Charlie Day Net Worth

What is Charlie Day's Net Worth and Salary?

Charlie Day is an American actor, television producer, screenwriter, and musician who has a net worth of $30 million. Charlie Day is best known for his role as Charlie Kelly on the long-running sitcom "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." He co-created the show and has been a part of it since its inception in 2005, also serving as a writer and executive producer. The show, born from low-budget shorts made with friends, became the longest-running live-action comedy in U.S. television history. Day's performance earned him Critics' Choice and Satellite Award nominations in 2011. In July 2025, the show celebrated its 20th anniversary.

Day's career extends beyond this iconic role. He has appeared in several successful films, including "Horrible Bosses" and its sequel, "Pacific Rim," and "The Lego Movie." His distinctive voice has led to voice acting roles in animated features like "Monsters University" and "The Lego Movie" franchise. In television, Day has made guest appearances on shows like "Law & Order" and "Third Watch." He's also ventured into hosting, presenting "Saturday Night Live" in 2011.

Day's talents aren't limited to acting. He's a musician who has contributed original songs to "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" and performed with the band The Nightman Cometh.

Early Life

Charlie Peckham Day was born in the Bronx, New York City, and raised in Middletown, Rhode Island. He is the son of Mary Day, a piano teacher at the Salve Regina University music department, and Dr. Thomas C. Day, a retired professor of music theory and history. Growing up in a household that emphasized both academics and the arts, Charlie developed a deep appreciation for music, humor, and performance at an early age.

Day attended the Portsmouth Abbey School in Rhode Island before enrolling at Merrimack College in Massachusetts, where he majored in art history and graduated in 1998. While at Merrimack, he was active in the Onstagers, the school's theater group, and honed his comedic instincts through stage performances and improvisational work. He later credited this period with helping shape his style and giving him a foundation in character work.

A passionate musician, Day is proficient on piano, guitar, harmonica, and drums. He originally considered pursuing music professionally and even played in a band during and after college. His musical talent would later become a signature element of his acting persona, especially through his role on "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," where his character often performs offbeat songs and musical numbers.

After college, Day further developed his acting skills by attending the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts, where he connected with future collaborators and gained professional experience in regional theater. These early influences would eventually form the foundation of his long-running career in both comedy and television production.

(Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Career

Charlie Day's career in entertainment began in the early 2000s with minor appearances in television shows like "Third Watch," "Law & Order," and "Reno 911!" He also gained experience in regional theater and improvisational comedy, performing in various stage productions while sharpening his comedic timing and acting chops. His early work included a recurring role on the short-lived FOX sitcom "Luis" (2003), where he played the quirky character Richie.

Day's big break came in 2005 when he co-created and starred in the irreverent sitcom "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" alongside Rob McElhenney and Glenn Howerton. Originally shot on a camcorder for a few hundred dollars, the pilot gained the attention of FX, which picked up the series. Day's portrayal of Charlie Kelly—an illiterate, glue-sniffing janitor with bizarre habits and boundless energy—quickly became a cult favorite. His manic physical comedy, improvised tangents, and absurd musical interludes helped set the tone for the show's offbeat style. As the series grew into a cultural phenomenon and moved to FXX, it became the longest-running live-action comedy series in U.S. television history. Day has remained a central creative force throughout its run, contributing as a writer, executive producer, and occasional director.

Riding the success of "Always Sunny," Day broke into film with his first major studio role in the romantic comedy "Going the Distance" (2010). His breakout movie performance came in "Horrible Bosses" (2011), where he starred alongside Jason Bateman and Jason Sudeikis as Dale, a neurotic dental assistant plotting to murder his abusive boss. The film was a commercial success and spawned the 2014 sequel "Horrible Bosses 2."

Day's film career continued to gain momentum with diverse roles across genres. He played Dr. Newton Geiszler, a fast-talking, eccentric kaiju expert, in Guillermo del Toro's sci-fi blockbuster "Pacific Rim" (2013), reprising the role in "Pacific Rim Uprising" (2018). That same year, he voiced the excitable Benny the Spaceman in the animated hit "The Lego Movie" (2014) and returned for its sequels and spin-offs. He also voiced characters in "Monsters University" (2013) and "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" (2023), where he played Luigi.

In addition to acting, Day has demonstrated a talent for music, writing and performing many of the comedic songs that appear in "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." The rock opera episode "The Nightman Cometh" became a fan-favorite and was even adapted into a live stage performance by the cast.

Day also explored hosting, making his debut on "Saturday Night Live" in 2011, and has become a sought-after comedic presence in ensemble films. In 2017, he co-starred in the schoolyard brawl comedy "Fist Fight" with Ice Cube, and in 2022, he showed off his romantic comedy chops in Amazon's "I Want You Back."

Beyond acting, Day has built a robust presence behind the camera. He co-created and executive produced the FOX series "The Cool Kids" (2018–2019) and Apple TV+'s workplace comedy "Mythic Quest" (2020–present), which he developed with Rob McElhenney and Megan Ganz. In 2023, Day made his feature directorial debut with the Hollywood satire "Fool's Paradise," which he also wrote and starred in.

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Relationships

Charlie Day has been married to actress Mary Elizabeth Ellis since 2006. The two first met in 2001 while performing together on the set of "Reno 911!" and began dating shortly thereafter. Their creative and personal partnership would later extend to the long-running series "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," where Ellis plays "The Waitress"—a recurring character who is the obsessive and unrequited love interest of Day's character, Charlie Kelly. Their on-screen dynamic became one of the show's most enduring and bizarre comedic through-lines, filled with awkward tension and hilariously one-sided affection.

Despite the dysfunctional relationship their characters portray on-screen, Day and Ellis maintain a close, supportive, and private real-life marriage. Over the years, they have occasionally collaborated on other projects and are known for their mutual admiration and shared sense of humor.

In December 2011, the couple welcomed their first child, a son. They have kept their family life largely out of the spotlight, preferring to focus public attention on their work rather than their personal lives. Their long-standing relationship has remained one of the more enduring and grounded pairings in the entertainment industry, marked by mutual respect and a shared creative spirit.

(Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Real Estate

In 2004, Charlie Day purchased a property in Silver Lake for $660,000. The property features a respectable 1,500 square feet of living space, and it's situated in a neighborhood famous for its hipster appeal. In 2014, the couple listed the property for $799,000.

In 2013, Charlie Day and his wife made a significant upgrade and purchased a $6.525 million property in Los Feliz. The five-bedroom, 5,600-square-foot house sits on three-quarters of an acre and offers wonderful views of the city.

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