What is Neil Patrick Harris’ Net Worth and Salary?
Neil Patrick Harris is a successful American actor, producer, singer, and director with a net worth of $50 million. He first gained recognition as a child actor in various projects, including “Clara’s Heart”, “Too Good to Be True”, and “Purple People Eater”.
However, he became a breakout star when he was cast as the titular character in “Doogie Howser, M.D.”, playing a teenage genius doctor. After the show’s cancellation, he appeared in guest roles on various TV shows and films, including “My Antonia” and “Starship Troopers”.
He continued to act in theater productions, including the National Touring Company of “Rent”, “Romeo and Juliet”, and “Sweeney Todd”. His career gained momentum in 2000, when he starred in multiple Broadway productions and successful comedies such as “Undercover Brother” and “Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle”.
In 2005, he was cast as Barney Stinson on “How I Met Your Mother”, which brought him back to television prominence. He has also provided voiceover work for animated films and series and has become a popular host for awards ceremonies, including the Tony Awards and the Emmy Awards.
Early Life and Education
Neil Patrick Harris was born on June 15th, 1973 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He grew up with his older brother in a family of lawyers who also ran a restaurant. Despite beginning his acting career as a child, Harris was able to attend high school half the time and was privately tutored for the other half. He graduated in 1991 with exceptional grades.
Early Career of Neil Patrick Harris
Neil Patrick Harris began his career as a child actor, catching the eye of playwright Mark Medoff during a drama camp and later starring in the 1988 film Clara’s Heart and Purple People Eater. However, his breakout role came in 1989 when he was cast as the lead in the television series Doogie Houser, M.D. The show ran for four seasons and earned Harris a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of a teenage physician with a genius intellect.
Neil Patrick Harris’ Career Highlights
After the end of Doogie Houser, M.D. in 1993, Neil Patrick Harris focused on film roles. He appeared in Snowboard: The Jim and Jennifer Stolpa Story in 1994. Later, he transitioned to adult roles, starting with Animal Room in 1995. He played a central role in the science fiction cult classic Starship Troopers in 1997 and a lead role in the musical Rent. He then starred in the three-part mini-series Joan of Arc in 1999.
Neil Patrick Harris booked another recurring television role in the NBC sitcom Stark Raving Mad in 1999, which ended in 2000. He returned to film with a supporting role in 2000’s The Next Best Thing and then booked a role on the made-for-TV movie The Wedding Dress. He played Tobias Ragg in a stage production of Sweeney Todd in 2001 and followed with another stage performance in 2002 with Proof. He appeared in Undercover Brother in the same year.
Neil Patrick Harris received critical acclaim for his performance in a stage production of Cabaret in 2003. He played a comedic version of himself in Harold & Kumar Go to Whitecastle in 2004 and repeated this party-loving, woman-obsessed version of himself in two Harold & Kumar sequels. That year, he also joined the cast of the musical Assassins.
Neil Patrick Harris’ Acting Career and Other Ventures
Neil Patrick Harris played Barney Stinson on the sitcom How I Met Your Mother from 2005 to 2014, which earned him praise from critics and viewership ratings. He also booked guest roles in other TV shows during this period.
Aside from his on-screen work, Harris is an accomplished voice actor, providing voice acting work for several movies and TV series.
In 2014, Harris showcased his acting skills in a more serious role with the film Gone Girl, and won a Tony Award for his lead role in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. He also appeared in American Horror Story and played the villain Olaf in Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events from 2016 to 2019. He is set to appear in the fourth Matrix film.
Outside of acting, Harris has hosted several award shows, including the Tony Awards, Emmy Awards, and Academy Awards. He also hosted the game show Genius Junior.
Neil Patrick Harris Earns $225,000 Per Episode at Peak of Series
During the height of his series, Neil Patrick Harris earned $225,000 per episode. This amounted to a total of $5.4 million before royalties and syndication earnings.
Neil Patrick Harris: Magician and Video Game Voice Actor
Neil Patrick Harris is known for his skills as a magician, which he has showcased in various roles throughout his acting career. He even hosted the World Magic Awards in 2008.
Besides his work in entertainment, Neil Patrick Harris is also involved in the video game industry. He has lent his voice to several games, including Saints Row 2, Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions (as Spider-Man), and Saints Row IV. In 2010, he even hosted the Spike Video Game Awards.
Neil Patrick Harris’ Personal Life
Neil Patrick Harris has been in a relationship with actor David Burtka since 2004, and the couple had twins via a surrogate mother in 2010. After the Marriage Equality Act was passed, the pair married in 2014. Harris is the first openly gay man to host the Academy Awards.
Neil Patrick Harris Real Estate Ventures
In 2013, Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka purchased an 8,000 square-foot town home in Harlem for $3.6 million. After a major renovation and several years of living in the property, they listed it for sale in August 2021 for $7.3 million. However, they ultimately sold it in May 2022 for $7.1 million.
Prior to this, the couple had owned a home in Sherman Oaks, California, which they sold in 2014 for $3 million.
In 2017, Neil and David purchased a 13.5-acre property in East Hampton, NY, for $5.5 million.
