What Is Albert Brooks' Net Worth?
Albert Brooks is an acclaimed American actor, comedian, writer, and director with a net worth of $30 million. Known for his Academy Award-nominated role in 1987's "Broadcast News," Brooks has contributed to over 30 film and television projects. Notably, he appeared in "Terms of Endearment" (1983), "Drive" (2011), and "This Is 40" (2012). His voice graced characters in "Finding Nemo" (2003), "Finding Dory" (2016), "The Secret Life of Pets" (2016), and "The Simpsons" (1990–2021).
Brooks is an accomplished filmmaker, having written and directed movies such as "Real Life" (1979), "Modern Romance" (1981), "Lost in America" (1985), "Defending Your Life" (1991), "Mother" (1996), "The Muse" (1999), and "Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World" (2005). His comedy career began with the 1973 album "Comedy Minus One," followed by the Grammy-nominated "A Star Is Bought" in 1975. In 2011, Brooks published "2030: The Real Story of What Happens to America."
Early Life
Born Albert Lawrence Einstein on July 22, 1947, in Beverly Hills, California, Albert grew up in a family immersed in the entertainment industry. His mother, Thelma Leeds, was an actress and singer, while his father, Harry Einstein, was a radio comedian. His brother, Bob Einstein, famous as "Super Dave Osborne," made regular appearances on "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "Arrested Development." Another brother, Cliff, is a founding partner of L.A.'s Dailey Advertising. Albert’s half-brother, Charles Einstein, wrote for "Lou Grant" and "Playhouse 90" before passing away in 2007.
Raised in a Jewish household, Albert attended Beverly Hills High School, where his classmates included Rob Reiner and Richard Dreyfuss. Post-graduation, Brooks enrolled at Carnegie Mellon University but left after his freshman year to pursue comedy.
Career
Albert adopted the stage name "Albert Brooks," jokingly explaining, "The real Albert Einstein changed his name to sound more intelligent." Brooks gained prominence in the late '60s and '70s, frequently appearing on talk shows and variety shows. He made 31 appearances on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson."
Brooks' acting career began in 1969 with roles on "Marcus Welby, M.D." and "Insight," later appearing on "The Odd Couple," "Love, American Style," and "The New Dick Van Dyke Show." He wrote and directed short films for "Saturday Night Live" in 1975 and the film "The Famous Comedians School" in 1976. His big screen debut came with "Taxi Driver" (1976), followed by roles in "Private Benjamin" (1980) and his own works, "Real Life" (1979) and "Modern Romance" (1981).
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In 1987, Brooks starred in "Broadcast News" alongside William Hurt and Holly Hunter. The film was preserved in the Library of Congress' National Film Registry in 2018. Brooks continued his career with "Defending Your Life" (1991), "The Scout" (1994), "Mother" (1996), "Critical Care" (1997), "Out of Sight" (1998), and the 1999 film "The Muse." He voiced Jacob the Tiger in "Dr. Dolittle" and Marlin in "Finding Nemo" (2003) and its sequel "Finding Dory" (2016).
Brooks took on the role of Russ Cargill in "The Simpsons Movie" (2007) and had a recurring role in "Weeds" (2008). His portrayal of Bernie Rose in "Drive" (2011) earned him numerous awards. He was also featured in "This Is 40" (2012), "A Most Violent Year" (2014), "Concussion" (2015), and voiced characters in "The Little Prince" (2015) and "I Love You, Daddy" (2017). In 2016, Brooks voiced Tiberius in "The Secret Life of Pets," a film grossing $875.5 million worldwide.
Personal Life
On March 15, 1997, Albert married artist Kimberly Shlain. They have two children: son Jacob (born October 1998) and daughter Claire (born March 2000). Kimberly is the daughter of writer and surgeon Leonard Shlain. Prior to his marriage, Albert reportedly dated actress Carrie Fisher and singer Linda Ronstadt.
Awards and Nominations
Albert received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in "Broadcast News" (1988), which also brought him several critic awards. His performance in "Drive" (2011) earned him a Golden Globe nomination and other accolades. Brooks and Monica Johnson shared a ShoWest Convention award for "Mother" in 1997. Additionally, he and his "Finding Dory" co-stars won the #SQUAD award at the 2017 Kids' Choice Awards.
Real Estate
In 1992, Albert bought a 5,100 square foot Bel Air home for $3.7 million, which he sold in 2012 for $6.3 million. In 2014, he purchased a 4,475 square foot Santa Monica home for $4.5 million.
