Sydney Sweeney’s net worth will likely only increase following her controversial American Eagle jeans ad, experts have told Newsweek.
The Euphoria and The White Lotus actor made headlines late last month over her partnership with the clothing brand. The tagline of the campaign, “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans”—a wordplay on genes—sparked a fierce conversation about racism and eugenics.
However, some reputation management experts said the debate could boost her future earnings, with one predicting it would provide Sweeney with an “outrage cocktail of $5 million” by the end of the month alone.
The 27-year-old says in the advert, released on July 23: “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color. My jeans are blue.”
While some online critics accused the advertisement of “white supremacy” and “Nazi propaganda,” others dismissed the accusations and said the wordplay was simply creative marketing.
On August 1, American Eagle defended Sweeney and the advert in a statement posted to social media, which said: “‘Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans’ is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.”
Newsweek reached out to Sweeney’s representative via email for comment on Friday.
Is Sydney Sweeney a Republican?
Amid the debate, Newsweek and multiple other outlets confirmed Sweeney is a registered Republican in Monroe County, Florida.
The revelation has conservatives associating Sweeney with right-leaning politics, despite her never speaking out about her political affiliation.
Republican President Donald Trump told reporters: “She’s a registered Republican? Oh, now I love her ad.” He later said on his social media platform Truth Social that The Handmaid’s Tale star “has the ‘HOTTEST’ ad out there.”
Fox News host Jesse Watters, meanwhile, playfully teased that she and Trump’s youngest son, Barron Trump, should marry.
“It’s going to create the greatest political dynasty in American history,” he said on The Five.
What Is Sydney Sweeney’s Net Worth?
Sweeney’s net worth has not been confirmed, but Celebrity Net Worth estimates it to be approximately $40 million.
The Spokane, Washington, native was nominated for two Emmy Awards in 2022 and was named in Forbes‘ 30 Under 30 list in 2023. Her new film Americana is due to hit theaters on August 15.
Increased Visibility and Cash
Crisis management and PR expert Edward Segal, author of the upcoming book The Crisis Casebook: Lessons in Crisis Management from the World’s Leading Brands, told Newsweek that Sweeney’s “future earnings could certainly be helped because of the controversial ad.”
“That is because companies, brands, movies, Netflix and others might want to take advantage of the recent spike in her name recognition to help increase visibility for their own purposes,” he said.
Eric Schiffer, CEO of Reputation Management Consultants, went further.
“American Eagle’s denim blitz could jam an outrage cocktail of $5 million more in Sweeney’s wallet before Labor Day. The viral jeans spot is a ruthless napalm-grade cash cannon—every click fires fresh royalty checks at her $40 million pile.”
“Critics rant, but controversy drives denim sales,” he continued. “She’s riding a volatile tornado straight to the bank.”
Schiffer added that the ad could boost roles coming her way as Sweeney’s “blend of bombshell and backlash is near lethal catnip for producers.”
“Hollywood forgives denim puns; it rewards controversial cash. She proved she can take heat—directors love an actress with fierce armor,” he said.
Additionally, Trump’s social media post “gave American Eagle a shocking stock pop,” Schiffer said. “She earned that bump without tweeting a syllable.”
The New York Times reported on Tuesday that American Eagle’s stock rose by more than 23 percent after he complimented its campaign.
The Downsides
However, Segal warned that the advert’s controversy could have the opposite effect on Sweeney’s career.
“Companies, movies and TV shows could shy away from her because a number of people who were offended by the commercial,” he said. “Consumers who were turned off by the ad may decide that they will not buy American Eagle’s jeans. Or if they already have a pair, will refuse to buy them again. In their eyes, American Eagle’s brand has been tarnished, and the company will forever be remembered for sponsoring ‘that’ ad.”
Karen J. Kessler, president and CEO Kessler PR Group, told Newsweek that Sweeney “has been walking a marketing tightrope.”
“Will a marketing campaign define her image? No, but she will need to be strategic as she navigates the ‘actress as marketing tool’ career,” she warned.
Sweeney and American Eagle’s Futures
Segal said the brand’s “future is brighter” following the collaboration.
“Breaking through the clutter in the marketplace is always a challenge for brands, and the ad certainly was able to do that in a memorable and effective way,” he said . “I will not be surprised if American Eagle continues to feature Sweeney in their ads or creates a series of new ones that are based on the headlines generated by the ‘great genes’ commercial. Nothing succeeds like success.”
Sweeney has not yet spoken out about the debate, but Kessler said that’s a good thing.
“She is letting the social media universe chatter, while she is notably silent. Good move, Sydney.”
As for her future, it’s looking just as bright as the brand she collaborated with, Schiffer said.
The “ad proves the ‘girl next door’ can weaponize backlash—she’s a savvy PR chameleon,” he said. “Sydney Sweeney turned a 15-second denim tease into a blistering wealth accelerator. The moral of Sydney’s story is outrage sells jeans, jeans fatten wallets and that Sweeney’s playing a ruthless grand-master game.”
The post Sydney Sweeney’s Net Worth Is Set To Radically Change appeared first on Newsweek.
