Paul Rudd | Celebrity Net Worth 2026

Biography & Early Wealth Journey

Paul Rudd first became widely known for playing Josh in the 1995 comedy "Clueless" before building a career that moved comfortably between romantic comedies, independent films, television, Judd Apatow's comedy universe, and eventually the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Rudd's best-known films include "Clueless," "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy," "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," "Knocked Up," "Role Models," "I Love You, Man," "This Is 40," and the "Ant-Man" franchise. As Scott Lang/Ant-Man, he appeared in "Ant-Man," "Captain America: Civil War," "Ant-Man and the Wasp," "Avengers: Endgame," and "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania," becoming one of the MCU's recurring stars. He was also cast to return as Ant-Man in "Avengers: Doomsday."

Outside Marvel, Rudd has maintained a steady mix of comedy and dramatic work. His later projects include "Living with Yourself," "The Shrink Next Door," "Only Murders in the Building," "Ghostbusters: Afterlife," "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire," "Friendship," "Death of a Unicorn," "Anaconda," and "Power Ballad." He has also worked extensively as a writer and producer, co-writing "Role Models" and the first two "Ant-Man" films and co-creating the cult comedy series "Party Down."

At the height of his Marvel run, Rudd earned $41 million between June 2018 and June 2019, placing him among the highest-paid actors in the world during that period. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2015 and was named "People" magazine's Sexiest Man Alive in 2021.

$41 Million Earnings Year

Rudd's move into the Marvel Cinematic Universe dramatically increased his earning power.

Between June 2018 and June 2019, he earned an estimated $41 million from his various acting, producing, and profit-participation arrangements. A substantial portion of the total came from his work in "Ant-Man and the Wasp" and "Avengers: Endgame," for which he participated in box-office profits rather than simply receiving a flat acting salary.

The $41 million figure made Rudd the ninth-highest-paid actor in the world for that 12-month period.

Real Estate, Luxury Assets & Personal Investments

Unlike some actors whose fortunes depend almost entirely on large upfront salaries, Rudd has increasingly participated behind the scenes as a writer and producer. He received screenplay credit on "Ant-Man" and "Ant-Man and the Wasp," produced "Wanderlust," executive produced projects including "Living with Yourself," "The Shrink Next Door," "Friendship," and "Death of a Unicorn," and co-created and executive produced "Party Down."

Early Life

Paul Stephen Rudd was born on April 6, 1969, in Passaic, New Jersey. His parents were both English-born and came from Jewish families. His father, Michael, worked for Trans World Airlines and later became a historical tour guide, while his mother, Gloria, worked as a sales manager for a television station.

Because of his father's career, the family moved several times during Paul's childhood. They eventually settled in the Kansas City area when Rudd was about 10 years old.

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He graduated from Shawnee Mission West High School in Kansas and attended the University of Kansas, where he studied theater. Rudd later moved to Los Angeles to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, studying alongside future actor Matthew Lillard.

He also spent time at the British American Drama Academy in Oxford studying Jacobean drama. To support himself during his training, Rudd worked a collection of decidedly unglamorous jobs, including DJing bar mitzvahs and glazing hams at the Holiday Ham Company in Kansas.

Early Career and "Clueless"

Rudd's first substantial television role came in 1992 when he joined the NBC drama "Sisters" as Kirby Quimby Philby. He remained with the show for several seasons while pursuing film work.

His movie breakthrough arrived in 1995 with "Clueless." Rudd played Josh, the politically minded college student and former stepbrother who becomes the romantic interest of Cher Horowitz, played by Alicia Silverstone.

The film became a surprise hit and eventually developed into one of the defining teen comedies of the 1990s. Rudd's performance established him as a likable romantic lead, although he deliberately avoided building his entire career around similar parts.

His other films during the decade included "Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers," "The Locusts," "Overnight Delivery," "The Object of My Affection," "200 Cigarettes," and "The Cider House Rules."

Rudd also played Dave Paris in Baz Luhrmann's 1996 adaptation of "William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet," starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes.

Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images

"Friends"

Rudd reached another enormous television audience when he joined "Friends" during its ninth season as Mike Hannigan.

Mike was introduced as a romantic interest for Phoebe Buffay and eventually became her husband. Rudd appeared in 17 episodes during the show's final two seasons.

The role gave him exposure to one of the most-watched sitcom audiences in television history at a point when he was already established as a movie actor.

Although Mike became one of his best-known television characters, Rudd generally continued to concentrate on feature films rather than pursuing a long-running network sitcom of his own.

Judd Apatow Comedy Era

Rudd became one of the most recognizable members of the loosely connected group of actors and filmmakers surrounding producer and director Judd Apatow.

He played television newsman Brian Fantana in 2004's "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy," starring Will Ferrell. The movie was only a moderate theatrical hit but became a major home-video and cable comedy favorite, eventually spawning the sequel "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues."

Rudd followed with "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" in 2005, appearing opposite Steve Carell. He later appeared in "Knocked Up," "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story," and "This Is 40."

"This Is 40" expanded Rudd's supporting character Pete from "Knocked Up" into the lead of his own story alongside Leslie Mann.

During this period, Rudd also starred in films outside the Apatow orbit including "The Oh in Ohio," "The Ten," "Over Her Dead Body," and "Dinner for Schmucks."

"Role Models" and "I Love You, Man"

Rudd's career as a writer expanded with the 2008 comedy "Role Models."

He starred with Seann William Scott and co-wrote the screenplay. The film followed two irresponsible energy-drink salesmen sentenced to community service as mentors for children and became a box-office success.

The following year, Rudd starred with Jason Segel in "I Love You, Man." Rather than centering on a conventional romantic relationship, the film explored adult male friendship and became another of Rudd's signature comedies.

Rudd also starred in and produced the 2012 comedy "Wanderlust," which reunited him with Jennifer Aniston. His expanding involvement behind the camera increasingly allowed him to shape projects rather than simply accept acting roles.

"Party Down"

Rudd was one of the co-creators of the cult comedy series "Party Down" alongside Rob Thomas, John Enbom, and Dan Etheridge.

The series followed a group of struggling actors and writers working for a Los Angeles catering company while waiting for their entertainment careers to take off. Rudd was involved in developing the concept, appeared in the original presentation used to sell the show, and served as an executive producer.

Because of his movie schedule, he did not join the regular cast when "Party Down" premiered on Starz in 2009.

The original series ran for two seasons before developing a passionate cult following. More than a decade later, Starz revived "Party Down" for a third season in 2023, with Rudd again credited as a creator and executive producer.

"Parks and Recreation"

Rudd returned to television comedy in 2012 as Bobby Newport on "Parks and Recreation."

Newport was the wealthy, good-natured but completely unqualified son of the owner of Sweetums who runs against Leslie Knope for city council in Pawnee.

Rudd's performance earned him the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series.

He subsequently returned to the character for later episodes and reunion appearances.

Marvel and "Ant-Man"

Rudd's career entered its most commercially lucrative period when Marvel cast him as Scott Lang in "Ant-Man."

Rudd did more than star in the 2015 film. He also worked on the screenplay, receiving a writing credit alongside Adam McKay, Edgar Wright, and Joe Cornish.

"Ant-Man" became a hit, grossing more than $500 million worldwide and establishing Rudd as a superhero leading man while preserving much of the comedic personality associated with his earlier career.

He returned as Scott Lang in 2016's "Captain America: Civil War" and then starred in and co-wrote 2018's "Ant-Man and the Wasp." The sequel grossed more than $600 million worldwide.

Rudd's Ant-Man played a crucial role in 2019's "Avengers: Endgame," which became one of the highest-grossing films ever made. The movie's enormous commercial success contributed substantially to Rudd's $41 million earnings during that period.

He returned for 2023's "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" and provided the character's voice for Marvel's animated series "What If…?" Rudd was subsequently cast to reprise Scott Lang in "Avengers: Doomsday."

(Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)

"Living with Yourself" and "The Shrink Next Door"

In 2019, Rudd starred in and executive produced the Netflix series "Living with Yourself."

He played two versions of the same man after a mysterious treatment accidentally creates an improved clone. The dual performance required Rudd to play scenes opposite himself throughout the eight-episode series and earned him a Golden Globe nomination.

He returned to streaming television in 2021 with Apple TV+'s "The Shrink Next Door." Rudd starred opposite Will Ferrell as psychiatrist Dr. Isaac Herschkopf in a dramatization of the true story of a therapist who gradually took control over a patient's finances and personal life.

Rudd also served as an executive producer on the series.

"Ghostbusters"

Rudd joined another major film franchise in 2021 with "Ghostbusters: Afterlife."

He played Gary Grooberson, a teacher and seismologist who becomes involved with the descendants of original Ghostbuster Egon Spengler and discovers supernatural activity in a small Oklahoma town.

Rudd reprised the role in 2024's "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire." The sequel moved the action back to New York and brought the newer characters together with original franchise stars including Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Ernie Hudson.

"Only Murders in the Building"

Rudd joined the third season of "Only Murders in the Building" as movie star Ben Glenroy.

The season revolves around Ben's apparent murder during the opening night of his Broadway debut, drawing Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez's amateur investigators into another mystery.

The role allowed Rudd to parody elements of Hollywood stardom while also playing multiple versions of Ben through flashbacks and theatrical rehearsals.

He later returned to the series in a different comic capacity.

Recent Films

Rudd continued balancing studio franchises with stranger and more independent comedy projects.

In 2025, he starred opposite Tim Robinson in A24's "Friendship," playing an effortlessly charismatic neighbor whose friendship with Robinson's socially awkward suburban father develops into an increasingly destructive obsession. Rudd also served as an executive producer.

That same year, he starred opposite Jenna Ortega in the dark comedy "Death of a Unicorn" and teamed with Jack Black in "Anaconda," a self-aware comedy inspired by the 1997 creature feature.

In 2026, Rudd starred opposite Nick Jonas in "Power Ballad," directed by John Carney, playing a struggling wedding singer whose song is appropriated by a major pop star.

Theater

Rudd has maintained a substantial stage career despite the demands of film and television. He made his Broadway debut in 1997 in "The Last Night of Ballyhoo." The following year, he played Orsino in Lincoln Center's production of Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night."

In 2001, he starred off-Broadway in Neil LaBute's "The Shape of Things" and later reprised the role in the film adaptation. Rudd returned to Broadway opposite Bradley Cooper and Julia Roberts in Richard Greenberg's "Three Days of Rain" in 2006. He later appeared in the 2012 Broadway production of "Grace" alongside Michael Shannon, Ed Asner, and Kate Arrington.

Personal Life

Rudd met Julie Yaeger shortly after moving to New York in the 1990s. Yaeger was working in a publicist's office, and the two began dating after she helped him settle into the city. They married in 2003 and have two children, a son named Jack and a daughter named Darby.

Samuel's Sweet Shop

Rudd and his wife are also co-owners of Samuel's Sweet Shop in Rhinebeck, New York.

The shop had been run for years by local businessman Ira Gutner, who became friends with Rudd and other actors living in the Hudson Valley. After Gutner died suddenly, Rudd and Julie joined Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Hilarie Burton, Andy Ostroy, and others in helping keep the business from closing.

Samuel's remains operating in downtown Rhinebeck, selling candy, chocolate, baked goods, coffee, and gifts. Rudd has periodically promoted the shop during television appearances and remains identified as one of its owners.

Rudd

Michael Tyler