Will Arnett: The Man Behind The Magic

How Much Is Will Arnett Worth?

Will Arnett is not just a household name; he's a Canadian-born actor, voice-over artist, and producer with a staggering net worth of $50 million. You might know him best for his unforgettable role as Gob Bluth on the critically acclaimed TV series “Arrested Development,” which aired initially from 2003 to 2006 on Fox and later found a new home on Netflix from 2013 to 2019. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Will's talent has graced the big screen in films like “Blades of Glory,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” and “The Lego Batman Movie.” In the Lego universe, he dons the cape as the voice of the caped crusader, Batman. Not only does he shine on-screen, but he also hosts the hit Fox competition series “LEGO Masters.” With his films grossing over $3.5 billion worldwide, it's clear that Will's success knows no bounds.

But Will's talents don't stop at acting. He’s been involved in numerous high-profile endorsement deals, including campaigns for GMC and Netflix. And here’s the kicker—his podcast “SmartLess,” co-hosted with Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes, has become one of his most lucrative ventures. We’ll dive deeper into that in the next section, but suffice it to say, Will Arnett is a man who wears many hats and does so with style and grace.

The Rise of SmartLess

Will Arnett, alongside his pals Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes, co-hosts a podcast called “SmartLess.” Now, here’s where things get interesting. In 2021, Amazon shelled out a cool $60 to $80 million for the exclusive rights to distribute this podcast. Fast forward to January 2024, and Sirius XM Holdings ponied up a whopping $100 million to host “SmartLess” for the next three years. It’s safe to say that this podcast has become more than just a side gig for Will—it’s a financial powerhouse.

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Will Arnett's Early Years

Will Arnett was born on May 4, 1970, in Toronto, Canada. His parents, Edith and Emerson James Arnett, might not have known it at the time, but they were raising a future comedy legend. After high school, Will enrolled at Lakefield College School in Lakefield, Ontario, but he didn’t last long. Being the troublemaker that he was, he was asked to leave after just one semester. He then attended Concordia University in Montreal but dropped out, opting instead to move to New York in 1990 to study at the prestigious Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. His mother encouraged him to pursue acting, and from a young age, Will was auditioning for commercials, which ignited his passion for the craft.

Starting from Scratch

Will’s journey to fame wasn’t a straight line. His first onscreen role was in an independent film by Felicity Huffman called “Erie.” But the road was bumpy. He auditioned for several shows that either weren’t picked up or were quickly canceled. In 1996, he shot his first television pilot with Kevin Pollak and Lucy Webb for CBS, but alas, it didn’t make the cut. A few years later, he was part of another pilot for “The Mike O’Malley Show” on NBC, which lasted a mere two episodes before cancellation. The year 2000 was particularly dark for Will. With no work coming his way, he turned to alcohol to cope. Thankfully, a friend helped him battle his alcoholism, and two years later, he landed a role in “Still Standing.” However, his character was written off after the first episode. After four failed pilots, Will was ready to swear off pilots forever—until fate intervened and he auditioned for the pilot episode of “Arrested Development.”

The Breakthrough

Will’s big break came in 2003 when he was cast as George Oscar “Gob” Bluth II in the Fox comedy series “Arrested Development.” His performance earned him his first Emmy nomination in 2006. Unfortunately, the show was canceled after three seasons despite its critical acclaim and massive cult following. But Will didn’t let that stop him. He played Max the Magician on “Sesame Street,” a nod to his character Gob Bluth’s love for using Europe’s “The Final Countdown” during his magic shows. In 2006, he starred in his first leading role in “Let’s Go to Prison,” directed by Bob Odenkirk. Despite a modest budget of $4 million USD, the film earned more at the box office and over $13 million in rentals. His next big hit was “Blades of Glory,” where he and his then-wife Amy Poehler played a brother/sister figure skating duo with an incestuous relationship. The film topped the box office for its first two weeks and grossed $118 million during its run.

Will also had a recurring role as Devon Banks on “30 Rock,” for which he was nominated for four Emmy Awards for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. He landed supporting roles in films like “Spring Breakdown,” “Hot Rod,” “The Comebacks,” and “On Broadway.” He reunited with Bob Odenkirk in “The Brothers Solomon” and starred alongside Will Ferrell in the basketball comedy “Semi-Pro.” In 2009, he made a guest appearance on “Parks and Recreation,” playing Chris, an MRI technician and potential love interest for Amy Poehler’s Leslie Knope. Will signed on for one episode, titled “The Set Up,” which aired in January 2010.

Will’s career continued to flourish with roles in “Running Wilde,” which unfortunately was canceled in January 2011 due to poor ratings. He also starred in “The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret” with David Cross and appeared in an episode of “The Office” season seven. He co-starred with Christina Applegate and Maya Rudolph in the NBC TV comedy “Up All Night.” He appeared in the documentary “Mansome,” the CBS sitcom “The Millers,” and the Netflix series “Flaked.” In 2017, he took on the recurring role of Mr. Quagmire on “A Series of Unfortunate Events.”

Will’s deep, gravelly voice has made him a sought-after talent for CBS promos, trailers, and ads. He’s lent his voice to animated films like “The Lego Movie,” “The Lego Batman Movie,” and “The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part.” From 2014 to 2020, he voiced the title character on “BoJack Horseman.” He’s also voiced characters in TV shows and video games, including “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2” and “Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard.” In 2020, he launched the podcast “SmartLess” with Sean Hayes and Jason Bateman.

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Behind Closed Doors

Will’s personal life has been as colorful as his career. His marriage to actress Penelope Ann Miller lasted only a month. He then began dating actress Amy Poehler in 2000, and they tied the knot in 2003. Together, they starred in several projects, including “Parks and Recreation,” “Arrested Development,” and “Blades of Glory.” They have two children together. However, in 2012, they announced their separation, and their divorce was finalized in 2016. In June 2020, it was revealed that Will’s girlfriend, Alessandra Brawn, had given birth to his third son.

Will's Real Estate Adventures

In 2013, Will dropped $2.85 million on a home in Beverly Hills. But Will’s not one to settle for what’s already there—he demolished the original structure and built a stunning 4,000-square-foot, four-bedroom modern home. In June 2020, he put the house on the market for $11 million but later decided to keep it. In early 2021, he sold the house for just under $8 million. But that wasn’t the end of his real estate journey. In August 2021, Will splurged $16.4 million on another Beverly Hills home. By February 2025, he was ready to move on and listed the 10,300-square-foot mansion for $22.5 million, eventually selling it for $20.5 million. Clearly, Will Arnett knows how to make a house a home—and a profitable investment.