You are probably most familiar with Eva Longoria from her work on the hit television show Desperate Housewives. Still, she’s much more active in the entertainment industry than you might know.
Eva Longoria in a ruched jersey Stella McCartney sunset-orange dress during Wine Spectator Trade Day in Miami on February 25, 2022 (Credit: Seth Browarnik / Startraksphoto)
As an actress, producer, and businesswoman, the Texas native has amassed an $80 million fortune as of 2024. Let’s look at how she became so prominent and what she does with her money.
Early Life and Beginnings: Eva Longoria’s Path to Stardom
Eva Longoria is originally from Corpus Christi, Texas. She is Mexican-American and grew up in a Catholic household with three older sisters.
Longoria has always had a strong work ethic. In high school, she worked at Wendy’s to save money for her quinceanera. Her work ethic shaped her into someone looking forward to earning her own money, and she took that drive to college.
Tony Parker and Eva Longoria were married from 2007 to 2011 and announced their split in late 2010 (Credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock)
Crowned Miss Corpus Christi USA while in college, she moved to Los Angeles after college, where she was discovered by an agent.
Longoria began her acting career in the late 1990s, taking roles in television shows. Her breakout role was in the popular soap opera The Young and the Restless, which eventually led her to her role in Desperate Housewives.
Desperate Housewives: The Role that Catapulted Eva Longoria to Fame
Desperate Housewives was a popular television show in the mid to late 2000s. An ABC original, it ran for eight seasons and followed a group of women who live on Wisteria Lane.
The comedy-drama was critically acclaimed and featured other popular actresses, such as Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, Nicolette Sheridan, and Vanessa Williams.
Eva Longoria was the highest-earning US TV actress and earned up to $375,000 per episode of Desperate Housewives (Credit: ABC Studios / Cherry Productions)
Eva Longoria was only 27 when she was cast in the role and did not think she was right for the part, as her character, Gabrielle Solis, was a woman in her 40s.
Longoria has discussed her casting role, noting that because she had minimal acting experience, she was fairly certain she wouldn’t get the part. However, as we now know, Longoria got the part, leading her to fame and fortune.
Eva Longoria’s life changed for the better when she was cast as Gabrielle Solis in the ABC comedy-drama Desperate Housewives (Credit: ABC Studios / Cherry Productions)
Longoria was very well compensated for her role on Desperate Housewives. By the show’s end, she was earning an estimated $375,000 per episode, meaning she was raking in close to $9 million per season.
Beyond Wisteria Lane: Eva Longoria’s Thriving Film and TV Career
Eva Longoria has also had a successful movie career. In addition to starring in Desperate Housewives, she was cast in various movies, such as The Heartbreak Kid and Over Her Dead Body.
Anna Faris as Kate Sullivan and Eva Longoria as Theresa in the 2018 American romantic comedy film Overboard (Credit: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer / Pantelion Films)
Post-Desperate Housewives, she continued appearing in various movies and television shows, including four episodes of the popular police comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine and one episode of Jane the Virgin.
She also starred in and portrayed a role on The Boss Baby: Family Business and played a part in Dora and the Lost City of Gold, a live-action version of the popular children’s cartoon Dora the Explorer. In 2024, she portrayed a recurring character in season four of Only Murders in the Building.
Expanding Her Brand: Eva Longoria’s Diverse Business Ventures
In addition to acting, Eva Longoria has been a prolific executive producer. She has produced various award shows and made-for-TV movies, but her most prominent executive producing role was for the Lifetime original television series Devious Maids.
Longoria also owns a production company called UnbeliEVAble Entertainment, which is making moves in the entertainment industry to produce new and exciting content for fans.
Actresses Judy Reyes, Ana Ortiz, Dania Ramirez, executive producer Marc Cherry, actresses Roselyn Sanchez and Edy Ganem, and executive producer Eva Longoria attend the premiere party of Lifetime Original Series “Devious Maids” at the Bel-Air Bay Club on June 17, 2013, in Pacific Palisades, California (Credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock)
Longoria is also known for her beauty, and she has used her looks to earn additional money.
The starlet has been featured on a variety of magazine covers, starred in multiple ad campaigns for various brands, and has had modeling contracts with companies like L’Oréal and New York & Co.
Entrepreneurial Spirit: Eva Longoria’s Restaurant, Fashion, and Spirits Ventures
Like many stars, Eva Longoria has used her initial capital from her successful acting career to branch out into other areas, increasing her streams of income.
One of those streams came through a restaurant and nightclub that she opened along with her business partner, celebrity chef Todd English.
Unfortunately, after opening a second location in Las Vegas, the majority owners of the business filed for bankruptcy. Luckily for Longoria, her high net worth remained intact.
Eva Longoria Parker in a Marchesa dress at the opening of her new restaurant, Beso, with Chef Todd English on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles on March 6, 2008 (Credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock)
Part of Longoria’s financial success is her wise decision-making, which manifests itself in multiple ventures. Aside from the restaurant and nightclub, Longoria also wrote her own cookbook, Eva’s Kitchen: Cooking with Love for Family and Friends.
Eva Longoria has also turned her passion for clothing and swimwear into a money-making opportunity. The actress has worked with an established swimwear manufacturer to produce a line and has launched her clothing line online for buyers’ convenience.
Eva Longoria in a sparkling Vivienne Westwood dress at the 10th Annual LACMA Art+Film Gala presented by Gucci at Los Angeles County Museum of Art on November 6, 2021, in Los Angeles, California (Credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock)
Longoria‘s most recent business venture is a tequila company. After seeing the success celebrities like George Clooney have had to sell the spirit, the actress launched her brand, Casa Del Sol. Longoria is using her Mexican-American heritage to market the brand and notes that its flavor is unlike any other tequila brand.
Giving Back: Eva Longoria’s Dedication to Philanthropy
Eva Longoria is known for her significant philanthropic efforts. Over a decade ago, the actress and businesswoman founded her charitable organization, Eva’s Heroes, to support adults with disabilities—a cause deeply meaningful to her, as her sister also has a disability.
Eva Longoria wore a black Bianca and Bridgett dress to host the 2019 Eva Longoria Foundation Gala on November 15, 2019, in Los Angeles (Credit: Ga Fullner / Shutterstock)
Longoria has another foundation, the Eva Longoria Foundation, which works to help Latinos by closing the education gap and aiding those in poverty.
Longoria is not only active through her own foundations but also very charitable through others. She has raised lots of money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, supported the Special Olympics, and provided resources to the San Antonio food bank amid the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Glamorous Celebration: Eva Longoria Shines at White Diamonds 25th Anniversary Event
Eva Longoria wears her hair down at the 25th-anniversary celebration of Elizabeth Taylor’s White Diamonds fragrance held on April 5, 2016, at The Glasshouses in New York City (Credit: WENN)
In April 2016, Eva Longoria flaunted her hourglass curves as she hosted the 25th-anniversary celebration of Elizabeth Taylor’s White Diamonds Fragrance and the launch of the new White Diamonds Night fragrance at The Glasshouses in New York City.
The then-41-year-old actress made sure all eyes were on her by accentuating her feminine figure in a sparkling strapless bejeweled dress from Ermanno Scervino’s Spring 2016 collection.
Eva Longoria stuns in a strapless dress from Ermanno Scervino’s Spring 2016 collection (Credit: WENN)
Eva kept her accessories to a minimum with only a pair of stud earrings and her ruby engagement ring, allowing the silver midi dress to shine.
Eva Longoria stuns in a strapless ankle-length Ermanno Scervino dress (Credit: WENN)
She wore her brunette tresses down and highlighted her eyes with smokey eyeshadow and heavy mascara.
Eva Longoria shows off her ruby engagement ring while posing for photos (Credit: WENN)
While we can’t say exactly what the “Desperate Housewives” star smelled like, we’d bet it was a hint of “White Diamonds.”
Eva Longoria shows off her curves in a sparkling silver Ermanno Scervino dress (Credit: Ivan Nikolov / Andres Otero / WENN)
Eva added a faint touch of color to the look with pale pink sandals from Alaia.
Eva Longoria’s feet in pink suede Alaia sandals (Credit: WENN)
These sandals feature button-like embellishments, polished gunmetal pyramid studs, ankle straps, open toes, back-zip fastenings, and about 4.5-inch heels.
Eva Longoria’s feet in studded and embellished Alaia sandals (Credit: WENN)
Earning up to $375,000 per episode of Desperate Housewives, an American mystery comedy-drama television series airing for eight seasons on ABC from October 3, 2004, until May 13, 2012, Eva Longoria was the highest-earning US TV actress.
To a charity ball in Cannes in May 2019, Eva styled a strapless and white high-low Alberta Ferretti dress with Jimmy Choo’s Dochas sandals.
Eva Longoria wearing an Alberta Ferretti Limited Edition dress at the 2019 amfAR Cannes Gala held at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cap d’Antibes, France, on May 23, 2019 (Credit: WENN)
In 2011, the Telenovela actress and 30 Rock star Tina Fey were named the highest-paid actresses working on TV, according to rankings released by Forbes.
Eva Longoria wore a black CRK x Vimmia parachute top with matching pants for EMILY’s List Brunch & “Defining Women” Panel Discussion held at Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles on February 4, 2020 (Credit: WENN)
She also attended the 2019 Kering Women in Motion Awards in an Atelier Zuhra Fall 2019 dress and Olgana Paris Amazone heels.
Eva Longoria looked amphibious in an emerald-green dress at the 2019 Kering Women in Motion Awards in Cannes, France, on May 19, 2019 (Credit: WENN)
Two days earlier, the then-44-year-old actress opened up to Variety about the future of Time’s Up, which she helped co-found to promote gender equality in the workplace.
“We’re trying to figure out what is Time’s Up’s role in these elections, and how can we have an impact,” Eva said. She added that she was looking for ways to be more politically active in the 2020 polls.
Eva Longoria discussed politics while attending the Kering Women in Motion talk at the Majestic Hotel in Cannes, France, on May 17, 2019 (Credit: WENN)
The John Wick producer wore multicolored front split slim-fit pants from Victoria Beckham and a sleeveless silk tank top in ‘vanilla’ off-white from the same designer.
For her small feet, she picked Saint Laurent’s Amber metallic leather sandals.
Eva Longoria wore gold front split slim-fit trousers by Victoria Beckham (Credit: WENN)
For the Rocketman premiere during the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, the actress/director dazzled in a hand-embroidered Cristina Ottaviano Fall 2019 gold asymmetric column gown.
Eva Longoria dazzled on the red carpet at the Rocketman premiere held during the 2019 Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, on May 16, 2019 (Credit: WENN)
Flashing her legs at the opening ceremony and screening of The Dead Don’t Die held during the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, the L’Oreal ambassador looked like a million dollars in a custom Alberta Ferretti Limited Edition blush satin gown and Gianvito Rossi sandals.
Eva Longoria strikes a pose on the red carpet while attending the opening ceremony and screening of The Dead Don’t Die held during the 2019 Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, on May 14, 2019 (Credit: WENN)
Eva wore Christian Louboutin’s Summerissima sandals to the Global Gift Foundation’s Women Empowerment Luncheon earlier the same month, proving that she has an incredible collection of shoes.
Eva Longoria poses for photos while attending the Global Gift Foundation’s Women Empowerment Luncheon in Los Angeles on May 9, 2019 (Credit: WENN)
The interactive afternoon raises funds and awareness for the Eva Longoria Foundation and GGF USA’s GIRLS IN ACTION scholarship fund.
With too much money to spend on her own, we’re glad Eva keeps busy reducing her net worth for charity.
Eva Longoria’s hot feet and toes in Christian Louboutin shoes (Credit: WENN)
Her husband, José “Pepe” Bastón, father to their son Santiago Enrique, also has three children from his previous marriage to actress Natalia Esperón, which lasted from 1995 to 2005.
Born on April 13, 1968, in Mexico City, he had not heard of Eva Longoria until meeting the “Desperate Housewives” star for the first time in 2013 through a mutual friend.
“He’s a very private man, so he hates when I talk about him,” Longoria told People about her Mexican media mogul husband in 2016. “But I want to yell from the highest mountaintop about everything that goes on with us.”
Eva Longoria with her husband José “Pepe” Bastón and son Santiago Enrique in Los Angeles on January 11, 2020 (Credit: WENN)
Eva Longoria Radiates in Green at the 6th Annual Eva’s Heroes Charity Event
In October 2013, the charitable Eva smiled from ear to ear at the 6th Annual Eva’s Heroes Celebrity Casino Night in a bright green David Koma dress that showed off her enviable figure.
Eva Longoria was smiling from ear to ear thinking about her net worth (Credit: WENN)
The then 38-year-old star added some “oomph” to her look with an edgy pair of Christian Louboutin “Diptic” booties.
Eva Longoria with on-screen hubby Ricardo Antonio Chavira at the 6th Annual Eva’s Heroes Celebrity Casino Night held at Eilan Hotel Resort and Spa in San Antonio, Texas, on October 13, 2013 (Credit: WENN)
Although ankle boots are a bit tricky for petite women (because they can make the legs appear shorter), we think Eva wore this style pretty well.
Eva Longoria’s sexy toes in Diptic booties (Credit: WENN)
These Louboutin Diptic booties provide subtle edginess to Eva’s ensemble. With front slits on the uppers, peep toes, and double-wrap ankle straps, they will add drama to any dress choice.
They are available in several variations, but the two below are our favorites:
Christian Louboutin Diptic Leather Ankle Boots, $995
Christian Louboutin Diptic Suede Ankle Boots, $995