What is Ben Stiller’s net worth and Salary?
Ben Stiller is a multi-talented American actor, comedian, writer, film director, and producer with a net worth of $200 million. He is best known for his roles in popular films such as “Zoolander,” “There’s Something About Mary,” “Meet The Parents,” and “Tropic Thunder.” His movies have grossed over $6 billion globally.
Stiller, the son of famous actors Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, dropped out of UCLA Film School in his freshman year to pursue acting full-time. He gained recognition for his short films, which led to a writing position on “Saturday Night Live.” He later created his own show, “The Ben Stiller Show,” which won an Emmy for “Outstanding Writing.” Stiller has directed and acted in numerous successful projects, including “Reality Bites,” “The Royal Tenenbaums,” and “Night at the Museum.”
Early Life and Career of Ben Stiller
Benjamin Edward Stiller, born on November 30, 1965, grew up on the Upper West Side of New York City and was the son of two famous acting parents, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. Stiller’s childhood was unconventional and unusual, as he frequently attended the sets of his parents’ TV shows and made Super 8 movies with his older sister, Amy.
Stiller made his acting debut at age nine on his mother’s TV show, Kate McShane, and later performed with NYC’s First All Children’s Theater. He graduated from the Calhoun School in New York in 1983 and briefly attended film school at the University of California Los Angeles before returning to NYC to take acting classes and audition for roles.
Ben Stiller’s Early Career
In 1986, Ben Stiller starred in the Broadway revival of “The House of Blue Leaves,” which earned four Tony Awards. Prior to that, he produced satirical “mockumentaries” and short films, including “The Hustler of Money.” This caught the attention of “Saturday Night Live,” which aired it in 1987 and offered Stiller a writing position two years later. While working on “SNL,” he also appeared as a featured performer but left after four episodes because the show wouldn’t let him make more short films. Stiller went on to create “Elvis Stories” and a short film for MTV, which led to his own show, “The Ben Stiller Show,” in 1992. The show won an Emmy but was short-lived. Stiller then directed and starred in “Reality Bites” in 1994, which became the highest-grossing film in its opening weekend. He went on to act in and direct “Heavyweights” and “The Cable Guy,” which starred Jim Carrey.
Ben Stiller’s Career Highlights
Ben Stiller’s breakout role was in the 1998 comedy “There’s Something About Mary,” which earned him $3 million. He went on to star in iconic comedies such as “Meet the Parents” and “Zoolander.” Stiller’s career continued to thrive with successful films like “Night at the Museum,” which earned over $115 million in just 10 days. He has written, directed, produced, or starred in over 50 films, grossing more than $6.4 billion at the worldwide box office. Stiller is a charter member of “The Frat Pack,” a group of actors that includes Jack Black, Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, and Steve Carell.
Personal Life and Philanthropy
Stiller has dated Jeanne Tripplehorn, Amanda Peet, and Calista Flockhart. He married actress Christine Taylor in May 2000, and they have two children together. Unfortunately, the couple announced their separation in May 2017.
In 2010, Stiller was diagnosed with Lyme disease, and in 2014 he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. After successful treatment, he was given a cancer-free status in September 2014.
Stiller has appeared on the game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” and won $32,000 for his charity Project ALS. He supports various charities, including Declare Yourself, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, the Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation, and animal rights organizations. He was appointed Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in 2018.
Stiller is a supporter of the Democratic Party and has donated and fundraised for John Kerry in 2004 and Barack Obama in 2008. He has also given money to the presidential campaigns of John Edwards and Hillary Clinton.
Real Estate Holdings
In 2016, Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor paid $15.3 million for a condo in New York City’s West Village, which they held on to until October 2022 when it sold for $14.5 million. They sold their former NYC condo in 2013 for $9 million, which was $1 million less than they paid for it in 2008. They also sold their longtime LA residence in 2011 for $7.3 million to Jason Statham, who sold it two years later for $9.2 million to “Big Bang Theory” star Johnny Galecki. The Stillers still co-own a 14-acre bluff-top property in Hawaii that they purchased in 2002 for $8.5 million and a 33-acre property in Chappaqua, New York, which they bought in 2010 for $10 million.
