Thomas Cruise Mapother IV was born on July 3, 1962, in Syracuse, New York. His father, also named Thomas Cruise Mapother, was an electrical engineer, while his mother worked as a special education teacher. Tom Cruise has three sisters. Interestingly, his first cousin, William Mapother also pursued acting and appeared alongside Tom in several projects.
Childhood and Education
Tom Cruise experienced a transient childhood, frequently relocating across the United States and even spending a brief period in Canada when his father joined the Canadian Armed Forces. Tom Cruise has spoken publicly about the challenges of his upbringing, claiming that his father was abusive towards him and his siblings. During his school years, Tom attended a total of 15 different schools within a span of 14 years.
Early Career Aspirations
Initially, Tom Cruise did not harbor dreams of becoming an actor. During middle school, he focused more on sports, particularly wrestling. However, a knee injury forced him to reconsider his interests, leading him to join drama classes and later participate actively in the drama club during high school. Cruise’s talent was quickly recognized when he landed the lead role in the production of “Guys and Dolls.”
Brief Stint at Seminary School
Surprisingly, after high school, Tom Cruise briefly pursued a religious vocation. He attended the St. Francis Seminary in Cincinnati with aspirations of becoming a Franciscan priest. However, he was expelled from the seminary due to disciplinary issues related to alcohol consumption.
Early Career in Acting
Following his high school graduation from Glen Ridge High School in New Jersey in 1980, Tom Cruise relocated to New York City to pursue acting. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Los Angeles in pursuit of television roles.
In 1981, Cruise made his film debut with a small part in “Endless Love” and gained critical acclaim for his role in “Taps” the same year. This role proved pivotal, leading to his signing with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) after a compelling recommendation from CAA agent Paula Wagner to the agency’s managing partner, Michael Ovitz. Cruise would remain a CAA client for life, and in the early 1990s, he and Paula Wagner founded Cruise/Wagner Productions.
Top 10 Tom Cruise Movies
Here’s a list of Tom Cruise’s top 10 movies based on earnings at the global box office:
1. Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Global Earnings: $1.5 billion
2. Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
Global Earnings: $800 million
3. Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)
Global Earnings: $682 million
4. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)
Global Earnings: $694 million
5. War of the Worlds (2005)
Global Earnings: $606 million
6. Mission: Impossible 2 (2000)
Global Earnings: $546 million
7. Mission: Impossible III (2006)
Global Earnings: $398 million
8. Mission: Impossible (1996)
Global Earnings: $457 million
9. The Last Samurai (2003)
Global Earnings: $456 million
10. Minority Report (2002)
Global Earnings: $358 million
These figures highlight the immense commercial success of Tom Cruise’s films, particularly within the “Mission: Impossible” franchise, which has consistently performed well at the box office.
Tom Cruise Net Worth
Tom Cruise has emerged as one of Hollywood’s most celebrated and financially successful actors. As of the latest reports, Cruise’s net worth is estimated at $600 million, making him one of the wealthiest celebrities globally. Throughout his career, Tom Cruise’s films have collectively grossed over $11.5 billion worldwide.
Notably, prior to June 2022, none of Cruise’s movies had surpassed the $1 billion mark at the box office. However, this changed with the release of “Top Gun: Maverick,” which surpassed $1.5 billion globally, marking a significant milestone in Cruise’s illustrious career.
