Net Worth Ranker
What Is Bill Murray’s Net Worth?
Bill Murray, a celebrated figure in American comedy and film, has accumulated a substantial net worth of $180 million. This wealth is the result of a multifaceted career spanning acting, writing, and producing, with significant contributions from his iconic roles and strategic business decisions.
Bill Murray’s Career Highlights and Earnings
Murray’s journey to financial success began with his involvement in the National Lampoon Radio Hour in the mid-1970s, leading to a pivotal role in the inaugural season of “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) in 1977. His participation in SNL not only garnered him an Emmy Award but also paved the way for his transition into film.
His early film roles, such as “Meatballs” (1979) and “Caddyshack” (1980), were instrumental in establishing his comedic persona. The 1980s marked a significant period in Murray’s career, highlighted by his role in “Ghostbusters” (1984). Columbia Pictures secured the rights to the “Ghostbusters” script by offering Murray, along with Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and director Ivan Reitman, a share of 30% of the film’s gross revenues from box office sales, home video sales, and network licensing deals. This arrangement resulted in a $300 million split, equating to $75 million per person. After adjusting for inflation, this figure is equivalent to $200 million per person.
For “Ghostbusters II,” the four principals negotiated an even more lucrative deal, receiving $6 million upfront each and splitting 35% of the gross revenues. Although “Ghostbusters II” earned approximately $215 million at the box office, it is estimated that each of the four earned $50 million for the sequel, which adjusts to $110 million after inflation. Thus, Bill Murray’s earnings from the first two “Ghostbusters” films totaled approximately $125 million, or $310 million when adjusted for inflation.
Murray’s filmography also includes notable roles in “Scrooged” ($6 million salary), “Rushmore” ($9,000 salary), “Zombieland” ($3 million salary), “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” ($15 million salary), and “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” ($1 million salary). These diverse roles demonstrate his versatility and continued relevance in the entertainment industry. The film “The Jungle Book,” where he played Baloo, reputedly earned him $48 million, inclusive of his pay and possible film profit shares.
Throughout the 1990s, Murray showcased his acting skills in films such as “Groundhog Day” (1993) and “Rushmore” (1998), demonstrating his ability to handle both comedic and dramatic elements. In the early 2000s, Murray starred in films like “Lost in Translation” (2003), earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. His collaborations with director Wes Anderson, including roles in “The Royal Tenenbaums” (2001), “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou” (2004), “Fantastic Mr. Fox” (2009), “Isle of Dogs,” and “The French Dispatch” (2019), have further solidified his reputation.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
William James Murray was born on September 21, 1950, in Evanston, Illinois, and grew up in a suburb of Chicago with eight siblings in an Irish-Catholic family. Three of his siblings pursued acting careers. His father passed away when Murray was 17. During his youth, Murray participated in numerous theater productions at his high school.
After high school, Murray briefly attended pre-medical school before dropping out and returning home. At the age of 20, he was apprehended at Chicago’s O’Hare airport with 10 pounds of marijuana, allegedly intended for sale. He was convicted but received probation instead of jail time. Following this incident, Murray was invited by his brother to join a comedy troupe in Chicago. After achieving success as a comedian, he traveled to New York and joined “The National Lampoon Radio Hour,” leading to an off-Broadway adaptation of a “National Lampoon” show. This, in turn, caught the attention of the producers of “Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell.”
Although the first iteration of “Saturday Night Live” was canceled in 1976, it was picked up by NBC, who booked Bill Murray on the show. From 1977 to 1980, Murray appeared on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” marking his mainstream breakthrough.
Murray starred in “Meatballs” in 1979, and after leaving “Saturday Night Live,” he experienced success in film. In 1980, he starred in “Where the Buffalo Roam.” This proved to be the beginning of a series of successful roles for Murray in the 1980s, appearing in films like “Tootsie,” “Stripes,” and “Caddyshack.” In his youth, Murray worked as a caddie.
Murray co-wrote and starred in “The Razor’s Edge,” but its failure at the box office led to a hiatus from acting. He retreated to Sorbonne University in Paris to study philosophy and history. In 1988, Murray returned to acting with the release of “Scrooged,” and the following year, he reprised his role in “Ghostbusters II.” In 1996, he had a role in “Space Jam,” and in 1998, he released “Rushmore,” which was his first collaboration with Wes Anderson. “Rushmore” allowed Murray to pursue dramatic roles with greater success, and he teamed up with Wes Anderson again for “The Royal Tenenbaums.” Murray starred in “Lost in Translation,” released in 2003, and he continued to take on comedic roles, starring in “Charlie’s Angels” and voice acting for several “Garfield” movies. He starred in another Wes Anderson film, “The Life Aquatic.” After the release of “The Life Aquatic,” Murray took another break from acting. In 2009, he returned for another Wes Anderson movie, voicing Mr. Badger in “Fantastic Mr. Fox.” In 2016, he had a voice acting role in “The Jungle Book,” playing Baloo. In 2019, Murray appeared in Anderson’s film, “The French Dispatch.” Murray reprised his role as Dr. Peter Venkman in 2021’s “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” and is expected to appear in the untitled “Afterlife” sequel. Lately, he also had roles in 2022’s “The Greatest Beer Run Ever” and 2023’s “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.”
Real Estate Holdings
Bill Murray’s real estate portfolio includes homes in Los Angeles and Rancho Santa Fe, California, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, and Charleston, South Carolina. Between 2008 and 2013, he owned a property in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Lower Manhattan. In the 1980s, Murray resided in a palatial estate in Palisades, New York. The 8-acre property features a 15,000-square-foot mansion with ten bedrooms and 12 bathrooms. Murray installed a pool at this house that featured the Chicago Cubs logo. He sold the home in the 1990s.
Personal Life and Unique Practices
Bill Murray has been married twice. In 1981, he married Margaret Kelly, whom he met during the filming of “Stripes.” They had two children together before divorcing in 1996. Murray then married Jennifer Butler in 1997, with whom he had four children before they divorced in 2008. Butler cited addiction issues and domestic abuse as reasons for their divorce. As of June 2023, Murray is dating singer Kelis.
Murray is involved in minor league baseball, owning shares in several teams over the years. He does not have an agent or manager. Those interested in working with him typically contact him via a phone number and leave a message on an answering machine, which he does not check regularly. He is only willing to work with select directors, including Wes Anderson, James Jarmusch, and Sofia Coppola, which can sometimes lead to mood swings on set when working with others.
