Net Worth Ranker
What Is David Schwimmer’s Net Worth?
David Schwimmer, the American actor, director, and producer best known for his role as Ross Geller on the hit sitcom “Friends,” has accumulated a substantial net worth of $120 million. This figure reflects his earnings from acting, directing, producing, and significant royalties from “Friends” syndication.
David Schwimmer’s “Friends” Salaries and Royalties
Schwimmer’s financial success is largely attributed to his role on “Friends.” For the first season, each cast member, including Schwimmer, earned $22,500 per episode, totaling $540,000 for the season. In the second season, their salaries increased to $40,000 per episode, resulting in an annual income of $960,000. Before the third season, the main cast collectively renegotiated their contracts, securing $75,000 per episode, or $1.875 million per year.
The cast’s negotiation prowess continued to yield higher salaries in subsequent seasons. They earned $85,000 per episode for season four ($2.04 million per year), $100,000 per episode for season five ($2.5 million per year), and $125,000 per episode for season six ($3.125 million per year). By seasons seven and eight, their salaries had skyrocketed to $750,000 per episode, translating to $18 million per season. The final two seasons, nine and ten, saw them earning $1 million per episode, resulting in $24 million for season nine and $18 million for season ten.
In total, David Schwimmer earned approximately $90 million in base salary alone from “Friends.” Beyond his base salary, Schwimmer benefits significantly from backend points negotiated into his contract in 2000. This deal entitles him to royalties from the show’s syndication. “Friends” continues to generate over $1 billion annually in syndication and streaming revenue. Schwimmer’s share amounts to between $10 million and $20 million in royalties per year, contributing significantly to his overall net worth.
David Schwimmer’s Career Beyond “Friends”
While “Friends” was a defining moment in Schwimmer’s career, he has also been involved in various other projects. Before landing his role as Ross Geller, Schwimmer appeared in television shows such as “L.A. Law,” “The Wonder Years,” “NYPD Blue,” and “Monty.” He also had roles in films like “A Deadly Silence” and “Flight of the Intruder.” These early roles helped build his experience and visibility in the entertainment industry.
During his time on “Friends,” Schwimmer diversified his acting portfolio with roles in films such as “The Pallbearer,” “Kissing a Fool,” “Six Days, Seven Nights,” “Picking Up the Pieces,” and “Apt Pupil.” In 2001, he starred in the World War II miniseries “Band of Brothers,” portraying Captain Sobel. This role showcased his range as an actor and allowed him to explore a more dramatic character.
In 2005, Schwimmer began voicing Melman the giraffe in the “Madagascar” animated film series. This role has been a consistent source of income and has introduced him to a new audience. He also ventured into directing, helming films such as “Run Fatboy Run.” Additionally, he made his Broadway debut in “The Caine Mutiny Court Martial,” further expanding his career.
In the years following “Friends,” Schwimmer continued to appear in television series such as “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “30 Rock,” and “Entourage.” He returned to television in 2011 with a guest appearance in the British comedy series “Come Fly With Me.” In 2016, he played Robert Kardashian in the first season of “American Crime Story,” which focused on the O.J. Simpson trial. This role earned him critical acclaim and demonstrated his ability to tackle more serious and complex characters.
Other notable television series Schwimmer has appeared in include “Feed the Beast,” “Homecoming,” and “Intelligence.” In 2019, he played Matthew Quirk in “The Laundromat.” More recently, he portrayed Joel Moon in “Captain Fall” and Harris Goldblatt in “Extrapolations” in 2023. These diverse roles have contributed to his consistent earnings and sustained presence in the entertainment industry, solidifying his considerable net worth.
David Schwimmer’s Real Estate Investments
David Schwimmer has made several notable real estate investments throughout his career. In 1998, he purchased a loft in Chicago for $425,000. He later sold the property in 2020 for $965,000, after initially listing it for $1.15 million. This sale provided him with a profit, adding to his overall net worth.
In 2001, Schwimmer acquired an extensive mansion in the exclusive Hancock Park neighborhood of Los Angeles for $5.6 million. The 11,336-square-foot house featured nine bedrooms, five fireplaces, a wood-paneled library, tennis courts, and a swimming pool. He listed the mansion for $10.7 million in 2011 but eventually sold it in 2012 for just under $8.9 million. While he didn’t get his initial asking price, the sale still represented a significant return on his original investment.
In 2010, New York City became Schwimmer’s primary residence when he purchased a townhome in Manhattan’s East Village for $3.9 million. He redeveloped the property through a limited liability company, demolishing the historic 1852 building and replacing it with a five-story, brick townhouse. This extensive renovation suggests a substantial investment in the property, further contributing to his real estate portfolio and overall net worth. Details about the current market value of this New York townhome are not publicly available, but it likely represents a significant asset in his portfolio.
David Schwimmer’s Early Life and Education
David Lawrence Schwimmer was born on November 2, 1966, in Flushing, Queens, New York City. He was raised in a Jewish household with his older sister by parents who were both attorneys. His family later relocated to Los Angeles, where David developed a passion for acting and Shakespeare. The exact address of his childhood home in Los Angeles is not publicly available, but his formative years in Beverly Hills played a significant role in shaping his career aspirations.
Schwimmer attended Beverly Hills High School, where he felt like an outsider. Initially, he planned to become a doctor, excelling in math and science. However, his passion for acting persisted, and he continued to enroll in drama classes and summer acting programs. His involvement in high school theater productions provided him with early experience and helped solidify his decision to pursue acting as a career.
After high school, David Schwimmer attended Northwestern University, where he joined an improv group that included Stephen Colbert. He graduated in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in theater and speech. His education at Northwestern provided him with a solid foundation in acting and performance, further enhancing his skills and preparing him for a career in the entertainment industry. While he founded the Lookingglass Theater Company in Chicago after graduating, he soon returned to Los Angeles to pursue acting, marking the beginning of his professional journey that would eventually lead to his impressive net worth.
David Schwimmer’s Relationships
In the late 1990s, David Schwimmer was in a relationship with singer-songwriter Natalie Imbruglia. In 2010, he married Zoe Buckman, and they had a child together in 2011. The couple divorced in 2017 after taking time apart. These personal relationships, while not directly impacting his net worth, provide context to his life outside of his career.
