Rowan Atkinson will be making yet another appearance on the big screen as the beloved spy Johnny English. Best known for this role, Mr. Bean and Blackadder, Atkinson has certainly had a fruitful acting career. What has this success done for Rowan Atkinson’s net worth?
About Rowan Atkinson
Atkinson is the youngest of four boys. He was born in England in January 1955. After attending Durham Choristers School and St. Bees School, he went on to study at Newcastle University where he earned a degree in Electrical Engineering. By the time he was 20, he was pursuing a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering at The Queen’s College, Oxford.
He first received national attention at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 1976. By this time, he’d already written and performed sketches by the Etceteras. This group led him to meet Richard Curtis and Howard Goodall, both of whom he would interact with throughout his career.
Prior to making it onto the big screen, Atkinson starred in a comedic radio series called The Atkinson People. The show was co-written by Atkinson and Curtis, and each of the characters was played by Atkinson himself.
After graduating college, he landed a one-off pilot for London Weekend Television called Canned Laughter. Although that was just one episode, it helped him score his role on Not the Nine O’Clock News. In addition to acting on the BBC program, he was also one of the main sketch writers. Both of these led him into his role in The Black Adder (also co-written with Curtis).
His next major career move was the creation of Mr. Bean. First appearing on New Year’s Day in 1990, the character became an instant hit. Atkinson was asked to do television shows and films based on the character. It was not until 2012 that Mr. Bean was finally retired.
You may also recognize Atkinson from his role in the hit motion picture Johnny English and its sequels. These films began to debut in the late 90s and 2000s and have continued to be popular. As mentioned above, there is a 2018 Johnny English premiering this week.
So, what has all of his creativity and success done for his wealth?
Rowan Atkinson’s Net Worth
Not surprisingly, Rowan Atkinson’s net worth is pretty high. It is estimated to sit around $130 million, most of which have stemmed from characters he has created and played himself. Since beginning his work as an actor, he has managed an annual salary of about $16 million per year. Take a look at Atkinson’s earnings year-by-year since 1997 below.
- 1997: $2.98 million (salary from his company and the value of his P1 McLauren)
- 1998: $117,000 (market value of his Aston Martin)
- 2006: $4.4 million (market value of his house)
- 2012: $11.25 million (earnings from work in film)
- 2013: $13 million (earnings from Mr. Bean and Blackadder, endorsements)
- 2015: $12.2 million (sale of P1 McLauren)
In addition to his earnings through writing and performing, his net worth also includes the value of his $5 million home in North London. It is also important to note that, after a divorce, Atkinson lost a $10 million home that he essentially handed over to his ex-wife earlier this year. He left his wife to be with actress Louise Ford and their brand new baby. Through his previous marriage, Atkinson also has two children, one son, and one daughter.
Another interesting note is that Atkinson actually sold his wrecked P1 McLauren (initially worth $1,080,000) for $12.2 million. Additionally, Atkinson has been able to make a fair amount of money through endorsements, namely British Airways and Barclaycard.
There’s no doubt Atkinson has excelled in his career as both a writer and performer. As he is getting older, he seems to be focusing more on his family life with his girlfriend and their baby. However, don’t be surprised if you continue to see his name in the credits of films and television shows in the years to come.
Photo: S L.a.g.h.a.r.i
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Amanda Blankenship is the Director of Social Media for District Media. In addition to her duties handling everything social media, she frequently writes for a handful of blogs and loves to share her own personal finance story with others. When she isn’t typing away at her desk, she enjoys spending time with her daughter, husband, and dog. During her free time, you’re likely to find her with her nose in a book, hiking, or playing RPG video games.
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