Have you ever wondered what the net worth of Will Ferrell is? Well, the superstar actor and comedian has one of the wackiest resumes in the industry.
From a prospective career in sports broadcasting to touching Dale’s drum set in Step Brothers, Will Ferrell has a wide variety of different experiences.
As of May 2023, Will Ferrell’s net worth is $160 million. In this post, we’ll show you how The Hollywood favorite amassed his huge net worth.
Early Life
John William Ferrell is an American actor, comedian, producer, writer, and businessman. He established himself in the mid-1990s as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live. Ferrell is known for his hilarious movies and sketch comedies.
Will is also a member of the “Frat Pack,” a generation of Hollywood comic actors who emerged from the late 90s to the early 2000s.
Other notable members of the Frat Pack include Owen Wilson, Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Vince Vaughn, and Steve Carell.
Ferrell was born on July 16, 1967, in Irvine, California, to Betty Kay, a teacher who taught at Old Mill School elementary school and Santa Ana College and Roy Lee Ferrell Jr. Ferrell’s dad played saxophone and keyboards for the Righteous Brothers.
His parents were both natives of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina.
Will Ferrell’s Career
Will Ferrell made a name for himself in comedy after simply deciding to give it a shot. He famously referenced this in his 2017 Commencement Address for his alma mater, USC.
After speaking with his father about the possibility of pursuing a career in acting, Ferrell realized the worst that could happen was that it would not work out.
“This is probably not going to happen. So I might as well have a blast with it. And because I gave myself that break internally, it, unbeknownst to me, opened doors.”
Will Ferrell
This realization helped remove the pressure of needing to succeed. From there, he was able to focus on his craft without a gigantic weight on his shoulders. Here is what followed.
The Groundlings
The Groundlings are an improvisational and sketch comedy troupe and school based in Los Angeles, California.
The group has produced some of the most successful comedians and actors in American history. So, it’s no secret it’s where a talent like Will Ferrell got his start.
At the Groundlings, Will Ferrell began in the advanced classes and grew a passion for improvisation.
He also realized a passion for impersonating people, and one of his favorites was Harry Caray, the Hall of Fame baseball announcer.
Soon after his successful impersonations, he began to create original characters.
Saturday Night Live!
Following his success with The Groundlings, Ferrell eventually drew the attention of a producer from NBC’s hit show, “Saturday Night Live!”
Following a decline in the show’s popularity, Ferrell and some of his colleagues were given a chance to audition in front of SNL’s main producer, Lorne Michaels. The rest is history.
Ferrell became a cast SNL cast member and the show had instant success, thanks to his hilarious impersonations. Here are some of his most famous impressions on Saturday Night Live.
- US President George W. Bush
- Chicago Cubs announcer Harry Caray
- Singer Robert Goulet
- Singer Neil Diamond
- Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy
- United States Attorney General Janet Reno
- Convicted Unabomber Ted Kaczynski
- Game show host Alex Trebek
- Fictitious private detective John Shaft
- Professional wrestler Jesse Ventura
- US Vice President Al Gore
- Iraqi President Saddam Hussein
- Cuban President Fidel Castro
Business Ventures
In April 2007, Ferrell and Adam McKay, a comedy partner, launched the website Funny or Die. While user-generated comedies are streaming, viewers can vote on them.
In January 2009, Ferrell made his Broadway debut as President Bush in the one-man show You’re Welcome America – A Final Night with George W. Bush.
He has contributed voice acting for numerous animated films and TV shows, including Curious George and Family Guy.
Will Ferrell also has his foot in the door in the sports world as a part of the Los Angeles FC soccer team.
Will Ferrell and McKay collaborated on the production of Eastbound & Down (which featured Danny McBride, whom Will helped locate), Succession, and other HBO television series.
Awards and Nominations
Will Ferrell has received three Primetime Emmy Award victories, including one for Succession and two for Live in Front of a Studio Audience (2019, 2020).
He has 16 Emmy nominations, showing just how good of an American actor he is
Ferrell received two Golden Globe nominations for his performances in The Producers (2005) and Stranger than Fiction (2007). (2006).
He received a Tony Award nomination for Best Special Theatrical Event for You’re Welcome America. The final night with George W. Bush (2009).
Personal Life
In August 2000, Ferrell married Viveca Paulin, a Swedish-born art auctioneer who had been his longstanding girlfriend.
They both owned three dogs before they became parents in March 2004 with the birth of their son Magnus Paulin Ferrell.
Their second son, Mattias Paulin Ferrell was born in December 2006, and their third son, Axel Paulin Ferrell was born in January 2010.
Net Worth of Will Ferrell 2022
As of May 2023, Ferrell has a net worth of $160 million. Will Ferrell is one of the wealthiest actors, comedians, and entertainers of all time.
This should come as no surprise seeing that at the peak of his career he was one of the highest-paid actors in the industry.
At this time, Ferrell earned as much as $20 million annually per movie that he starred in. He truly took advantage of his incredible fame in the 2000s. Below are some of Will Ferrell’s most successful and highest-grossing movies of all time.
Key Takeaways
Expose Yourself To Different Experiences
Ferrell attributes his success to his willingness to try different things. After graduating, he took multiple acting classes, tried his hand at stand-up comedy, and even joined an improv group to understand what worked for him.
This goes back to his metaphor of throwing darts at a dartboard and giving yourself a chance to learn different things.
Ignore the Negative Opinions of Others
Starting your own business is a daunting task. One of the biggest roadblocks many of us face is the likely criticism that comes with going against the grain of society.
Ferrell references a time a critic called him “the worst and most unfunny newcomer to Saturday Night Live” in response to his comedic debut.
Surprisingly, Ferrell printed out this message and pasted it to his wall, citing the importance of understanding how many people would not like his work and why it is okay.
This translates to business, as well. Some people will not like your idea, some people will not use your service or product, but some people will. Taking the good with the bad is part of the journey.
Accept Failure As A Possibility
While living at home after graduating, Ferrell went out to lunch with his father. Seeing his son’s anxiety about pursuing comedy as a living, his father gave him some strange advice (which Ferrell now calls, “the anti-pep talk pep talk”).
He told him to accept failure as a possibility, a tip that Ferrell lives by today. If you are able to accept the possibility of failure, you allow your passion to flow through your wor