-> 

v

“Will Smith said if I ever need some help, he was there for me.” Most actresses can’t lay claim to having Will Smith in their back pockets for a rainy day, but Tatyana Ali is not “most actresses.” Ali enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame at the age of 11 for her portrayal of Ashley Banks on the hit television show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. She’s also a talented singer with a successful recording career as well as an Ivy League graduate.

 -> 

v

Tatyana Ali was one of the most familiar young faces on television in the early 1990s. After the end of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air's six-year run, Ali continued to work in the entertainment industry while also racking up other accomplishments, including a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University. Ali also racked up a significant fortune along the way. Her impressive net worth? $6 Million.

From Brooklyn to Bel-Air

 -> 

v

Tatyana Ali was born on January 24, 1979 in Brooklyn, New York. She got her start in the entertainment business at an early age with a regular role on the children's television show, Sesame Street. She also had small parts in 1987’s Eddie Murphy Raw and 1988’s Crocodile Dundee 2 before her big break came in 1990 when she landed the part of Ashley Banks on the popular sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The show was a huge hit and ran for six seasons. Ali later said of the experience, “I was only eleven when we filmed the pilot. I didn't really expect anything to come out of it. I mean, the idea of a rapper being a star on a sitcom just wasn't heard of." 

Ali’s talents weren’t limited to acting. As a child she appeared on Star Search twice as a vocalist, and went on to drop her debut musical album, Kiss the Sky, in 1998. Kiss the Sky reached #47 on the US Billboard Hot 100 charts. It was also certified gold, while its top single, “Daydreamin’” reached #6 on the US Billboard singles chart. 

 -> 

v

Through it all, Ali kept her academic goals in mind. She eventually matriculated at prestigious Harvard University, where she received a double degree in political science and African-American studies. Still, Hollywood called to her. “I wanted to go to school because I had been in entertainment for so long, I wanted to socialize with people my age. I wanted to explore other fields and see what else was out there, but after sitting at my computer and being in the library you know that bug kind of. I graduated early because I wanted to get back out and do what I like to do,” she said. 

As an adult, Tatyana Ali enjoyed a career comeback with TV One’s sitcom Love That Girl! The show started as a four-episode, three-night event but was turned into a series due to its success. However, Ali left before the fourth season due to a contract agreement with another show, Second Generation Wayans. 

 -> 

v

Beyond Bel-Air

While her Fresh Prince of Bel-Air character may have coasted on her television family’s wealth, Ali has amassed a fortune in her own right. She boasts a net worth in the neighborhood of $6 million. 

 -> 

v

Unlike many of her fellow child stars,  Alli does not appear to live a life of excess. Nor is she caught up in all things Hollywood. In fact, she leads a decidedly un-glamorous life: Her husband Dr. Vaughn Rasberry, who she met on eHarmony, is an assistant professor of English at Stanford University. Together, they have two sons: Edward Aszard Rasberry and Alejandro Vaughn Rasberry. 

While little is known about how Ali spends her money, she did recently rent out her three-bedroom, three-bath apartment in Studio City for $5,900 a month. The space had many things going for it, including a Sub-Zero wine fridge and a grand master suite. Alli bought the home in 2013 for $950,000 and it was estimated to be worth more than $1.1 million in 2017. The swank Studio City zip code boasts a long list of A-list neighbors, including Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, Julie Bowen, and Bruno Mars. 

Tatyana Ali accomplished a significant amount over her first 40 years. Which begs the question: What does the future hold for the talented actress? That may not be entirely clear, but Ali has high hopes.  “It's kind of like the Wild West out there, and not just for black Hollywood. In a traditional sense, things look bad -- there are people out of work, shows aren't going up and a lot of films aren't being made, because of the fear of actors going on strike. But I think it's a real fertile time to stake your claim. With things up in the air, it creates new space for people who are trying to break through, business-wise,” she says.