David Schwimmer Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is David Schwimmer’s Net Worth and Salary?

David Schwimmer, an American actor, director, and producer, holds a net worth of $120 million, gaining fame for his role as Ross Geller on the well-loved sitcom “Friends” (1994-2004). His portrayal earned him a Screen Actors Guild Award and an Emmy nomination. Prior to this pivotal role, Schwimmer made appearances in a variety of TV shows and films, including “The Wonder Years,” “NYPD Blue,” and “The Pallbearer.”

Following “Friends,” Schwimmer acted in films like “Duane Hopwood,” “Big Nothing,” and “Nothing But the Truth.” He also provided the voice for Melman in the animated “Madagascar” series. Beyond acting, Schwimmer directed several episodes of shows like “Friends,” “Joey,” and “Little Britain USA.”

Schwimmer made his Broadway debut in 2006 with “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial.” He co-founded the Lookingglass Theatre Company in Chicago, where he has performed in and directed numerous productions. Recently, he has taken on more serious roles in series such as “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” and “Intelligence.”

Early Life

David Lawrence Schwimmer was born on November 2, 1966, in Flushing, Queens, New York City. Raised in a Jewish family with an older sister and parents who were both attorneys, the family later moved to Los Angeles. In Los Angeles, David discovered his love for acting and developed an interest in Shakespeare.

Eventually, the family settled in Beverly Hills, where David attended high school. During his high school years, he felt like an outsider and initially aspired to be a doctor due to his proficiency in math and science. Nonetheless, his passion for acting persisted, leading him to take drama classes and participate in summer acting programs.

After graduating from high school, David Schwimmer enrolled at Northwestern University, where he joined an improv group that included Stephen Colbert. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in theater and speech in 1988. After establishing the Lookingglass Theater Company in Chicago post-graduation, he made his way back to Los Angeles to chase his acting ambitions.

Career

David Schwimmer’s initial roles included appearances in TV shows like L.A. Law, The Wonder Years, NYPD Blue, and Monty. He also featured in films such as A Deadly Silence and Flight of the Intruder.

His significant breakthrough occurred in 1994 when he was cast as Ross Geller in Friends. The series premiere attracted 22 million viewers, swiftly cultivating a dedicated fan base. During his tenure on Friends, Schwimmer diversified his career with film roles in The Pallbearer, Kissing a Fool, Six Days, Seven Nights, Picking Up the Pieces, and Apt Pupil.

In 2001, another significant highlight in Schwimmer’s career was his performance in the World War II miniseries Band of Brothers, where he portrayed a captain.

Sobel, a neurotic officer in the United States Army who was largely disliked, began voicing Melman the giraffe in the Madagascar film series in 2005.

Following that, David Schwimmer entered the directing scene with films like Run Fatboy Run. His Broadway debut occurred shortly after in The Caine Mutiny Court Martial. Additionally, he made appearances in television series including Curb Your Enthusiasm, 30 Rock, and Entourage.

Returning to television in 2011 after an extended break, he made a guest appearance in the British comedy series Come Fly With Me. In 2016, he took on the role of Robert Kardashian in the inaugural season of American Crime Story, which revolved around the OJ Simpson trial. In various other series like Feed the Beast, Homecoming, and Intelligence, David Schwimmer also featured prominently. His portrayal of Matthew Quirk in The Laundromat came in 2019. In 2023, he played Joel Moon in Captain Fall and Harris Goldblatt in Extrapolations.

Relationships

At the end of the 1990s, Schwimmer was in a relationship with singer-songwriter Natalie Imbruglia. He wed Zoe Buckman in 2010, and they welcomed a child the following year. After spending some time apart, the couple divorced in 2017.

David Schwimmer Friends Salaries and Royalties

In the first season of Friends, each cast member made $22,500 per episode, totaling $540,000 for the season. By season two, their earnings increased to $40,000 per episode, equating to $960,000 annually.

Before the start of the third season, the main cast united to renegotiate their contracts. Following successful discussions, the studio agreed to a salary of $75,000 per episode for each main cast member in season three, amounting to $1.875 million annually.

The revised contract also included provisions for pay increases in subsequent seasons. The main cast’s salary rose to $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).

However, the cast was not done. Prior to season seven, they once again gathered to advocate for better terms. Their unity allowed them to secure $750,000 per episode for seasons seven and eight, resulting in earnings of $18 million per season.

This highly profitable contract further stipulated an amount of $1 million per episode for the final two seasons. Ultimately, the principal cast of Friends earned $24 million for season nine and $18 million for season ten. In total, David Schwimmer’s base salary from the series reached approximately $90 million, similarly to other primary cast members — not including backend bonuses and continuing royalties.

Royalties

When DavidIn 2000, as they renegotiated their contracts, Schwimmer and the other lead actors of Friends included backend points in their agreement, which led to substantial royalties once the show went into syndication. Such arrangements were quite uncommon, with only a few individuals like Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Cosby having successfully negotiated similar deals.

The Friends brand continues to generate over $1 billion annually through syndication royalties and streaming agreements. This allows David Schwimmer to earn between $10-20 million in royalties in a single year.

Real Estate

David Schwimmer purchased a loft in Chicago for $425,000 in 1998. Initially listing the condo for $1.15 million, he ultimately reduced the asking price and sold the property for $965,000 in 2020.

In 2001, an extensive mansion was acquired by Schwimmer in the upscale Hancock Park neighborhood of Los Angeles for $5.6 million. This 11,336-square-foot residence includes nine bedrooms, five fireplaces, and a wood-paneled library, along with outdoor amenities such as tennis courts and a swimming pool. After listing the mansion for $10.7 million in 2011, he eventually sold it in 2012 for just under $8.9 million.

In 2010, Schwimmer made New York City his primary residence by buying a townhome in Manhattan’s East Village for $3.9 million. He then redeveloped the property through a limited liability company, completely demolishing the historic building from 1852 and constructing a new five-story brick townhouse.