Nina Hartley Net Worth (Money & Salary)

Discovering Nina Hartley’s Wealth

Having a net worth of $4 million, Nina Hartley is recognized as an American adult film star, director, feminist, and author. Through her career, she has starred in 938 adult films and directed multiple others. Her debut film, “Educating Nina,” propelled her into success. Additionally, she has appeared in mainstream films like “Boogie Nights” and “Bubbles Galore”.

Origin Story

Marie Louise Hartman, known professionally as Nina Hartley, was born on March 11, 1959, in Berkeley, California. She is the youngest of four children born to Louis and Blanche Hartman, who were active members of the Communist Party USA. Facing adversity due to her father’s blacklisting in 1957, Nina graduated from Berkeley High School in 1977 and later excelled in San Francisco State University’s nursing program, graduating magna cum laude in 1985. Although she worked as a registered nurse until 1986, her passion led her towards a different career path.

Professional Journey in the Adult Industry

Nina ventured into the adult industry during her college days, initially as a stripper at Sutter Cinema and later at Mitchell Brothers O’Farrell Theatre. Motivated by watching “The Autobiography of a Flea,” the first adult film directed by a woman, Sharon McNight, she transitioned into acting in adult projects. Starting with photo spreads for magazines like “High Society” and “Hustler,” her first on-screen performance was in “Educating Nina,” mentored by adult film actress Juliet Anderson. She adopted the moniker Nina Hartley for its easy pronunciation by Japanese tourists during her dancing days in San Francisco, aligning it closely with her real name. Throughout the ’80s and early ’90s, she starred in various spin-offs of the “Debbie Does Dallas” series and directed her debut movie, “Nina Hartley’s Book of Love,” in 1992. Alongside her film career, she toured the United States and Canada as a stripper and made appearances at adult stores nationwide.

Transition to Mainstream Media

Hartley ventured into mainstream cinema, notably playing William H. Macy’s character’s unfaithful wife in the 1997 hit “Boogie Nights.” She also featured in the 1996 Canadian film “Bubbles Galore” and appeared in Tupac Shakur’s music video for “How Do U Want It?” in the same year.

Advocacy and Sex-Positive Initiatives

Initiating a line of instructional videos focused on sex in 1994 under the Nina Hartley brand, she became a sought-after speaker on various media platforms and at events concerning the adult industry. Her book “Nina Hartley’s Guide to Total Sex” was published in 2006, followed by co-writing the “How to be Kinkier” book series in 2012. Furthermore, she made appearances in documentaries like “After Porn Ends” in 2012 and participated in the documentary “Sticky: A (Self) Love Story” in 2016, promoting sex-positive attitudes towards self-love and sexual education.

Serving as a board member of the Woodhull Freedom Foundation, Nina remains a staunch advocate for the adult film industry’s rights. She has presented lectures at various universities, such as Dartmouth, Harvard, and Berkeley. Noteworthy was her interview by Eric Schlosser for his book “Reefer Madness: Sex, Drugs, and Cheap Labor in the American Black Market,” where she condemned the hypocrisy surrounding anti-porn efforts and legislation.

Recognition and Achievements

Throughout her illustrious career in the adult entertainment industry, Hartley has garnered numerous accolades. She boasts nine Adult Video News Awards, securing recognition in categories like Best Actress for “Debbie Duz Dishes,” Best Couples Sex Scene Film for “Amanda By Night II,” Best Supporting Actress for “The Last X-Rated Movie,” and Best Specialty tape for “Nina Hartley’s Guide to Spanking,” among others. Additionally, she has clinched seven XRCO Awards, the Free Speech Coalition Lifetime Achievement Award in 1988, and the Fanny Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. Notably, in 2019, she triumphed with the XBIZ Award for Best Non-Sex Acting Performance for her role in “Future Darkly: Artifamily.”

Personal Outlook

Privately, Nina Hartley identifies as bisexual. She embraced a relationship with both a man and a woman from 1981 to 2000. After marrying her male partner in 1986 and subsequently divorcing in 2003, she entered an openly polyamorous union with porn director Ira Levine a year later, a relationship that endures to this day.