Joel McHale Net Worth

What Is Joel McHale's Net Worth and Salary?

Joel McHale is an American comedian, actor, and television personality who has a net worth of $14 million. Joel McHale has built a multifaceted career as a comedian, actor, and host, combining snarky wit with affable charm. He first gained prominence as the host of "The Soup" from 2004 to 2015, delivering sharp, humorous commentary on pop culture and reality TV. Simultaneously, he achieved mainstream acclaim portraying the charismatic yet sarcastic lawyer Jeff Winger on NBC's sitcom "Community" (2009–2015), a role that cemented his reputation in comedy. McHale seamlessly transitioned between television and film, appearing in movies such as "Spider-Man 2" (2004), "Ted" (2012), "Spy Kids: All the Time in the World" (2011), and "The Happytime Murders" (2018).

Expanding his repertoire, he hosted Netflix's "The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale" (2018), a pop-culture revue, and helmed Fox's cooking competition "Crime Scene Kitchen" beginning in 2021. More recently, McHale has taken on recurring roles in series like "Animal Control" and FX's "The Bear," where he plays abrasive yet compelling characters. He's also reprised his voice acting career in projects such as "Mortal Kombat Legends" and video games like "Fortnite."

Early Life

Joel McHale was born on November 20, 1971, in Rome, Italy. The family was living in Italy while his father, Jack, worked as the Dean of Students at Loyola University Rome Center. After moving around a bit, the family settled in suburban Seattle, Washington. Joel graduated from Mercer Island High School, then the University of Washington, where he earned a bachelor's degree in History and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Professional Actors Training Program. He graduated in 1995.

McHale was part of the "Almost Live!" cast, a local sketch-comedy television show produced by Seattle's KING-TV (Channel 5). From 1993 to 1997, he was a member of the improv comedy group at Unexpected Productions, participating in Theatersports! at the Market Theater, located in the popular Pike Place Market in downtown Seattle. While still in college, Joel was a member of the improv comedy group at Unexpected Productions. He went on to obtain his MFA from the University of Washington's Professional Actors Training Program.

Career Beginnings on Television

Joel McHale began his television career in the mid-1990s as a cast member of "Almost Live!," a Seattle-based sketch comedy show that helped shape his sardonic, offbeat humor. Around that time, he also made appearances on the educational series "Bill Nye the Science Guy," as well as in guest roles on scripted dramas and sitcoms including "The Huntress," "The Fugitive," "Diagnosis: Murder," and "Will & Grace."

The Soup

His breakout came in 2004 when he became the host, writer, and executive producer of "The Soup," E!'s weekly satirical roundup of absurd moments from television and pop culture. McHale's deadpan delivery and biting commentary turned the show into a cult favorite, running for over a decade and airing more than 600 episodes. During this period, he continued acting with appearances on "CSI: Miami," "Thank God You're Here," and "Pushing Daisies," gradually building a reputation as a sharp comedic presence in both scripted and unscripted formats.

Success

McHale reached mainstream recognition with his starring role as Jeff Winger on the NBC sitcom "Community," which premiered in 2009. Playing a smug ex-lawyer forced to attend community college, he led a critically acclaimed ensemble for six seasons. The series gained a devoted fanbase and earned praise for its meta-humor and inventive storytelling. While working on "Community," McHale also made guest appearances on "Sons of Anarchy," voiced characters in animated series like "Phineas and Ferb" and "Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja," and became a frequent host for major televised events including the Independent Spirit Awards, ESPYs, and the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

He continued taking on leading roles after Community, starring in CBS's "The Great Indoors" and recurring on the revival of "The X-Files." In 2018, he launched "The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale" on Netflix, a spiritual successor to "The Soup" that combined celebrity interviews, sketch comedy, and viral video commentary. Around the same time, he began a string of roles in streaming and network series, including "Santa Clarita Diet," "Mr. Iglesias," "Black-ish," and "American Housewife." He also served as a guest panelist on "The Masked Singer" and hosted the rebooted game show "Card Sharks."

McHale took on a more dramatic and abrasive role in FX's critically acclaimed series "The Bear," portraying Chef David Fields, an intense and verbally abusive mentor to the show's lead character, Carmy. The character became a recurring figure across multiple seasons, drawing praise for McHale's chilling performance in flashback scenes and emotionally charged confrontations.

He also stars in the Fox sitcom "Animal Control" as Frank Shaw, a sarcastic ex-cop turned animal control officer. The show has been a success for the network and solidified McHale's return to primetime as both lead actor and executive producer. His hosting duties have continued as well, including the Fox competition series "Crime Scene Kitchen" and the reality crossover show "House of Villains."

In film, McHale's credits include appearances in "The Informant!," "Ted," "Spy Kids: All the Time in the World," "The Happytime Murders," and the animated Mortal Kombat Legends franchise, in which he voices Johnny Cage. He also appeared in the 2025 ensemble thriller "California King" and made a cameo as Sidney Prescott's husband Mark in "Scream 7."

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Film Career

McHale first appeared on the big screen in 2004, when he had a bit part in the superhero sequel "Spider-Man 2." He followed this with small roles in "Lords of Dogtown" and "Mini's First Time." Joel had his first leading role in a film in 2008, when he voiced the mule deer Elliot in the animated sequel "Open Season 2." The next year, he had a notable supporting part as FBI Special Agent Robert Herndon in the biographical crime comedy "The Informant!," starring Matt Damon. McHale was subsequently in "Spy Kids: All the Time in the World," "What's Your Number?," "The Big Year," and "Ted."

In 2014, Joel played the ex-husband of Drew Barrymore's character in the comedy "Blended." He was in three other titles that year: the supernatural horror film "Deliver Us from Evil," the dramedy "Adult Beginners," and the black comedy "A Merry Friggin' Christmas." McHale was in four more films in 2018; they were "Assassination Nation," "A Futile and Stupid Gesture," "Game Over, Man!," and "The Happytime Murders." In 2020, he lent his voice to the direct-to-video animated martial arts film "Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge," playing the character of Johnny Cage. He reprised this role in the 2021 entry "Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms." Joel's other film credits have included "Becky," "Happily," and "Queenpins."

Joel McHale Salary

How much did Joel McHale make per year as host of "The Soup"? $2 million. At his peak, McHale earned $60,000 per episode of "Community."

Personal Life

In 1996, McHale wed Sarah Williams; together, they have two sons, Isaac and Eddie, and reside in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles. Following the diagnosis of his sons as dyslexic, Joel discovered he also has the reading disorder.

McHale is a football fan and supports the Seattle Seahawks. He is also a fan of the Los Angeles Gladiators esports team. Joel attends a Presbyterian church and is an advocate of the LGBTQ+ community.

Real Estate

In 2007, Joel and Sara paid $1.88 million for a home in L.A.'s Los Feliz neighborhood. They listed the home for sale in August 2016 for $2.4 million, finding a buyer one month later for $2.55 million. In 2o09, the couple paid $500,000 for a modest home in Sammamish, Washington. In October 2014, they paid $5.15 million for a gated mansion in Studio City, California. Today this home is worth $6-7 million.

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