'Family Guy' Creator Seth MacFarlane Is Rated-R for 'Rich'
Seth MacFarlane
Seth MacFarlane’s brand of comedy may not be for everyone, but it is known by everyone—a feat which has amassed him an enormous net worth over the years. The Family Guy creator struck gold at the perfect time, after The Simpsons made a lane for adult animation but before you could be canceled for making inappropriate jokes on TV.
He’s not too worried about being canceled now, either.
“The supposed outrage—I don’t find a lot of it in the real world,” he said in a 2022 interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “I read a lot about it on Twitter, which is, as much as we lend credence to it, statistically very fringe. Most people aren’t on Twitter. But in terms of comedy, I don’t think I’ve ever talked to a single person in the real world—outside social media and outside think pieces—who is really upset about the state of edgy comedy. If anything, I hear about the opposite. People want to laugh.”
Aside from Family Guy and his other animated shows, MacFarlane is known for directing the movie Ted (2012), an R-rated comedy about a man and his very-much-alive teddy bear. The film was so successful that a prequel series is premiering on Peacock on Jan. 11.
Here’s more on MacFarlane’s work and his net worth in 2024.
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How did Seth MacFarlane get his start?
MacFarlane, unsurprisingly, started out in animation. He studied it at the Rhode Island School of Design and started working for Hanna-Barbera Productions (now Cartoon Network) after graduation. There, he animated and wrote on popular series such as Johnny Bravo (1997) and Cow and Chicken (1997).
He was only 24 years old when Fox moved forward with Family Guy (1999), an adult animated show about the Griffin family and their town of Quahog, Rhode Island. Not only did MacFarlane create it, but he voices four of the main characters: Peter, Brian, Stewie and Quagmire.
Since then, MacFarlane has also created American Dad (2005) and The Cleveland Show (2009), as well as branched into live-action comedy with the Ted movies and prequel series.
What is Seth MacFarlane's net worth in 2024?
Seth MacFarlane has an estimated net worth of $300 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. He’s amassed his fortune by creating multiple long-running network TV shows (Family Guy is going on 25 years) and directing several successful films, as well.
Is Seth MacFarlane a billionaire?
MacFarlane’s net worth of $300 million means he comes pretty short of billionaire status. Although the rising popularity of figures such as Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos would have us believe otherwise, the vast majority of very rich people are not billionaires—including most Hollywood greats.
How much does Seth MacFarlane make from one episode of Family Guy?
As creator of the show, MacFarlane has worn many hats over the decades of Family Guy, including showrunner and voice actor. He’s also negotiated multiple contracts with Fox. Between 2005 and 2008, he was reportedly making $2 million a year, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Then, in 2009, he signed a five-year, $100 million contract to continue his role overseeing Family Guy, American Dad and The Cleveland Show.
Because of his many projects, MacFarlane is not as involved in the production of Family Guy as he once was. Although he continues to voice Peter, Brian, Stewie and Quagmire, he hasn’t written for the show since 2005, according to Screen Rant.
Because of this, it’s hard to say what exactly he makes per episode of Family Guy. It has been reported by multiple sources that he only earns $50,000 per episode for voice acting Peter, Brian, Stewie and Quagmire, which falls very short of the $175,000 to $225,000 the other main voice actors make (as of 2014). But, again, he earns money from the show (and his other titles at Fox) for his other jobs.
How much do Family Guy voice actors get paid?
In late 2013, four of the lead voice actors on Family Guy (excluding MacFarlane) negotiated a new deal: earning anywhere between $175,000 to $225,000 per episode for their work. The actors who benefited from this deal include Alex Borstein, who voices Lois; Seth Green, who voices Chris; Mila Kunis, who voices Meg; and Mike Henry, who voices Cleveland.
At the time, the deal was expected to last for at least two seasons and up to five. That period has obviously come and gone, and it’s unknown if their current salary is different.
How many shows did Seth MacFarlane create?
MacFarlane has officially created five TV shows: Family Guy (1999), American Dad (2005), The Cleveland Show (2009), The Orville (2017) and Ted (2024).
What did Seth MacFarlane make for the Ted movie?
While Seth MacFarlane’s salary for Ted (2012) is unknown, the movie was a massive box-office success which led to its 2015 sequel and 2024 prequel series. With an estimated budget of $50 million, Ted earned almost $550 million worldwide.
What did Seth MacFarlane make for the Ted series?
For the new Ted series, MacFarlane’s total pay is being kept under wraps. However, it’s a part of the TV deal MacFarlane’s production company, Fuzzy Door, signed with NBCUniversal in 2020. The deal is for five years (through 2025) and reportedly valued at nearly $200 million, according to Variety.
Related: Everything to Know About the 'Ted' Prequel Series, Including Who's in the Cast
How much did Seth MacFarlane get paid for hosting the Oscars?
Seth MacFarlane hosted the Oscars in 2013. The minimum pay for hosts is $15,000, and The Hollywood Reporter claimed that MacFarlane was paid more than that—potentially as much as $25,000.
While it’s an honored role, it’s not one that’s taken lightly. In recent years, awards shows like the Oscars and Golden Globes have had a tough time getting actors and comedians to assume the mantle of host. And when one inevitably does, their performance is not always received well.
“Look, it’s a gig that has all eyes on it,” MacFarlane told Entertainment Weekly in 2018. “And when you’re doing something that’s that much in the spotlight, with that much focus on it, that much intensity, you’re going to have a lot of opinions from a lot of people. I’m trying to think of the last time that I read a review of the Oscars the next day where everyone is raving about it—it’s been a long time.”
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