Melissa McCarthy's Net Worth and How 'The Little Mermaid' Star Made It
Big laughs mean big paychecks.
Melissa McCarthy is one of the most beloved actresses on the planet, but we were almost never graced with her humor and charm—and she almost went without tens of millions of dollars in net worth—all because she gave herself a deadline to make it before 30.
It was far from easy: She relied on financial assistance from her parents to make ends meet while she went on seemingly countless auditions, first in New York City (where she also briefly tried her hand at standup comedy), then in Los Angeles.
Back in 2017, McCarthy told Rolling Stonethat her plan was, if she hasn't made it as an actress by her 30th birthday, she would throw in the towel and pursue something else. A week before turning the big 3-0, she got the call for Gilmore Girls and the role of Sookie St. James, which gave her a steady (if supporting) gig on a long-running series.
However, it wasn't until Bridesmaids, when McCarthy was 40, that she would become a marquee name. Her role as brash, shameless sister-of-the-bride Megan earned her a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award nomination in 2012 and sent her star power skyrocketing.
Because she hit it big at 40, McCarthy has a healthy and insightful perspective on age. What she's learned: You get older, you get wiser, and when you get wiser, you learn that there's no cutoff date or age to achieve what you're on this planet to do.
"I've never minded getting older. I've never had that thing of, 'Why can’t I still be 35?' The older you are, the more interesting you are as a character," she told AARP. "There's a whole life history and knowledge of the world and self-possession that comes from someone who has seen more. That experienced point of view is always more exciting. Yes, things may start to sag and shift, but the older you are, the wiser, the funnier, the smarter you are. You become more you."
McCarthy, a self-described former goth who dropped out of college, told TODAYin 2018 that there are still things she wishes she'd done differently—and she has the clarity to know that if she really wants to, she can.
"I didn’t finish school and that's something I still wish [I did]—I always love the thought of it never being too late," she explained. "You can change the course of your life no matter how old you are. The thought of going back to school at this age seems like an amazing gift."
McCarthy may have been a late-career bloomer, but it's paid off in spades for her. Find out Melissa McCarthy's net worth and how she earned it!
Why is Melissa McCarthy famous?
McCarthy first achieved a level of fame with her role on Gilmore Girls,but she became an A-lister after landing one of the two title roles in Mike & Molly—for which she won an Emmy at the age of 41—and a star supporting turn as Megan in Bridesmaids.
Since then, she's starred in Spy, The Heat, Tammy, Identity Thief, Ghostbusters and had delivered an amazing dramatic performance (nabbing her second Oscar nomination) in Can You Ever Forgive Me?. She is also a writer and producer.
What is Melissa McCarthy's net worth in 2023?
Melissa McCarthy's net worth is estimated at $90 million.
How much does Melissa McCarthy make a year?
McCarthy's annual income varies: She had large steady paychecks from Mike & Molly, which ran from 2010 to 2016, which bolstered her yearly salary to around $15 million. In 2015, she raked in $23 million. When the show ended, she made $12 million to $25 million per year, depending on how full her film slate was.
How is Melissa McCarthy related to Jenny McCarthy?
Melissa McCarthy is Jenny McCarthy's cousin. Melissa's first TV appearance was on Jenny, a sitcom starring the former Playboy model and inexplicably proud anti-vaxxer.
What movies has Melissa McCarthy written?
McCarthy is credited as a writer on Tammy, The Boss and Life of the Party, as well as upcoming projects God's Favorite Idiot, Just Do It, Cousin Irv From Mars and an untitled Stanley Cup-themed project.
What is Melissa McCarthy best known for?
McCarthy was the breakout star of Bridesmaids and became a TV staple in sitcom Mike & Molly. Her films Identity Thief, The Heat, Spy and Tammy were massive hits. One of her other best-loved roles was as former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer on Saturday Night Live.
How much does Melissa McCarthy make per movie?
McCarthy's pay per film depends on exactly how many hats she wears for it: She will command a much bigger payday if she stars in a project for which she also has writing and producing credits. Her pay may also depend on how well a movie does at the box office, especially if she has a contract that gives her a percentage of the grosses.
What is Melissa McCarthy doing now?
McCarthy stays booked and busy! She produced and starred in Nine Perfect Strangers and will appear in upcoming films The Starling, Thor: Love and Thunder, The Little Mermaid(as Ursula!) and God's Favorite Idiot.
Related: Melissa McCarthy’s 5 Greatest Performances
Where does Melissa McCarthy live?
In March 2020, McCarthy and Falcone plunked down $2.4 million on a cozy one-story house in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles. The home boasts four bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, a pool and a spa on its 2,800-square-foot lot.
Why is Melissa McCarthy living in Australia?
McCarthy moved to Australia to film Nine Perfect Strangers, which was originally supposed to shoot in Los Angeles but couldn't due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. She and her family are staying in the Land Down Under while Falcone shoots God's Favorite Idiot.
McCarthy explained to InStyle, "I am connected to Australia in a way that I didn't anticipate. I could very easily live here for the rest of my life. I'm in love with it. Everyone is so chatty. I'm a Midwestern gal who lives in L.A., where no one wants to talk to you. And here I'll be in the grocery store, and I can't go down a single aisle without talking to somebody. It's wonderful. I come home, and I will have had 15 conversations."
Does Melissa McCarthy have a production company?
McCarthy and Falcone own On the Day Productions. The company has produced TV movie Amy's Brother as well as TV shows and films Nobodies, Little Big Shots, Nine Perfect Strangers, Thunder Force, Superintelligence, Tammy, The Boss, Life of the Party, The Happytime Murders and Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed.
Does Melissa McCarthy have endorsements?
McCarthy has had endorsements with Kia, Ivory soap and Sunrise Brands. She also launched her own clothing line, Seven7, in 2015.
Next, learn about 39 other amazing women who hit their career strides after 40.
