What was Matthew Perry’s net worth and salary?
Matthew Perry was an acclaimed American actor and comedian who amassed a net worth of $120 million by the time of his untimely death on October 28, 2023, at the age of 54.
Best known for his iconic portrayal of Chandler Bing on the beloved sitcom Friends, Perry appeared in all 236 episodes of the show, which aired from 1994 to 2004.
His comedic timing and distinctive delivery made Chandler a fan favorite and cemented Perry’s place in television history. Beyond Friends, Perry starred in notable TV shows such as Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and Go On, as well as films like Fools Rush In and The Whole Nine Yards.
Perry’s career trajectory was notable even before his Friends fame. He honed his craft in theater during high school and, upon moving to Los Angeles, quickly became a familiar face on television.
He guest-starred on numerous popular shows, including Charles in Charge, Silver Spoons, Just the Ten of Us, Highway to Heaven, Growing Pains, Empty Nest, Who’s the Boss?, Beverly Hills, 90210, and Sibs.
Perry also appeared in films and TV movies such as A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon, Dance ’til Dawn, She’s Out of Control, Call Me Anna, and Deadly Relations.
In addition to his guest-starring roles, Perry headlined several short-lived sitcoms, including Second Chance, Sydney, and Home Free. Despite these shows not lasting long, they showcased Perry’s talent and versatility as an actor.
His busy schedule nearly cost him the opportunity to audition for Friends, originally titled Six of One, as he was committed to another project, LAX 2194. However, fate intervened, and Perry ultimately landed the role that would define his career.
Friends became one of the most successful television series of all time, turning its six main cast members into global superstars and making them incredibly wealthy. At the show’s peak, each cast member earned a staggering $1 million per episode.
Matthew Perry alone made approximately $90 million from his base salary on Friends, excluding substantial royalties from syndication, which reportedly brought in an additional $10-20 million per year.
Matthew Perry’s net worth of $120 million reflects not only his success on Friends but also his extensive body of work in film and television. His legacy as a talented actor and comedian continues to resonate with fans around the world, ensuring his place in entertainment history.
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Early Life
Matthew Langford Perry was born on August 19, 1969, in Williamstown, Massachusetts. His mother, Suzanne Perry, a Canadian-born journalist, previously served as the secretary to Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.
His father, John Bennett Perry, pursued a career in acting and modeling. Unfortunately, Perry’s parents divorced before he celebrated his first birthday.
In 1981, when Matthew was 12 years old, his mother remarried journalist Keith Morrison, who would go on to achieve fame as a correspondent for “Dateline NBC.”
Early Career
Matthew Perry secured his professional acting breakthrough at the age of 18 with a role in “A Night In The Life Of Jimmy Reardon,” where he starred alongside River Phoenix.
Simultaneously, Perry honed his comedic skills with improv performances at the LA Connection in Sherman Oaks, rapidly becoming a standout performer.
During the late 1980s, he made several brief guest appearances on television, which paved the way for his burgeoning career.
Although Perry initially planned to attend the University of Southern California, his path took a different turn when he was offered the role of Chazz Russell in “Second Chance,” a role that brought him significant attention in the acting world.
Friends
Initially, Matthew Perry wasn’t considered for an audition for “Friends” due to his involvement in a TV drama called “LAX 2194.” However, as the project faced delays, Perry seized the opportunity to audition and subsequently landed the iconic role of Chandler Bing, which became his most famous character. The series ran for ten successful seasons and earned Perry an Emmy nomination in 2002.
While starring in “Friends,” Perry expanded his filmography with roles in movies such as “Three to Tango,” “Almost Heroes,” “Fools Rush In,” and “The Whole Nine Yards.” In 2006, he received critical acclaim for his role in the TNT movie “The Ron Clark Story,” garnering another Emmy nomination and a Golden Globe nod.
In October 2022, Perry released his memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” which quickly became a bestseller on both Amazon and The New York Times, offering fans a candid look into his life and career.
Matthew Perry Friends Salary
In the first season of Friends, each cast member earned $22,500 per episode, totaling $540,000 for the season. Their pay was increased to $40,000 per episode for the second season, amounting to $960,000 for that year.
As their contracts were up for renewal before the third season, the cast decided to negotiate collectively. This strategy paid off, securing them $75,000 per episode for season three ($1.875 million for the season), $85,000 per episode for season four ($2.04 million), $100,000 per episode for season five ($2.5 million), and $125,000 per episode for season six ($3.125 million).
Real Estate
After the first season of “Friends” concluded, Matthew Perry purchased his first home in Los Angeles, adhering to what he humorously referred to as a sitcom actor’s rite of passage: “Between the first and second seasons, you buy a house.” He eventually sold this property in 2001 for $2 million.
In 1999, Perry acquired a 6,500-square-foot mansion in Beverly Hills for $3.2 million. He invested in significant renovations and upgrades before selling the transformed home in 2005 for $6.9 million, nearly doubling his investment.
That same year, he purchased a condo in West Hollywood for $1.7 million. Notably, this unit had previously belonged to Elton John. Perry held onto the condo until 2014, when he sold it for $5.7 million, realizing a substantial profit.
In 2008, Perry bought another Los Angeles home for $4.475 million, which he later sold in 2011 for $4.6 million.
In 2011, he expanded his real estate portfolio with the purchase of a $12 million beachfront property in Malibu. Listed for sale at $15 million in August 2020, this home sold in January 2021 for $13.1 million.
Additionally, in 2015, Perry sold another Malibu home for $10.65 million, further demonstrating his successful ventures in the real estate market.
Addiction
Matthew Perry has faced a prolonged battle with addiction to drugs and alcohol throughout his life. His struggle began after a jet-ski accident in 1997, which led to an addiction to Vicodin and necessitated a 28-day rehab stint later that year.
He re-entered rehab in February 2001, this time to address dependencies on Vicodin, methadone, amphetamines, and alcohol.
Perry has revealed that he spent approximately $9 million on his journey to sobriety. Reflecting on his addiction, he admitted that he does not remember three years of his time on Friends, specifically the period spanning seasons three to six.
In 2011, Perry took on a new role as a celebrity spokesperson for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. His dedication to recovery and helping others was recognized in May 2013 when he received the Champion of Recovery award from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.
This accolade was in part due to his efforts in establishing the Perry House, a sober living facility in his former Malibu mansion. Although he sold the property and closed the facility in 2015, Perry’s commitment to sobriety has remained steadfast. As of May 2021, Matthew Perry has celebrated continuous sobriety.