Key Points

  • Ashton Kutcher is an American actor, model, and entrepreneur born in 1978.He is most famous for his role as Michael Kelso, the dorky jock on the sitcom That ’70s Show.He also has a portfolio of startups, including Neighborly, ResearchGate, and Lemonade.

As an Ashton Kutcher fan, you may think you know all about him from TV, movies, and the tabloids. There is a lot more to this celebrity than meets the eye, and we’ll break it down here. Aside from acting, Ashton is also a businessman, investor, and multimillionaire. We certainly shouldn’t leave out the fact that Kutcher is fond of charity and philanthropy. Why is he popular, and what are his lesser-known achievements and facts? Read on to find out.

© DFree/Shutterstock.com

Who Is Ashton Kutcher?

Ashton comes from humble beginnings in the American Midwest, with stops in New York, Paris, and Milan, before finally heading to Los Angeles. He has many accomplishments, not only in TV and movies but in other areas of life that are not so public.

Ashton was born Christopher Ashton Kutcher to working-class parents in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on February 7, 1978. He had a fairly normal childhood, with the exception of his twin brother’s health issues at an early age. His family moved during his sophomore year in high school. In high school, he had already begun showing an interest in acting by regularly participating in school plays.

Early Life

Kutcher is the twin brother to Michael and also has a sister named Tausha. Ashton got a reputation early on as a bit of a problem child. In his senior year, he was caught breaking into Clear Creek-Amana High School in the middle of the night to steal some money. He was convicted of 3rd-degree burglary and sentenced to 6 months probation.

In college, he got past the criminal urge but found that he enjoyed partying. His wild antics cemented his reputation as a troublemaker. At one point, he got kicked out of his apartment for being “too noisy and wild.” Kutcher is quoted saying, ” I was partying, and I woke up many mornings not knowing what I had done the night before.”

It was at this time that things started to change for Ashton. A suggestion by a friend to enter a modeling contest would get him on a career path that took him back to his love of acting.

Career

Ashton Kutcher’s career profile spans different arenas. Most people know him as an actor, and rightfully so, but he didn’t get there in a straight line. While pursuing his acting, he hasn’t stopped to smell the roses for long. His business career is equally impressive, and we’ll take a look later on.

Modeling

After getting a taste of acting in high school, Kutcher’s first career success came as a model. While in college at the University of Iowa, Ashton entered a modeling competition known as “Fresh Faces of Iowa.” A New York-based agency offered him a contract in 1998. He can be seen in Calvin Klein ads and even modeled in Milan and Paris.

Sitcom and Movies

Following the short, successful modeling run, Kutcher had his first audition and shortly after, still in 1998, moved to Los Angeles to star on That ’70s Show until 2006. Throughout the 2000s, Kutcher starred in a series of movies, including Dude, Where’s My Car? (2000), Just Married (2003), Cheaper by the Dozen (2003), The Butterfly Effect (2004), and many more.

His financial breakthrough came as an actor came as the replacement for Charlie Sheen on the sitcom Two and a Half Men. Kutcher became the highest-paid TV actor of the time, making a reported $700,000 per episode, more than double that of his That ’70s Show role.

In 2022, it was announced that Kutcher will return as a guest star in the follow-up to his first role on the new That ’90s Show.

What Is Ashton Kutcher Known For?

Ashton’s first and most famous role was that of Michael Kelso, the dorky jock on That ’70s Show. The sitcom was a success, and Kutcher played the role for 8 seasons. In season 8, Kutcher appeared only here and there before leaving the show. Kutcher left the show as his career blossomed and scheduling conflicts were getting in the way.

A fact about Ashton that may not make all the headlines is that he has a very high IQ – reported to be 160, putting him in the category of “genius.”

Being the “3rd time around” for famous actress Demi Moore is no small accomplishment. Both were married to Moore for 8 years. They did not have any children together.

Business, Entrepreneurship, and Investing

While making his mark in the entertainment world, Ashton put his high IQ to work in his business endeavors. Reports claim Kutcher wanted to ensure he would still have money if acting his career stalled.

He began building a portfolio of startups and, by 2017, had interests in five different companies, including Neighborly, ResearchGate, and Lemonade.

During this time, Kutcher also founded a venture capital firm, A-Grade Investments, with a partner. In 2015 A-Grade Investments became Sound Ventures and is now institutionally funded, with over $250 million in holdings.

Kutcher also has interests in several restaurant companies, a shoe company, and an impressive portfolio of rental properties. His successful business career is a long way from Cedar Rapids and Michael Kelso, but it is certainly appropriate for an IQ of 160.

Ashton Kutcher: Marriage, Divorce, Children, and Personal Life

Net Worth

As of 2022, Kutcher’s net worth is approximately $200 million. Interestingly enough, most of this comes from his business and investment. He did make earn good money from his time on Two and a Half Men and got paid well for his other starring roles, but what he has done with that money is where his real wealth is earned.

Marriage

Kutcher married his first wife, Demi Moore, in 2005. Ten years later, he married Mila Kunis, fellow star of That ’70s Show.

Divorce

Ashton split from his first wife, Demi Moore, in November 2013, citing “irreconcilable differences.” Kutcher is still currently married to his second wife, Mila.

Children

The star has two children with his current wife, Mila, a girl 8, named Wyatt, and a boy 6, named Dmitri.

Tragedy

In 2020, Kutcher was diagnosed with vasculitis, a condition that impaired his hearing, mobility, and vision for a year. As a young child, Ashton’s twin brother Michael received a heart transplant due to cardiomyopathy and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

Going to jail for burglary would seem like a tragedy for most people, but Ashton says the experience helped straighten him out at an early age.

Ashton Kutcher: Awards and Achievements

Ashton has been nominated for too many awards to list, but here is a condensed rundown of the awards he has won.

  • People’s Choice Awards – 2010 Favorite Web CelebTeen Choice Awards – 2002 Teen Choice Award – Choice TV: Reality Hunk, Choice TV: Reality/Variety Host, Choice TV Actor: ComedyTeen Choice Awards – 2003 – Choice TV: Personality, Male Reality/Variety StarTeen Choice Awards – 2004 – Choice TV Male Personality, TV Actor: Comedy (That ’70s Show)Teen Choice Awards – 2005 – Choice Movie: Rockstar Moment (A Lot Like Love)Teen Choice Awards – 2006 – Choice TV: PersonalityTeen Choice Awards – 2007 – Choice Movie Actor: DramaTeen Choice Awards – 2008 – Choice Movie Actor: Romantic ComedyTeen Choice Awards – 2010 – Choice Movie Actor: Romantic Comedy, ComedyTeen Choice Awards – 2011 – Choice Movie Actor: Romantic ComedyTeen Choice Awards – 2013 – Ultimate Choice

Up Next…

If you’re looking for more information on some of the most interesting people in the world today, check out these other articles!

  • Bill Gates — Complete Biography, History and InventionsWho is Marc Andreessen, Silicon Valley’s Billionaire Kingmaker?Elon Musk – Complete Biography, History, Inventions, and Nationality