Dax Shepard, born on January 2, 1975, in Milford, Michigan, is a comedian and actor with an estimated net worth of $60 million.
While he’s best known for his roles on-screen, Shepard has also made a mark as a writer and director, though that’s a lesser-known part of his career.
His mother named him after a character in Harold Robbins’ novel The Adventurers.
Shepard’s big break came when he joined Ashton Kutcher’s hit show Punk’d, which opened doors for him in Hollywood.
He went on to star in films like Employee of the Month alongside Jessica Simpson and Dane Cook.
One of his more recent projects was the film Hit and Run, which he starred in alongside his then-fiancée Kristen Bell and friend Bradley Cooper.
Outside of his work in entertainment, Shepard follows a vegan lifestyle and has been recognized by PETA as one of the sexiest vegetarian celebrities.
Key Takeaways
- Dax Shepard has a $60 million net worth, boosted by an $80 million Amazon deal for Armchair Expert.
- Shepard gained fame through Punk’d, leading to roles in Employee of the Month and Hit and Run.
- Shepard and Kristen Bell co-founded Hello Bello, a baby product brand, which filed for bankruptcy in 2023.
- Shepard expanded into writing and directing, notably with the film CHiPs.
- Raised by a single mother, he pursued comedy and earned a degree from UCLA before starting his career.
Net Worth and Salary 2024
Dax Shepard, an American actor, comedian, writer, podcaster, and director, has an impressive net worth of $60 million according to Celebrity Net Worth. This amount represents his combined wealth with his wife, Kristen Bell, whom he married in 2013.
While Shepard first gained widespread attention through his role on MTV’s Punk’d, he later expanded his success with acting, stand-up comedy, and podcasting. He and Kristen Bell are also frequent co-stars in commercials and co-founded the baby product company Hello Bello, which unfortunately declared bankruptcy in October 2023.
Success with “Armchair Expert”
In recent years, Shepard’s podcast Armchair Expert has skyrocketed in popularity. In a major deal in July 2024, Shepard signed an $80 million exclusive agreement with Amazon. This deal will shift Armchair Expert from Spotify to Amazon’s Wondery platform and will also give Shepard the opportunity to create two additional podcasts. Amazon will have exclusive rights to sell advertising tied to his content.
Hello Bello’s Journey
In 2019, Dax and Kristen founded Hello Bello, a company focused on producing baby products. They successfully launched the brand by partnering with Walmart, where the products were sold exclusively.
However, in October 2023, Hello Bello filed for bankruptcy, citing $100 million in liabilities. Of this amount, $22 million was owed to a paper supplier, marking a significant financial strain on the company as noted by CNBC.
$80 Million Amazon Partnership
In July 2024, Shepard signed an $80 million deal with Amazon to transition Armchair Expert to their Wondery platform according to WSJ. The deal includes the creation of two additional podcasts and grants Amazon the exclusive rights to sell advertising for Shepard’s shows, marking a major step in his podcasting career.
Career Highlights
Dax Shepard’s comedic training over five years paid off when he landed his breakthrough role in MTV’s Punk’d in 2003, after auditioning for ten years.
This was his first significant booking, and it came with the help of Ashton Kutcher, who saw potential in Shepard and helped him secure an agent.
When Punk’d was rebooted in 2012, Shepard returned to reprise his role.
Acting Breakthrough
Following his success on Punk’d, Shepard quickly started securing roles in major films.
Some of his early notable appearances include Without a Paddle and Zathura: A Space Adventure.
In 2006, he starred in Employee of the Month alongside Jessica Simpson and took on a memorable role in the cult favorite Idiocracy.
Later that year, Shepard landed his first lead role in Let’s Go to Prison.
Collaborations and TV Success
In 2010, Dax starred alongside his future wife Kristen Bell in When in Rome. He also experienced success on television, with a recurring role in NBC’s Parenthood. In 2012, Shepard worked with his close friend Bradley Cooper in the film Hit and Run, which he also wrote and co-directed. He continued to showcase his writing and directing talents in the 2017 movie CHiPs, further establishing his career behind the camera.
Podcasting Success with Armchair Expert
In addition to his acting and directing, Dax Shepard launched the hugely popular podcast Armchair Expert, which has become one of the most listened-to shows on the internet. The podcast reportedly generates $9 million annually, adding to his already successful career.
Commercial and Hosting Ventures
In 2014, Dax and Kristen Bell participated in a viral commercial for Samsung Galaxy that has garnered over 20 million views on YouTube. Building on his diverse career, it was announced in 2019 that Dax Shepard would become the new host of the popular auto-sports show Top Gear.
