What Is Penn Badgley's Net Worth?
Penn Badgley, an American actor, producer, and musician, boasts a net worth of $8 million. Renowned for his pivotal roles as Dan Humphrey on The CW's "Gossip Girl" (2007–2012) and Joe Goldberg on the Lifetime/Netflix series "You" (2018–present), Badgley has secured a prominent spot in Hollywood.
With over 30 acting credits, his noteworthy films include "John Tucker Must Die" (2006), "The Stepfather" (2009), "Easy A" (2010), and "Margin Call" (2011). His television portfolio features series like "The Young and the Restless" (2000–2001), "Do Over" (2002), "The Mountain" (2004–2005), and "The Bedford Diaries" (2006). Penn advanced to a producer on "You" in its third season and executive produced the short film "Moth" in 2009. Additionally, he leads the band MOTHXR, which released the album "Centerfold" in 2016.
Early Life
Penn Dayton Badgley was born on November 1, 1986, in Baltimore, Maryland. His parents, Lynne and Duff, divorced when he was 12. Lynne served as the PTA president at Woolridge Elementary and ran a jewelry design business, while Duff worked as a reporter, home builder, and carpenter; he even ran for governor of Washington in 2008 as a Green Party candidate.
Penn's educational journey spanned various institutions, including Woolridge Elementary, St. Christopher's School in Virginia, and Charles Wright Academy in Washington. He also performed in plays with Seattle Children's Theatre and Pine Nut Players theater in Monroe, Washington. After bypassing high school by taking a proficiency exam at 14, he enrolled in Santa Monica College and later attended Lewis & Clark College in Portland for two years.
Career
At the age of 11, Penn relocated to Los Angeles with his mother and began voiceover work for children's radio stations and video games such as "Mario Golf 64" and "Mario Tennis 64." His first on-screen role was in a 1999 episode of "Will & Grace," followed by guest roles in "Bull," "The Brothers Garcia," and "Daddio." In 2000, he landed the role of Phillip "Chance" Chancellor on "The Young and the Restless."
In 2001, Penn debuted on the big screen in "The Fluffer" and starred in notable series like "Do Over" (2002–2003) and "The Mountain" (2004–2005). His role in the teen comedy "John Tucker Must Die" (2006) marked a turning point. By 2007, he captivated audiences as Dan Humphrey in "Gossip Girl," alongside Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, and Chace Crawford. "Gossip Girl" ran for six seasons, totaling 121 episodes, and earned Badgley several Teen Choice Award nominations.
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Penn starred in "Forever Strong" (2008), "The Stepfather" (2009), "Easy A" (2010) with Emma Stone, and "Margin Call" (2011) alongside Kevin Spacey and Paul Bettany. He portrayed Jeff Buckley in "Greetings from Tim Buckley" (2012) and appeared in "Parts per Billion" (2014), "The Slap" (2015), "Cymbeline" (2015), "The Paper Store" (2016), and "Adam Green's Aladdin" (2016).
In 2018, Penn took on the chilling role of Joe Goldberg in "You," transitioning from Lifetime to Netflix for the second season. The series, based on Caroline Kepnes' novels, was among the top streamed shows in 2020. In a 2020 interview with "Vice," Penn shared his mixed feelings about viewers' infatuation with his character, noting both the gratification and unease it brought him. He co-starred with Billy Crystal and Tiffany Haddish in 2021's "Here Today."
Personal Life
Penn began dating British singer Domino Kirke in 2014, and they wed on February 27, 2017. They welcomed their son, James, on August 11, 2020, after two miscarriages. Penn is also a stepfather to Cassius, Domino's son from her previous relationship with musician Morgan O'Kane. Domino's family is musically inclined, with her father being the drummer Simon Kirke and her sister, Jemima, known for her role on "Girls."
Penn previously dated "Gossip Girl" co-star Blake Lively and actress Zoë Kravitz. Penn embraced the Bahá'í Faith in 2015 and has been an advocate against the persecution of Bahá'ís in Iran. He supported Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign and participated in an Obama ad with Blake Lively for MoveOn's Youth Vote. In 2010, he joined the American Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet and has voiced his support for the Black Lives Matter and Occupy Wall Street movements.
Awards and Nominations
Penn has received several accolades, including a Best Actor award at the Oxford International Film Festival and a Jury Special Mention at the Manchester International Film Festival for "The Paper Store" in 2016. For "You," he earned an "ELLE" Style Award for International Star in 2019. "Margin Call" won the Robert Altman Award at the 2012 Film Independent Spirit Awards. He has been nominated for eight Teen Choice Awards, and the "Margin Call" ensemble received several nominations for Best Ensemble.
In 2001, he was nominated for a Young Artist Award for "The Young and the Restless," and in 2019, he received MTV Movie + TV Award and Saturn Award nominations for his role in "You."
Real Estate
In October 2021, Penn and Domino purchased a three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment in Brooklyn for $1.825 million, exceeding the asking price. They previously owned a Williamsburg loft, selling it for $2.19 million in 2019 after attempting to rent it for $8,500 per month.
