What is Drake Bell's net worth and salary?
Drake Bell is an American actor, comedian, guitarist, singer/songwriter, producer, and occasional television director who has a net worth of $300 thousand. If you were expecting Drake Bell's net worth to be higher, note that in February 2014, he filed for bankruptcy. More details on this bankruptcy filing in the next section below.
Drake Bell rose to fame in the early 2000s as a teen star on Nickelodeon. He began his career with appearances on shows like "The Amanda Show," where his comedic timing and musical talent stood out. His breakout role came in 2004 when he starred as Drake Parker on the hit sitcom "Drake & Josh," alongside Josh Peck. The show became one of Nickelodeon's most successful series, running for four seasons and spawning two TV movies.
Parallel to his acting career, Bell pursued music, blending rock and pop influences. He released his debut album "Telegraph" in 2005, followed by "It's Only Time" in 2006, which charted on the Billboard 200. He also provided the voice of Peter Parker/Spider-Man in several animated series, including "Ultimate Spider-Man" and related Marvel shows.
In later years, Bell's career was overshadowed by legal and personal controversies, including a 2021 conviction for attempted child endangerment. He received two years' probation and community service. Despite ongoing attempts to revive his music and acting career, his reputation and opportunities have been significantly impacted. Nevertheless, Bell remains a recognizable figure to fans of 2000s-era teen television.
Bankruptcy
In February 2014, Drake Bell filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in California, revealing a stark contrast between his early fame and his declining financial situation. According to court documents, Bell reported debts totaling nearly $600,000, with a substantial portion owed to the Internal Revenue Service. His filing painted a grim picture: monthly income of just $2,800 against monthly expenses of nearly $18,800.
A key asset listed in the filing was his 2,640-square-foot home in Los Feliz, which he had purchased in 2007 for $2.05 million at the height of his "Drake & Josh" fame. At the time of the bankruptcy, the property had gone into foreclosure. Bell estimated the home's value at $1.575 million, but he still owed $1.6 million on the mortgage, meaning he was underwater on the property. He ultimately sold this home in July 2014 for $1.6 million, the exact amount owed on his mortgage. That means he likely lost money on the property after various transaction fees.
His income had also taken a dramatic hit. Bell stated that he had earned approximately $408,000 in 2012, but by 2013, his annual income had plunged to just $14,000. The bankruptcy marked a turning point in his post-Nickelodeon career, highlighting the financial volatility many child and teen stars face as they age out of high-profile roles. It also underscored the challenges Bell encountered transitioning from television celebrity to independent artist and entrepreneur.
Early Life
Drake was born on June 27, 1986, in Santa Ana, California. His mother, Robin Dodson, was a professional pool player. He has one older sister and three older brothers. Heath Bell of the San Diego Padres is Drake's cousin. Drake's parents divorced when he was five years old. Bell attended Orange County High School of the Arts, where he received extensive training in acting.
Acting Career
Drake started acting at age five with the encouragement of his father, who recognized early on Drake's talent and confidence while public speaking and his stellar impersonations of people he saw on television. Bell's first appearance was on a 1994 episode of "Home Improvement." Around the same time, he did his very first national TV commercial for Whirlpool Appliances. In 2000, he was nominated for a Young Artist Award after appearing in the made-for-TV film "The Jack Bull."
In 2004, Bell's career got a huge boost when he co-starred on Nickelodeon's "Drake & Josh" with his real-life friend and actor Josh Peck. The show was written specifically for them. Peck was also a featured performer on "The Amanda Show" from 1999 to 2002. Drake Bell has won nine Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards. In addition to his TV roles, Drake has also had small parts in some featured films such as "Jerry Maguire," "Dragon World," and "Yours, Mine, and Ours." Bell appeared in the role of Timmy Turner in the live-action TV film "A Fairly Odd Movie: Grow Up, Timmy Turner!" which premiered on July 9, 2011. He also starred in the mini-series "Flying Tigers" and the web series "I Heart Vampires." In 2012, Bell was cast as Spider-Man in the animated series "Ultimate Spider-Man," and he later reprised the role in "The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes." He has voiced the role of Spider-Man in two video games for Marvel. He reprised his role of Timmy Turner in the third "The Fairly OddParents" film in 2014. In 2017, he starred in the film "Bad Kids of Crestview Academy."

(Photo by Maury Phillips/Getty Images for GBK Productions, LLC)
Music Career
Bell began playing guitar at the age of twelve and received his first official guitar lessons from Roger Daltrey when they starred in a film together. As a musician, Bell co-wrote as well as performed the theme song "Found a Way" from the "Drake & Josh Show". His debut album "Telegraph" was independently recorded and released in 2005. After he signed a record deal in 2006 with Universal Motown, his second album entitled "It's Only Time" was released.
Drake has since released two more albums, "Ready, Steady, Go!" in 2014 and 2020's "The Lost Album," but they did not perform well in the charts or commercially. In January 2015, Drake posted a picture of his broken wrist on Twitter and alleged that doctors said he would never play guitar ever again. He recovered quickly from the injury and was back to playing guitar. Some of Bell's music is more popular in Mexico than in America, and he went on a concert tour in Mexico in 2016.

(Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)
Personal Life
Drake Bell has been romantically linked to several fellow entertainers over the years, including a relationship with his former Nickelodeon co-star Amanda Bynes from 1999 to 2001. He was later engaged to model Paydin LoPachin, but the couple ended their relationship in 2016.
Bell eventually married actress and producer Janet von Schmeling, with whom he shares a son, Jeremy. The couple quietly separated in 2022, but have since maintained an amicable co-parenting relationship.
In recent interviews, Bell has spoken candidly about his approach to co-parenting, shaped by his own experiences with divorced parents. He has emphasized the importance of mutual respect and emotional safety for their son, saying that no matter the circumstances between him and his ex-wife, their child is always reminded that both parents love and support each other. "All my son knows is that me and his mom love each other," Bell explained in 2025. "We're not together, but we respect each other and we love him unconditionally."
Bell has been active in various charitable causes. He serves as an ambassador for The Thirst Project, a non-profit organization that aims to combat the global clean water crisis through youth education and fundraising. Bell has performed benefit concerts and made public appearances on behalf of the campaign. He also supports other organizations, including Toys for Tots and Rockin' A Cure, which raises money for cystic fibrosis research.
In 2005, Bell was seriously injured in a car accident while driving his classic 1966 Ford Mustang in Los Angeles. A driver fell asleep at the wheel and struck Bell's car head-on, leaving him with a fractured neck, broken jaw, and severe facial injuries. He required surgery, more than 70 stitches, and had his jaw wired shut for two months during recovery.
Legal Troubles
Bell has faced a series of legal issues that have clouded his career in recent years. In December 2015, he was arrested in Glendale, California, for driving under the influence after police pulled him over for speeding and erratic driving at 2:45 a.m. He was later convicted in 2016, receiving a sentence of four days in jail and four years' probation. Bell ultimately served just one day due to good behavior and completed an alcohol education program.
In June 2021, Bell was arrested in Ohio and charged with attempted child endangerment and disseminating material harmful to juveniles. The charges stemmed from inappropriate interactions with a minor who attended one of his concerts. Bell initially pleaded not guilty but later changed his plea to guilty. In July 2021, he was sentenced to two years of probation and 200 hours of community service. During the sentencing hearing, Bell publicly apologized but maintained that there was no sexual contact or intent.
The conviction significantly tarnished his public image and further complicated attempts to relaunch his acting and music career.