Rainn Wilson Net Worth

What is Rainn Wilson's Net Worth and Salary?

Rainn Wilson is an American actor, comedian, and director who has a net worth of $12 million. Rainn Wilson is best known for his role as Dwight Schrute on the hit NBC series "The Office." His portrayal of the eccentric, power-hungry paper salesman earned him three Emmy nominations and made Dwight one of television's most memorable characters. Before "The Office," Wilson had recurring roles on shows like "Six Feet Under" and appeared in films such as "Almost Famous," "House of 1000 Corpses," and "Galaxy Quest."

Following the success of "The Office," Wilson starred in films like "Super," "The Rocker," and "The Meg," and voiced characters in animated features including "Monsters vs. Aliens." He also launched his own production company, SoulPancake, which focused on uplifting and thought-provoking content across digital platforms, later acquired by Participant Media. In addition to acting and producing, Wilson is an accomplished author. His 2015 memoir, "The Bassoon King," explores his journey through acting, faith, and personal growth.

In recent years, Wilson has appeared in series like "Utopia" and hosted the travel show "Rainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss." Known for blending humor with philosophical and spiritual themes, Wilson continues to evolve as both a performer and public thinker.

Early Life

Rainn was born Rainn Dietrich Wilson on January 20, 1966, in Seattle, Washington. His mother was actress and yoga instructor Shay Cooper, and his father was Robert G. Wilson, an artist and novelist best known for the science-fiction novel Tentacles of Dawn. Wilson spent a couple of years of his childhood in Nicaragua, but then he moved back to Washington, where he attended middle and high school. But before graduating, his family moved to Illinois, where young Rainn graduated from New Trier High School. He eventually enrolled at the University of Washington in Seattle, majoring in drama, and getting his bachelor's degree in 1986. Then he enrolled at  New York University's Graduate Acting Program at the Tisch School of the Arts, getting an MFA in acting and joining up with The Acting Company. For the next several years before his big break into movies and TV, Wilson acted onstage in various productions throughout the country.

Early Acting Career

Rainn Wilson's screen career began in 1997 with a small role on the long-running soap opera "One Life to Live." His early work included guest appearances and small supporting parts, such as a role on the short-lived 1999 television series "The Expendables" (not to be confused with the later Sylvester Stallone film franchise). That same year, he made his feature film debut in the sci-fi comedy "Galaxy Quest," playing a geeky Thermian alien named Lahnk. His performance, though minor, stood out in the cult favorite, setting the tone for his offbeat comedic persona.

In 2000, Wilson landed a supporting role in Cameron Crowe's acclaimed semi-autobiographical film "Almost Famous," playing David Felton, a journalist for Rolling Stone. His first lead role came in 2002 in Rob Zombie's horror cult classic "House of 1000 Corpses," where he played Bill Hudley—one of the unfortunate victims in the film's grisly plot.

Wilson began to appear regularly on television around this time, with guest roles on hit shows like "Law & Order: SVU," "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "Monk," and "Reno 911!" In 2003, he joined HBO's "Six Feet Under" as Arthur Martin, a shy and awkward mortuary apprentice—one of his most memorable pre-"Office" performances. He also made comedic appearances on experimental shows like "Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!" before a 2005 breakout role would change the trajectory of his career.

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The Office

In 2005, Rainn Wilson was cast as Dwight Schrute on NBC's "The Office," a U.S. adaptation of the British mockumentary sitcom created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. As the beet-farming, bear-loving, power-hungry assistant to the regional manager at the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, Wilson became an instant fan favorite. His portrayal of Dwight—rigid, delusional, and yet oddly endearing—earned him three Emmy nominations and widespread acclaim. He remained on the series for its entire nine-season run from 2005 to 2013.

During his "Office" tenure, Wilson's popularity soared. He hosted "Saturday Night Live" in 2007, becoming the second cast member after Steve Carell to do so. That same year, he appeared in the superhero comedy "My Super Ex-Girlfriend," followed by notable roles in the teen pregnancy comedy "Juno" (2007), the sci-fi family adventure "The Last Mimzy" (2007), and Michael Bay's blockbuster "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" (2009). He also voiced the alien villain Gallaxhar in the 2009 animated hit "Monsters vs. Aliens."

Wilson often embraced his Dwight Schrute persona in pop culture cameos, including a 2010 voice appearance on "Family Guy." He also showed his musical side during NBC's Arcade Fire special "Here Comes the Night Time" and appeared on "Comedy Bang! Bang!" in 2013.

(Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

After "The Office"

Following the conclusion of "The Office," Wilson continued to pursue both comedic and dramatic roles. In 2015, he starred as a gruff, unorthodox detective in the short-lived FOX procedural "Backstrom." He returned to voice work in 2017 as Gargamel in "The Smurfs: The Lost Village," and later took on a supporting role in the 2018 underwater action thriller "The Meg" alongside Jason Statham.

Also in 2017, Wilson entered the "Star Trek" universe with a recurring role as the charming rogue Harry Mudd in "Star Trek: Discovery." He reprised the character in the short-form episode "The Escape Artist" from "Star Trek: Short Treks," which he also directed.

Wilson continued voicing animated characters in series like "Adventure Time," where he played both Rattleballs and Peacemaster, and in Hulu's sci-fi comedy "Solar Opposites" (2020). That same year, he took on a darker role in the Amazon series "Utopia," portraying a scientist central to the show's mysterious plot.

In 2020, Wilson also participated in "Home Movie: The Princess Bride," a tongue-in-cheek homemade re-creation of the classic film created during the COVID-19 lockdown. He portrayed Fezzik (the character made famous by André the Giant), joining a long list of actors in a rotating cast filmed entirely on smartphones for the Quibi streaming platform.

He also made appearances as Dr. Trevor Wells in multiple episodes of the sitcom "Mom" and has continued to balance voice work, on-screen acting, and producing.

SoulPancake and Digital Ventures

In 2008, Wilson co-founded SoulPancake, a digital media company designed to explore life's big questions through creative and uplifting content. The platform became known for viral video series like "Kid President" and partnered with YouTube, OWN, and Participant Media. SoulPancake's mission to blend entertainment with philosophy and social impact helped solidify Wilson's reputation as more than just a comedic actor—he became a thought leader in digital media and wellness content. The company was acquired by Participant Media in 2016.

Author and Public Intellectual

In 2015, Wilson released his memoir, The Bassoon King: My Life in Art, Faith, and Idiocy, which offers an honest, humorous, and sometimes spiritual look at his journey from awkward outsider to beloved TV icon. The book explores his upbringing in the Baháʼí Faith, his struggles with fame, and his passion for the arts, peppered with personal anecdotes and Dwight-style quips.

"The Geography of Bliss"

In 2023, Wilson hosted the Peacock travel docuseries "Rainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss," based on the bestselling book by Eric Weiner. The show followed him around the globe as he visited countries like Iceland, Ghana, and Thailand in search of what makes people happy. Blending comedy, introspection, and cultural exploration, the series highlighted Wilson's evolution into a reflective storyteller and global thinker.

Personal Life

Rainn Wilson has been married to writer Holiday Reinhorn since 1995. The couple met while studying acting at the University of Washington and later attended NYU's graduate acting program together. They have one son, Walter, and live in Los Angeles with several rescue animals. Wilson is an active member of the Baháʼí Faith and frequently speaks on topics of spirituality, mental health, and global unity. He has also been involved in philanthropic efforts supporting arts education and climate change awareness.

Real Estate

In July of 2020, Wilson reportedly listed his farmhouse in Agoura Hills, California, with an asking price of almost $1.7 million. Interestingly, the property's official listing doesn't shy away from Wilson's most famous TV character, opening with the following attention-grabber: "The inspiration for TV's 'Dwight's Beet Farm' may have been this celebrity-owned writer's & artist's oasis in old Agoura." The house boasts three bedrooms and three baths, plus another three "flex rooms" that can be adapted to suit whatever purpose the new owner wishes. Out back there's a detached writer's office and "Man Cave/She-Shed" nestled in the trees.

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