Tim Allen Net Worth

What is Tim Allen's Net Worth and Salary?

Tim Allen is an American actor who has a net worth of $100 million. Tim Allen first gained national attention as a stand-up comedian in the 1980s, developing a persona centered around "men's humor" and exaggerated macho observations. His breakout came in 1991 when ABC cast him as Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor on the sitcom "Home Improvement." The show became a massive hit, running for eight seasons and earning Allen a Golden Globe Award, several Emmy nominations, and consistent top ratings throughout the decade. His trademark grunts and bumbling but lovable dad character made him one of television's most recognizable faces. During the peak seasons of Home Improvement, Tim earned $1.25 million per episode. That still stands today as the fifth-highest salary ever paid to a TV actor. As we detail in the paragraphs below, Tim was offered $50 million ($2 million per episode) to do a ninth season of Home Improvement. Unfortunately for Tim, when his co-star Patricia Richardson requested the same amount (double her offer), ABC opted to end the series altogether.

During his run on "Home Improvement," Allen successfully transitioned to film, starring in the 1994 Disney comedy "The Santa Clause," which became a holiday classic and spawned two sequels. That same year, he voiced Buzz Lightyear in Pixar's groundbreaking animated feature "Toy Story," a role he reprised in multiple sequels over nearly three decades. Other notable films include "Galaxy Quest," "Jungle 2 Jungle," "For Richer or Poorer," "Wild Hogs," and "Christmas with the Kranks." His blend of everyman humor and warmth made him a favorite with family audiences.

In 2011, Allen returned to television with the ABC (and later Fox) sitcom "Last Man Standing," portraying conservative outdoor-store owner Mike Baxter. The series ran for nine seasons and earned steady ratings, introducing Allen to a new generation of fans. Beyond acting, he has written bestselling memoirs, hosted award shows, and continued performing stand-up comedy. Over a career spanning four decades, Tim Allen has remained a fixture of American entertainment, known for his sharp timing, working-class humor, and enduring appeal across generations.

Highest Paid Actor & Salary

During the peak of Allen's role in Home Improvement, he was paid $1.25 million per episode. That's the same as around $2 million per episode today after adjusting for inflation. At both the inflation and non-inflation levels, Tim is the fifth-highest-paid TV actor of all time in terms of salary per episode.

Tim Allen's salary for Last Man Standing was $235,000 per episode.

Other notable salaries include $5 million for Toy Story 2, $2 million for Galaxy Quest, and $12 million for Joe Somebody. He famously earned just $50,000 for the very first Toy Story.

Tim Allen also earns a substantial income through brand endorsements and advertisements. In 2009, he narrated the "Pure Michigan" TV and radio commercials for Travel Michigan. In 2010, he began narrating commercials for the Chevrolet Cruze. That year, he also used his voice acting talents to promote Campbell's Soup in their "It's Amazing What Soup Can Do" campaign.

Lost $50 Million Payday

In 1999, ABC executives were so eager for a ninth season of "Home Improvement" that they offered Tim Allen a then-stunning $2 million per episode to come back for one more season. Assuming there would have been 25 episodes, that would have equated to $50 million, and after adjusting for inflation, that would have been the same as $70 million today.

ABC offered his co-star Patricia Richardson $25 million, $1 million per episode. Tim was very on board. Patricia was not pleased. As she would later tell it, Patricia was incensed that, once again, the network was treating the two stars extremely differently in terms of compensation. She responded to their offer by requesting pay parity with Tim, as in $2 million per episode, and ABC opted to end the series. Tim was angry, and apparently, the decision caused his relationship with Patricia to fracture somewhat permanently.

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Early Life

Tim Allen was born Timothy Alan Dick on June 13, 1953, in Denver, Colorado. He was raised alongside five siblings, and his father worked as a real estate agent before tragically dying in a car accident when Tim was 11 years old. Two years later, his mother remarried and moved the family to Michigan, where she and her new husband combined their children into a bustling household of nine.

While attending high school, Allen became interested in theater and drama and also developed his musical talent as a pianist. He later attended Central Michigan University before transferring to Western Michigan University, where he graduated in 1976 with a Bachelor of Science degree in communications. His focus was on radio and television production, and he became actively involved with the college's student radio station—an early step toward a career built around entertainment and performance.

Career Beginnings and Early Struggles

Allen's comedy career began in 1975 when friends dared him to perform at a Detroit comedy night. His sharp observational humor and everyman style resonated with audiences, leading to regular performances, television commercials, and appearances on cable comedy shows.

However, his rising success was interrupted in 1978 when he was arrested at the Battle Creek International Airport with nearly 1.5 pounds of cocaine. Facing a potential life sentence, Allen cooperated with authorities by providing names of other dealers, which reduced his sentence to three years. He served just over two years before being released.

After prison, Allen returned to stand-up with renewed focus, performing at the Comedy Store in Los Angeles and eventually appearing on national talk shows. His blue-collar humor and charisma helped him rebuild his career, and he maintained a strong presence on the stand-up circuit for decades.

Breakthrough With "Home Improvement"

Allen's breakthrough came in 1991 when he was cast as Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor on ABC's "Home Improvement." The sitcom, produced by Wind Dancer Productions—a company Allen co-founded—became one of the decade's most popular television shows. Allen's portrayal of a lovable, accident-prone dad who hosted a fictional home improvement show made him a household name and earned him a Golden Globe Award and several Emmy nominations.

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Film Stardom and Continued Success

In 1994, Allen starred as Scott Calvin in Disney's "The Santa Clause," the year's highest-grossing Christmas film, which cemented his box-office appeal. That same year, he voiced Buzz Lightyear in Pixar's "Toy Story," one of the most successful animated movies of all time. He went on to reprise the role in "Toy Story 2" (1999), "Toy Story 3" (2010), and "Toy Story 4" (2019), helping make Buzz Lightyear one of animation's most iconic characters.

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Allen appeared in a string of family-friendly comedies, including "Jungle 2 Jungle," "Galaxy Quest," "The Shaggy Dog," "Christmas with the Kranks," "Zoom," and "Wild Hogs." He also returned to holiday films with "The Santa Clause 2" and "The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause." In 2010, he made his directorial debut with "Crazy on the Outside."

"Last Man Standing" and Later Projects

In 2011, Allen returned to network television as Mike Baxter in "Last Man Standing," a sitcom about a conservative father navigating life with his wife and three daughters. The show, which drew comparisons to "Home Improvement," ran for six seasons on ABC before being canceled and later revived by Fox in 2018. It continued until 2021, earning a devoted audience.

Allen also co-created and hosted the reality competition series "Assembly Required" (2021) and "More Power" (2022), reuniting with his former co-star Richard Karn. He later reprised his beloved role as Scott Calvin in the Disney+ series "The Santa Clauses," which expanded on the mythology of his classic Christmas films.

Books

In 1994, Allen topped the New York Times Best Seller list with his humorous memoir "Don't Stand Too Close to a Naked Man," which explored his life, career, and comedic philosophy. He followed it up in 1996 with "I'm Not Really Here," a more reflective work blending humor with personal insight into fame, family, and self-discovery.

Personal Life, Car Collection & Real Estate

Tim Allen married his first wife, Laura Deibel, in 1984. They had one daughter together in 1989 before separating in 1999. In 2006, Tim Allen married his second wife, Jane Hajduk. They had been dating for five years prior to their marriage. In 2009, Tim Allen and Jane Hajduk had a daughter together.

Tim Allen is well known for his Republican political stance. He has appeared on Fox News shows to be interviewed by Sean Hannity, and he also supports Republican presidential candidates. After initially supporting John Kasich, he publicly supported Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election.

Allen is a car enthusiast and even competed in endurance racing for Saleen in a co-owned car in the 1990s, including the 24 Hours of Daytona. His car collection includes a 1965 Shelby Cobra, a 1956 Ford F-100 custom-made by McLaren, and a 1966 Ferrari 330 GTC that, on its own, is estimated to be worth over $3,410,000.

In 2015, Tim Allen listed his 2,604-square-foot ranch home in Bel Air for $1.95 million.

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