Net Worth Ranker
What Is Fred Armisen’s Net Worth?
As of March 2025, Fred Armisen’s net worth is estimated to be $8 million. This figure is primarily accumulated from his extensive career as a comedian, actor, musician, writer, and producer. His work on television shows such as “Saturday Night Live” (2002-2013) and “Portlandia” (2011-2018) has been a significant contributor to his wealth.
Fred Armisen’s Diverse Career and Earnings
Fred Armisen’s career spans various domains within the entertainment industry, each contributing to his overall net worth. Here’s a closer look at some key areas:
Saturday Night Live (SNL)
Armisen was a cast member on “Saturday Night Live” for 11 years, from 2002 to 2013. While specific salary figures for his time on SNL are not publicly available, it is known that cast members’ salaries increase over time, based on their experience and tenure on the show. Early-career cast members might earn around $7,000 per episode, while more seasoned performers can command upwards of $25,000 per episode. Given Armisen’s lengthy run, it’s plausible he earned a substantial amount from SNL, potentially millions over his 11 seasons. It’s also important to note that Fred has made numerous appearances on “SNL” since he left, and he hosted the show in May 2016.
Portlandia
As the co-creator, writer, executive producer, and star of “Portlandia,” Armisen likely received a significant portion of the show’s revenue. Exact figures are not publicly disclosed, but considering the show’s popularity and eight-season run (77 episodes), his earnings from “Portlandia” would have been substantial. Executive producers typically earn a percentage of the show’s overall profits, which can amount to hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars per season for a successful show. The show aired from 2011 to 2018.
Documentary Now! and Los Espookys
Armisen co-created and served as a writer and executive producer on both “Documentary Now!” and “Los Espookys.” As with “Portlandia,” his involvement in these shows would have generated income from writing, producing, and potentially acting roles. Revenue models for these shows would likely include upfront payments for his creative work and a share of the profits if the shows performed well.
Acting Roles in Film and Television
Armisen has an extensive list of acting credits, with over 160 roles in films and television series. While the specific amounts he earned for each role are not public information, his cumulative income from these projects would undoubtedly be a significant contributor to his net worth. His roles in films such as “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” (2004), “The Rocker” (2008), and “Staten Island Summer” (2015) and TV series such as “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (2013–2018), “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” (2016–2020), “Forever” (2018), and “Moonbase 8” (2020–present) would have added to his earnings.
Voice Acting
Armisen has lent his voice to numerous animated projects, including “The Smurfs” (2011), “The Lego Ninjago Movie” (2017), “Crank Yankers” (2003–2007), “The Looney Tunes Show” (2011–2014), “Big Mouth” (2017–present), and “Final Space” (2018–present). Voice acting roles can vary in pay, but established actors can command thousands of dollars per episode or film, depending on the scope and scale of the project.
Music Career
Before his success in comedy and acting, Armisen was involved in the music industry. He was the drummer for the Chicago-based punk band Trenchmouth in the 1990s. While Trenchmouth’s albums and performances likely did not generate significant wealth, his ongoing involvement in music, including his role as the bandleader for The 8G Band on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” since 2014, has added to his income stream. Armisen released several albums with Trenchmouth, including “Inside the Future” (1993) and “Volumes, Amplifiers, Equalizers” (1995), and he played background drums for Blue Man Group in the ’90s.
Fred Armisen’s Real Estate Investments
Fred Armisen has made several real estate investments over the years, which have contributed to his net worth. Here’s a timeline of his known property transactions:
Silver Lake Home (2014-2016)
In January 2014, Armisen purchased a 1,456 square foot home in the Silver Lake area of Los Angeles for $763,000. This three-bedroom, two-bathroom house was later put on the market in March 2016 for $949,000 and ultimately sold for $987,000 a month later, netting him a profit of $224,000 before taxes and fees.
Los Feliz Home (2016-2022)
In March 2016, the same month he listed his Silver Lake home, Armisen bought a 3,491 square foot home in Los Feliz for $2.03 million. This property was listed for sale in October 2022 for $3.495 million, with the price later dropped to $3.295 million in November 2022. The home went under contract in December 2022, although the final sale price is not publicly available. However, assuming he sold near the asking price, Armisen would have realized a substantial profit on this investment, potentially around $1.2 million before taxes and fees.
English Tudor Home in Los Feliz (2022-Present)
In December 2022, Armisen purchased a 1920s English Tudor-style home in Los Feliz for $4.3 million. As of March 2025, he still owns this property. The value of this home likely fluctuates with market conditions, but it represents a significant asset in his overall net worth.
Awards, Nominations, and Recognition
Fred Armisen’s success and contributions to the entertainment industry have been recognized through numerous awards and nominations:
Primetime Emmy Awards
Armisen has been nominated for 14 Primetime Emmy Awards. These nominations include Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series (2012, 2013, 2014, and 2016), Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (2014), and Outstanding Variety Sketch Series (2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018) for “Portlandia,” Outstanding Variety Sketch Series (2016, 2017, and 2019) for “Documentary Now!,” Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special (2015) for “Saturday Night Live: 40th Anniversary Special,” and Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series (2016) for “Saturday Night Live.” While he hasn’t won an Emmy, these nominations highlight his talent and industry recognition.
Grammy Award
In 2019, Armisen received a Grammy nomination for Best Comedy Album for “Standup for Drummers.” Although he didn’t win, the nomination itself is a testament to his comedic abilities and appeal.
Peabody Award
In 2011, Armisen won a Peabody Award for “Portlandia.” The Peabody Award is considered one of the most prestigious awards in broadcasting and electronic media.
Writers Guild of America Awards
Armisen has received seven Writers Guild of America nominations, winning Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) – Series for “Portlandia” in 2013 and Comedy/Variety Sketch Series for “Saturday Night Live” in 2017. These awards underscore his strength as a writer and his contributions to successful comedy series.
Smithsonian American Ingenuity Award
In 2015, “Smithsonian” magazine honored Fred Armisen with the American Ingenuity Award for Performing Arts. This prestigious award recognizes innovators in various fields, highlighting Armisen’s impact on the performing arts.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born Fereydun Robert Armisen on December 4, 1966, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Fred Armisen’s early life laid the groundwork for his diverse career.
Family and Education
When Fred was a baby, his family moved to New York, and they later lived in Brazil. His mother, Hildegardt Mirabal Level, was a schoolteacher born in Venezuela, and his father, Fereydun Herbert Armisen, was an IBM employee born in Germany. Armisen grew up in Valley Stream, New York, where future “Saturday Night Live” star Jim Breuer was one of his high school classmates. Fred attended Manhattan’s School of Visual Arts, but he dropped out to pursue a career as a rock drummer.
Music Career Launch
Armisen played drums in a band with his high school friends in 1984. In 1988, he moved to Chicago to join the band Trenchmouth. The band broke up in 1996, and Fred later played drums on tracks by Wandering Lucy, Les Savy Fav, and Matthew Sweet. These early experiences in the music industry helped shape his creative sensibilities and performance skills.
