Summary
Cate Blanchett characterized herself as “middle class” during a UN conference at the Cannes Film Festival, despite her estimated $95 million net worth.
Blanchett was one of the top ten highest-paid actresses, earning $13 million in a single year.
Blanchett’s self-identification as “middle class” was the subject of debate among news outlets and social media users.
‘Middle Class’ Remark by Cate Blanchett Perplexed All
In remarks that appeared to be sincere, actress Cate Blanchett described herself as “middle class” on May 20th.
Blanchett’s net worth is assessed to be approximately $95 million, as previously stated by TheRichest.com:
Cate Blanchett is recognized for her ability to portray a variety of characters in both mainstream and independent films, and her net worth is estimated to be $95 million as of 2024.
“Cate made $13 million between August 2017 and August 2018, enough to place her among the world’s top ten most well-paid actresses.”
In recent years, the impact of inflation and the “cost of living crisis” has made socio-economic classes, including the “middle class,” “working class,” and “upper class,” a relatively popular topic.
So, what exactly did Cate say?
Explanation of Cate Blanchett’s “Middle Class” Statements
Cate Blanchett was in attendance at the Cannes Film Festival on Monday, May 20th, though this activity does not necessarily shout “middle class.”
Additionally, Blanchett was participating in a press conference for the United Nations, which is not a typical occurrence for the average person.
Cate’s attendance at the conference was a component of her duties as a “goodwill ambassador” for the United Nations.
Blanchett was questioned regarding her experiences working with refugee filmmakers and her work with the United Nations.
She responded to that inquiry by stating:
The Associated Press (AP) uploads footage of Blanchett’s “middle class” comments to TikTok, as the New York Post’s Page Six noted.
Blanchett’s comments caused considerable dissatisfaction among numerous commentators:
“I love Cate Blanchett, but in what world is she ‘middle class’ — she’s been in two major franchises and is worth an estimated 90 million.”
“You think you’re middle class, Cate Blanchett?”
“All this is very wonderful and very cool but can we back up and unpack ‘MIDDLE CLASS’ [real quick]??!”
‘Middle Class’: Is Cate Blanchett middle class?
Blanchett’s net worth is estimated to be in excess of $90 million, as numerous news outlets and social media users have observed.
Moreover, Blanchett has been associated with at least two significant film franchises: Lord of the Rings and Thor: Ragnarök, which is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
A commenter from Australia, where Blanchett is from, responded to the claim in a different manner, as reported by Metro.co.uk:
“She is discussing her upbringing and her formative perspectives.” She is an Australian of middle class.
“Growing up in the suburbs, my parents were employed, and I received a solid education.” Consult the definition. Her income generates privilege.
An additional user concurred, stating:
“I believe she is referring to the fact that she was born into a middle-class family.” However, her current level of wealth is 95 million dollars, which places her in the upper echelons.
The outlet also stated that, regardless of the circumstances of her birth and upbringing:
She married Andrew Upton, an Australian playwright, in 1997 after achieving A-list status. They have four children: Dashiell, 22, Roman, 19, Ignatius, 16, and Edith, 8.
“The family currently lives in a £5 million historic country estate near Crowborough, East Sussex, and recently purchased a £5 million holiday home in Cornwall.”
It is highly probable that Blanchett neglected to specify that she was discussing her heritage rather than her present financial status.
Regarding the definition of “middle class,” as previously mentioned, the news in 2024 continues to frequently emphasize class strata in the context of increasing inflation.
WTXF, a news station in the Philadelphia area, conducted an investigation into the definition of “middle class” in the United States in 2024 on April 25th.
“In 2024, a large U.S. city’s middle-class income averages between $52,000 and $155,000, with the median household income across all 345 cities at $77,345, making middle-class income limits fall between $51,558 and $154,590, [data source] SmartAsset noted.”
Regardless of the currency, Cate’s annual income is likely to exceed $155,000. However, what about her native Australia?
The Australia Institute also defined “middle class” in a January 2024 analysis:
“In 2024, the median income was approximately $83,000, if we restrict our analysis to full-time employees.” The median annual salary for a part-time worker, who is more likely to be female, was approximately $40,000.
“If you earn more than $180,000 a year, you earn more than 95 out of 100 workers in Australia, 95 [percent] of workers earn less than that.”
In February, Metro.co.uk reported that Blanchett possesses at least two residences in the United Kingdom, which is a clear indication that she does not satisfy the criteria for middle class status.
“Donald Hirsch, a policy adviser at the FFT [Financial Fairness Trust] and one of the report’s authors, stated that 20% of individuals in the middle fifth of the income distribution were experiencing financial hardships in order to purchase food and other necessities.”
“It pertains to individuals who earn between £30,000 and £60,000 annually, contingent upon the nature of their household. These individuals are individuals who one would anticipate to be financially solvent.” Individuals are not assured of their security by maintaining a middle-income level.
“The vulnerabilities of individuals with modest incomes have become increasingly apparent during the current cost of living crisis.” They encounter substantial uncertainties and are appropriately advised to accumulate funds for both their retirement and unexpected expenses.
The New York Post suggested that the statement was “British slang… where it refers to heritage and family status rather than wealth,” despite the fact that Cate Blanchett is not considered “middle class” by nearly any metric.