Cuban legend Eva Mendes is an actress, model and entrepreneur who’s one of the industry’s most recognizable faces. With her sultry beauty in the early 2000s, she quickly became known for her on-screen presence. She carved out a career that blended blockbuster films with high-fashion appeal.
Though she led a very successful run, she eventually stepped back from acting to focus on motherhood, design, and building a life away from the spotlight. Despite not being in the spotlight, she still maintained major cultural relevance. From red carpets to nurseries to boardrooms, Mendes proves that for women, success can always evolve. Here’s a deeper look into the journey of her career and the net worth she’s built today.
What Was Eva Mendes’ Life Before Fame?
Before becoming an actress, Mendes lived a quiet and modest life in Los Angeles, California. Born to Cuban immigrant parents, she was raised in the Silver Lake and Glendale neighborhoods of LA.
After her parents divorced, she was raised by her mother. Mendes attended Hoover High School and later studied marketing at California State University, Northridge. Empowered by her passion, she left before graduating to pursue acting. To make it by, Mendes early jobs included working in retail and food service. She even appeared in a few music videos while taking acting classes. Mendes has spoken openly about how her honest background helped ground her values and gave her the drive to succeed.
How Did Eva Mendes Become Famous?
Mendes’ cinematic breakout came in 2001 when she starred alongside Denzel Washington in the instant classic, “Training Day.” Though she had appeared in smaller roles prior that film catapulted her into mainstream success. Her emotionally layered performance caught the attention of Hollywood, quickly leading to bigger roles in bigger projects. By the mid-2000s, Mendes had become a household name, celebrated for both her acting chops and undeniable screen charisma.
Acting
Following “Training Day,” Mendes took on major roles in films, like “2 Fast 2 Furious,” “Hitch,” “Ghost Rider,” and “We Own the Night.” She soon become the number one choice for playing strong, seductive, and complex women. She brought in emotional depth to roles that would have otherwise been one-dimensional. Mendes earned critical praise for her work in independent films. Mendes starred in “The Place Beyond the Pines,” where she met her future life partner, Ryan Gosling. Her emotional range allowed her to move between action, drama, and romantic comedy with ease.
Business Endeavors
After taking an intentional step back from acting, Mendes pivoted into several business ventures. She launched the successful line Eva by Eva Mendes with New York & Company, known for its feminine, vintage-inspired styles. Mendes also was behind a line of bed linens and dinnerware sold at Macy’s. She co-owns Skura Style, a company focused on stylish and functional home cleaning products. With the beauty realm being fairly lucrative, she served as creative director for CIRCA Beauty, a Walgreens-exclusive makeup line focused on inclusivity and glam.
Mendes has powerfully become an influential voice in the fashion and beauty realm. She blends the humility of her upbringing with her Hollywood experience into every brand she touches. She has also authored the children’s book “Desi, Mami, & the Never Ending Worries,” which she refers to as a love letter to her children. Her transition from actress to entrepreneur has been both seamless and strategic.
What Is Eva Mendes’ Net Worth?
As of 2025, Mendes’ estimated net worth is $20 million. Her major fortune comes from a combination of high-grossing film roles, modeling, and successful fashion and beauty ventures. Though she hasn’t appeared in a film in quite some time, her grinding behind-the-scenes and strategic business ventures have kept her financially thriving and relevant.
How Did Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling Meet?
What both attribute to love at first sight, Mendes and Gosling met on the set of the 2012 film “The Place Beyond the Pines.” In the movie, the two played romantic partners. Their on-screen chemistry quickly translated into a real-life romance. While both actors are both adamant about keeping their private lives private, they were first publicly linked later in 2012. They have kept most of their relationship and family life out of the spotlight since their debut as a couple. Mendes has said that becoming a mother and partner to Gosling shifted her priorities, playing a role in her decision to step away from acting.
How Many Kids Do Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling Have?
Mendes and Gosling are proud parents to their two daughters: Esmeralda Amada and Amada Lee. The couple is famously private about their family life, not even disclosing whether not they’ve secretly tied the knot. Rarely sharing photos of their home life or intimate details, Mendes has occasionally spoken about how motherhood transformed her and inspired her to step away from the entertainment industry. Though she’s relatively active on social media, she ultimately lives a quieter life offline.
Why Did Eva Mendes Retire?
While Mendes hasn’t officially declared her retirement, she has been open about stepping away from acting to focus on raising her children. In interviews, she’s expressed that Hollywood no longer offered her the kinds of roles she wanted, particularly as a Latina actress. For Mendes, motherhood felt more meaningful. However, Mendes also noted that she would return to acting for the right project. For now, her focus remains on family, entrepreneurship, and living life on her own terms. She’s also supported Gosling on his new projects, including the summer blockbuster “Barbie,” as he continues to stay booked and busy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What business does Eva Mendes own? Since her last movie in 2014, Mendes has focused on motherhood, fashion design, children’s books, and co-owning the a successful home cleaning goods startup, Skura Style.
Did Eva Mendes have cosmetic surgery? During a podcast interview February 2024, Mendes admitted experiencing some regret over getting Botox and breast implants.