Will Forte Net Worth 2025

Will Forte net worth stands at approximately $14 million as of 2025. The 55 year old American actor, comedian, writer, and producer earned his wealth through his eight year run on “Saturday Night Live” (2002-2010), creating and starring in “The Last Man on Earth” (2015-2018), and appearing in numerous comedy films.

Forte, born Orville Willis Forte IV on June 17, 1970, in Alameda, California, initially worked as a financial broker before pursuing comedy with The Groundlings. He became famous for SNL characters like MacGruber, which later became a feature film and streaming series.

Forte has also earned substantial income through voice acting in animated films like “The Lego Movie” and “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.” His diverse career spanning television, film, writing, and producing has built his impressive fortune over three decades in entertainment.

Quick Facts About Will Forte

Who Is Will Forte?

Will Forte is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer best known for his eight year run on “Saturday Night Live” and creating “The Last Man on Earth.” Born Orville Willis Forte IV on June 17, 1970, in Alameda, California, he is now 55 years old. Forte gained fame through memorable SNL characters like MacGruber, Tim Calhoun, and the Falconer.

He successfully transitioned into film and television, starring in comedies and dramatic roles. Forte has also done extensive voice acting work in animated films and series. He holds a net worth of $14 million built over three decades in entertainment.

Will Forte Net Worth Breakdown

Will Forte holds a net worth of $14 million as of 2025. His wealth comes through his eight seasons on “Saturday Night Live” earning substantial salary increases over time. Creating, writing, and starring in “The Last Man on Earth” brought significant income through his multiple roles on the show. Film appearances in comedies like “MacGruber,” “Nebraska,” and “Booksmart” added to his earnings. Voice acting work in “The Lego Movie” franchise, “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,” and numerous animated series provides steady royalty income.

Writing credits on shows like “3rd Rock from the Sun” and “That ’70s Show” generated additional revenue. Real estate investments, including properties in Santa Monica and Carmel Highlands, contributed to his wealth. Producer credits on various projects add ongoing residual payments.

Early Life and Education

Will Forte was born on June 17, 1970, in Alameda, California, to parents Orville Willis Forte III and Patricia. His father worked as a financial broker while his mother was an artist and former schoolteacher. Forte is of Italian and Irish descent. He grew up in Moraga before moving to Lafayette when he was 13 years old. As a child, he went by “Billy” until classmates teased him for it being a girl’s name, prompting him to use “Will.” He idolized comedians Peter Sellers, David Letterman, and Steve Martin growing up. Forte attended Acalanes High School in Lafayette, graduating in 1988.

He played on the varsity football and swim teams and served as freshman class president. He enrolled at UCLA and joined the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. Forte graduated with a BA in history, initially planning to become a financial broker like his father.

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Career Beginnings Before SNL

After graduating UCLA, Will Forte worked as a financial broker at Smith Barney Shearson in Beverly Hills. He described the experience as “miserable” and decided to pursue comedy instead. Forte began taking classes at The Groundlings improvisational and sketch comedy troupe in Los Angeles. He tutored children to make a living while training at The Groundlings. His first professional job came through creating the comic book “101 Things to Definitely Not Do If You Want to Get a Chick.” This led to writing work on “The Jenny McCarthy Show,” a short lived variety program.

He then worked for nine months as a writer on “Late Show with David Letterman” but was let go. Forte returned to Los Angeles and performed with The Groundlings Main Company alongside Cheryl Hines, Jim Rash, and Maya Rudolph. He wrote for failed sitcoms “The Army Show” and “Action” before landing writing jobs on “3rd Rock from the Sun” and “That ’70s Show.”

Saturday Night Live Success (2002-2010)

Lorne Michaels spotted Will Forte performing with The Groundlings in 2001 and invited him to audition for SNL. Forte initially declined the offer in favor of financial stability through “That ’70s Show” but later regretted his decision. He joined SNL in 2002 after Will Ferrell left the show, premiering in the 28th season. His early years were marked by stage fright and discomfort, particularly playing President George W. Bush.

Forte was nearly fired after his third season but was brought back after extensions. He became known for bizarre “10 to 1” sketches placed at the end of shows. His popular characters included Tim Calhoun, Greg Stink, the Falconer, and MacGruber. Forte also did celebrity impressions of Peyton Manning, Tom DeLay, Newt Gingrich, Harry Reid, and others. He left SNL in 2010 after eight seasons, later calling it an “emotionally trying” decision. Forte received promotions and eventually became a beloved cast member despite his rocky start.

MacGruber Character and Film

MacGruber was Will Forte’s most famous SNL character, a special operations agent who gets distracted by personal issues while disarming bombs. The character was created by writer Jorma Taccone, who relentlessly pitched the idea to Forte. Forte initially thought the concept was “too dumb” but agreed after persuasion. The first MacGruber sketch aired in January 2007 and became popular immediately. In 2009, MacGruber appeared in Pepsi commercials during Super Bowl XLIII featuring Richard Dean Anderson. The advertisements expanded the character’s popularity beyond SNL viewers.

Lorne Michaels approached Forte, Taccone, and John Solomon to create a feature film. The movie was shot in summer 2009 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on a tight four week schedule. “MacGruber” was released in May 2010 to mixed reviews and failed at the box office. Despite initial failure, the film gained cult classic status over time. In 2021, Forte reprised the role in a MacGruber streaming series on Peacock.

The Last Man on Earth Creation

Will Forte created “The Last Man on Earth” with longtime collaborators Phil Lord and Christopher Miller in 2013. Though it was originally the duo’s idea, Forte attached himself and crafted a treatment over one weekend. The series was pitched around Hollywood to positive responses and Fox picked it up in 2014. Forte served as creator, writer, lead actor, and showrunner for the first season. He played Philip Tandy “Phil” Miller in the post apocalyptic comedy series.

The show premiered in 2015 to critical acclaim and strong viewership. Forte felt awkward delegating tasks as showrunner and often did work himself. He worked minimum 12 hour days managing the production, calling it “an amount of work I never knew existed.” The series earned him three Emmy nominations: two for acting and one for writing. “The Last Man on Earth” ran for four seasons through 2018 before cancellation. The show remains one of Forte’s most acclaimed projects and demonstrated his abilities beyond sketch comedy.

Film Career Highlights

Will Forte made his film debut in “Around the World in 80 Days” in 2004. He had his first leading role in “The Brothers Solomon” in 2007, which he also wrote. After leaving SNL, he appeared in supporting roles in “Rock of Ages,” “That’s My Boy,” and “The Watch.” His first dramatic role came in 2013’s “Run & Jump” directed by Steph Green. He received critical acclaim for his performance in Alexander Payne’s “Nebraska” alongside Bruce Dern in 2013. Forte appeared in Peter Bogdanovich’s screwball comedy “She’s Funny That Way” in 2014.

He had roles in “Keanu” with Jordan Peele and Keegan Michael Key in 2016. Forte played National Lampoon co founder Douglas Kenney in “A Futile and Stupid Gesture” in 2018. He appeared in “Booksmart” and “Good Boys” in 2019. His film work spans comedy and drama, showcasing his range beyond sketch comedy roots.

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Voice Acting Work

Will Forte has extensive voice acting credits spanning animated films and television series. He voiced Joe Towne in “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” in 2009 and its sequel. Forte voiced Abraham Lincoln in “The Lego Movie” in 2014 and reprised the role in “The Lego Movie 2.” He voiced characters in “My Life as a Courgette,” “Get Squirrely,” and “Luis and the Aliens.” In 2020, he voiced characters in “The Willoughbies” and Shaggy Rogers in “Scoob!” Forte voices Abraham Lincoln in the animated series “Clone High” across its runs in 2002-2003 and 2023-2024.

He has voiced characters on “Sit Down, Shut Up,” “The Cleveland Show,” “American Dad!,” and “Allen Gregory.” His work includes “Gravity Falls,” “Lab Rats,” “Bob’s Burgers,” “The Awesomes,” and “The Simpsons.” Forte voices Wolf Tobin on “The Great North” starting in 2021. He also worked on “Sausage Party: Foodtopia” in 2024. Voice acting provides steady residual income and expands his career beyond live action.

Nebraska and Dramatic Roles

Will Forte sent an audition tape to director Alexander Payne for a role in “Nebraska” in 2013. He felt “terrified” to work on the dramatic film, comparing his fear to joining SNL years earlier. Forte followed Bruce Dern’s advice to “look for the truth” in each scene and play it honestly. The film received critical acclaim and Forte’s performance was praised as a departure through his comedy work. “Nebraska” demonstrated his ability to handle serious dramatic material convincingly. His role in “Run & Jump” earlier in 2013 marked his first dramatic attempt. These performances showed industry professionals his range beyond sketch comedy. Forte has said he enjoyed the challenge of dramatic acting and would pursue more opportunities. The success of “Nebraska” opened doors for him in different genres. His dramatic work adds credibility to his career beyond pure comedy roles.

Marriage to Olivia Modling

Will Forte met Olivia Modling in 2018 and they began dating shortly after. The couple became engaged in 2019 after about a year together. They welcomed their first daughter, Zoe Douglas Forte, in February 2021. Forte and Modling married on July 31, 2021, during the production of the MacGruber series.

The wedding ceremony took place “in the back of Jorma Taccone’s house” in New Mexico. The couple had their second daughter, Cecilia, approximately 18 months after Zoe. Forte had previously dated his “Last Man on Earth” co star January Jones in 2015. His relationship with Modling brought stability and family life to his personal world. The couple maintains relative privacy about their relationship and family.

Children and Family Life

Will Forte and Olivia Modling have two daughters together. Their first daughter, Zoe Douglas Forte, was born in February 2021. Their second daughter, Cecilia, was born approximately 18 months later. Forte’s mother Patricia visits every film set where he works and appeared on an SNL Mother’s Day episode. He officiated his sister Michelle’s wedding and filmed the births of his niece and nephew. Forte grew up with his sister in a loving family environment created by his parents. His father Orville Willis Forte III worked as a financial broker. His mother Patricia was an artist and former schoolteacher. Forte maintains close family ties despite his busy career. He has discussed how becoming a father changed his perspective on work and life balance.

Income Sources and Earnings

Will Forte earns money through multiple entertainment industry sources. His SNL salary increased significantly over eight seasons, with veteran cast members earning $25,000 per episode. Creating, writing, and starring in “The Last Man on Earth” brought producer, writer, and acting fees simultaneously. Film appearances generate upfront payments plus residuals, especially for successful comedies. Voice acting work provides steady royalty income through syndication and streaming of animated content. Writing credits on television shows generate residual payments when episodes air.

His MacGruber projects brought income through the film, commercials, and streaming series. Real estate appreciation and rental income add to his wealth. Guest appearances on shows and late night programs provide additional fees. Forte’s diverse skill set allows him to earn through acting, writing, producing, and voice work across multiple projects simultaneously.

Real Estate Investments

Will Forte bought a Craftsman home in Santa Monica, California, in 2002 for $850,000. He purchased the property just two weeks before being hired by SNL, forcing him to move to New York immediately. Forte barely lived in the Santa Monica house for around a decade due to his SNL commitment. In September 2020, he listed the Santa Monica property for sale at $2.5 million. In January 2020, Forte spent $6.25 million on an oceanfront home in Carmel Highlands, California.

The Carmel Highlands property provided a retreat away through Los Angeles. His real estate investments have appreciated significantly over the years. The Santa Monica property alone increased in value by nearly three times his purchase price. Real estate holdings contribute substantially to his $14 million net worth.

What Will Forte Does Now?

Will Forte currently works on multiple projects across television and film. He voices Wolf Tobin on the animated sitcom “The Great North” which premiered in 2021. Forte appeared in the main role for Disney and Pixar’s first animated series “Win or Lose” which premiered on Disney+ in 2025. He voiced an older version of Scott Pilgrim in “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off” in 2023. Forte was announced in the main role of Martin in “Sunny Nights” in 2024.

He continues taking film roles in comedies and occasional dramatic projects. Forte maintains his residence in California with his wife Olivia and their two daughters. He balances his career with family life, prioritizing time with his young children. Forte remains active in comedy and occasionally appears on talk shows and podcasts. At 55 years old, he continues working steadily in entertainment while enjoying the success he built over three decades.

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Will Forte Income and Earnings Breakdown

Net Worth Comparison: Will Forte vs Other SNL Alumni

FAQs About Will Forte

Conclusion

Will Forte has built a $14 million net worth through his eight years on Saturday Night Live, creating The Last Man on Earth, and diverse film and voice acting work. At 55, he continues working steadily in television and film while balancing family life with his wife Olivia and two daughters. His successful transition from sketch comedy to dramatic roles like Nebraska proves his versatility in entertainment.