Rob Lowe Net Worth (Money & Salary)

Rob Lowe’s Net Worth and Salary: An Overview

An American actor in film and television, Rob Lowe boasts a net worth of $100 million. His impressive wealth is derived not only from a flourishing acting career but also significantly from endorsements and real estate investments. This article will elaborate on these income sources, highlighting a notable real estate success in October 2020, when Lowe sold a home in Montecito, California, for $45.5 million.

The 1970s marked the inception of Lowe’s career, skyrocketing him to fame as a member of the renowned “Brat Pack,” a collective of young actors featured in several iconic coming-of-age films throughout the 1980s. His pivotal role emerged in 1983’s “The Outsiders,” where he portrayed Sodapop Curtis. Following that, he gained further acclaim with significant performances in “St. Elmo’s Fire” (1985) and “About Last Night…” (1986).

Transitioning to television in the 1990s, Lowe portrayed Sam Seaborn in the acclaimed series “The West Wing” (1999-2003), a performance that garnered him a Primetime Emmy nomination along with two Golden Globe nominations for his depiction of the Deputy Communications Director.

Post-“West Wing,” Lowe displayed his range in the popular satirical comedy series “Parks and Recreation” (2010-2015), where he played the optimistic character Chris Traeger, famously recognized for the catchphrase “literally.” During the same period, he also starred in the cable drama “Brothers & Sisters” (2007-2010).

As a leading actor, Lowe gained attention in the biographical miniseries “Behind the Candelabra” (2013) and the crime drama “Wild Bill” (2019). His foray into reality television includes “The Lowe Files” (2017), a docu-series in which he investigates unsolved mysteries alongside his sons. Additionally, he made guest appearances in series such as “Californication” and “Fargo.” In 2023, he and his son John Owen Lowe debuted in a Netflix series titled “Unstable,” for which they both contributed as co-creators.

Besides acting, Lowe has authored two memoirs: “Stories I Only Tell My Friends” (2011) and “Love Life” (2014), further expanding his list of achievements.

Early Life of Rob Lowe

Born Robert Hepler Lowe on March 17, 1964, in Charlottesville, Virginia, Rob is the son of a teacher and a trial lawyer. He has a younger brother, Chad Lowe, who also pursued an acting career.

Raised in Dayton, Ohio, Rob was baptized in the Episcopal church and attended Oakwood Junior High School. Following his parents’ divorce, he moved to the Point Dume area of Malibu, California, with his mother and brother, where they attended Santa Monica High School.

Rob Lowe’s Career Journey

One of Lowe’s initial acting roles was in the 1983 television film “Thursday’s Child.” His performance earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film. However,In 1983, his true breakout role emerged when he made his big-screen debut alongside Emilio Estevez and Patrick Swayze in the coming-of-age drama “The Outsiders,” which was directed by Francis Ford Coppola. A reunion with Estevez followed in the youth drama “St. Elmo’s Fire” (1985), further solidifying their place within the Brat Pack, a group of prominent young actors. Subsequently, he starred in “About Last Night…” (1986) with fellow Brat Pack member Demi Moore. For his role as the mentally disabled Rory in “Square Dance” (1987), Rob garnered his second Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

In August of 1987, Lowe made his stage debut in a Chekhov production titled “The Three Sisters” at The Williamstown Theatre Festival. From 1999 to 2003, with a brief return in 2006, he portrayed Sam Seaborn in the television series “The West Wing.” During this time, he received a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award and two nominations for Golden Globe Awards as Best Actor in a Drama Series. After departing from the show, he starred in and served as an executive producer for the short-lived NBC drama “The Lyon’s Den” (2003). In 2004, he attempted another series, “Dr. Vegas,” which also did not succeed. Returning to the stage in 2005, he played Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee in a London West End production of “A Few Good Men.” Following his time on “The West Wing,” he experienced further failures, including “View From the Top” and the television film “Perfect Strangers” (2004), but found success with TNT’s “Salem’s Lot” (2004) and Lifetime’s “Beach Girls” (2005) in the TV miniseries realm.

From 2010 to 2015, Rob made regular television appearances as Chris Traeger on “Parks and Recreation.” He also worked on “The Grinder” from 2015 to 2016, serving as an executive producer for that series as well. Subsequently, he starred as Ethan Willis in the CBS drama “Code Black” from 2016 to 2018. Shorter guest appearances followed in shows such as “Californication” (2011-2014), “Franklin & Bash” (2013), “You, Me and the Apocalypse” (2015), and “The Orville” (2017). In 2017, he began filming an A&E reality series titled “The Lowe Files” alongside his two sons, in which they embarked on road trips to investigate various urban myths and legends. His film appearances continued in works like “The Invention of Lying” (2009), “Knife Fight” (2012), “Sex Tape” (2014), “Monster Trucks” (2016), and “Holiday in the Wild” (2019), in addition to made-for-TV films like “Prosecuting Casey Anthony” (2013), “Killing Kennedy” (2013), “Beautiful & Twisted” (2015), and “The Bad Seed” (2018).

A published author, Lowe released his memoir “Stories I Only Tell My Friends” in May 2011, followed by his second book “Love Life” in 2014.

Endorsements

Many brands have enlisted Rob as a spokesman, and he has featured in advertising campaigns for DirecTV, KFC, and Atkins Nutritionals.

Personal Life

In 1983, Lowe met Sheryl Berkoff on a blind date, and they encountered each other again on the set of “Bad Influence.” Married in 1991, they share two sons.

A sex scandal involving Lowe occurred in 1988.The case involved a videotape featuring him engaging in sexual acts with a 16-year-old girl in Georgia, where, at the time, the consent age was set at 14 years old. Additionally, a second portion of the tape was made public, depicting Lowe and a friend in a hotel room in Paris with a young American model. This tape was marketed, marking one of the earliest celebrity sex tapes available commercially. Although his reputation suffered, Lowe’s career ultimately revitalized, and he even poked fun at himself during two guest spots on “Saturday Night Live,” a sketch comedy show.

His family has a history of breast cancer, affecting his mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, with the tragic loss of his mother to the illness in late 2003. Consequently, he has become a strong advocate for breast cancer awareness, being the inaugural male spokesperson for the 2000 Lee National Denim Day fundraiser, aimed at raising money for breast cancer research and education.

Real Estate

In 2005, Rob and Sheryl finalized the sale of a Montecito, California home for $25 million, purchased by education billionaire Peter Sterling.

That same year, they acquired a 3.4-acre ocean-view property for an undisclosed amount, just minutes away from their previous residence. After spending four years constructing a stunning 10,000-square-foot custom-built home, Lowe and Berkoff listed it for $47 million in June 2018. Their neighbors include celebrities like Oprah, Ellen DeGeneres, and Jeff Bridges. Enjoy the video tour of this remarkable property:

On October 1, 2020, it was officially announced that Rob successfully sold the home, fetching a price of $45.5 million. The buyers included private equity magnate Jack McGinley and his wife, Julie. The McGinleys owned a 10-acre estate in Massachusetts, which they purchased just two months prior for $18.9 million. Several years later, Adam Levine and his supermodel spouse acquired this property for $52 million.

Following the sale for $45.5 million, Rob and Sheryl embarked on a real estate buying spree.

On October 30, 2020, it came to light that they had invested $3.7 million in a mansion located in Beverly Hills, California, which was listed for sale in July 2024 at $6.6 million.

In November 2020, Rob and Sheryl purchased another home in Montecito for $5.2 million. Two months later, in December 2020, it was reported that they had spent $13 million on yet another residence in Montecito.