Rowan Atkinson Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Rowan Atkinson’s Net Worth?

With a net worth of $150 million, Rowan Atkinson, an actor, screenwriter, and comedian, is recognized as a master of physical comedy. While he is best known for portraying the character “Mr. Bean,” Atkinson has showcased his comedic talent through a variety of roles. Additionally, he has made his mark as a skilled theater actor.

In his personal life, Rowan is passionate about collecting cars, owning numerous luxury sports cars. Notably, he once owned a McLaren F1, which he crashed on two separate occasions, selling it for $12 million. More details about this car and his collection will be discussed later in this article.

Early Life

Born on January 6th, 1955, in Consett, England, Rowan Atkinson grew up in an Anglican household as the son of a farmer, sharing his childhood with two brothers, though a third brother passed away at a young age. Demonstrating academic excellence, Rowan’s impressive grades led him to Newcastle University, where he completed a degree in electrical engineering. He further pursued his education and received an MSc in Electrical Engineering from The Queen’s College at Oxford in 1978.

Initially aiming for a doctorate, Atkinson soon found himself drawn to the acting world. By that time, he was already engaged in writing sketches for a comedy group at Oxford and participating in the Oxford University Dramatic Society.

Career

Rowan Atkinson’s initial work was in radio, where in 1979 he performed The Atkinson People, a one-man show in which he engaged in interviews, showcasing his impressive voice-acting. He made his television debut on Canned Laughter and later hosted the satirical news program Not the Nine O’Clock News. His theatrical talents were also on display in The Secret Policeman’s Ball, which featured members of Monty Python.

The year 1983 marked a significant milestone in Atkinson’s career, as he landed the lead role in the greatly acclaimed TV series Black Adder. That same year, he debuted in film with Never Say Never Again, an unofficial James Bond movie, followed by another appearance in the short film Dead on Time. Atkinson continued his theater pursuits in 1984, performing The Nerd alongside a ten-year-old Christian Bale.

The second season of Black Adder took several years to develop, mainly due to budget issues. However, when it finally aired in 1986, it became the central focus of Atkinson’s career, evolving from Black Adder II in 1987 to Black Adder Goes Forth in 1989. This series has since become one of the most beloved British comedies ever. Near the conclusion of Black Adder‘s last season, Atkinson starred in the film The Tall Guy.

Another significant advancement in Atkinson’s career occurred in 1990, as this year saw the creation of his iconic character, Mr…Bean made his debut to audiences during a television special. From that moment, Mr. Bean became a consistent staple on television until 1995, when Atkinson shifted his focus to creating films featuring the character. In 1990, Rowan Atkinson appeared in another movie, The Witches, before moving on to star in the spoof film Hot Shots! Part Deux.

The film industry witnessed Rowan Atkinson securing a stronger presence in 1994 with two significant roles. The first was in Four Weddings and a Funeral, where he portrayed a comical vicar. His second role was as the voice of Zazu in Disney’s The Lion King, where he also performed “I Can’t Wait To Be King” in the beloved film.

Returning to television in 1995, Atkinson took on a recurring role in the sitcom The Thin Blue Line, which he continued until 1996. By 1997, he was set to release his first Mr. Bean film. Bean turned out to be a box office success, amassing over $250 million with a budget of $18 million. The following years were relatively slow for Atkinson until his appearance in the 2001 film Rat Race. The next year, he featured in Scooby-Doo and launched an animated Mr. Bean series that continued until 2019. He further expanded his filmography in 2003 with Love Actually and also initiated the Johnny English film series, which showcased Atkinson in a humorous take on the James Bond character. Following the first movie, there were Johnny English Strikes Back and Johnny English Strikes Again, each earning approximately $160 million, leading to combined total earnings nearing $480 million for the trilogy. In 2005, he made a return to the big screen with the crime comedy Keeping Mum.

In 2007, Rowan Atkinson released his second film featuring Mr. Bean, titled Mr. Bean’s Holiday. Like its predecessor, it gained considerable success at the box office, bringing in over $232 million on a modest budget. Atkinson returned to theater in 2009 with Oliver!, followed by a role in the 2013 production Quarantine’s Terms. Between 2016 and 2017, he appeared in a brief, four-part series known as Maigret.

Rowan Atkinson has also appeared as a guest on various television programs, including Late Night With Conan O’Brien, Doctor Who, and Horrible Histories. Furthermore, he has been featured in several commercials for brands like M&Ms, Snickers, and Nissan.

Personal Life

In 1990, Rowan Atkinson tied the knot with Sunetra Sastry, with whom he had two children before their divorce in 2015. That same year, he began dating fellow comedian Louise Ford, and in 2017, they welcomed a child together.

Car Collection

A true car enthusiast, Atkinson has taken part in numerous races over the years. His impressive collection includes a Honda NSX, Jaguar Mk7, Aston Martin DB2, vintage Ford Falcon, a 1939 BMW 328, and a Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe. Besides owning a remarkable range of luxury vehicles, he possesses the skills to drive them proficiently, noted for recording the 2^nd fastest time on record at Top Gear in his F1.

In 1997, Rowan purchased a brand new McLaren F1 for $1 million. He was involved in two crashes with the vehicle, first in 1999 and again in 2011. The repair cost from the 2011 accident totaled $1.4 million, leading his insurance premium for this car to increase to $100,000 per year, equating to $8300 monthly just to own and operate this vehicle. In 2015, Rowan listed the car for sale at $15 million, ultimately selling it for $12 million.