Net Worth Ranker
What Is Debra Messing’s Net Worth
Debra Messing, a celebrated American actress, has amassed a considerable fortune throughout her career. Her estimated net worth stands at $25 million. This wealth is primarily derived from her successful acting roles in television and film, with significant contributions from her iconic role as Grace Adler in the NBC sitcom “Will & Grace” and her work in the miniseries “The Starter Wife.”
Debra Messing’s “Will & Grace” Salary Details
At the pinnacle of “Will & Grace,” Debra Messing’s salary reached an impressive $250,000 per episode. This figure represents her base salary and does not include potential royalties or other forms of compensation. Over the course of a full season, this episodic rate translates to approximately $6 million, underscoring the significant financial impact of her role in the series.
Early Life and Education
Debra Lynn Messing was born on August 15, 1968, in Brooklyn, New York. Her mother, Sandra, had a versatile career as a professional singer, banker, and travel agent. Her father, Brian Messing, worked as a sales executive for a costume jewelry manufacturer. When Debra was three years old, the family relocated to East Greenwich, Rhode Island.
During her formative years at East Greenwich High School, Messing actively participated in various school productions, showcasing her talents in both acting and singing. Notably, she secured starring roles in productions of “Annie” and “Grease,” demonstrating her early passion and aptitude for performing arts.
Messing pursued higher education at Brandeis University. Encouraged by her parents, she initially focused on completing a liberal arts degree. After graduating, she pursued formal training in acting at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she earned a Master’s Degree in three years.
Career Highlights: From Stage to Screen
In 1993, Debra Messing garnered critical acclaim for her portrayal of Harper in the pre-Broadway workshop production of “Angels in America.” This early success marked a significant milestone in her career, showcasing her talent and versatility as an actress.
Messing made appearances on the TV series “NYPD Blue” in 1994 and 1995. Her film debut came in 1995’s “A Walk in the Clouds.” From 1995 to 1997, she co-starred in the Fox series “Ned & Stacey”. During that time, Messing starred in two episodes of “Seinfeld” in 1996 and 1997. She also co-starred with Tom Arnold in “McHale’s Navy” in 1997. In 1998, she took on a leading role in ABC’s science fiction TV show “Prey.”
Her agent presented her with the pilot script for “Will & Grace” around this period. Despite her hesitation to take time off from “Prey,” she auditioned for and won the role of Grace Adler. She played the character on NBC from 1998 to 2006, and the show made her a household name.
In 2002, “People” magazine named her one of the “50 Most Beautiful People in the World.” In 2003, “TV Guide” chose her as its Best Dressed Woman. In Woody Allen’s film “Hollywood Ending,” she had a small role in 2002. In 2008, Debra starred in USA’s “The Starter Wife,” which was nominated for ten Emmy Awards, as well as “Smash” from 2012 to 2013.
She has appeared in “Along Came Polly,” “The Wedding Date,” and “Nothing Like the Holidays.” The 2004 film “Garfield” featured her voice as Arlene. In 2005, Messing served as a judge on the season 2 finale of Bravo’s “Project Runway.” She was ranked #22 on the “TV Guide” Network’s “Funniest Women on TV” list in July 2011.
Messing made her Broadway debut in John Patrick Shanley’s play “Outside Mullingar.” It was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play of the 2014 season. In 2014, she starred in the police procedural television show “The Mysteries of Laura.” It lasted for two seasons and ended in 2016. In 2015, Debra appeared in four episodes of “Celebrity Jeopardy.”
Messing played Marjorie Houseman in the 1987 film “Dirty Dancing”‘s television remake in May 2017. From September 2017 to April 2020, Messing reprised her role as Grace Adler on the NBC revival of “Will & Grace.” In 2020, she appeared in two feature films, “Irresistible” and “The Dark Divide.”
Accolades and Recognition
Debra Messing’s contributions to the entertainment industry have been recognized with numerous accolades and honors. She won a Primetime Emmy Award in 2003. She has been nominated for six Emmys, eight Golden Globes, and eight Screen Actors Guild Awards. She was nominated in 2005 for Favorite Funny Female Star at the People’s Choice Awards.
In 2005, Messing and her “Will & Grace” co-star, Megan Mullally, received the Women in Film Lucy Award for “excellence and innovation in her creative works.” In 2017, Messing received the Excellence in Media Award from GLAAD. In October 2017, she was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame, receiving a star for her contribution to television.
Personal Life
Debra Messing’s personal life has also been a subject of public interest. She met actor and screenwriter Daniel Zelman on their first day as graduate students at NYU in 1990. They married in September 2000 and had a son together, Roman, in April 2004. They separated in December 2011, after 11 years of marriage.
Messing filed for divorce in June 2012, but the divorce was not officially completed until March 1, 2016. From 2011 to October 2014, she dated her “Smash” co-star Will Chase.
Real Estate Investments
Debra Messing has also made strategic investments in real estate, contributing to her overall net worth. In 2002, Debra and Daniel purchased Renée Zellweger’s Bel Air mansion for $7.5 million. In 2013, they sold the mansion for $11.4 million, realizing a substantial profit on the investment. The exact address is not publicly available, but the sale demonstrates her acumen in the real estate market.
