What Is Steve Carell's Net Worth and Salary?
Steve Carell is an American actor, comedian, producer, writer, and director with a net worth of $80 million. He gained significant attention as a correspondent on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart." He co-wrote and starred in the 2005 hit "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," which marked his breakthrough into stardom. That same year, he began his iconic role as Michael Scott in the American adaptation of "The Office." This role earned him critical acclaim, a Golden Globe Award, and multiple Emmy nominations.
Steve's career extends beyond television with notable film roles and voice work in animated films. His versatility is showcased in movies like "Little Miss Sunshine," "Evan Almighty," "Dan in Real Life," "Get Smart," and "Date Night." Additionally, he proved his dramatic talents with an Academy Award nomination for "Foxcatcher." His success continued with roles in "The Big Short" (2015) and "Battle of the Sexes" (2017), and a return to TV with "The Morning Show" (2019-2021). Carell also owns Carousel Productions, further cementing his status in the entertainment industry.
"The Office" Salary
During the early seasons of "The Office," Steve earned $175,000 per episode, which increased to $300,000 per episode at the peak of the show's popularity. As a producer, writer, and director, he earned additional fees and continues to benefit from syndication deals. Overall, Carell made around $7 million per year from "The Office."
Other Salaries
Steve earned $500,000 for "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," $5 million for "Evan Almighty," $12.5 million for "Date Night," $12 million for "Dinner for Schmucks," and $15 million for "Crazy Stupid Love." For the "Despicable Me" sequels, Carell now commands at least $15-20 million per appearance.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Steve Carell was born on August 16, 1962, in Concord, Massachusetts. Raised in Acton, Massachusetts, by his father, Edwin, an electrical engineer, and his mother, Harriet, a psychiatric nurse, he is the youngest of four brothers. The family often performed together, and Steve played the fife in a reenactment group.
Steve attended Middlesex School and then Denison University, where he graduated with a history degree in 1984. At Denison, he joined an improvisational comedy troupe and worked as "Sapphire Steve Carell" on the campus radio station.
Early in his career, Carell performed with a touring children’s theater company, appeared in the musical "Knat Scatt Private Eye," and starred in a 1989 Brown's Chicken commercial.
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Television and Film Career
Steve joined Chicago's Second City in 1991 and made his film debut with a minor role in "Curly Sue". In 1996, he starred in "The Dana Carvey Show," which featured the popular animated segment "The Ambiguously Gay Duo." Subsequently, Carell joined "The Daily Show" from 1999 to 2005, contributing to segments like "Even Stevphen" with Stephen Colbert and "Produce Pete."
Carell's first major film role was in "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" (2004) with Will Ferrell.
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In 2005, Carell starred as Michael Scott in "The Office," which became a cultural phenomenon. His performance earned him multiple awards and nominations. Simultaneously, he worked on films such as "Evan Almighty," "Dan in Real Life," "Get Smart," and "Date Night." He also voiced Gru in the successful "Despicable Me" franchise, reprising his role for multiple sequels.
Post-"The Office," Steve starred in "Foxcatcher" (2014), earning nominations for a Golden Globe and an Academy Award. He continued his success with roles in "The Big Short," "Freeheld," "Café Society," "Battle of the Sexes," "Beautiful Boy," "Vice," and "Welcome to Marwen." He returned to TV with "The Morning Show," "Space Force," and reprised his role as Gru in 2022's "Minions: The Rise of Gru."
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Personal Life
Steve met Nancy Walls in an improv class he taught at Second City. They married on August 5, 1995, and have two children. Nancy is a former "Saturday Night Live" cast member and has appeared with Carell in several projects, including "The Office" and "The 40-Year-Old Virgin." Together, they created the TBS comedy series "Angie Tribeca" (2016-2019).
Steve and Nancy are also known for their philanthropic efforts, including Steve's donation to the Minnesota Freedom Fund during the George Floyd protests.
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Real Estate
In 2010, Steve and Nancy bought a property in Toluca Lake, LA, for $6 million from the estate of Jonathan Winters. They demolished the existing structure to build a 6,600-square-foot mansion featuring six bedrooms and five bathrooms. The property includes a lush backyard with a pool, pool house, and tennis courts.
The couple sold a former Toluca Lake property for $5.1 million in 2012. In Massachusetts, they own a home in Marshfield and operate the Marshfield Hills General Store, managed by Nancy's sister.
