which was adapted from the eponymous Alex Haley novel. Playing the young Kunta Kinte, the actor received an Emmy Award nomination in 1977. The same year, LeVar appeared in the crime drama "Looking for Mr. Goodbar," starringDiane Keaton,Richard Gere, andTuesday Weld. At the end of the decade, Burton had two major leading roles in made-for-television biographical films. In 1978's "One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story," he starred as Ron LeFlore, a troubled kid from Detroit who rose from incarceration to play with the Detroit Tigers in the MLB. Then, in 1979, Burton starred in "Dummy" as Donald Lang, a deaf black man from Chicago who was accused of killing a pair of prostitutes. Co-starringPaul Sorvinoas Lang's attorney, the film was honored with a Peabody Award and received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Television Movie.

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In the early '80s, Burton costarred alongsidePowers Boothe,Ned Beatty, andJames Earl Jonesin the television miniseries "Guyana Tragedy: The Story ofJim Jones," about the real-life Peoples Temple and the mass suicide of its members. Burton also appeared in episodes of "Trapper John, M.D." and "Fantasy Island." In 1980, he was in the crime thriller "The Hunter," and in 1981, had a supporting role in the television film "Grambling's White Tiger," based on the true story of quarterback Jim Gregory.

Ultimately, LeVar Burton's financial journey is a testament to their success.

Disclaimer: All net worth figures are estimates based on public data.