Paul Reubens Net Worth (Money & Salary)

Paul Reubens Net Worth (Money & Salary)

Title: Paul Reubens Net Worth (Money & Salary)
Last Updated: February 7, 2025


What was Paul Reubens’ Net Worth and Salary?

At the time of his passing, Paul Reubens, known for his alter ego “Pee-wee Herman,” had a net worth of $5 million. He departed this world on July 31, 2023, at the age of 70. Reubens gained fame for portraying Pee-wee Herman, an eccentric man-child character he first brought to life in the late 1970s while performing with The Groundlings, an improvisational and sketch comedy troupe.

In 1981, he developed the character into a popular stage production, “The Pee-wee Herman Show,” later made into an HBO special. This success paved the way for the beloved children’s show “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” (1986-1990) and the feature films “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” (1985) and “Big Top Pee-wee” (1988). His role on “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” earned him an Emmy Award in 1987.

Beyond his Pee-wee persona, Reubens enjoyed a varied career, featuring in movies like “Batman Returns” (1992), “Mystery Men” (1999), and “Blow” (2001), in addition to television appearances in shows like “30 Rock” and “Black Mirror.” Though he faced a few challenges in his personal life, Reubens remained cherished for his imagination and commitment to his art.

Early Life

Born Paul Rubenfeld on August 27, 1952, in Peekskill, New York, Paul Reubens was the son of Judy (née Rosen) and Milton Rubenfeld, who owned a lamp store in Sarasota, Florida, where he grew up alongside two younger siblings, Abby and Luke. His father, Milton, was a former automobile salesman who had served in the British Royal Air Force and the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, later becoming a founding pilot for the Israeli Air Force. Reubens often attended circus performances by Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey Circus, whose winter headquarters were in Sarasota, igniting his passion for entertainment and significantly influencing his unique comedic style.

During his time at Sarasota High School, Reubens engaged actively in theater and held the position of president of the National Thespian Society. He was accepted into a summer program for gifted high-school students at Northwestern University. Following high school, he enrolled at Boston University and auditioned at various acting schools. After facing rejections from institutions like Juilliard and Carnegie-Mellon, he relocated to California to study at the California Institute of the Arts. While attending school, he worked in restaurant kitchens as well as a Fuller Brush salesman and performed at local comedy clubs throughout the 1970s. For six years, he was part of the Los Angeles improvisational comedy ensemble The Groundlings.

Early Pee-Wee Herman

The inception of the character “Pee-Wee Herman” occurred during a 1978 improvisation session at The Groundlings. The character stems from a concept of a man aspiring to be a comic yet failing miserably at joke-telling, making it evident to everyone that he would never succeed. Reubens adopted Pee-Wee’s distinctive speech pattern in 1970 while playing an obnoxious character in the production of “Life with Father.” The moniker “Pee-Wee” was inspired by the Pee Wee brand harmonica, while “Herman” derived from the name of a boy Reubens knew during his childhood.

Television Success

Initially, Reubens auditioned for the “Saturday Night Live” season of 1980-1981, but Gilbert Gottfried, who shared a similar style and was friends with a show producer, ended up being cast. Frustrated by this setback, Reubens secured a loan and launched his own show in Los

The Pee-Wee Herman character, originating from a performance by the Groundlings in Los Angeles, was brought to life with the support of fellow performers such as John Paragon, Phil Hartman, and Lynne Marie Stewart. “The Pee-Wee Herman Show” achieved five months of sellout performances at The Roxy Theatre, featuring midnight shows aimed at adults along with matinee shows for children. HBO facilitated the mainstream introduction of his show in 1981 by broadcasting “The Pee-Wee Herman Show” within their “On Location” series. As the character’s fame escalated, Reubens began to exclusively appear in public and conduct interviews as Pee-Wee, distancing from his real name to cultivate the perception that Pee-Wee was a genuine persona. His subsequent appearances, including on “Late Night with David Letterman” during the mid-1980s and touring with “The Pee-Wee Herman Show” across the country, significantly bolstered his popularity and success.

Paul Reubens Net Worth (Money & Salary)

Mike Windle/Getty Images

Film Success

The success of “The Pee-Wee Herman Show” led Warner Bros. to enlist Reubens to create a full-length film centered around Pee-Wee Herman. “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” (1985) depicts Pee-Wee embarking on a cross-country search for his stolen bicycle. After witnessing his work on “Vincent” (1982) and “Frankenweenie” (1984), Reubens and the producers opted for Tim Burton to direct the project. The film proved to be a substantial success, earning over $40 million in the U.S. against a modest production budget of $7 million. Despite receiving mixed critical reviews, the film garnered a cult following. In 1986, CBS sought Reubens to develop a live-action children’s television program, where he not only acted but also took on the roles of producer and director. “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse” aired from 1986 until 1990, boasting a per-episode budget of $325,000. Although primarily aimed at children, it also attracted a significant adult audience.

1991 Arrest and Comeback

In 1991, Paul Reubens experienced a serious career setback when he was arrested in Florida on charges of indecent exposure, tarnishing his previously pristine image and leading CBS to remove reruns of Pee-Wee’s Playhouse from its broadcasting schedule.

However, he gradually staged a comeback through appearances in various films such as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1992), “Matilda” (1996), “Mystery Men” (1999), and “Blow” (2001). He later secured a recurring role on the hit sitcom “Murphy Brown.”

In 2010, Reubens returned to Broadway with “The Pee-Wee Herman Show.”

The following year, he lent his voice to the character Jokey in the family comedy “The Smurfs” and later contributed to its 2013 sequel as well.

In 2016, Netflix premiered “Pee-wee’s Big Holiday.”

Personal Life

In addition to his 1991 incident, Herman faced legal troubles in 1971 when arrested for loitering and prowling (charges were eventually dropped). In 1983, he was sentenced to two years of probation for marijuana possession. Then, in 2002, he faced charges for possessing obscene material involving a minor in sexual conduct. He argued his innocence, claiming that the alleged materials found in his home were part of his vintage erotica collection.

Real Estate

In 1985, Paul secured a 3,000-square-foot home on 1.4 acres in Los Feliz, LA, spending $415,000 from his “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” earnings. This residence would serve as his main home for the next four decades. In May 2024, Paul’s estate listed the property for just under $5 million, ultimately selling for $3.8 million in July 2024.


Paul Reubens Net Worth (Money & Salary)

Thank you for taking the time to read this article titled: Paul Reubens Net Worth (Money & Salary)

The data presented here is current through 2023 and 2024, with projections extending into 2025 and 2026, and expanded forecasts for 2027 and 2028.

 



* This information was taken from various sources around the world, including these countries:

Australia, Canada, USA, UK, UAE, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, US, United Kingdom, United States of America, Malaysia, U.S., South Africa, New Zealand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates.

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan.

Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bouvet Island, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi.

Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling Islands), Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Croatia (Hrvatska), Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic.

Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, Metropolitan, French Guiana, French Polynesia, French Southern Territories.

Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Heard and McDonald Islands, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy.

Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg.

Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar.

Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand (NZ), Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway.

Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe.

Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Helena, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Sudan, Suriname, Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria.

Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates (UAE), UK (United Kingdom), USA (United States of America, U.S.), US Minor Outlying Islands.

Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City State (Holy See), Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands (British), Virgin Islands (US), Wallis and Futuna Islands, Western Sahara, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.


Post Title: Paul Reubens Net Worth (Money & Salary)
Last Updated: February 7, 2025

Similar Posts