Steve Martin Net Worth: The Comedy Legend Who Made Millions From ‘Father of the Bride’

Steve Martin net worth is something many fans are curious about. He has been a major star in comedy, movies, and music for decades. From his stand-up career to hit films like Father of the Bride and The Pink Panther, he has built a lasting legacy. He is also a talented writer and musician, which has added to his success.

So, let’s take a closer look at how Steve Martin makes his money and what has helped him build his wealth.

What Steve Martin Net Worth?

Steve Martin is an American comedian, actor, writer, producer, and musician with an estimated net worth of $140 million. His wealth comes from multiple sources, including movies, television, stand-up, writing, and music. He has starred in some of the biggest comedy films of all time, selling out arenas for his live performances and earning millions from book sales.

Martin’s success is built on smart career choices. He started as a stand-up comedian before moving into movies, and then later into music and writing. Each phase of his career has added to his fortune, making him one of the richest comedians in the world.

Early Life

Stephen Glenn Martin was born on August 14, 1945, in Waco, Texas. His parents were Mary Lee and Glenn Vernon Martin. He has an older sister, Melinda. His father worked as a real estate salesman and dreamed of acting.

Martin grew up in a Baptist family in Inglewood, California, before moving to Garden Grove in Orange County. In high school, he was a cheerleader. He remembers seeing his father work as an extra at a theater, which sparked his interest in performance.

Steve Martin’s first job was at Disneyland, where he sold guidebooks. He also worked at the Magic shop, learning magic tricks, juggling, and balloon animals. His early performances earned him tips. During this time, he made his first film appearance in Disneyland Dream. Martin’s interest in magic and comedy grew as he learned from his mentor, Wally Boag.

After high school, Martin attended Santa Ana College, where he studied drama and English poetry. He also performed with a comedy troupe at Knott’s Berry Farm. He later enrolled at UCLA, changing his major to theater. In college, Martin considered becoming a philosophy professor, influenced by his studies. He enjoyed the idea of twisting logic and non-sequiturs to create comedy.

Career

Steve Martin’s comedy career started in 1967 when his ex-girlfriend, Nina Goldblatt, helped him land a writing job on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. Martin won an Emmy Award at 23 for his work on the show. Over the years, he also wrote for The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour and The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour. His first TV appearance was in 1968 on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.

In the 1970s, Martin became a popular stand-up comedian. He appeared on shows like The Tonight Show and Saturday Night Live (SNL). His appearances on SNL brought in a large audience, and he became one of the most frequent hosts. Martin is known for creating the “air quotes” gesture on SNL. He was close to several cast members, including Gilda Radner, and was deeply affected when she passed away from cancer.

Steve Martin’s comedy albums, released in the 1970s, were huge hits. His first album Let’s Get Small 1977 featured the catchphrase “Excuse me,” and his second, A Wild and Crazy Guy 1978, sold over a million copies. The album included the popular song “King Tut”, which went viral and became a hit on the charts. Both albums won Grammy Awards for Best Comedy Recording.

His style was unique—combining offbeat humor with physical comedy. He often made fun of stand-up traditions, like repeating the same joke in a show for comedic effect. Over time, Martin’s comedy shows became so popular that he began performing in large stadiums. He wore a distinctive white suit as part of his act. However, he retired from stand-up in 1981 to focus on acting.

After a long break, Steve Martin returned to stand-up in 2016, opening for Jerry Seinfeld. He also toured with Martin Short and the Steep Canyon Rangers, which led to a Netflix special Steve Martin and Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life 2018. This special earned four Emmy nominations, including two for Martin’s work on writing and music.

Acting Career

By the late 1970s, Steve Martin had gained a huge following, much like a rock star. His comedy tours attracted thousands of fans, but he always dreamed of acting in movies. In 1972, he appeared in Another Nice Mess and later in The Funnier Side of Eastern Canada in 1974. His first big role came in The Absent-Minded Waiter 1977, which was nominated for an Academy Award. In 1979, he starred in The Jerk, which made over $100 million.

In the 1980s, Steve Martin worked in several successful films. He made comedies with director Carl Reiner, like Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid 1982, The Man with Two Brains 1983, and All of Me 1984. The Jerk was followed by ¡Three Amigos! in 1986 with Martin Short and Chevy Chase. He also starred in Little Shop of Horrors 1986 and Planes, Trains and Automobiles 1987. In 1989, he was in Parenthood with Rick Moranis.

In the 1990s, Martin appeared in many movies. He starred in L.A. Story 1991, where his then-wife Victoria Tennant played the lead. He also starred in Father of the Bride 1991 and its sequel, and Housesitter 1992 with Goldie Hawn. In 1994, he played in A Simple Twist of Fate. He took on more serious roles, like in The Spanish Prisoner 1997, and voiced a character in The Prince of Egypt 1998. In 1999, Martin starred in Bowfinger with Eddie Murphy and appeared in Fantasia 2000.

The 2000s were a busy time for Steve Martin. He starred in Bringing Down the House 2003 and Cheaper by the Dozen 2003, both huge hits. In 2005, he wrote and starred in Shopgirl. He also starred as Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther 2006 and its sequel 2009, which earned over $230 million. Martin appeared in Baby Mama 2008 and guest-starred in 30 Rock. In 2009, he starred in It’s Complicated.

In the 2010s, Martin’s roles became fewer. He appeared in The Big Year 2011, but he did not do well at the box office. In 2015, he voiced a role in Home, and in 2016, he starred in Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk. He also appeared in Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee 2016 and Oh, Hello on Broadway 2017. In 2018, he had a comedy special on Netflix with Martin Short called An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life.

In the 2020s, Steve Martin returned to acting in Only Murders in the Building 2021 alongside Martin Short and Selena Gomez. He is also an executive producer for the series. He mentioned that this might be his last role, as he plans to retire from acting after it ends.

Writing Career

Steve Martin’s career spans books, plays, and musicals. His first book, Cruel Shoes, came out in 1979. It’s a funny collection of short stories. In 2000, he wrote Shopgirl, a novella that was turned into a film starring him and Claire Danes. The movie debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2005. Martin’s memoir Born Standing Up was published in 2007 and was named one of Time’s Top 10 Nonfiction Books.

He also worked on plays. His first play, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, premiered in 1993. It was performed in many US cities. In 2009, the play was banned in La Grande, Oregon, after some parents complained. Martin wrote a letter defending the play and its message.

On Broadway, Martin collaborated with Edie Brickell on the musical Bright Star, which debuted in 2016. The show’s country and bluegrass songs were praised, and it got five Tony nominations. In 2017, his play Meteor Shower opened on Broadway with Amy Schumer, Keegan-Michael Key, and others in the cast. It was a big hit, with critics calling it “very funny.”

Music career

Steve Martin first started playing the banjo at age 17. He learned by slowing down bluegrass records and tuning his banjo to match the notes. His banjo skills improved with help from John McEuen, a member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Steve’s banjo playing became part of his comedy acts in the 1970s. On his album Comedy Is Not Pretty!, he even included a banjo jam.

In 2001, Steve played banjo on Earl Scruggs’s Foggy Mountain Breakdown, which won a Grammy in 2002. In 2009, he released his first music album The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo, which won the Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album in 2010. Steve also performed with stars like Dolly Parton on the album. He appeared on The Grand Ole Opry in 2009 and later performed with Kelly Clarkson on the song I Hate Love from her album Chemistry in 2023.

Steve Martin began playing with the Steep Canyon Rangers in 2009. He toured the U.S. with them and performed at major festivals like Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. In 2011, they released the album Rare Bird Alert, featuring a bluegrass version of his old song King Tut. Steve also appeared in the PBS documentary Give Me the Banjo in 2011.

Steve Martin collaborated with Edie Brickell on the album Love Has Come for You in 2013. The title track won a Grammy for Best American Roots Song. They toured together, and in 2015, they released So Familiar. In 2017, they were part of the documentary The American Epic Sessions and performed The Coo Coo Bird.

In 2010, Steve created the Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass. This award celebrates bluegrass musicians and includes a $50,000 cash prize. Some past winners include Noam Pikelny and Rhiannon Giddens.

Personal life

Steve Martin dated writer and artist Eve Babitz, who encouraged him to wear his famous white suit. From 1977 to 1980, Martin was with Bernadette Peters, and they appeared together in The Jerk and Pennies from Heaven. He also dated Karen Carpenter, Mary Tyler Moore, and Anne Heche, who wrote about their time together in her book. In 1986, Martin married actress Victoria Tennant, but they divorced in 1994.

Martin was also active in supporting the military during Operation Desert Storm. He joined a USO tour in 1990, visiting troops in Saudi Arabia. He felt it was important to help and meet service members by signing autographs and taking pictures.

In 2007, Martin married Anne Stringfield, a writer. The wedding was a surprise to many, as guests thought they were attending a party. In 2012, Martin became a father when Stringfield gave birth to their daughter.

Since 1968, Martin has been an avid art collector. He owns works by famous artists like Roy Lichtenstein, Pablo Picasso, and Edward Hopper. In 2006, he sold a painting by Hopper for $26.8 million. He also organized a successful exhibit in 2015 featuring the work of Canadian painter Lawren Harris.

In 2004, Martin bought a painting by Heinrich Campendonk, but it turned out to be a fake. He later sold it, only to find out it was part of a forgery ring. Martin was surprised by how clever the forgers were in creating fake artworks with real labels.

Steve Martin has supported Indigenous Australian artists. He helped launch the National Endowment for Indigenous Visual Arts in 2021 and organized an exhibition in 2019 called Desert Painters of Australia, featuring artists like George Tjungurrayi and Emily Kame Kngwarreye.

Lastly, Martin suffers from tinnitus, a ringing in the ears. It started in 1986 after filming a scene in Three Amigos, but he later said it was caused by years of loud music and performing in front of noisy crowds.