Will Ferrell has a net worth of $160 million USD. He is an American comedian, actor, and writer. Will Ferrell is best known for his numerous humorous films and years as a Saturday Night Live sketch comedian.
He has been one of the world’s highest-paid actors at times, commanding $20 million or more for a single film.
Early Life
Betty Kay a teacher and Roy Lee Ferrell Jr. gave birth to John William Will Ferrell on July 16, 1967, in Irvine, California keyboardist for the band The Righteous Brothers. Will’s parents split when he was eight years old, owing to his father’s frequent travel and inability to consistently create a consistent wage? Will was turned off by this, and his goal as a child was to have a regular career and a conventional existence.
He attended Culverdale Elementary School and University High School, where he was a member of the football team as a kicker.
He also played soccer and was the captain of the basketball team. Growing up in “drab” suburban California, he claims, helped him develop a creative sense of humour.
During his high school years, Will Ferrell developed an interest in acting by collaborating with a friend to create comedic voices for the school’s regular morning announcements.
In the senior superlatives, he was voted “best personality” by his classmates after performing hilarious skits in the school’s talent events.
Ferrell majored in Sports Broadcasting and graduated with a degree in Sports Information from the University of Southern California. His pranks included dressing up as a janitor and walking into his pals’ lessons.
He and his fraternity were also notorious for streaking throughout campus Delta Tau Delta. Will graduated in 1990, tried stand-up comedy for a short time but failed, and eventually joined the Groundlings, a Los Angeles comedy/improvisation group, in 1994 to improve his improvisation talents.
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Saturday Night Live
The ratings and popularity of Saturday Night Live began to fall in 1994-1995. After seeing The Groundlings, an SNL producer invited Ferrell together with future SNL players/fellow Groundlings members Chris Kattan and Cheri Oteri to audition for Lorne Michaels, the show’s chief producer.
In 1995, Ferrell joined the main cast of Saturday Night Live, where he remained for seven years.
Ferrell became an instant hit on the show, thanks to his dead-on impersonations. Among the celebrities he impersonated were George W. Bush, Chicago Cubs announcer Harry Caray, Robert Goulet, James Lipton, Janet Reno, and Alex Trebek.
He was also recognized for his creative characters such as Gene Frenkle of the Blue Oyster Cult, cheerleader Craig Buchanan, and nightclubber Steve Butabi, whose sketches were adapted into a feature film in 1998 called “A Night at the Roxbury.”
Since his departure in 2002, he has guest-hosted the show five times, earning him a spot in the prestigious “Five-Timers” club. Ferrell was chosen as the best cast member of all time in a 2014 poll conducted by SNL.
Film Career
During his time on Saturday Night Live, Ferrell participated in a number of films, including Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, Superstar, and The Ladies Man all based on SNL characters, Dick, Drowning Mona, and Zoolander.
His first leading role after leaving SNL was as Frank “The Tank” Richard in the 2003 film Old School. The film was a big commercial success, and the role received critical acclaim. For his portrayal of Frank, Ferrell received an MTV Movie Award nomination for Best Comedic Performance.
He landed important roles in films like Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and Starsky & Hutch later that year, and he continued to land major roles in films like Elf. Ferrell made a staggering $40 million in 2005 alone.
In 2016, he starred in Stranger Than Fiction in which he successfully demonstrated his knack for dramatic acting, and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, which was his highest-grossing opening ever at $47 million, continuing his record of critical and box office success.
Step Brothers, in which he co-starred with John C. Reilly, became another box office success in 2008. It grossed a total of $128 million over the world.
When Land of the Lost was released in 2009, the film was a commercial and critical disappointment, with only roughly $19 million on opening weekend.
Throughout the 2010s, he continued to make films, primarily sequels to previous blockbusters. With his wacky and unique brand of humour, Ferrell has remained one of the most recognizable faces in comedy.
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Salary Highlights
With a then-record-breaking $17,500 every episode, or $367,500 per season, Ferrell became the highest-paid cast member on Saturday Night Live in 2001.
Will was one of Hollywood’s highest-paid performers during his prime in the early to late 2000s. He made $20 million per film on a continuous basis. He may still command large film wages today, although his latest earnings have been a mix of a lower base salary and backside profit participation points.
Will’s pay was raised to $20 million minimum after earning $7 million for Anchorman in 2004. Kicking & Screaming, Bewitched, Talladega Nights, Semi-Pro, and Land of the Lost are just a few of the movies for which he received $20 million.
Will announced in November 2021 that he was offered $29 million to make a sequel to “Elf.” Because he didn’t want to make a second iteration, he turned down the pay. In 2021, he stated, ”
Other Ventures
Ferrell and his comedic collaborator Adam McKay launched Funny or Die in April 2007, a streaming video website that features user-generated comedy films that users vote on.
Ferrell made his Broadway debut in January 2009 with You’re Welcome America — A Final Night with George W. Bush, a one-man show that featured his imitation of President Bush.
He’s done voice work for Curious George and Family Guy, among other animated films and television shows.
He is a co-owner of the soccer team Los Angeles FC.
Will and McKay have worked together on a number of HBO projects, including Eastbound & Down (featuring Danny McBride, whom Will helped find) and Succession.
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Personal Life
In August of 2000, Ferrell wed Viveca Paulin. They met in a drama class in 1995. Magnus Paulin Ferrell (born in 2004), Mattias Paulin Ferrell (born in 2006), and Axel Paul Ferrell (born in 2008) are their three boys (b. 2010). New York City and Orange County are where the family spends their time.
Ferrell has run the marathons in both Boston and New York. He raises funds for Scholarships for Cancer Survivors, a non-profit organization.
Real Estate
Will has lived in the Hollywood Hills estate he bought from Ellen DeGeneres for $9.9 million in 2007.
The estate spans 2.3 acres and is divided into three sections, with several structures set between large rolling lawns and gardens. On the open market today, the house would easily sell for $20 million.