Matthew Perry Net Worth: How the Friends Star Built His $120 Million Fortune

Introduction

The cast of the hit 90s sitcom Friends were some of the highest paid TV stars during the show's 10 season run from 1994 to 2004. At the height of their fame, each member of the main cast was earning an impressive $1 million per episode! This enabled the Friends stars to amass significant fortunes over the course of their careers. One standout is Matthew Perry, who played the beloved character Chandler Bing on the show. Let's take a closer look at Matthew Perry's net worth and how he built his wealth.

Early Life and Career

Matthew Perry was born on August 19, 1969 in Williamstown, Massachusetts. His mother was a press secretary and his father was an actor and model. As a child, Matthew decided to follow in his father's footsteps and pursue acting. He moved to Los Angeles after high school to give Hollywood a shot.

In the late 1980s, Matthew began landing small roles in films like A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon and She's Out of Control. His first big break came in 1990 when he was cast as Chazz Russell in the ABC sitcom Second Chance. However, the show only lasted one season.

Matthew continued steadily working in the early 90s, appearing on popular shows like Beverly Hills 90210 and TV movies like Call of the Wild. But his career really took off when he landed the role of Chandler Bing on Friends in 1994.

Friends Success and Wealth

Friends debuted on NBC in 1994 and soon became one of the most popular sitcoms on television. As the sarcastic Chandler Bing, Matthew Perry gained worldwide fame. Along with co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer, the Friends cast negotiated extremely lucrative contracts.

By the final few seasons of Friends, each member of the main cast was earning an astronomical $1 million per episode. Over the show's decade long run, Matthew Perry reportedly earned over $80 million just from his Friends salary. When accounting for syndication residuals and earnings from appearances and endorsements, his net worth skyrocketed.

Post-Friends Career

After Friends ended in 2004, Perry sought to extend his success by taking on new acting roles. He starred as a fictionalized version of himself in the comedy series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip in 2006-2007. He also appeared in films like The Whole Ten Yards, 17 Again and Birds of America.

In 2011, Perry developed a new TV series for ABC called Mr. Sunshine, where he also served as co-creator and executive producer. However, the show was cancelled after one season. From 2012-2017, Perry found another hit TV role playing Ryan King on the CBS sitcom The Odd Couple, based on the Neil Simon play.

Perry made his return to network television in 2020 in the comedy series The Kennedys After Camelot. Most recently, he starred in the black comedy Don't Look Up in 2021 alongside an ensemble cast including Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence.

Current Matthew Perry Net Worth

According to multiple reports, Matthew Perry's current net worth is estimated to be around $120 million. The vast majority of his wealth stems from the enormous salary he earned during his 10 seasons on Friends.

Perry continues to earn residuals from Friends reruns in syndication. Early reports estimated he was receiving around $20 million annually from residuals alone. Perry also earns money from endorsements and sponsorships.

In terms of real estate, Perry owns an elegant 5-bedroom mansion in the hills above Hollywood worth over $12 million. He also owns properties in New York City and his hometown in Massachusetts.

Despite his immense wealth, Perry has been open about past struggles with addiction. He reportedly spent a fortune on rehab programs. However, he has thankfully maintained his sobriety in recent years.

Comparisons to the Other Friends Stars

As one of the six core cast members on Friends, Matthew Perry benefitted equally from the show's immense success. However, when comparing net worths, there are some differences.

Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston is the richest of the Friends cast with an estimated net worth of $300 million. Along with her lucrative salary for Friends, Aniston earned millions starring in an impressive string of hit romantic comedies. Aniston continues to earn big cheques starring in TV shows and appearing in marketing campaigns.

Lisa Kudrow

Lisa Kudrow has an estimated net worth around $90 million. In addition to Friends earnings, she also created, wrote and starred in the HBO comedy The Comeback. Kudrow has had recurring roles in hit shows like Scandal and The Good Place more recently.

Courteney Cox

Courteney Cox's net worth is estimated between $120 to $150 million, putting her close to Matthew Perry's level of wealth. She earned the same as her co-stars from Friends. Cox also made money starring in the Scream horror movie franchise.

Matt LeBlanc

Matt LeBlanc has an estimated net worth of $80 million. In addition to Friends, LeBlanc starred in the Friends spinoff Joey from 2004 to 2006 and the CBS sitcom Man with a Plan more recently. He also makes money from endorsements.

David Schwimmer

David Schwimmer has an estimated net worth of $100 million. He earned big paychecks for Friends and has steady work as a director and voice actor. Schwimmer has opted to focus more on theater and independent films post-Friends.

Matthew Perry's Lasting Legacy

Matthew Perry will always be remembered first and foremost for his iconic role as Chandler Bing on Friends. His witty delivery and lovable character charmed audiences. Perry's incredible fortune is a testament to both his comedic talent and his once-in-a-generation success with the show that defined an era.

Even decades later, Matthew Perry and the rest of the Friends cast remain pop culture legends and mainstays of cable TV. Their insane earnings from the sitcom's original run will continue providing lucrative residual checks for years to come. Despite personal troubles, Matthew Perry remains a wealthy, respected actor with an outstanding career thanks to Friends.

FAQs

How much did the Friends cast make per episode?

By the final seasons of Friends, each of the main six cast members - Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer - were earning an impressive $1 million per episode. The stars negotiated extremely lucrative contracts as the show was at the height of its popularity.

What was Matthew Perry's most successful role?

Without a doubt, Matthew Perry's most famous and successful role was playing Chandler Bing on Friends. The show ran for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004 and turned Perry and his co-stars into household names and multi-millionaires.

How does Matthew Perry's net worth compare to the other Friends stars?

Matthew Perry's current net worth is estimated at $120 million, which puts him in the middle of the pack among the Friends cast. Jennifer Aniston is the richest at $300 million, followed by Perry and Courteney Cox at $120-150 million. Lisa Kudrow and Matt LeBlanc are both around $90 million, while David Schwimmer is at $100 million.