Jesse Plemons Net Worth

What is Jesse Plemons' Net Worth and Salary?

Jesse Plemons is an American actor who has a net worth of $15 million. Jesse Plemons began acting as a child in the late 1990s, appearing in commercials and television before gaining wider recognition as Landry Clarke on the NBC series "Friday Night Lights." His portrayal of the awkward, soft-spoken Texas teen earned critical praise and established his talent for understated emotional work.

Plemons's career took a decisive turn in the 2010s when he began collaborating with some of the most prominent filmmakers and showrunners in television and film. His chilling performance as Todd Alquist on AMC's "Breaking Bad" introduced him to a much broader audience and showcased his ability to project menace beneath a calm, almost gentle exterior. He reprised the role in the follow-up film "El Camino," further cementing Todd as one of the franchise's most disturbing characters.

He continued this momentum on television with acclaimed roles in "Fargo," where his performance as Ed Blumquist earned him an Emmy nomination, and "Black Mirror," in which he starred in the widely praised episode "USS Callister." In film, Plemons became a frequent collaborator of director Paul Thomas Anderson, appearing in "The Master" and later in "The Power of the Dog," for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Plemons has also appeared in major studio projects, including "Game Night," "Jungle Cruise," and "Killers of the Flower Moon," while consistently returning to prestige dramas and character-driven stories. Across television and film, his career has been defined by range, restraint, and a willingness to play deeply flawed or unsettling figures. Rather than chasing traditional leading-man status, Jesse Plemons has carved out a reputation as one of the most reliable and compelling character actors working today.

Early Life

Jesse Lon Plemons was born on April 2nd, 1988, in Dallas, Texas. Raised on the outskirts of Waco in a city called Mart alongside an older sister, Jesse graduated from high school in 2007. He opted for a distance learning program that allowed him to focus on his acting career while earning his high school diploma. That being said, Plemons still found time to play football throughout his high school years before shifting to an online program and focusing more heavily on acting roles.

Early Career

Jesse Plemons began working as a child actor at an unusually young age, appearing in commercials for major brands such as Coca-Cola by the time he was three. By age eight, he was regularly auditioning in Los Angeles and booking background and supporting roles while continuing school. His early film appearances included small but notable parts in "Varsity Blues" and "All the Pretty Horses," projects that gave him early exposure to large-scale productions.

During this period, Plemons also built an extensive television résumé, guest-starring on series such as "Walker, Texas Ranger," "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch," "Judging Amy," "The Lyon's Den," "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," and "Grey's Anatomy." His first substantial film role arrived in 2002 with "Children on Their Birthdays," signaling a transition from background work to more visible performances.

Breakthrough on Television

At 18, Plemons landed the role that would define his early career: Landry Clarke on the NBC drama "Friday Night Lights." Initially introduced as the best friend of a central character, Landry quickly became a fan favorite. By the second season, Plemons was promoted to a more prominent role and became part of the football team that anchored the show's narrative.

Drawing on his own high school football experience, Plemons performed many of his own stunts and physical scenes, suffering several injuries over the course of the series. His performance across five seasons helped establish him as a skilled dramatic actor capable of emotional nuance, grounding some of the show's most intense storylines.

Breaking Bad and Industry Recognition

In 2012, Plemons expanded his film work with roles in "Battleship" and Paul Thomas Anderson's "The Master," but the pivotal moment of that year came with his casting as Todd Alquist on AMC's "Breaking Bad." Introduced late in the series, Todd quickly became one of its most unsettling characters, with Plemons earning widespread praise for his calm, unnerving performance.

As the series progressed, Todd's role expanded, and Plemons later reprised the character in "El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie." Around this time, he narrowly missed out on a role in the "Star Wars" franchise, but his career momentum continued with television projects including "Fargo," where his performance earned him an Emmy nomination.

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Film Expansion and Awards Attention

From the mid-2010s onward, Plemons became a regular presence in prestige films. He appeared in "Black Mass," "Bridge of Spies," and "Other People," followed by roles in "American Made," "Hostiles," and "The Post." In 2017, his starring role in the "Black Mirror" episode "USS Callister" earned him a Primetime Emmy nomination and further solidified his reputation for portraying psychologically complex characters.

He continued to balance studio projects and darker material with films such as "Game Night," "Vice," and "The Irishman," often standing out in ensemble casts.

In the 2020s, Plemons delivered acclaimed performances in films like "I'm Thinking of Ending Things," which earned him a Gotham Independent Film Award nomination, and "Judas and the Black Messiah." He also appeared in the Disney adventure "Jungle Cruise" and the horror film "Antlers."

In 2021, he starred opposite his real-life partner Kirsten Dunst in "The Power of the Dog," a performance that earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He later joined a high-profile ensemble cast alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, and Robert De Niro in Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon."

Plemons has also expanded into producing, making his debut as a producer with "Windfall," while continuing to take on television roles, including a leading part in the HBO Max limited series "Love and Death." Across film and television, his career has become defined by consistency, range, and a growing presence in some of the most critically respected projects of his era.

Comparison to Matt Damon

For better or worse, Jesse is often noted for his resemblance to Matt Damon. He is sometimes derisively referred to as "Fat Damon." After appearing in Breaking Bad, some referred to him as "Meth Damon". Interestingly, Jesse actually played a younger version of Matt Damon in the 2000 movie "All the Pretty Horses. He has also been said to resemble Philip Seymour Hoffman. In 2012, he played Hoffman's son in the movie "The Master."

Personal Life

In 2016, Plemons met actress Kirsten Dunst on the set of "Fargo." The pair began a relationship and became engaged one year later. In 2018, they welcomed their first child into the world. In 2021, they had a second child together. The couple lives together in the San Fernando Valley.

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