What Is Andy Samberg's Net Worth and Salary?
Andy Samberg is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and musician who has a net worth of $25 million.
Andy Samberg, a multifaceted talent in the entertainment industry, has carved out a distinctive niche with his comedic prowess. He first gained widespread attention as a member of the comedy trio The Lonely Island and subsequently as a standout cast member on "Saturday Night Live" ("SNL"). With a knack for blending irreverent humor and insightful commentary, Samberg has cultivated a career that traverses television, film, and music, making him one of the prominent comedic voices of his generation.
Samberg's time on "SNL," from 2005 to 2012, was marked by the creation of innovative and wildly popular digital shorts, including the Emmy-winning "Dick in a Box" alongside Justin Timberlake. These shorts not only revitalized the sketch show but also underscored Andy's ability to marry music and comedy in a format that resonated with the digital age audience. His work on "SNL" established him as a significant player in the comedy world, showcasing his creative versatility and paving the way for future endeavors in various media formats.
In the realm of television, Samberg notably starred in the hit series "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," in which he played the charming and immature detective Jake Peralta. The show, praised for its witty writing and inclusive cast, further spotlighted Andy's comedic acting chops and his ability to anchor a mainstream series, earning him a Golden Globe Award for his performance.
Andy Samberg's impact extends to the film industry, where he has both acted and produced. Notable films like "Hot Rod," "Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping," and the critically acclaimed "Palm Springs" illustrate a career that comfortably oscillates between pure comedic romps and thought-provoking humor. Particularly, "Palm Springs" was lauded for blending existential themes with comedic elements, displaying a maturation in the kinds of stories he chooses to tell.
Moreover, Samberg has lent his voice to successful animated projects, such as "Hotel Transylvania," and hosted high-profile events, including the Primetime Emmy Awards.
Early Life
Andy Samberg was born David A. J. Samberg on August 18, 1978, in Berkeley, California. At age five, he told his parents he wanted to change his name to Andy. He was raised Jewish but considers himself non-religious. His mother, Marjorie, is an elementary school teacher, and his father, Joe, is a photographer. He has two sisters. Andy attended Elementary School with Chelsea Peretti, who would later become his co-star on "Brooklyn Nine-Nine."
As a child, Samberg discovered "Saturday Night Live" and developed an obsession and passion for comedy. He attended Willard Junior High School in Berkeley, where he met future The Lonely Island collaborators Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone. After graduating from Berkeley High School in 1996, Samberg attended the University of Santa Cruz for two years before transferring to NYU's Tisch School of the Arts in New York City, where he majored in experimental film.
The Lonely Island
Andy's career began in 2001 when he and his roommates formed a three-man comedy troupe named The Lonely Island. The three had moved to Los Angeles together with the goal of becoming filmmakers but struggled to find work. They named the group after the nickname they had given their apartment. They soon began making short comedy films for their website, and their digital shorts like "White Power," "Regarding Andy," and "Awesometown" gained them notoriety.
The popularity of the videos eventually led to a writing job for the 2005 MTV Movie Awards, a gig which eventually landed them jobs on "Saturday Night Live." While still at "SNL," they released their first studio album, "Incredibad," in February 2009. In the early 2010s, Schaffer, Taccone, and Samberg left "SNL," but they occasionally still make guest cameos. They went on to release more albums: 2011's "Turtleneck & Chain," 2013's "The Wack Album," the 2016 "Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping" soundtrack, and 2019's "The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience," a Netflix special that was advertised as a "visual poem" to go alongside a new rap album of the same name.
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Saturday Night Live and Beyond
Jimmy Fallon, who hosted the MTV Movie Awards the year The Lonely Island worked on the writing team, recommended them to "Saturday Night Live" creator Lorne Michaels. All three members were hired for writing positions, with Samberg also landing a job as a featured player. Their first episode aired on October 1, 2005. The trio recorded their own songs and sketches and submitted them to the pitch team, bypassing the process of verbally pitching skits. Although Samberg was not included in many live sketches his first year, he was featured in commercial parodies and a number of other prerecorded sketches. Three of many viral videos the trio produced for "SNL" include "Lazy Sunday," a hip hop song about a quest to see the film "The Chronicles of Narnia," "Dick in a Box," a duet with Justin Timberlake, and "I'm on a Boat," a collaboration with T-Pain which quickly garnered 56 million views on YouTube after its release. Samberg left "SNL" in 2012 to play Dale Ashbrick in "Cuckoo," a BBC Three comedy series.
The following year, Andy was cast in the starring role of Jake Peralta on the Fox (later NBC) comedy "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," a show he also produced. Samberg starred in the 2015 video for "No Cities to Love" by Sleater-Kinney alongside Fred Armisen, Norman Reedus, and Ellen Page. He is also known for his hosting duties, which include the 2009 MTV Movie Awards, the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 20, 2015, and as a co-host at the 76th Golden Globe Awards alongside Sandra Oh on January 6, 2019.
Salary
While he was starring on "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," Andy earned $125,000 per episode. As the show's creator, he'll likely earn tens of millions over his lifetime from the sale of the show's 130+ episodes into syndication. For syndication, a show typically needs to have aired 100 episodes.
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Film Career
Samberg's first film role was in 2007's "Hot Rod." Afterward, he went on to land roles in "I Love You, Man" and "Friends With Benefits," and he appeared alongside Adam Sandler in 2012's "That's My Boy." He is also known for his voice work, which can be heard in the franchises "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" and "Hotel Transylvania." In 2016, Samberg produced, wrote, and starred in "Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping," a mockumentary comedy film directed by Schaffer and Taccone that received mostly favorable reviews.
Accolades
Samberg's work has been nominated for Emmys, Teen Choice Awards, and People's Choice Awards, among others. In 2014, "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" won a Golden Globe for Best Musical or Comedy. Samberg has also won the Golden Globe and People's Choice Awards for Best Actor. His duet with Timberlake, "Dick in a Box," won a Creative Arts Emmy for Outstanding Music and Lyrics. "I'm on a Boat" was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2009 for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. In 2012, Samberg delivered the Class Day speech at Harvard University.
Personal Life
Samberg married musician Joanna Newsom in Big Sur, California, on September 21, 2013. The two met at one of her concerts, as Andy was a self-professed "superfan." They dated for five years before getting engaged in February 2013. Andy's former "SNL" castmate Seth Meyers was a groomsman in their wedding. Samberg and Newsom have two children. The family resides primarily in Los Angeles, and they also have a home in the West Village in New York City. Their Los Angeles home was picked up for $6.25 million in July 2014. It's located in the Beachwood Canyon area.
