According to Forbes, Reese Witherspoon is the world's richest actress, with a net worth of $430 million (£350.8m).

As well as a successful career on screen, the star is the founder of Hello Sunshine, the production company behind hit projects such as Big Little Lies and Where the Crawdads Sing. She's also the creator of a book club with over two million members, and rakes in even more money via juicy brand endorsements. 

Want to know the nitty-gritty of how she's made her hundreds of millions? Read on to get the inside story and to discover how she likes to spend her hard-earned cash too. All dollar amounts in US dollars.

Reese Witherspoon starred in her first movie, 1991's The Man in the Moon, at just 14 years old.

However, she landed her big break by playing Annette Hargrove in the cult teen romance flick Cruel Intentions in 1999, earning a cool $250,000 ($457.8k/£373.5k today) for the role.

Despite mixed reviews, the movie earned around $76 million ($139.2m/£113.6m today) at the global box office, putting Reese firmly on the radar of America's biggest movie studios.

One of the most iconic roles the actress has played is that of Elle Woods in the 2001 rom-com Legally Blonde.

Witherspoon earned a trio of MTV Movie Awards in 2002 for her work on the feel-good flick, which also starred Luke Wilson, Selma Blair, and Jennifer Coolidge.

The film was a hit with cinemagoers, grossing more than $141.8 million ($243.6m/£198.7m today) on a budget of just $18 million ($30.8m/£25.2m today). Its success paved the way for a series of spin-off movies, as well as a musical adaptation that ran on both Broadway and in London's West End.

Reese also starred in 2003's Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde, which saw Elle Woods embark on a quest to promote an anti-animal testing bill.

The star commanded a $15 million ($24.8m/£20.2m in today's money) salary for the role and reportedly also got to take home her character’s extensive shoe collection.

Despite Witherspoon's evident star power, the sequel wasn't quite as successful as the original Legally Blonde, grossing $124.9 million ($206.8m/£168.5m today) globally against a much bigger budget of $45 million ($74.5m/£60.7m today).

Following in the footsteps of many other Hollywood stars, Reese’s ambitions led her to consider a career outside of acting too.

The entrepreneurial star founded the production company Type A Films in 2000, which would later become Pacific Standard in 2012.

Reese was inspired to venture into producing after she noticed a lack of female-driven content in the entertainment world. Movies such as Gone Girl and Wild (both 2014), which were hits both commercially and critically, offered more opportunities for women in the film industry. 

In 2016, Reese partnered up with Otter Media (which is now owned by Warner Bros. Discovery) to turn Pacific Standard into Hello Sunshine.

With the support of The Chernin Group, the company began creating content with a focus on material with female narratives. As well as film and TV, Hello Sunshine also covers podcasting, web series, and books – the latter via the hugely popular Reese's Book Club. 

The ambitious company has also collaborated with major brands such as DirecTV and Audible to break into the world of audiobooks and video streaming.

With its focus on female-driven stories, Hello Sunshine is behind shows such as HBO’s Big Little Lies, Hulu’s Little Fires Everywhere, Apple TV’s The Morning Show, and Amazon Prime TV's Daisy Jones & The Six. 

The company has also produced movies such as Where the Crawdads Sing (2022), which is based on the best-selling book by Delia Owens.

Reese stars in many of the films and shows she produces, but just how much has the starlet been making for all of this hard work?

One of Hello Sunshine's biggest hits is the HBO series Big Little Lies, which is based on the best-selling novel by Liane Moriarty.

Witherspoon starred in and produced both series of the hit drama, which also featured Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, Zoë Kravitz, and Shailene Woodley (pictured together).

When the second season of the hit show aired in 2019, Reese reportedly took home a whopping $1 million (£781.2k) per episode, or a grand total of $7 million (£5.5m).

Witherspoon also made a fortune thanks to the Hulu miniseries Little Fires Everywhere. Based on the best-selling book by Celeste Ng, the series aired in 2020.

Her acting and behind-the-scenes production work on the critically acclaimed show earned her a commendable $1.1 million (£830k) per episode.

Witherspoon is currently starring alongside Jennifer Aniston in Apple TV’s The Morning Show and earns around $2 million (£1.6 million) per episode for her efforts.

Following this series of successful projects, Reese sold a majority stake in Hello Sunshine to a Blackstone-backed media firm in August 2021.

The deal valued the entertainment company at an incredible $900 million (£659.4m). 

However, Reese still owns an estimated 18% stake in Hello Sunshine, which is now led by former Disney employees Kevin A. Mayer and Tom Staggs.

Branching out into business ventures beyond Hollywood, avid reader Reese launched Reese’s Book Club in 2017.

The club focuses on a different book each month and celebrates female writers. Many of the tomes Reese has selected have ended up on The New York Times' Bestsellers list, and around two and a half million readers have joined. 

Members of the book club pay to customise a reading package online or select pre-determined book bundles, and clever brand partnerships have helped to further boost revenues; for example, a collaboration with furniture brand Havenly encouraged readers to create their perfect "book nook" at home.

Following the successful launch of her book club, it makes sense that the hardworking starlet would venture into penning her own tomes.

Her first offering, Whiskey in a Teacup: What Growing Up in the South Taught Me About Life, Love, and Baking Biscuits, which has been described as part memoir and part cookbook, was published in 2018.

This was followed up with her children's book Busy Betty in 2022, which became a New York Times bestseller. The hotly anticipated sequel, Busy Betty & The Circus Surprise, drops in October. 

The famed fashionista launched her very own southern-inspired clothing line, Draper James, in 2015.

As well as operating as a successful e-commerce business, Draper James has four stores: two in Nashville, Tennessee; one in Houston, Texas; and one in Lexington, Kentucky. 

The price of a dress at the mid-market clothing company is around $88 (£72) to $165 (£134). Though last year, Reese launched the more affordable Draper James RSVP collection in partnership with Kohl's, with price points between $51 (£41) and $73.50 (£60).

Another way Reese brings in the big bucks is through endorsements: she's starred in commercials for the likes of Crate & Barrel, Avon, and Elizabeth Arden.

In July 2021, the star was named the global brand ambassador for clean beauty brand Biossance.

While the details of the partnership have largely been kept under wraps, it's safe to assume that Witherspoon has made a fortune thanks to the five-year deal.

Reese’s acting career hasn't just made her millions. It's also seen her score some of the most prestigious awards and accolades in Hollywood.

The A-lister won an Oscar for her performance as June Carter in the 2005 Johnny Cash biopic Walk The Line and was nominated for the same award again for her role in the 2014 flick Wild.

She also scored a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for her starring turn in Big Little Lies.

Reese’s impressive self-made success has led to the actress being hailed as one of the most influential names in Hollywood, with many even comparing her entertainment empire to that of media mogul Oprah Winfrey.

With such a diverse stream of incomes at her fingertips, it’s only natural to wonder what the world's richest actress does with her fortune...

Back in 2011, Reese admitted she's never felt any pressure to lead a particularly extravagant lifestyle, admitting that her childhood in New Orleans has helped her get the balance right between spending and saving.

"I’m really thrifty", the then-34-year-old explained to Yahoo! News. 

"I grew up in a really thrifty family, so I don’t spend a lot of money on things that are frivolous."

Despite that, there are certainly a few things she’s splashed the cash on over the years...

The star forked out for something rather unusual in 2010: she paid to have a barn installed at her home to house her collection of donkeys, goats, and pigs. 

The actress, who's a self-confessed animal lover, has also spent a fortune over the years on her beloved dogs.

The starlet has four adorable pooches, with the quartet all notoriously expensive breeds: she has two Labradors, an American bulldog, and a French bulldog. 

While her menagerie might get to enjoy life in a DIY farmhouse, Reese doesn’t skimp on expenses when it comes to her own home.

The film star has purchased a number of lavish properties over the years, including a Malibu farmhouse for $6.3 million (£5m), which was previously used as a by-the-beach wedding venue.

The two-acre property (pictured), which she bought in 2019, features stables, a film studio, and a cosy guesthouse, while a wall of trees offers privacy from unwanted media attention. However, Reese put the charming abode on the market earlier this year for $8 million (£6.5m).

The business-savvy star has built up an impressive property empire over the years. 

In recent months, Reese reportedly splashed out $28 million (£22.8m) on four new properties: three in Nashville, including an $18 million (£14.7m) mega-mansion (pictured); and one in the star-studded Brentwood neighbourhood of California.

Radar Online estimates Reese's property portfolio to be worth a stunning $46 million (£37.5m), though some sources have valued it at nearly double this figure. 

While it might be easy to assume that the actress is a workaholic, Reese is certainly partial to a holiday – although she opts to keep details of her trips largely offline.

However, occasional snippets of her vacations have made their way into the public arena over the years. 

In 2014, for example, she gave fans a glimpse of a luxe family holiday in the Caribbean. In 2017, she shared shots from a girls' holiday aboard a yacht but kept the location a secret.

Reese also loves dining out, and is often pictured eating at some of the world's most exclusive restaurants.

Among her favourites are The Ivy at The Shore in Santa Monica, as well as Gymkhana in London, which specialises in exquisite Indian cuisine. 

And it turns out that even Hollywood millionaires can squabble over who foots the bill when it comes to dinner.

During the 2019 press tour for Big Little Lies, Witherspoon joked that she was always left to pay after she and her co-stars had been out for dinner. However, Nicole Kidman quickly refuted this, noting that Meryl Streep paid once instead.

While Witherspoon is evidently blessed with great genetics, she's still enlisted some extra help by splashing cash on a dermatologist and personal trainer. 

Along with Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian, the actress is reportedly a client of skin guru Dr. Harold Lancer, who hit headlines in 2014 due to his facial treatments made from sheep placenta.

Meanwhile, personal trainer Michael George helps Witherspoon keep in tip-top shape and reportedly puts her through 30 minutes of cardio six times a week.

Like her infamous character Elle Woods, Reese has a passion for fashion, but her enviable wardrobe comes with a serious price tag attached. 

Often spotted wearing Tiffany jewels or holding a four-figure designer bag, the actress is always immaculately put together, even when she's off-duty. Labels she's been spotted in over the years include Isabel Marant, Burberry, and Chloé.

She's also partial to a statement look on the red carpet and has worn gowns by luxury designers such as Calvin Klein and Christian Dior.

The starlet spared no expense on her 2011 wedding to talent agent Jim Toth (pictured together). Described by one guest as "down-to-earth and beautiful, not flashy, just in exquisite taste", the chic celebration was organised by luxury events planner Yifat Oren. 

Around 120 people, including famous faces such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Chris Martin, Scarlett Johansson, Sean Penn, and Renée Zellweger, attended the lavish nuptials at Reese's sprawling Californian ranch. 

As you'd expect, the stylish bride stunned in a custom-made blush gown by designer Monique Lhuillier. 

The couple welcomed their son Tennessee James the following year, and Jim is also the stepfather to Reese's children Ava and Deacon from her first marriage to actor Ryan Phillippe. However, the former Hollywood power couple announced their shock split earlier this year, with Witherspoon filing divorce papers on 1 April. We'll have to wait and see what the divorce, and the couple's reported prenup agreement, means for Witherspoon's net worth... 

And finally: Ms Witherspoon has ventured into the world of crypto.

She took to Twitter last year to share her excitement, telling her followers: "Just bought my first ETH! Let’s do this #cryptotwitter."

Witherspoon also started buying NFTs via the collective World of Women (WoW), and in February 2022 it was announced that Hello Sunshine had partnered with WoW to create a whole new world of entertainment.

According to Variety, the collaboration will "build out a character universe and franchise" based on WoW's 10,000 NFT artworks, with movies and TV shows already in the pipeline. Watch this space...

From one starlet to another, now read how Jennifer Aniston makes and spends her millions