Janet Marie Jones, was born on 10 January 1961, in Bridgeton, Missouri USA, and is an actress and dancer, possibly best known for her roles in the films “Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach”, “A League of Their Own” and “Alpha Dog”. She is also known as the wife of former star ice hockey player Wayne Gretzky.
So just how rich is Janet Jones now? Sources state that Jones has acquired a net worth of over $10 million, as of early 2017. The main source of her net worth has been her acting career which began in the early 1980s.
Janet Jones Net Worth $10 Million
Jones attended Pattonville High School in Maryland Heights, Missouri. Prior to her acting career, she worked as a model. Her entrance in to the entertainment industry came in 1979, as a contestant on Merv Griffin’s syndicated musical variety television show “Dance Fever” hosted by Deney Terrio, and later as a member of the dance duo Motion. She made her television debut in 1980, appearing as a dancer in the TV film “Snow White Live”. The same year she landed a smaller part in the sword and sorcery film “The Beastmaster”. In 1982 she appeared as a dancer in “Annie”, a musical comedy-drama film adapted from the same-titled Broadway musical. The following year she performed in the John Travolta dance film “Staying Alive”. Her net worth was well set.
Jones’ first major role came in 1984, playing Carla Samson in the comedy film “The Flamingo Kid”. The following year she was cast as Judy Monroe in the musical drama film “A Chorus Line”, then 1986 saw her landing the starring role of Julie Lloyd in the sports drama film “American Anthem”, so beginning to get recognized in the acting world, and her net worth to grow.
In 1987, she appeared on the cover and in a semi-nude pictorial of Playboy, which additionally increased her popularity. The following year she landed the role of Officer Kate in the fifth installment of “Police Academy”, entitled “Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach”. The film was a massive box-office success, enabling Jones to earn a sizable income.
The ’90s saw the actress playing a Rasine pitcher in the acclaimed sports comedy-drama film “A League of Their Own”, alongside Madonna, again the film was a great commercial success, considerably improving Jones’ wealth and status. By the end of the decade, she had also appeared in television series such as “Brooklyn South” and “Soldier of Fortune, Inc.”.
Jones hosted a late-night infomercial for Jackie Chan’s CableFlex Personal Gym in 2002. In 2006 she played Elaine Holden in the acclaimed crime drama film “Alpha Dog”, improving her popularity and wealth once again, followed in the same year in the comedy film “Two Tickets to Paradise”. Most recently, she appeared in James Franco’s adaptation of the William Faulkner novel “The Sound and the Fury” in 2014.
Aside from her acting career, Jones has also been known as the wife of the famous ice-hockey player Wayne Gretzky. The couple married in 1988, in an extravagant ceremony the media called ‘The Royal Wedding’ at St. Joseph’s Basilica in Edmonton, reportedly costing over $1 million, with Jones’ wedding gown’s price being over $40,000. She and her husband have five children together, among them daughter Paulina, who is a celebrity of her own, being a model and pop singer. However, one controversy involving both of them is an investigation into a hockey betting ring, still to be resolved.
The actress in involved in philanthropy too, being a supporter of Mobility Opportunities Via Education (M.O.V.E.) charity organization, aimed at providing help to adults and children with severe physical disabilities.
"The Flamingo Kid" (1984), "American Anthem" (1986), "Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach" (1988), "A League of Their Own" (1992), "Alpha Dog" (2006), "Two Tickets to Paradise" (2006), “The Sound and the Fury” (2014)
TV Shows
"Brooklyn South", "Soldier of Fortune, Inc.", "Snow White Live" (1980), "Annie" (1982), "Staying Alive"
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Quote
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"I kind of stopped the impact with my face." - on being knocked unconscious by a pane of plexiglass during a 22 October 1997 New York Rangers-Chicago Blackhawks game.
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Fact
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On the cover of Playboy and featured in a semi-nude pictorial (March 1987).
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She and daughter Paulina became the first mother-daughter to appear on the Canadian cover of Flare Magazine when Paulina posed for the August 2005 cover and mom Janet had been on the cover 17 years ago - before marrying Paulina's father Wayne Gretzky. On the inside of the magazine, mom and dad along with younger brother Tristan also were photographed for the issue.
Janet's mother, Jean, is the Gretzkys' live-in nanny.
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Hosts late-night infomercial for Jackie Chan's CableFlex Personal Gym. [2002]
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The Gretzky children attend private schools and study 2 languages- French and Spanish and take piano lessons as well.
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Knocked unconscious and suffers a cut lip when she is hit on the head by a pane of plexiglass following a collision along the boards during a Rangers-Blackhawks game at Madison Square Garden. Gretzky continued to play while she was taken to the hospital. He later defended his actions by saying the officials who were tending to Janet told him there was nothing he could do. [October 1997]
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On the cover of Cigar Aficionado magazine with Gretzky. [February 1997]
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First met Gretzky in 1984 when he was a judge on Dance Fever (1979) and she was one of the dancers, but they didn't become an item until 1987.
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Was engaged to Vitas Gerulaitis for 3 years, and attended his funeral.
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Was 4 months pregnant with daughter Paulina when she married Gretzky in a lavish ceremony the press dubbed "The Royal Wedding" at St. Joseph's Basilica in Edmonton. Broadcast live throughout Canada, it reportedly cost Gretzky over $1,000,000. Janet's gown, which she is reportedly saving for Paulina to wear at her own wedding, cost $40,000. The reception was hosted by Alan Thicke.
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13 May 1989: Appeared in a "Wayne's World" skit when Gretzky hosted Saturday Night Live (1975). In it, the Wayne character has a dream sequence where he beats Gretzky one-on-one in hockey and wins Janet.
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Enjoys kickboxing, weight training and rock wall climbing. Assists her favorite charity, Mobility Opportunities Via Education (M.O.V.E.) for disabled children.