Steve Carell’s Net Worth Is Way More Than the Average Office Worker

Anyone familiar with The Office knows that Michael Scott’s finances were never in the best shape (cue the “I declare bankruptcy” scene). But Steve Carell has had a much more successful career in Hollywood than his wayward Dunder Mifflin counterpart—and it shows in his net worth. The multi-hyphenate has come a long way since growing up in Acton, Massachusetts, where he was raised with three brothers.

“We were not a wealthy family, and both my parents worked; my mom worked nights,” Carell told Parade in 2018. “It was all about us, and that resonated with me.”

Since kicking off his acting career, Carell has seamlessly transitioned from TV to film and back to TV again. He has also proven that he has both comedic and dramatic acting chops, with memorable roles in a number of blockbusters. In addition to acting, he has taken on behind-the-camera roles on some of his projects over the past two decades. His latest movie, Asteroid City, is in theaters now.

From his days on The Office to his time on the big screen, here is everything you need to know about Carell’s career, including his estimated net worth.

How did Steve Carell become famous?

Carell got his start on The Dana Carvey Show in 1996, after training with The Second City comedy troupe in Chicago. Although the show was short lived, he gained notoriety for his work and earned a role as a correspondent for The Daily Show in 1999. He worked there for several years and kicked off his movie career with memorable roles in Bruce Almighty (2003) and Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004).

But it was 2005 that is widely considered to be Carell’s breakout year. He was cast in The Office and appeared in The 40-Year-Old Virgin, which made him a household name and skyrocketed his star power. The Office went on to become one of the most successful comedies of all time, which earned Carell a Golden Globe Award and racked up six Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. His movie career also flourished throughout his seven seasons on the show. He starred in Little Miss Sunshine (2006), Evan Almighty (2007), Dan in Real Life (2007), Get Smart (2008), Date Night (2010) and Dinner for Schmucks (2010), among others. Among many successful live action movie endeavors, Carell’s most surprisingly successful role was as Gru in Despicable Me (2010). The animated kids comedy spawned two sequels (with a third on the way) and two blockbuster Minions spinoffs. The franchise has proven to be one of Carell’s most reliable gigs over the past 13 years.

When Carell announced his departure from The Office, people were shocked. “I will miss all my friends,” he told Parade after the bombshell announcement. “We’ve known each other now for seven, eight years. I mean, it’s been a long time since the time we shot the pilot until now, so that’s by far what I’ll miss the most, the friendships that I’ve gained there.” After his final episode in 2011, Carell made Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011) and Foxcatcher (2014), the latter of which earned him an Oscar nomination. He began taking on more dramatic movie roles, including The Big Short (2015), Battle of the Sexes (2017) and Beautiful Boy (2018). He also made his return to TV (this time, streaming services) with The Morning Show, Space Force and The Patient.

Related: Aw Alert! The Awkwardly Flirtatious Way Steve Carell Charmed His Wife Is Too Cute

What is Steve Carell’s net worth?

Steve Carell’s estimated net worth is $80 million as of 2023. In addition to his movie and TV credits, Carell has appeared in commercials for Pepsi, Honda and AT&T, among other ad spots.

How much did Steve Carell make for The Office?

In a report released ahead of Carell’s seventh (and final) season of The Office, TV Guide pegged his salary at $297,000 per episode. He appeared in 22 of the season’s 26 episodes, putting his estimated earnings at more than $6.5 million for his final run as Michael Scott. He was also a producer, which means that he likely earned additional fees on the backend (and continues to earn revenue via syndication). A Vulture report put his original salary for the show at $50,000-$75,000 per episode.

Related: Why Did Steve Carell Leave 'The Office'? The Real Story Behind Michael Scott's Exit

How much did Steve Carell make for The Morning Show?

Carell is reported to have made about $750,000 per episode for his first season on The Morning Show, according to Variety. It was Apple TV+'s flagship launch series so the computer giant was willing to pay big bucks for great talent.

How much did Steve Carell make for Space Force?

Carell made around $1 million per episode for his work on Space Force, according to The Hollywood Reporter. His contributions as star, co-creator and executive producer added to the hefty payday. The show lasted a total of 17 episodes across two seasons, putting his projected earnings at about $17 million for the total project.

How much did Steve Carell make for The 40-Year-Old Virgin?

Steve Carell was paid $500,000 for his role in The 40-Year-Old Virgin, according to Vulture. In addition to starring in the film, Carell co-wrote the script with director Judd Apatow.

How much did Steve Carell make for Date Night?

A Vanity Fair piece put Carell’s estimated Date Night salary at $12.5 million, so clearly his time on The Office helped him earn more on the movie side of things as well.

How much did Steve Carell make for Despicable Me?

While Steve Carell's salary for Despicable Me hasn't been released, we can assume it certainly wasn't in the $12.5 million range he supposedly earned for the latest Minions film. The original Despicable Me had a $69 million budget, so Carell probably earned something in the low seven figures for his voice work. With the franchise's massive success, however, Carell certainly earned more for the later films, especially if he earned money on the back end based on sales.

How much did Steve Carell make for Minions: The Rise of Gru?

Steve Carell earned $12.5 million for Minions: The Rise of Gru, according to Variety. The Despicable Me franchise and its offshoots have become one of the most lucrative enterprises in Carell’s career, especially given the amount of work it takes to provide a voice rather than act on set.

How much does Steve Carell make per movie?

Although Carell doesn’t have a publicly available standard movie fee, his recent projects mean that he can most likely expect at least $10 million per major blockbuster (discounting passion projects and smaller films).

Next, Steve Carell's Most Memorable Roles (That Aren't The Office)