Last updated on: July 28, 2025
Brooke Elizabeth Burns (born March 16, 1978, Dallas, Texas) is an American actress, television host, and model who shot to attention as lifeguard Jessie Owens on the smash‑hit series Baywatch (1998‑2001). A former ballerina whose dance dreams were sidelined by injury, she pivoted to modeling at sixteen, working in Europe before landing her first acting gig on the teen sitcom Out of the Blue (1995) and moving to Los Angeles thereafter.
Burns turned her beach popularity into a varied screen career, starring in the soap North Shore, feature comedy Shallow Hal, and a slate of Hallmark Mysteries. She reinvented herself as a game‑show dynamo, hosting NBC’s Dog Eat Dog, Fox’s Hole in the Wall, and earning a Daytime Emmy nomination for GSN’s The Chase in 2014. A 2005 diving accident that fractured her neck inspired advocacy for spinal‑cord safety.
As of December 2025, Brooke Burns is 47 years and 8 months old. Her estimated net worth is $3 million, and she is 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm or 1.73 m) tall.
Bio/Wiki
Full Name
Brooke Elizabeth Burns
Nickname
Brooke
Profession
Model, Actress, Game Show Host / TV Personality
Career
Debut
Film
Shallow Hal (2001)
TV Show
Out of the Blue (1996)
Best Known for
She is best known for her role as Jessica “Jessie” Owens, an aspiring lifeguard on the popular TV series Baywatch and Baywatch: Hawaii from 1998 to 2001.
Awards
Personal Profile and Background Details
Date of Birth
March 16, 1978
Age
As of today, Brooke Burns is 47 years, 8 months, and 20 days old.
Zodiac sign
Pisces
Signature
Nationality
American
Birth Place
Dallas, Texas, United States of America
Residence
Los Angeles, California, United States of America
School / College / University
Trinity Christian Academy
Religion
Christianity
Race / Ethnicity
English, Scottish ancestry
Food Habits
Non-vegan
Hobbies
Modeling
Physical Attributes and Measurements
Height
- In feet – 5′ 8″
- In Centimeters – 173 cm
- In meters – 1.73 m
Weight
- In kilograms – 57 kg
- In Pounds – 125.5 lbs
Body Measurements
35 – 23 – 34 inches
Shoe size
9.5 (US)
Dress size
4 (US)
Bra size
32C
Eye color
Blue
Hair color
Blonde
Family
Husband
Julian McMahon (1999-2001) (Divorced)
Gavin O’Connor (2013-Present)
Father
Brad Burns
Brad worked in the oil business and also did missionary work.
Mother
Betsy Burns
Siblings
Becky Katherine Burns (Sister)
Beth Abigail Burns (Sister)
Beth is the sister of Brooke. She studied at Westmont College – Private Liberal Arts College, Santa Barbara. She is now married to Mr Beakley and together they have 3 daughters.
Children
Madison Elizabeth McMahon (Daughter) (Born on June 10, 2000)
Declan Welles (Daughter) (Born in January 2017)
Relationship & More
Marital Status
Married to Gavin O’Connor
Marriage Date
December 22, 1999 – Julian McMahon
June 22, 2013 – Gavin O’ Connor
Affairs or dating history
Julian McMahon (1998-2001)
Steve Bing (2003)
James Wilder (2003)
Bruce Willis (2003-2004)
Dominic Purcell (2008)
John Cusack (2010-2011)
Gavin O’ Connor (2011-Present)
Favorite Things
- Favorite Sports Team – Dallas Cowboys (American Football)
- Breakfast Food – Oatmeal
- Favorite Beverage – Coffee (Hot Latte, Ice Coffee)
- Favorite Guilty Pleasure – French Fries, Dairy Queen
- Dinner Meal – Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Beans
- Favorite Lunch Meal – Quinoa, Vegetables
- Favorite Chewing Gum – Spry Gum
- Vacation Spot – Hawaii, Big Sur
- Favorite Weekend Getaway – Cabo San Lucas in Mexico
- Favorite Designers – Dolce & Gabbana, Prada
- Game Shows – The Price is Right, Wheel of Fortune
Net worth 2025
$3 million
As of December 2025, it’s estimated that Brooke Burns has a net worth of about $3 million. Let’s break down her career earnings.
1. Television & Film Acting — ≈ $1.4 million gross
| Project | Episodes / Films | Contract Logic | 2025‑$ Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baywatch (1998‑2001) | 46 eps | Cast members confirm $3,500/ep on the Hulu doc “After Baywatch.” | $161 k |
| North Shore (2004‑05) | 21 eps | Prime‑time SAG guest‑star minimum today is $14 k/ep. Using that base: | $294 k |
| Hallmark & Lifetime movies | 17 leads since 2008 | Lead pay runs $5.6‑$24 k per film; Burns sits comfortably mid‑pack at $22 k. | $374 k |
| Cameos & features (CSI: Miami, Shallow Hal, etc.) | 25+ days | Day‑player scale + overtime | $225 k |
| Residuals (reruns, digital) | n/a | Baywatch actors receive pennies: Pamela Anderson says ≈ $1‑4 k/yr; extrapolate proportionally | $180 k |
Why so “low” for a global hit?
Baywatch was syndicated, not network‑owned; actors got no backend points and only the basic residual formula, which is why Burns—like her co‑stars—still calls it “great exposure, lousy pension.
2. Game‑Show & Reality Hosting — ≈ $2.7 million gross
| Show | Seasons / Eps | Typical Host Fee* | 2025‑$ Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dog Eat Dog (NBC) | 26 eps | Early‑2000s network game shows paid $25‑35 k/ep; midpoint $30 k | $780 k |
| Hole in the Wall (FOX) | 18 eps | FOX reality strips: $10‑12 k/ep | $200 k |
| The Chase (GSN) | 51 eps | Cable quiz hosts average $10‑15 k/ep; midpoint $12.5 k | $638 k |
| Master Minds (GSN) | 280 eps (2020‑24) | GSN staff hosts convert to a $250 k annual retainer | $1 m (four seasons) |
| Tic Tac Dough (2025‑) | 30‑ep order | Pre‑renewal pilot rate $10 k/ep | $300 k |
*Benchmarks sourced from ZipRecruiter averages for U.S. game‑show hosts (≈ $64 k / yr) and tiered up for nationally televised personalities on long‑running formats. ZipRecruiter
3. Modeling, Print & Commercial Work — ≈ $420 k gross
Burns spent three teenage fashion seasons in Paris, Milan and Munich before turning to acting. ’90s European catalog/runway day‑rates averaged $2‑4 k; three years at an 18‑week season equals the bulk of this bucket.
-
OnStar “Batman” campaign (2001) National SAG commercial paid $50 k + residuals over two cycles (~$90 k in today’s dollars).
-
Assorted U.S. print ads Swimwear and athleisure bookings across the early‑2000s add ≈ $60 k.
4. Speaking, MC & Brand Appearances — ≈ $240 k gross
Brooke is repped by multiple lecture bureaus; although the exact “speaker fee range” is listed as Please Contact, the same bureaus slot parallel TV personalities in $15‑30 k tiers. Two paid appearances a year since 2015 at a median $18 k yields ≈ $240 k. Bureau
5. Investments, Real‑Estate & “Quiet Money”
Public records show:
-
Studio‑city family home bought with husband‑director Gavin O’Connor in 2013 for $2.4 m; Zillow now pins it near $3.6 m.
-
Dallas rental property inherited from her parents (value low‑six figures).
Because mortgages, equity splits, and any brokerage portfolio remain private, no investment gains are included in the career‑earnings total, but they help explain how a $5 m net worth is achievable on a $4.8‑5.6 m gross.
6. What About Philanthropy?
A near‑fatal pool accident in 2005 left Burns with a titanium neck plate and a cause: spinal‑cord‑injury awareness. She sits on the board of the Think First National Injury Prevention Foundation and routinely donates appearance fees—money out, not in—so charitable work doesn’t inflate her net.
