Will Ferrell Net Worth

Will Ferrell is well-known across the globe for his comedy hits and years spent on Saturday Night Live. At one point, Will Ferrell was one of the highest-paid actors, raking in at least $20+ million per movie. With an actor making that much money per film, you can’t help but wonder just how much Will Ferrell’s net worth?

Will Ferrell Net Worth

Will Ferrel’s net worth is approximately $160 million. He’s made his money from his movies, comedy routines, and other ventures, like his debut on Broadway. How did Will Ferrell become a household name, though?

Early Life Will Ferrell

Will Ferrell, born John William Ferrell, was born on July 16, 1967, in Irvine, California. His mother, Betty Kay, was a teacher at the time. His father, Roy Lee Ferrell Jr., was a keyboardist for the band The Righteous Brothers. 

When Will was only eight years old, his parents divorced. One of the primary reasons behind the divorce was that his father was not able to bring in a steady paycheck and consistently traveled. This initially turned Ferrell away from the world of show business, and he craved a life of stability. He wanted a boring office job that offered stability when he grew up. 

John William Ferrell attended Culverdale Elementary and University High School without significant incidences. He was a kicker for the football team. He also played soccer and basketball. Ferrell has previously joked that his dull suburban life led to him developing a creative sense of humor. 

He began to develop his interest in comedy in high school, where he would say the announcements in funny voices and perform comedy skits for talent shows. 

However, he majored in Sports Information and studied Sports Broadcasting when attending the University of Southern California. Even in college, Will was known for pranks, including streaking across campus with his fraternity. 

He gave stand-up comedy a shot but wound up joining a group in Los Angeles called The Groundlings to help improve his improv skills. Ferrell began to take his performance on stage seriously. It was those skills that would slowly pave the way to stardom for Will Ferrell. 

Saturday Night Live

In 1994, the ratings for Saturday Night Live began to tank. In search of a way to boost the ratings, a producer asked Will Ferrell and a few other members of The Groundlings to audition for the show after seeing their performance. This audition landed Ferrell a spot on the show in 1995, and he enjoyed a seven-year-long streak on Saturday Night Live. He became well known for his impersonations, such as: 

• Alex Trebek
• James Lipton
• Janet Reno
• Harry Caray

While on the show, he also created skits and characters, including Steve Butabi, whose sketches would later become the movie Night At The Roxbury. Although he left the show in 2002, he made guest appearances after leaving. In 2014, he was voted the best cast member of all time for SNL. 

Movies

Both during and after his career on SNL, Will Ferrell appeared in several movies. His comedic antics helped him take films from basic to blockbuster status. Some of the films Will Ferrell played in and some notable moments in his film career include: 

• Superstar
• Ladies Man
• Austin Powers: Man Of Mystery
• Old School
• Elf
• Nominated for an MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance
• In 2005, Ferrel earned $40 million
• Played in Stranger Than Fiction
• Starred in Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby, which was one of his highest-gross-opening movies. (Talladega Nights remains a popular movie today.)
• Starred Step Brothers, another huge hit
• Land Of The Lost was a huge flop and only earned $19 million opening weekend
• Was offered $29 million for an Elf sequel but refused because he did not think it would be a good movie
• Played in Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy

What Other Ventures Contributed To Will Ferrell’s Net Worth?

Will Ferrell obviously made more than a few movies, but how has all of that impacted his total net worth? Here are some of the highlights from his earnings and other business ventures that helped him grow the Ferrell net worth: 

• Was the highest-paid SNL cast member in 2001, earning $17,500 per episode
• One of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood during the height of his career and regularly earned at least $20 million per movie
• Founded Funny Or Die with his comedy partner Adam McKay
• Made a Broadway debut with a one-man show that featured his impression of George W. Bush
• Voice actor for several shows, including Family Guy and Curious George, and animated films, like The Lego Movie
• Part owner of the Los Angeles FC soccer team
• Has worked on several shows for HBO, including Succession
• After earning $7 million in Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy, he increased his rate to $20 million

With a career like his, it’s no wonder why Will Ferrell has such a high net worth!

Personal Life

Will Ferrell met the love of his life, and now wife, Viveca Paulin, in August 2000 at an acting class. Their three sons are Magnus Paulin Ferrell, Mattias Paulin Ferrell, and Axel Paul Ferrell. The family spends the majority of their time in Orange County or New York City. The primary home of Will Ferrell is a Los Angeles mansion that he previously purchased from Ellen DeGeneres. 

What Does The Future Hold For Will Ferrell?

Will Ferrell is no longer at the peak of his career, but he can still earn a pretty penny from movies. He still earns money from kickbacks and has managed his money well. The future for Will Ferrell and his family looks very comfortable. 

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