Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh net worth isn’t the only thing many fans are curious about. There are so many other aspects of her life that are hidden from the public. For instance, not many knew that her previous stage name was Michelle Khan before she became popular. She bore this alias during her Hong Kong acting days in the 90s.
Most of her Hong Kong movies and TV appearances made her a household name, especially those ones full of action. She also became known for performing stunt scenes herself without using a stunt double. Here is more about Michelle Yeoh.
Michelle’s Origin
Michelle’s ancestry is Cantonese and Hokkien. The 61-year-old Michelle was born to Datuk and Janet Yeoh who were notable Malaysian Chinese in Malaysia. Michelle’s dad was a Senator in Malaysia who represented the Malaysian Chinese group for ten years. In addition, he founded companies within and outside Malaysia and was also a chairman of an association.
How Many Languages Does Michelle Speak?
Although her household is of Chinese and Malaysian origin, Michelle spoke English at home with the help of her dad. Her grandma once stayed with them and spoke Malaysian Cantonese to them. Hence, Michelle can understand a little of the language. She went on to learn Cantonese later on in life, and she is currently a fluent Cantonese speaker. Years down the line, Michelle learned some Mandarin. The only regret in Michelle’s life is not learning to write or read Chinese.
Michelle Yeoh’s Interest in Entertainment
Michelle has always loved to dance right from a very young age. As early as 4 years old, she started ballet dancing. Furthermore, Michelle attended a girls-only school for her primary and secondary education. Yeon relocated to London with her family when she was 15. She joined a dancing institute in Chester and began ballet-dancing training.
She then went to a London dancing academy to specialize in ballet. Unfortunately, her passionate dream was cut short because of a serious back injury. Nonetheless, she turned her attention to choreography and other art-related professions. Michelle successfully graduated with a minor in drama and a major in creative arts. Her B. A degree definitely paved the way for her years later.
Beauty Pageants
At twenty, Michelle joined and won the Malaysian beauty contest. The contest took place to pick the winner who will represent the country. Winning this contest meant that Michelle had a pass to go for the Miss World pageant in London in 1983. But Michelle didn’t win the contest. Even though she didn’t win, Michelle Yeoh net worth started to increase as a result.
Third Pageant
Not winning the London competition didn’t stop Michelle. She went to Australia for another pageant and got first place. The event was an internationally recognized competition that drew the attention of notable personalities. At this point, talent agencies and movie firms began to notice her. Her value rose high, thus further increasing Michelle Yeoh net worth.
Career in the Entertainment Circle
Michelle Yeoh’s appearance in a TV commercial with a popular actor kick-started her acting career. Her performance made a movie production firm in Hong Kong contact her. Her inability to speak Cantonese nearly affected her career there. It dawned on her when she couldn’t understand Cantonese during an important phone call. This prompted her to learn Cantonese in earnest because she wanted to build her acting career.
Subsequent Movie Appearances
As stated earlier, Michelle ventured into acting in Hong Kong. Michelle Yeoh’s movie roles vary greatly, and she interpreted them perfectly. What even made her get more roles is that she performs her stunts without fear.
Her Big Break
Michelle’s big break came when she landed a lead role in a 1985 movie. It was the third one to credit Michelle with her previous stage name. The stage name was coined by D&B Production to make her more marketable internationally. Sadly, Michelle temporarily stopped acting due to her first marriage. Her husband then was a leader at D&B.
Return After Retirement
Michelle resumed her acting profession when she played a role alongside Jackie Chan. This was followed by two more movies where she showcased her martial arts and acting prowess. In 1994, she then featured in an internationally acclaimed movie. These roles further cemented Michelle as an excellent martial arts actress in people’s minds.
Michelle Romantic Relationships
Michelle practices Buddhism. She married a serial entrepreneur from Hongkong. The two broke up and divorced in 1992 after four years together. She couldn’t bear children in her first marriage, which brought an end to the marriage. Michelle revealed this to the public during an interview.
A few years later, she had an engagement with an American specialist doctor. It didn’t work out, but Michelle didn’t give up. Six years later, Michelle fell in love with CEO Jean Todt, who later became a company president. She currently stays in Switzerland together with her present partner. She doesn’t have any children for Todt either, but Todt has a son from a previous relationship.
Michelle Yeoh Net Worth
Michelle Yeoh, a renowned actress, boasts an impressive estimated net worth of approximately $40 million, as reported by sources. This substantial wealth comes as no surprise, considering Yeoh’s illustrious career spanning over four and a half decades, during which she has maintained an active presence in the industry.
Moreover, her movies have enjoyed remarkable success, both in the past and present, contributing to her financial prosperity. Yeoh’s triumphs extend beyond acting, encompassing achievements in diverse domains, such as dancing and beauty pageants, throughout her extraordinary life.
Conclusion
Michelle Yeoh is a force to be reckoned with in the action movie industry. She has starred alongside movie icons like Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Pierce Brosnan, Henry Golding, Constance Wu, and the like. The money she makes from her movie roles and brand ambassadorship is enormous. In return, the earnings have made Michelle Yeoh net worth impressive.