Matthew Perry net worth is a topic many fans are interested in. He became famous for playing Chandler Bing on Friends, one of the most popular TV shows of all time. His success on the show led to high earnings and many opportunities in Hollywood. He also worked on movies, other TV shows, and writing projects that added to his wealth.
So, let’s take a closer look at how he made his money and what helped him build his career.
Matthew Perry in Brief
| Full Name | Matthew Langford Perry |
| Date of Birth | August 19, 1969 |
| Place of Birth | Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA |
| Occupation | Actor, Producer |
| Height | 6 feet (183 cm) |
| Weight | 210 lbs (95 kg) |
| Spouse | Molly Hurwitz (2020–2021) |
| Net Worth | $120 million |
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What Matthew Perry Net Worth?
Matthew Perry was an American and Canadian actor and producer with an estimated net worth of $120 million. Most of his wealth came from Friends, one of the most successful TV shows of all time. During the last two seasons of the show, Perry earned $1 million per episode, making him one of the highest-paid TV actors in history.
Even after Friends ended, Perry continued earning millions through syndication deals. The show still generates over $1 billion in revenue each year, and Perry received a portion of those profits, estimated at $20 million annually.
Salary
In the first season of Friends, each cast member earned $22,500 per episode, which added up to $540,000 for the whole season. By the second season, their pay went up to $40,000 per episode, making $960,000 for the season.
Before the third season, the cast came together to negotiate their pay. They got $75,000 per episode for season 3, which was $1.875 million for the whole season. Their pay continued to rise, with $85,000 per episode in season 4, $100,000 in season 5, and $125,000 in season 6.
When season 7 and 8 came around, the cast asked for a huge raise. They got $750,000 per episode, which was $18 million per season. For seasons 9 and 10, they earned $1 million per episode, adding up to $24 million for season 9 and $18 million for season 10.
Altogether, each Friends cast member earned about $90 million in base salary from the show. This doesn’t include extra bonuses and royalties they got.
Early Life
Matthew Perry was born on August 19, 1969, in Williamstown, Massachusetts. His mother, Suzanne Marie Morrison, is a Canadian journalist who worked for Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. His father, John Bennett Perry, is an American actor and former model. They separated when Matthew was just one year old. His mother later married Keith Morrison, a Canadian journalist.
Perry grew up mostly with his mother in Ottawa, Ontario, but also lived in Toronto and Montreal. He went to Rockcliffe Park Public School and Ashbury College, a boarding school in Ottawa. He had several younger half-siblings, including Caitlin, Emily, Will, Madeline, and Maria. Perry’s siblings often supported him during his early performances.
When Perry was 10, he started acting out. He would steal money, smoke, and get into fights. He even fought with future Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Perry later said he felt like an outsider, especially after his mother had more children with her new husband. At 14, he started drinking alcohol and by 18, he was drinking every day.
Matthew Perry was also very good at tennis. He practiced up to 10 hours a day and was a top junior player in Canada. But when he moved to Los Angeles at 15 to live with his father, he found the competition much tougher.
At 15, Perry began acting at the Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles. He also took improv comedy classes at L.A. Connection. He graduated in 1987 and started his career in acting.
Career
Matthew Perry started acting as a child in 1979 with a small role in 240-Robert. He moved to Los Angeles soon after and began auditioning. In the 1980s, Perry appeared on shows like Not Necessarily the News, Charles in Charge, and Silver Spoons. He also played Chazz Russell in Second Chance and made his film debut in A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon in 1988.
Perry’s big break came in the 1990s. He was cast as Chandler Bing in Friends, which made him famous worldwide. He was the youngest of the main cast members at 24. The show was a huge hit, and by 2002, he and his co-stars were earning $1 million per episode. Perry also starred in movies like Fools Rush In, Almost Heroes, and The Whole Nine Yards.
In 2003 and 2004, Perry received Emmy nominations for his role in The West Wing as Joe Quincy. He also appeared in Ally McBeal as Todd Merrick. In 2004, Perry directed and acted in an episode of Scrubs, where his father also appeared.
Matthew Perry had a busy career in movies and TV. He starred in The Ron Clark Story in 2006. His role earned him nominations for both a Golden Globe and an Emmy. That same year, Perry appeared on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, playing Matt Albie.
In 2006, Perry worked on Numb, a film about a man with depersonalization disorder. Though its release was delayed, it came out on DVD in 2008. Perry also appeared on stage in Sexual Perversity in Chicago and starred in Birds of America. He was involved in a dark comedy pilot called The End of Steve that didn’t get picked up.
In 2009, Perry starred in 17 Again with Zac Efron, playing a 37-year-old man who turns back into a 17-year-old. While the movie had mixed reviews, it was successful at the box office. Later that year, Perry appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, where his gift to Ellen led to him being cast in Fallout: New Vegas as the voice of Benny.
In 2011, Perry created and starred in Mr. Sunshine, a comedy series, but it was canceled after nine episodes. He then starred in Go On in 2012, playing a sportscaster dealing with grief. That year, he also guest-starred on The Good Wife.
Matthew Perry made his British TV debut in 2014 with The Dog Thrower. From 2015 to 2017, he starred in The Odd Couple, a reboot of the classic sitcom. He also wrote and produced the show. In 2016, Perry debuted his play The End of Longing in London. It had a short but successful run.
In 2017, Matthew Perry reprised his role as Mike Kresteva in The Good Fight and starred as Ted Kennedy in The Kennedys: After Camelot. In 2021, he joined the Friends reunion special. Perry also published his memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing in 2022, which became a bestseller.
Personal life
Matthew Perry had both Canadian and American citizenship. He was in relationships with several famous people. He dated Yasmine Bleeth in 1995. Then he was with Julia Roberts from 1995 to 1996. From 2006 to 2012, he dated Lizzy Caplan.
In November 2020, Matthew Perry got engaged to Molly Hurwitz, a literary manager. However, they broke up in 2021.
Philanthropy
In July 2011, Matthew Perry worked with the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. He helped the group get money for drug courts by speaking to Congress. In May 2013, he won a Champion of Recovery award from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. This was because he opened Perry House, a rehab center in his old mansion in Malibu.
In 2015, Perry sold the mansion and moved the rehab center. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he created a clothing line inspired by Friends. The money from the sales went to the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 relief fund.
Real Estate
Matthew Perry, famous for his role on Friends, has bought and sold several homes over the years. After Friends season 1 ended, he bought his first house in LA. He sold it in 2001 for $2 million.
In 1999, he bought a big mansion in Beverly Hills for $3.2 million. He made big changes to it and sold it for $6.9 million in 2005.
Matthew Perry then bought a condo in West Hollywood in 2005 for $1.7 million. This condo once belonged to Elton John. He sold it in 2014 for $5.7 million.
In 2008, Matthew bought a home in LA for $4.475 million. He sold it for $4.6 million in 2011.
In 2011, he spent $12 million on a beach house in Malibu. He sold it in 2021 for $13.1 million after listing it for $15 million in 2020.
In 2015, Matthew sold another Malibu home for $10.65 million.
Matthew Perry also bought a large penthouse in Century City in 2017 for $20 million. He sold it to Rihanna in 2021 for $21.6 million.
In 2018, he sold a Los Angeles home for $12.5 million.
In 2020, Matthew bought a house in Pacific Palisades for $6 million.
In 2023, he bought a home in Hollywood Hills for $5 million.