What Is Donald Glover's Net Worth?
Donald Glover is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, director, musician, and DJ who has a net worth of $40 million. Donald Glover is a multifaceted American artist known for his work across various entertainment mediums. He began his career as a writer for the TV show "30 Rock" while still in college. Glover gained wider recognition for his acting role as Troy Barnes in the comedy series "Community."
Between September 2018 and September 2019, Donald Glover earned more than $35 million from his various entertainment endeavors. That was actually enough to make him one of the highest-paid entertainers in the world during the period.
Under the stage name Childish Gambino, Glover has established himself as a successful musician. His music spans genres including hip-hop, R&B, and funk. His hit single "This Is America" and its provocative music video won multiple Grammy Awards and sparked widespread cultural discussion.
In film, Glover has appeared in notable roles such as Lando Calrissian in "Solo: A Star Wars Story" and voiced Simba in the live-action remake of "The Lion King." Glover created, wrote, produced, and starred in the critically acclaimed FX series "Atlanta," which earned him Emmy and Golden Globe awards. The show's unique blend of comedy and drama showcased his visionary storytelling abilities.
Amazon Deal
In 2021, after several years working under a pact with FX, Donald signed an "eight figure" multi-year exclusive deal to produce shows for Amazon. The initial plan was to give Donald his own channel on Amazon, but that ultimately did not come to fruition. For an understanding of what an eight figure Amazon deal might actually look like, we can use Phoebe Waller-Bridge as a comp. Days after winning the 2019 Emmy for "Fleabag," Phoebe signed a 3-year, $60 million deal with Amazon. She was at one point slated to co-produce "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" with Donald for Amazon, but the partnership broke up over creative differences. In the end, Phoebe did not produce a single episode of content for her $60 million and somehow she signed yet another $60 million deal with Amazon in 2023. It's likely that Donald's deal is comparable, so presumably in the 3-year, $60 million range.
Early Life
Donald McKinley Glover Jr. was born on September 25, 1983, at Edwards Air Force Base, California. His father, Donald Sr., was a postal worker stationed at the base, and his mother, Beverly, previously worked as a daycare provider. Donald was raised in Stone Mountain, Georgia, along with his two siblings. His parents also served as foster parents for 14 years.
Glover attended Lakeside High School and DeKalb School of the Arts before continuing his education at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. He graduated from college in 2006 with a degree in Dramatic Writing.
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Acting and Writing Career
Glover's writing samples, which included a spec script he had written for "The Simpsons," caught the attention of producer David Miner in 2006. Miner and Tina Fey were impressed by his writing and hired him as a writer for the NBC sitcom "30 Rock." During his time writing for "30 Rock" between 2006 to 2009, he made occasional cameo appearances on the show. In 2008, the "30 Rock" writing team earned the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Comedy Series for the show's third season.
After a failed audition to play President Obama on "Saturday Night Live," Glover landed the role of former high school jock Troy Barnes on the NBC sitcom "Community." He starred in seasons 1 – 4 of the series and was a partial member of the 5th season, appearing in only five episodes. In 2013, Glover signed a deal with FX to create a music-themed show titled "Atlanta." Donald starred in, wrote, occasionally directed, and worked as an executive producer on the show. The show premiered in March 2015 to critical acclaim and went on to air 41 episodes over four seasons. It won two Golden Globe Awards and seven Primetime Emmy Awards. In particular, it is worthwhile to note that the Emmy that Donald won for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series was the first ever to be awarded to an African-American in the award's history. In 2015, Glover also appeared in three films, "The Lazarus Effect," "Magic Mike XXL" and "The Martian."
In 2018, Donald portrayed a young Lando Calrissian in "Solo: A Star Wars Story." That same year, he proposed a project to New Regency that he wanted to work on. Despite not even having a script, they accepted his proposal, and Amazon Studios agreed to distribute the resulting film. The project resulted in the film "Guava Island" (2019), which was written by Glover's brother Stephen, starred Donald, and was directed by longtime collaborator Hiro Murai. In 2019, he was also featured as the voice for adult Simba in the remake of "The Lion King."
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Music Career
While working as a writer on "30 Rock," Glover released the independent mixtape "Sick Boi" in June 2008 under the stage name Childish Gambino. His second mixtape, "Poindexter," was released in September 2009, followed by "I Am Just a Rapper," "I Am Just A Rapper 2," and "Culdesac" in 2010. His first extended play, "EP," was released in March 2011 as a free digital download. In April of that year, he embarked on his nationwide "IAMDONALD" tour, which consisted of rap, comedy, and video performance segments.
As he worked on his debut album, Glover approached the "Community" score composer, Ludwig Göransson, to assist him with production. Prior to the album's release, Donald signed a record deal with Glassnote Records. He also went on "The Sign-Up Tour" during this time. His debut studio album, "Camp," was released in November 2011 and debuted at #11 on the "Billboard" 200. The singles "Bonfire" and "Heartbeat" peaked at #18 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Single chart and #54 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Song chart, respectively.
Glover's second studio album, "Because the Internet," was released in December 2013 and debuted at #7 on the "Billboard" 200 chart. To support the album's release, Donald also released a 72-page screenplay and a short film he wrote and starred in, "Clapping for the Wrong Reasons," which was directed by Hiro Murai. "Because the Internet" was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, and the single "3005" was nominated for Best Rap Performance. "Awaken, My Love!" was Glover's third album, released in December 2016. It was also positively received by critics and nominated for two categories at the 2018 Grammy Awards. "Redbone," one of the singles off the album, also received multiple Grammy nominations and won Best Traditional R&B Performance.
After signing with RCA Records in January 2018, Glover released the single "This is America" in May. The song is famous for its lyrics that address topics like gun violence and racial tensions in the United States, and Donald released a very controversial music video directed by Hiro Murai. The song won Song of the Year, Best Music Video, Best Rap/Sung Performance, and Record of the Year at the 2019 Grammy Awards. Glover's fourth album, "3.15.20.," was released in March 2020.
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Endorsements and Earnings
Glover has supported several brands throughout his career. He was featured in the 2010 holiday advertising campaign for Gap. In partnership with Adidas, Donald reimagined three pairs of classic Adidas sneakers and released them in April 2019 as the Donald Glover Presents line.
Between September 2018 and September 2019, Glover earned more than $30 million from his various entertainment endeavors. That was enough to make him one of the highest-paid entertainers in the world at the time.
Personal Life & Real Estate
Donald Glover married Michelle White in January 2024. They began dating in 2015 and have three sons.
In 2016, Donald paid $2.755 million for a home in the LA suburb of La Cañada Flintridge. He sold the home for in 2021 for $4 million. The buyer was YouTuber Markiplier. They continue to own a different home in La Cañada Flintridge.
In 2023, Donald bought a large ranch property in Ojai, California.
