Aaron Paul Net Worth

What Is Aaron Paul's Net Worth and Salary?

Aaron Paul is an American actor, producer, and director who has a net worth of $30 million. Aaron Paul is best known for his Emmy-winning role as Jesse Pinkman in the acclaimed television series "Breaking Bad." His portrayal of the troubled but sympathetic meth cook earned him three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, making him one of the few actors to win that category multiple times for the same role. Paul originally gained attention in the early 2000s through guest roles in series like "The X-Files," "Judging Amy," and "Big Love," as well as a memorable appearance in a Korn music video and various commercials.

"Breaking Bad," which ran from 2008 to 2013, catapulted Paul to stardom and established him as a dramatic powerhouse. He later reprised the character in the 2019 Netflix film "El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie." Paul has also taken on a range of roles in both film and television, including the action film "Need for Speed," the indie drama "Smashed," and voice work in the animated series "BoJack Horseman," where he voiced Todd Chavez and also served as a producer.

In 2020, he starred in "Westworld" season 3, further expanding his presence in prestige television. Beyond acting, Paul has ventured into business, co-founding the Dos Hombres mezcal brand with "Breaking Bad" co-star Bryan Cranston. Known for his emotional range and intensity, Aaron Paul has built a respected career marked by critical acclaim, fan devotion, and a willingness to take on diverse and challenging roles.

Breaking Bad Salary

At the peak of "Breaking Bad" for the show's final two seasons, Aaron Paul earned a salary of $200,000 per episode. There were 13 episodes in season five and 16 episodes in season six, the final season. So over those two seasons alone, Aaron earned $5.8 million in total salary.

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Early Life

Aaron Paul Sturtevant was born on August 27, 1979, in Emmett, Idaho. His parents are Darla and Robert Sturtevant, and his father is a Baptist minister. Paul is the youngest of four children and was born a month premature in his parents' bathroom. He graduated from Centennial High School in Boise, Idaho, in 1997, after which he drove to Los Angeles with only $6,000 in savings to pursue an acting career. While in Los Angeles, Aaron worked as a movie theater usher at Universal Studios in Hollywood and also had a brief appearance as a contestant on the game show "The Price Is Right" in January 2000.

Early Career

Paul was runner-up in the 1996 International Modeling and Talent Association competition in Los Angeles and was signed with a manager. He began his acting career by appearing in music videos, such as for Korn's song "Thoughtless" and Everlast's song "White Trash Beautiful." He also appeared in television commercials for brands like Juicy Fruit, Corn Pops, and Vanilla Coke.

His early films include "Whatever It Takes" (2000), "Help! I'm a Fish!" (2001), "K-PAX (2001), "National Lampoon's Van Wilder" (2002), "Bad Girls From Valley High" (2005), "Choking Man" (2006), "Mission: Impossible III" (2006) and "The Last House on the Left" (2009). Paul also had many guest-starring roles on television shows such as "The Guardian," "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "CSI: Miami," "ER," "Sleeper Cell," "Veronica Mars," "The X-Files," "Ghost Whisperer," "Criminal Minds," "Bones" and "3^rd Rock from the Sun."

Breaking Bad

Although Aaron Paul had appeared in a variety of television roles early in his career, it was his performances in "Big Love" and especially "Breaking Bad" that cemented his status as a serious dramatic actor. On HBO's "Big Love," Paul played Scott Quittman, the boyfriend and eventual husband of Sarah Henrickson, in a recurring role that spanned 14 episodes from 2007 to 2011. The part helped raise his profile and demonstrated his ability to bring nuance to emotionally complex characters.

His true breakout came when he was cast as Jesse Pinkman on the AMC series "Breaking Bad." Originally intended to be a short-lived character, Jesse became central to the show's narrative after creator Vince Gilligan saw the chemistry between Paul and co-star Bryan Cranston. Paul played the role for all five seasons, from January 2008 to September 2013, delivering a performance that earned him widespread acclaim and a place in television history.

Paul received five Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his work on "Breaking Bad" (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014), winning the award three times—in 2010, 2012, and 2014. He became the first actor to win the award three times in that category for the same role in a drama series.

In addition to his Emmys, Paul earned numerous other accolades for his portrayal of Jesse, including the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2014), the Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries, or Television Film (2013), and three Saturn Awards for Best Supporting Actor on Television (2010, 2012, and 2014). His performance was widely praised for capturing the vulnerability, desperation, and inner conflict of a character torn between loyalty, trauma, and survival. Paul's portrayal helped elevate "Breaking Bad" into one of the most celebrated series of its time and became a defining role in his career.

(Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

After Breaking Bad

Following the massive success of "Breaking Bad," Aaron Paul continued to take on diverse roles in both film and television, showcasing his range and deepening his reputation as a versatile performer. One of his early post-"Breaking Bad" projects was the indie drama "Smashed" (2012), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and earned critical praise for its raw portrayal of addiction and recovery. Paul starred opposite Mary Elizabeth Winstead in a role that emphasized his ability to handle emotionally grounded, character-driven material.

In 2016, he joined the Hulu original series "The Path," playing Eddie Lane, a conflicted man caught in the grip of a fictional religious movement. The show ran for three seasons and allowed Paul to carry a leading role in a serialized drama. He later starred in the Apple TV+ crime drama "Truth Be Told" (2018), alongside Octavia Spencer, in a supporting role that further expanded his television presence.

Paul also joined the cast of HBO's acclaimed sci-fi series "Westworld" in its third season, playing Caleb Nichols, a construction worker and war veteran who becomes entangled in the futuristic rebellion at the center of the show's narrative. His performance added a human grounding to the show's often philosophical and dystopian themes.

In addition to live-action roles, Paul built a strong resume as a voice actor. From 2012 to 2013, he voiced Cyrus in Disney XD's animated series "Tron: Uprising." More prominently, he voiced Todd Chavez in the critically acclaimed Netflix animated comedy "BoJack Horseman" from 2014 to 2020, also serving as an executive producer on the series. His voice work extended to commercial campaigns as well, including narrating a 2015 television ad for Mazda.

In film, Paul starred in the sci-fi thriller "Dual" (2022), alongside Karen Gillan and Jesse Eisenberg. He continued to explore genre-driven storytelling with a prominent role in the 2023 episode "Beyond the Sea" from the sixth season of the dystopian anthology series "Black Mirror," playing one of two astronauts whose consciousnesses are stored in replicant bodies on Earth. Also in 2023, Paul made a memorable guest appearance alongside Bryan Cranston in an episode of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," offering a comedic reunion that delighted fans of "Breaking Bad."

Personal Life

Paul has been married to Lauren Parsekian since 2013. The couple first met at the Coachella Festival in California and became engaged in Paris in January 2012. In 2018, Paul and Parsekian welcomed their first child, daughter Story Annabelle. In April 2022, the couple had a son, Ryden Caspian.

Lauren has a non-profit organization, the Kind Campaign, that promotes a message of anti-bullying. Paul helped raise $1.8 million for the organization in 2013 via a contest that awarded the winners with a trip to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery screening of the final episode of "Breaking Bad."

Aaron legally dropped Sturtevant from his full name in November 2022.

Real Estate

In 2012, Paul paid $1.4 million for a home above the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles. He listed this home for sale in 2019 for $2.5 million and sold it in 2020 for $2.2 million. In April 2019, Aaron paid $6.95 million for a home in Los Angeles. The seller was actor Jim Parsons. In July 2025, Aaron listed this home for sale for $9.995 million. Here is a video tour:

In 2021, Paul and Lauren paid $3.5 million for a 24-acre property in Ojai, California, roughly two hours north of Los Angeles.

In 2014, Paul and Lauren bought a home in Boise, Idaho. In 2022, they listed the property for sale at $1.35 million. They ultimately pulled the listing and still own this property today. They also own another, much larger, property in a town called McCall, Idaho, roughly 2.5 hours north of Boise. They've owned the 5-acre property since at least 2016. At the time of purchase, the property featured an 8,700-square-foot home. They spent three years renovating and expanding the home before finally completing it in mid-2019. This property is now likely worth around $7 or $8 million. They gave a tour of this home to Architectural Digest in February 2020:

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