Net Worth Ranker
What Is Mike Birbiglia’s Net Worth?
Mike Birbiglia, a multifaceted American talent known for his work as a comedian, actor, writer, director, and producer, has accumulated a net worth of $4 million. This financial standing is a result of his diverse career spanning various entertainment mediums.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born on June 20, 1978, in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, Michael Joseph Birbiglia was raised in a Catholic household alongside his parents, Mary Jean and Vincent, and siblings, Joe, Patti, and Gina. His brother, Joe Birbiglia, has significantly contributed to Mike’s career, receiving writing credits on projects such as “Mike Birbiglia: What I Should Have Said Was Nothing,” “Mike Birbiglia’s Secret Public Journal,” “Sleepwalk with Me,” and “Mike Birbiglia: My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend.” Joe also served as a producer on “Mike Birbiglia: What I Should Have Said Was Nothing,” “Don’t Think Twice,” and “Mike Birbiglia: Thank God for Jokes.”
Mike’s educational journey included attending St. John’s High School, an all-boys Catholic institution, followed by St. Mark’s School. After graduating from St. Mark’s in 1996, he pursued higher education at Georgetown University. During his time at Georgetown, he actively participated in the Georgetown Players Improv Troupe. Earning a Bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in Theater in 2000 from Georgetown University, he began writing jokes at age 16, inspired by comedian Steven Wright. As a college student, he also worked as a server at a comedy club and started performing stand-up comedy at the DC Improv.
Stand-up Comedy and Television Appearances
Birbiglia’s career took off with numerous appearances on television programs. He has showcased his comedic talent on shows like “Premium Blend,” “The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn,” “Comedy Central Presents,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson,” “Late Show with David Letterman,” “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” “Conan,” and “Late Night with Seth Meyers.” These appearances significantly contributed to his visibility and fan base.
In 1997, Mike secured an internship at “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” where he worked for Jordan Schlansky. Post-graduation, he moved to New York, performing stand-up on the “Late Show with David Letterman” in 2002. His performance at Aspen’s U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in 2003 further solidified his status.
Comedy Albums and Stage Shows
Mike Birbiglia has released several comedy albums, starting with “Dog Years” in 2004, followed by “My Secret Public Album” (2005), “Two Drink Mike” (2006), “My Secret Public Journal Live” (2007), “Sleepwalk with Me Live” (2011), “My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend” (2013), and “Thank God For Jokes” (2019). In 2010, “The A.V. Club” recognized “My Secret Public Journal Live” as one of the decade’s best comedy albums. These albums, while not revealing specific sales figures, have added to his income stream.
In 2008, Birbiglia starred in his one-man show “Sleepwalk with Me” at NYC’s Bleecker Street Theater, earning “Show of the Year” honors from “Time Out New York” in 2009. He adapted the stage show into a book, an album, and the film “Sleepwalk with Me.”
Film and Television Roles
Birbiglia has also appeared in numerous films and television shows. His acting credits include roles in films such as “Your Sister’s Sister” (2011) and “Trainwreck” (2015), as well as television series like “Orange Is the New Black” (2015–2016) and “Billions” (2018–2020). These roles, while varying in size and scope, have added to his overall earnings. In 2010, he played a waiter in “Going the Distance,” and in 2011, he co-starred in “Cedar Rapids” and appeared in “Your Sister’s Sister.”
His filmography includes guest roles on “Girls” (2012) and “Inside Amy Schumer” (2013–2014), and a role in the 2015 film “Trainwreck.” He has also appeared in “The Fault in Our Stars” (2014), “Adult Beginners” (2014), “Annie” (2014), and “Hot Pursuit” (2015). From 2015 to 2016, he played Danny Pearson on “Orange Is the New Black,” and in 2016, he starred in “Don’t Think Twice,” which he also wrote, directed, and produced.
Writing, Directing, and Producing
Birbiglia has written, directed, and starred in the films “Sleepwalk with Me” (2012) and “Don’t Think Twice” (2016). He also wrote and starred in the comedy special “Mike Birbiglia: Thank God for Jokes” (2017). In addition to starring in these projects, he produced “Don’t Think Twice” and “Mike Birbiglia: Thank God for Jokes,” along with “Mike Birbiglia: What I Should Have Said Was Nothing” (2008), “Mike Birbiglia’s Secret Public Journal” (2008), and “Mike Birbiglia: My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend” (2013). His work as a writer, director, and producer has undoubtedly increased his earning potential and contributed significantly to his current net worth. These projects include the book “Sleepwalk With Me and Other Painfully True Stories” (2010) and “The New One: Painfully True Stories from a Reluctant Dad” (2020).
Key Milestones and Achievements
Birbiglia’s career is marked by several key milestones. His one-man shows, including “Sleepwalk with Me,” “My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend,” and “Thank God for Jokes,” have received awards and nominations from prestigious organizations like the Outer Critics Circle Awards, Lucille Lortel Awards, and Drama Desk Awards.
From October 2018 to January 2019, his one-man show “The New One” was performed on Broadway at the Cort Theatre. In mid-2020, he launched the podcast “Mike Birbiglia’s Working It Out.”
In 2012, the “Sleepwalk with Me” film earned him a Writer/Director Award at the Nantucket Film Festival and a Best of Next! Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival, along with nominations from the Gotham Awards (Breakthrough Actor) and Zurich Film Festival (Best International Feature Film). During his time on “Orange Is the New Black,” the cast won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (2016). In 2014, he received an American Comedy Award nomination for Comedy Special of the Year for “My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend,” and in 2018, “Don’t Think Twice” earned an Audience Award nomination at the Americana Film Fest.
For his stage shows, he won a Nightlife Award for Outstanding Comedian in a Major Engagement for “Sleepwalk with Me” (2009), a Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Solo Show for “My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend” (2011), and a Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Solo Performance for “The New One” (2019). In 2003, he earned an ECNY Award for Best Male Stand-up, and in 2017, he was named Stand-Up Comedian of the Year at the Just For Laughs Awards. That year, he also received the Kurt Vonnegut Humor Award.
Personal Life and Health
Mike Birbiglia married poet Jen Stein on July 7, 2007. They welcomed their daughter Oona in 2015. Jen’s pen name is J. Hope Stein, and her poetry was featured in Mike’s 2020 book, “The New One: Painfully True Stories from a Reluctant Dad.”
Birbiglia suffers from rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, which once caused him to jump through a second-story window while sleepwalking at a motel in Walla Walla, Washington, resulting in a leg injury requiring 33 stitches. He manages the condition with medication and sleeps in a sleeping bag. At age 19, he was diagnosed with bladder cancer, undergoing surgery to remove a tumor but avoiding chemotherapy or radiation.
