Rob Lowe Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Rob Lowe’s Net Worth and Salary?

An American actor in film and television, Rob Lowe boasts a net worth of $100 million. While his acting career is notably successful, a large part of his net worth has also been generated through endorsements and, more significantly, real estate investments. We will explore these contributions to his wealth later in the article, with a prime example being the sale of a Montecito, California home for $45.5 million in October 2020.

Having started his career in the 1970s, Rob Lowe became widely recognized as a member of the “Brat Pack,” a collective of young actors featured in various coming-of-age films during the 1980s. His major breakthrough role emerged in 1983’s “The Outsiders,” where he portrayed Sodapop Curtis. He followed this early success with unforgettable performances in “St. Elmo’s Fire” (1985) and “About Last Night…” (1986).

Transitioning to television in the 1990s, Lowe gained acclaim for his portrayal of Sam Seaborn in the celebrated series “The West Wing” (1999-2003). His sophisticated interpretation of the Deputy Communications Director garnered him a Primetime Emmy nomination alongside two Golden Globe nominations.

After “West Wing,” Lowe further demonstrated his range and skill on television by joining the satirical comedy series “Parks and Recreation” (2010-2015) as Chris Traeger, a character well-loved for his unwavering optimism and the well-known phrase “literally.” Concurrently, he also had a prominent role in the cable drama “Brothers & Sisters” (2007-2010).

Lowe made headlines as the lead in the biographical miniseries “Behind the Candelabra” (2013) and the crime drama “Wild Bill” (2019). He also explored reality television with “The Lowe Files” (2017), a docuseries in which he investigates unsolved mysteries alongside his sons. His guest appearances on shows like “Californication” and “Fargo” have also been noteworthy. In 2023, he and his son, John Owen Lowe, began co-starring in a Netflix series titled “Unstable,” which they also co-created.

In addition to acting, Lowe has written two memoirs, “Stories I Only Tell My Friends” (2011) and “Love Life” (2014), expanding his achievements to that of an author.

Early Life

Robert Hepler Lowe was born on March 17, 1964, in Charlottesville, Virginia. His mother served as a teacher, while his father practiced as a trial lawyer. He has a younger brother, Chad Lowe, who has also made a name for himself as an actor.

Baptized in the Episcopal church, Rob grew up in Dayton, Ohio, attending Oakwood Junior High School. Following his parents’ divorce, he relocated with his mother and brother to the Point Dume area of Malibu, California, and finished his education at Santa Monica High School.

Career

One of Lowe’s initial forays into acting

The 1983 television film “Thursday’s Child” marked the beginning of Lowe’s credits. He received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film for his performance. Nevertheless, it was in 1983 that he truly broke through with his big-screen debut in the coming-of-age drama “The Outsiders,” where he appeared alongside Emilio Estevez and Patrick Swayze, directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Following this, Lowe reunited with Estevez for another youth-focused drama, “St. Elmo’s Fire” (1985), solidifying their place among the prominent actors known as the Brat Pack. Additionally, he starred in “About Last Night…” (1986), featuring fellow Brat Pack member Demi Moore. Rob earned his second Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as the mentally disabled Rory in “Square Dance” (1987).

In August 1987, Lowe made his stage debut in a production of Chekhov’s “The Three Sisters” at The Williamstown Theatre Festival. From 1999 to 2003, and with a brief appearance in 2006, he portrayed Sam Seaborn in the television series “The West Wing,” during which he garnered a Primetime Emmy Award nomination along with two Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actor in a Drama Series. After leaving the series, he starred in and served as the executive producer for the unsuccessful NBC drama “The Lyon’s Den” (2003). He attempted another series in 2004 with “Dr. Vegas,” which also did not succeed. Returning to the stage in 2005, Rob played Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee in a production of the play “A Few Good Men” on London’s West End. His post-“The West Wing” career included flops like “View From the Top” and the television film “Perfect Strangers” (2004), but he found success in TV miniseries, starring in TNT’s “Salem’s Lot” (2004) and Lifetime’s “Beach Girls” (2005).

Making a comeback to regular television roles, Rob was part of the cast of “Parks and Recreation” as the character Chris Traeger from 2010 to 2015. He also worked on “The Grinder” from 2015 to 2016, where he was an executive producer as well. He appeared in the CBS drama “Code Black,” portraying Ethan Willis from 2016 to 2018. Moreover, Lowe has made guest appearances on various shows, including “Californication” (2011-2014), “Franklin & Bash” (2013), “You, Me and the Apocalypse” (2015), and “The Orville” (2017). In 2017, he began filming an A&E reality series with his two sons titled “The Lowe Files,” featuring their road trips investigating urban myths and legends. His filmography also includes titles such as “The Invention of Lying” (2009), “Knife Fight” (2012), “Sex Tape” (2014), “Monster Trucks” (2016), and “Holiday in the Wild” (2019), alongside made-for-television films like “Prosecuting Casey Anthony” (2013), “Killing Kennedy” (2013), “Beautiful & Twisted” (2015), and “The Bad Seed” (2018).

A published author, Lowe released his memoir “Stories I Only Tell My Friends” in May 2011, followed by his second book “Love Life” in 2014.

Endorsements

Rob has served as a spokesperson for numerous brands, featuring prominently in advertisement campaigns for DirecTV, KFC, and Atkins Nutritionals.

Personal Life

In 1983, Lowe experienced his first encounter with Sheryl Berkoff during a blind date, followed by a meeting on the set of the film “Bad Influence.” The couple tied the knot in 1991 and welcomed two sons into their family.

A sex scandal involving Lowe emerged in 1988, centered around a videotape that showed him engaging in sexual acts with a 16-year-old girl in Georgia, where the legal age of consent was 14 at the time. Additionally, a second part of the tape was leaked, depicting Lowe and a friend with a young American model in a Paris hotel room. This recording was sold, marking one of the first instances of a commercially available celebrity sex tape. Ultimately, despite the detrimental impact on his reputation, Lowe’s career saw a resurgence, even allowing him to parody himself during two guest appearances on the comedy show “Saturday Night Live.”

Lowe has a family history of breast cancer, with his mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother all affected by the disease. Tragically, his mother succumbed to cancer in late 2003. Consequently, he has taken on the role of an advocate for breast cancer awareness and was the inaugural male spokesperson for the 2000 Lee National Denim Day fundraiser, aimed at raising funds for breast cancer education and research.

Real Estate

In 2005, Rob and Sheryl successfully sold their Montecito, California, home to education billionaire Peter Sterling for $25 million.

That same year, they acquired a 3.4-acre ocean-view property a short distance from their previous home for an undisclosed price. After four years of construction, they completed a stunning 10,000-square-foot custom residence. In June 2018, they put this impressive home on the market for $47 million, situated among notable neighbors such as Oprah, Ellen DeGeneres, and Jeff Bridges. Here’s a video tour of the incredible property:

Confirmation came on October 1, 2020, that Rob had finally secured a buyer for his home, selling it for $45.5 million. The buyers were Jack McGinley, a private equity mogul, and his wife, Julie. Just two months prior, the McGinleys had acquired a 10-acre estate in Massachusetts for $18.9 million. Years later, Adam Levine and his supermodel wife purchased the Montecito residence for $52 million.

Following the sale at $45.5 million, Rob and Sheryl embarked on a real estate acquisition journey.

On October 30, 2020, they were reported to have spent $3.7 million on a mansion in Beverly Hills, California, which they later listed for sale in July 2024 for $6.6 million.

In November 2020, the couple purchased a Montecito home for $5.2 million, followed by another acquisition in December 2020 for $13 million.