Simon Helberg is an American actor and comedian born on December 9, 1980, in Los Angeles, California.
He is best known for his role as Howard Wolowitz in the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon, for which he won the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
Helberg has also appeared in several films, including Florence Foster Jenkins, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story and Annette.
He started acting in 1999, taking guest roles and small parts, establishing himself as a character performer and able sketch comedian.
Helberg attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he trained at the Atlantic Theater Company.
Net worth
Helberg has an estimated net worth of $55 million.
He accumulated his wealth primarily through his successful acting career, particularly his long-running role as Howard Wolowitz in the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory.
Helberg earned a significant income from his role in the show, which ran from 2007 to 2019.
Initially, he was paid $45,000 per episode, but his salary increased significantly over the years.
By the final season, he was earning $800,000 per episode.
Helberg and his co-star Kunal Nayyar renegotiated their salaries several times, ensuring they received substantial raises as the show’s popularity grew.
This led to significant increases in their earnings.
Helberg has also made money through various endorsement deals and investments.
For example, he bought Charlie Sheen’s Mediterranean mansion for $3 million in 2019.
He has invested in several properties, including a home in Los Angeles and a horse property in Carpinteria, California. He has also listed and sold properties, generating additional income.
Additionally, Helberg has appeared in various films and television shows, including Florence Foster Jenkins and Young Sheldon, which have contributed to his overall net worth.
Career
Helberg has had a successful acting career, primarily known for his role as Howard Wolowitz in the hit CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory from 2007 to 2019.
He started acting in 1999, taking guest roles and small parts, establishing himself as a character performer and sketch comedian.
Helberg had minor roles in films like Van Wilder, Old School, A Cinderella Story and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story in the early 2000s.
From 2006 to 2007, he had a supporting role in the drama series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.
In 2007, Helberg was cast as Howard Wolowitz in The Big Bang Theory, which became his breakout role.
His salary increased from $45,000 per episode to $800,000 by the final seasons.
He appeared in films like Florence Foster Jenkins, for which he received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor and Annette.
Helberg has also done voice work for shows like American Dad! and Young Sheldon.
In 2018, he was ranked third on Forbes’ list of the highest-paid TV actors, earning $23 million that year.
Awards and accolades
Helberg has received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career.
He won the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as Howard Wolowitz in The Big Bang Theory.
Additionally, Helberg was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture for his role in Florence Foster Jenkins.
He has also been nominated for several Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for his work on The Big Bang Theory.
Helberg was ranked third on Forbes’ list of the highest-paid TV actors in 2018, earning $23.5 million that year.
Real estate
Helberg has owned several luxurious properties in Los Angeles and its surrounding areas.
In 2019, he purchased a Spanish Colonial estate in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles for $6.87 million.
The property, previously owned by actor Vince Vaughn, features a main residence and a guesthouse, totaling six bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms.
In January 2023, Helberg listed this property for sale at $9 million.
In 2022, he acquired a Frederick Roehrig-designed English Tudor revival estate in Pasadena, Los Angeles County, for $12.5 million.
The property, built in 1906, includes a 23-room main house with six bedrooms and bathrooms, a pool house and a garage building with four car stalls.
This estate is a testament to Helberg’s success as an actor, particularly from his role in the hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory, where he was reportedly earning $1.4 million per episode by the time the show ended in 2019.
In addition to his Los Angeles properties, he also maintains a ranch-style estate in Carpinteria, California, just south of Santa Barbara.
This property is part of his extensive real estate portfolio, which reflects his financial success and ability to invest in high-end properties.
Personal life
Helberg is married to Jocelyn Towne, an American actress and filmmaker. The couple met in 2002 and started dating.
They got engaged in 2006 and tied the knot on July 7, 2007, in a private ceremony in Los Angeles.
The couple has two children together: Adeline Helberg, born on March 15, 2009, and Wilder Towne Helberg, born on April 23, 2012.
The family is known to keep their personal life private, but they have occasionally shared glimpses of their life on social media and in interviews.
Towne has also worked in the entertainment industry, appearing in films and television shows such as The Good Wife and Bones.
She has also directed and produced several projects, including the 2013 film Let’s Be Cops, which starred Jake Johnson and Damon Wayans Jr..
Helberg and Towne are known for their strong and supportive relationship, often speaking publicly about the importance of family and their love for each other.
They have been together for over 15 years and continue to be a loving and devoted couple.
