Understanding Matt Leblanc’s Net Worth, Daughter and Why His Marraige To Melissa McKnight Failed

Net Worth:$80 million
Age/Date of Birth:
56 years old (July 25, 1967)
Height:
5' 9½" (1.77 m)
Ethnicity/Race:
Mix of French-Canadian and Italian decent
Nationality:American
Wife or Girlfriend:Melissa McKnight
(m. 2003; div. 2006)
Parents:Father: Paul LeBlanc
Mother: Patricia (née Di Cillo)

It is sometimes said that life imitates art and this timeless adage certainly holds in the case of Matt LeBlanc. For several years, the American actor held sway as the dim-witted but lovable ladies’ man, Joey Tribbiani, on the hit sitcom, Friends. LeBlanc’s portrayal of the good-natured womanizer endeared him to national and global audiences. It also brought him several accolades including three Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Away from the screens, Matt also seemed to be a real-life lothario and this fact played a pivotal part in the crashing of his very first marriage.

Matt LeBlanc is an American actor, comedian, and producer who has a net worth of $80 million. Here’s the true story of how he achieved his huge net worth and why his marriage failed.

Analysis of His Net Worth and How He Achieved It

For an actor who has been active since 1987, it is not hard to see how Matt LeBlanc came about his $80 million fortune. While he is most known for his roles on TV, he has also pulled off multiple big-screen projects. Before all of that, he made money from modeling and commercial gigs.

Modeling and Commercial Gigs Were His Earliest Sources of Income

Matthew Steven LeBlanc was born on July 25, 1967, in Newton, Massachusetts. He grew up in Newton and attended the Newton North High School. While there, he was classmates with popular comedian, Louis CK, and they both graduated in 1985.

Right after high school graduation, Matt dived into show business, starting as a model. He appeared in a commercial for Heinz Tomato Ketchup in 1987. More than laying the foundation for him to build his net worth, modeling and commercial gained him exposure in the industry that by 1988, he scored his first major acting gig in the TV series, TV 101.

He went on to land roles in other TV shows such as Married… with Children, Vinnie & Bobby, and Class of ’96, before landing his big break on Friends.

He Earned as Much as $1 Million Per Episode of Friends

Friends was an NBC sitcom that chronicled the reckless adventures of six pals living in Manhattan. The series debuted in 1994 and featured an ensemble cast comprising of Courtney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer. Matt LeBlanc was also a major cast member and portrayed the clueless hunk, Joey Tribbiani. Friends ran for a total of ten seasons and 236 episodes, and LeBlanc appeared in every single one of them. His performances catapulted him to global stardom.

Matt LeBlanc
LeBlanc and Lisa Kudrow on the set of Friends: Image Source

It also fetched him many accolades including three consecutive Primetime Emmy nominations for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series. Asides from the fame and critical praise, Friends was also financially rewarding.

LeBlanc and his co-stars earned $22,500 per episode in the first season of the sitcom. This amount increased to $75,000, $125,000, and $750,000 per episode for seasons 3, 6, and 7, respectively. For the final season in 2004, LeBlanc and his fellow cast members pocketed $1 million for each episode. This remains the highest paycheck ever received by TV actors in America.

A Breakdown of His Friends Salary

  • Season 1 – $22,500 per episode
  • Season 2 – $20,000 – $40,000 per episode
  • Season 3 – $75,000 per episode
  • Season 4 – $85,000 per episode
  • Season 5 – $100,000 per episode
  • Season 6 – $125,000 per episode
  • Season 7 – $750,000 per episode
  • Season 8 – $750,000 per episode
  • Season 9 – $1 million per episode
  • Season 10 – $1 million per episode

Matt LeBlanc Made a Massive $15 Million from Joey

Following the end of Friends in 2004, Matt LeBlanc launched his own-spinoff show titled Joey. The series failed to gain much traction and was canceled after just two years. This disappointment, in addition to some personal issues, left the actor burnt out. He, therefore, embarked on an unplanned but much-needed hiatus from Hollywood between 2006 and 2010.

Even though Joey failed to attain the expectations banked on, it rewarded Matt financially. Based on what has been reported on several quarters, the actor made $15 million from the short-lived show. The Newton native subsequently returned to acting in 2011 and proved that he still had his mojo as he quickly brought unmatched entertainment to the small screen in the form of the Showtime/BBC comedy series, Episodes.

Episodes ran for five seasons, 2011-2017, during which LeBlanc basically portrayed a fictionalized version of himself. His performance fetched him a Golden Globe Award for Best leading Actor and set the stage for his next show, Man with a Plan, which premiered on CBS in October 2016.

The Actor Singed a $2 Million Contract to Host Top Gear In 2016

In addition to his successful TV shows, LeBlanc has had a handful of feature film appearances most notably in Charlie’s Angels (2000) and its 2003 sequel. The Friends alum also hosted popular British motoring magazine, Top Gear, from 2016 to 2019. He, however, left the show to be able to spend more time with his family.

It was in 2012 that he first made an appearance in an episode of the British motoring TV shows. A few years later, he made a $2 million pact to host the show. After he left Top Gear, he continued earning from being Adam Burns in Man with a Plan which ended in June 2020.

Matt’s Net Worth Compared to Other Cast Members of Friends

The TV show created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman has been a cash cow for not only Warner Bros but also for the major cast members of the show. Apart from Matt LeBlanc, other major cast members of the sitcom include Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer.

Each of these actors gets 2% of the syndication income for Friends which amounts to about $20 million yearly. This is so because the sitcom continues to generate as much as $1 billion each year from syndication. Given that, it is clear that the Friends actors have the series to thank for their wealth but who among them is wealthier?

Who Is the Richest Cast Members of Friends?

  • Matt LeBlanc – $80 Million
  • Jennifer Aniston – $300 Million
  • Courteney Cox – $150 Million
  • Lisa Kudrow – $90 Million
  • Matthew Perry – $120 Million
  • David Schwimmer – $100 Million

LeBlanc Spends His Money on Real Estate and Cars

Reports have it that apart from his popularity, Matt Leblanc was picked to host Top Gear because of his massive love for cars. From what he gathered, the actor has always been in love with automobiles. When he was in high school, he took auto mechanics as an elective.

His first car, to the best of our knowledge, was a 1984 Nissan Pickup which he later sold to purchase a 1978 Chevrolet Blazer. Over the years, he has spent his money on several fancy cars and some of the rides he currently owns are listed below.

  • 1973 De Tomaso Pantera
  • Ford Focus RS
  • Ferrari 458 Italia
  • Porsche GT2 RS
  • Carrera 4 GTS
  • Turbo 930
  • Porsche 911 R
  • 964 Carrera
  • Ferrari 360 Modena
  • Fiat X1/9
  • Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG
  • Turbo S 2014

The actor has also parted with good sums to acquire properties. Way back in 2002, he bought a 1,000-acre ranch located in Santa Ynez, California. Among other properties, he owns two side-by-side homes in Encino, also in California. Matt once owned a Pacific Palisades Spanish villa which he acquired in 2007 after his divorce from Missy McKnight for $7.4 million.

He Had His Only Child With Melissa McKnight

Matt Leblanc
Leblanc, his ex-wife, Melissa, and their daughter, Marina

Speaking of family, Matt LeBlanc was previously married to the British-American model, Melissa McKnight. The two first crossed paths in 1997 after they were introduced by mutual friends in the showbiz industry. They started dating and got engaged in 1998. They subsequently tied the knot five years later (in 2003), in a magical twilight ceremony held in Hawaii.

The guest list included Friends’ stars such as Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, and Lisa Kudrow. It also featured McKnight’s two children from her previous marriage, Tyler and Jacqueline. Following the nuptials, LeBlanc and McKnight settled down to family life in their Encino ranch. The actor happily acted as a stepfather to Tyler and Jacqueline and they also welcomed a daughter, named Marina, in 2004.

Meet Marina Pearl LeBlanc

  • Date of Birth: February 8, 2004
  • Occupation: Undetermined
Marina Pearl LeBlanc and her father
Marina Pearl LeBlanc and her father

Marina was diagnosed with cortical dysplasia (a devastating condition that can affect the brain, bones, and motor skills) at the age of two. She luckily outgrew the condition and now lives a normal life, hiking and going horseback riding with her superstar dad.

Matt LeBlanc has confessed that spending time with her is the best thing he has ever done and that nothing will make him stop loving her, not even if she were to crash his Ferrari. Matt and his ex-wife are very protective of their child and this has made it hard to keep up with her.

What Happened to Their Marriage?

The health challenges Marina suffered put a strain on her parent’s relationship. The whole situation was further compounded after a drunken LeBlanc was spotted groping a stripper during a vacation in British Columbia in August 2005. The actor apologized for his actions and McKnight forgave him.

They continued living as a family up until January 2006 when LeBlanc packed out of the family home without much warning. He subsequently hooked up with his Joey co-star, Andrea Anders. The whole affair shocked McKnight but she was reportedly willing to salvage her wobbling marriage. Her husband, however, refused and instead filed for divorce in April 2006.

The divorce was finalized in December of that same year and the couple got joint legal and physical custody of Marina. They waived spousal support but Leblanc agreed to pay 15,000 monthly child support, as well as medical, childcare, and school tuition for his daughter.

Matt Has Been Dating Aurora Mulligan Since 2016 

Matt Leblanc and Aurora Mulligan
Matt Leblanc and Aurora Mulligan

Matt LeBlanc and Anders remained together for nearly a decade. They went their separate ways in 2014. The Friends star is now in a relationship with BBC presenter, Aurora Mulligan. Mulligan is a native of Northern Ireland and was born in the year 1985.

She studied political science and government at Liverpool University and has worked for various British TV stations. Leblanc and Aurora first met in the course of his work as Top Gear host in 2016. They have been together ever since then and their love shows no signs of waning.

Profile Summary
First Name:Matthew
Last Name:LeBlanc
Also Known As:
Matty
Sex/Gender:
Male
Profession:
Actor, comedian and director
Famous For:NBC sitcom "Friends" and in its spin-off series "Joey"
Colleges/Universities Attended:
Wentworth Institute of Technology
Educational Qualifications:
N/A
Religion:
Christianity
Birthday & Zodiac
Age/Date of Birth:
56 years old (July 25, 1967)
Zodiac Sign:Leo
Birth Place:
Newton, Massachusetts, U.S.
Nationality: American
Ethnicity/Race:
Mix of French-Canadian and Italian decent
Country of Residence:
Physical Attributes
Height:
5' 9½" (1.77 m)
Weight:
77kg (169lbs)
Eye Colour:
Salt and Pepper
Hair Color:
Dark Brown
Other Body Measurements:
Chest: 42 Inches
Waist: 34 Inches
Biceps: 14 Inches
Relationships
Marital Status:
Divorced
Spouse/Partner:
Melissa McKnight
(m. 2003; div. 2006)
Family and Relatives
Father:
Paul LeBlanc
Mother:Patricia (née Di Cillo)
Children:
Marina Pearl LeBlanc (Daughter)
Siblings:Justin LeBlanc (Brother)
Other Relatives:
N/A
Net Worth
Estimated Net Worth:
$80 million
Salary:N/A
Source of Wealth:
Acting
Uwa Echebiri
Uwa Echebiri
Reading about the luxe lives of celebrities is something many find too vain to indulge in, however, Uwa’s expert analysis on celebrity wealth would pique the curiosity of the most uninterested folk.

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