Will Ferrell Net Worth (Money & Salary)

Ferrell appeared in several movies during his “Saturday Night Live” career, including “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery,” “Superstar” and The Ladies Man (which were both based on “SNL” sketches), “Dick” “Drowning Mona,” and “Zoolander.” After Will left “SNL,” his first starring role was in 2003’s “Old School” as Frank “The Tank” Ricard. The role was met with critical acclaim, and the film was a huge commercial success. Ferrell was nominated for an MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance for his role as Frank. Later that year, he was cast in the title role in “Elf” and continued to land major roles in films such as “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” and “Starsky and Hutch.” In 2005 alone, Ferrell earned a cool $40 million.

He continued on his path of critical and box office successes in 2006 when he starred in “Stranger Than Fiction” (in which he successfully showed off his aptitude for dramatic acting) and “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,” which was his highest-grossing opening yet at $47 million. In 2008, another box office smash came in the form of “Step Brothers,” in which he co-starred with John C. Reilly. It earned $128

Worldwide he earned millions.

In 2009, the era of Ferrell started to slightly cool down with the release of “Land of the Lost,” which was a commercial and critical flop, making only about $19 million on opening weekend. Into the 2010s, Will continued to make movies, mostly sequels to past blockbusters. In 2018, he co-starred once again with John C. Reilly in “Holmes & Watson.” He took on lead roles in “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga” in 2020 and “Spirited” in 2022. Ferrell, with his wacky and unique style of humor, remains one of the most recognizable faces in comedy.

Salary Highlights

Ferrell became the highest-paid “SNL” cast member in 2001, setting a then record-breaking $17,500 per episode or $367,500 per season.

During the early to late 2000s, at the peak of his career, Will was amongst the highest-paid actors in Hollywood, consistently earning $20 million per movie. While he can still command high film salaries today, his recent earnings combine lower base salary with backend profit participation points.

Following his $7 million earnings from “Anchorman” in 2004, Will’s salary increased to a minimum of $20 million. Movies for which he was paid $20 million include “Kicking & Screaming,” “Bewitched,” “Talladega Nights,” “Semi-Pro,” and “Land of the Lost.”

In November 2021, Will disclosed he was once offered $29 million for an “Elf” sequel, which he declined as his heart wasn’t into making a second iteration. He explained in 2021:

“I would have had to promote the movie from an honest place, which would’ve been, like, ‘Oh no, it’s not good. I just couldn’t turn down that much money. And I thought, ‘Can I actually say those words? I don’t think I can, so I guess I can’t do the movie.'”

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Other Ventures

In April 2007, Ferrell and his comedy partner Adam McKay founded Funny or Die, a streaming video website featuring user-generated comedy films that are voted on by website visitors. In January 2009, Ferrell made his Broadway debut with his one-man show featuring his impression of President Bush called “You’re Welcome America – A Final Night with George W. Bush.” He has worked as a voice actor for several animated films and TV shows, including “Curious George” and “Family Guy.”

Part-owner of the Los Angeles FC soccer team, the team won the MLS Cup in 2022.

For HBO, Will and McKay have co-produced several television shows, including “Eastbound & Down” (starring Danny McBride, whom Will helped discover) and “Succession.”

Personal Life

Will married Viveca Paulin in August 2000 after meeting at an acting class in 1995. They have three sons: Magnus Paulin Ferrell (b. 2004), Mattias Paulin Ferrell (b. 2006), and Axel Paul Ferrell (b. 2010). The family divides their time between New York City and Orange County.

Having joined the Boston and New York Marathons, Ferrell raises funds for the charity Scholarships for Cancer Survivors.

Real Estate

Since 2007, Will’s primary residence in Los Angeles has been a $9.9 million mansionUpon acquiring from Ellen DeGeneres, the Hollywood Hills property, spanning 2.3 acres across three land parcels with various structures, lush lawns, and gardens, could now easily command $20 million if placed on the market today.