Frankie Muniz Net Worth

What is Frankie Muniz's Net Worth and Salary?

Frankie Muniz is an American actor, musician, writer, producer, and race-car driver who has a net worth of $30 million. Frankie Muniz is best known for his starring role as Malcolm Wilkerson in the acclaimed Fox sitcom "Malcolm in the Middle." The show ran from 2000 to 2006 and made Muniz one of the most recognizable child stars of his generation. His portrayal of Malcolm—a gifted but socially awkward teenager navigating a chaotic family—earned him an Emmy nomination, two Golden Globe nominations, and widespread critical praise. At the height of the show's success, Muniz was among the highest-paid child actors on television, reportedly earning $150,000 per episode during the later seasons.

Before "Malcolm in the Middle," Muniz appeared in commercials and small television roles, including "Spin City" and "Sabrina the Teenage Witch." His early film career took off with family comedies such as "My Dog Skip" (2000) and "Big Fat Liar" (2002), where he starred opposite Amanda Bynes and Paul Giamatti. He also voiced characters in several animated projects and appeared in the spy-adventure film "Agent Cody Banks" (2003) and its sequel "Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London" (2004), both box-office hits that cemented his place as a teen movie star.

After stepping back from acting in the late 2000s, Muniz pursued a career in professional motorsports, competing in the Atlantic Championship and later in the ARCA Menards Series. He also played drums for the indie rock band Kingsfoil. In later years, Muniz made occasional acting appearances, participated in "Dancing with the Stars," and became a successful entrepreneur, including owning an olive oil business in Arizona. His varied career—spanning Hollywood, racing, and business—has made him a rare example of a child actor who successfully reinvented himself across multiple industries while maintaining a positive public image.

Early Life

Frankie Muniz was born Francisco Muñiz IV on December 5, 1985, in Wood-Ridge, New Jersey. When he was four years old, his family moved to Knightdale, North Carolina, where he spent most of his early childhood. He was discovered at age eight while appearing in a local production of "A Christmas Carol." Around this time, his parents divorced, and Frankie moved with his mother to Burbank, California, to pursue acting more seriously.

Muniz was homeschooled from sixth grade onward so that he could focus on a rapidly growing career in entertainment. He began appearing in commercials, guest-starring roles, and small television parts throughout the 1990s, eventually landing a bit role in the 1999 comedy "Lost & Found." His early screen work showcased natural comic timing and charisma that would soon make him one of Hollywood's most recognizable child actors.

Early Career

By the late 1990s, Muniz had begun appearing in family-friendly television shows such as "Spin City," "Sabrina the Teenage Witch," and "Touched by an Angel." He also landed roles in several made-for-TV movies, steadily building a résumé that demonstrated both range and likability. This momentum led to his big break in 2000 when he was cast as the lead in a new Fox sitcom that would become a cultural phenomenon.

Malcolm in the Middle

Muniz achieved worldwide fame in 2000 when he was cast as Malcolm Wilkerson, the gifted yet perpetually exasperated middle child in "Malcolm in the Middle." The series, which was created by Linwood Boomer, ran for seven seasons from 2000 to 2006, followed a dysfunctional working-class family through Malcolm's fourth-wall-breaking narration and sharp, absurd humor.

The show starred Jane Kaczmarek as his domineering mother, Lois, and Bryan Cranston as his eccentric father Hal, along with Justin Berfield, Erik Per Sullivan, and Christopher Masterson as Malcolm's brothers. Muniz appeared in all 151 episodes and became an instant household name. His performance earned him an Emmy nomination and two Golden Globe nominations, along with multiple Kids' Choice and Young Artist Awards.

By the time "Malcolm in the Middle" ended, Muniz had become one of the most successful child actors of his era, praised for his comic instincts and relatable portrayal of a smart kid trying to survive a chaotic home.

Malcolm in the Middle Salary

During the first few seasons of "Malcolm in the Middle," Muniz earned approximately $30,000 per episode—roughly $480,000 for season one, $750,000 for season two, and $660,000 for season three. His pay increased to $75,000 per episode for seasons four through six, totaling $4.95 million across those years. In the final season, he earned $150,000 per episode, or about $3.3 million. Altogether, Muniz made an estimated $10.15 million in base salaries from "Malcolm in the Middle" alone, with substantial residual earnings from syndication.

His film work added millions more: he earned around $2 million for the first "Agent Cody Banks" film and $5 million for its sequel, making him one of the highest-paid teen actors of the early 2000s.

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Films and Other Work

During his run on "Malcolm in the Middle," Muniz starred in a string of popular family films that further cemented his fame. In 2000, he appeared opposite Kevin Bacon and Diane Lane in "My Dog Skip," a heartfelt coming-of-age drama that became a box-office success. Two years later, he starred in the comedy "Big Fat Liar" alongside Amanda Bynes and Paul Giamatti, followed by the action-adventure "Agent Cody Banks" (2003) and its sequel "Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London" (2004).

He later appeared in the horror-thriller "Stay Alive" (2006) and voiced characters in animated series such as "The Fairly OddParents" and "Kim Possible." After taking a break from acting, Muniz returned to television with guest spots and competed on "Dancing with the Stars" in 2017, finishing in third place. He has also made cameo appearances in several of the "Sharknado" films.

Racing Career

Following his success in Hollywood, Muniz pursued a lifelong passion for auto racing. He signed with Jensen Motorsport in 2005 and began competing professionally the following year in the Formula BMW USA series. From 2007 to 2009, he raced in the Champ Car Atlantic Championship, participating in 32 events and consistently finishing in the top 15. His transition from actor to race-car driver drew media attention for its seriousness—Muniz approached racing with the same discipline he brought to acting, training extensively and funding much of his own early efforts

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Personal Life

In February 2020, Frankie married Paige Price, a former model and television personality, after several years of dating. The couple welcomed their first child, a son named Mauz, in 2021. Outside of acting and racing, Muniz has pursued various business ventures, including co-owning an olive oil and specialty foods company in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he and his family live. Over the years, he has also spoken candidly about experiencing a series of health issues, including transient ischemic attacks that temporarily affected his memory, though he has since said his health is stable.

Real Estate

At the beginning of his career, after making some big money, Frankie bought his mother a home in LA's Brentwood neighborhood. Still a teenager at the time, Frankie lived there until he was 18, when he bought his own pad in Encino, California. He then bought a home in the Hollywood Hills that featured a 10-car garage, followed in 2004 with a different Hollywood Hills home. He sold these two homes for a quick, modest profit in 2005. He sold one to Halle Berry.

In 2006, Frankie paid $3.5 million for a home in the Hollywood Hills. He listed this home for sale a year later for $3.875 million. He didn't find a buyer for several years. He eventually offloaded the property in 2014 for $3.05 million.

In 2008, Frankie moved from LA to Scottsdale, Arizona, where he paid $2.782 million for a palatial desert estate. He sold this house in 2014 for $2.85 million. In 2016, he spent $3 million on a new Scottsdale house, which he eventually listed for $3.5 million… ultimately removing the listing. This is still his primary residence today, according to property records.

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