Paul Reubens Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What was Paul Reubens’ Net Worth and Salary?

At the time of his passing, Paul Reubens, famously known as “Pee-wee Herman,” had a net worth of $5 million. He died on July 31, 2023, at the age of 70. Reubens gained notoriety for the quirky man-child character Pee-wee Herman, which he first presented in the late 1970s while performing with The Groundlings, an improvisational and sketch comedy group.

In 1981, he adapted the Pee-wee character into a popular stage performance called “The Pee-wee Herman Show,” which eventually became an HBO special. This triumph paved the way for the children’s television program “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” (1986-1990), as well as feature films such as “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” (1985) and “Big Top Pee-wee” (1988). His work in “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” earned him an Emmy Award in 1987.

Aside from Pee-wee, Reubens enjoyed a varied career, featuring in films like “Batman Returns” (1992), “Mystery Men” (1999), and “Blow” (2001), in addition to television series like “30 Rock” and “Black Mirror.” Despite facing some controversies in his personal life, Reubens was cherished for his imaginative spirit and commitment to entertainment.

Early Life

Born Paul Rubenfeld on August 27, 1952, in Peekskill, New York, Paul Reubens grew up in Sarasota, Florida, where his parents, Judy (née Rosen) and Milton Rubenfeld, ran a lamp store. Alongside his younger siblings, Abby and Luke, he was influenced by his father’s past as a car salesman and his service as a pilot in the British Royal Air Force and the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. Milton was also among the founding pilots of the Israeli Air Force. As a child, Reubens frequently attended circus performances by the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, whose winter headquarters were in Sarasota, an experience that inspired his passion for entertainment and shaped his performance style.

He attended Sarasota High School, where he was deeply involved in theater and held the presidency of the National Thespian Society. Reubens participated in a summer program for gifted high school students at Northwestern University. He further pursued education at Boston University and tried out for several acting schools. After facing rejections from institutions like Juilliard and Carnegie-Mellon, he relocated to California for studies at the California Institute of the Arts. While in school, he juggled work in restaurant kitchens and as a Fuller Brush salesman, along with performing at local comedy clubs in the 1970s. He spent six years as a member of The Groundlings, an improvisational comedy ensemble in Los Angeles.

Early Pee-Wee Herman

The creation of the character “Pee-Wee Herman” took place during a 1978 improv session with The Groundlings. The character concept revolves around a man eager to be a comedian but failing miserably at joke-telling, making it clear to everyone he would not succeed. Reubens adopted Pee-wee’s distinctive voice in 1970 while playing an obnoxious character in “Life with Father.” The name “Pee-Wee” originated from the Pee Wee brand harmonica, while “Herman” came from a childhood acquaintance of Reubens.

Television Success

Reubens initially auditioned for the 1980-1981 season of “Saturday Night Live,” but the role went to Gilbert Gottfried, who shared a similar style and was friends with a producer on the show. Hurt by the rejection, Reubens took out a loan and launched his own show in Los…Angeles, inspired by the character Pee-Wee Herman, was developed with the assistance of fellow Groundlings members, including John Paragon, Phil Hartman, and Lynne Marie Stewart. “The Pee-Wee Herman Show” enjoyed a successful five-month run at The Roxy Theatre, where he offered midnight performances for adults and matinee shows for children. In 1981, HBO played a crucial role in bringing his show to a wider audience by featuring “The Pee-Wee Herman Show” in their “On Location” series. As Pee-Wee’s popularity soared, Reubens began to make all public appearances and interviews as Pee-Wee, strategically promoting the character as a real person rather than using his real name. This approach aimed to “get the public to think that that was a real person.” His continued presence on shows like “Late Night with David Letterman” in the mid-1980s and a national tour of “The Pee-Wee Herman Show” contributed significantly to his rising fame and success.

Film Success

Due to the success of “The Pee-Wee Herman Show,” Warner Bros. approached Reubens to develop a full-length film featuring Pee-Wee Herman. The movie, titled “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” (1985), showcases Pee-Wee embarking on a cross-country quest to find his missing bike. After noticing Tim Burton’s talent in “Vincent” (1982) and “Frankenweenie” (1984), Reubens and the film’s producers enlisted him as the director. The film proved to be a tremendous success, earning over $40 million at the domestic box office from a $7 million budget. Although it received a mix of critical reviews, it attained cult film status over time. In 1986, CBS reached out to Reubens to develop a live-action children’s show, where he took on multifaceted roles as actor, producer, and director. “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse,” which aired from 1986 to 1990, boasted a budget of $325,000 per episode and attracted both children and adult audiences alike.

1991 Arrest and Comeback

As many are aware, Paul Reubens faced a significant career hurdle in 1991 when he was arrested in Florida on charges of indecent exposure. This incident tarnished his previously pristine image, leading CBS to remove reruns of Pee-Wee’s Playhouse from its programming.

Gradually, he began to rebuild his career through appearances in films such as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1992), “Matilda” (1996), “Mystery Men” (1999), and “Blow” (2001). He also secured a recurring role on the beloved sitcom “Murphy Brown.”

In 2010, he took the stage on Broadway, reprising his role in “The Pee-Wee Herman Show.”

The following year, he provided the voice for Jokey in the hit family movie “The Smurfs” and contributed to its sequel released in 2013.

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

Personal Life

Alongside his arrest in 1991, Herman faced legal trouble in 1971 when he was arrested for loitering and prowling (the charges were eventually dropped). He was placed on probation for two years in 1983 due to marijuana possession. Additionally, in 2002, he was arrested and charged with possession of obscene materials involving a minor. He asserted his innocence, claiming that the items found in his residence were part of his vintage erotica collection.

Real Estate

In 1985, leveraging the earnings from “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” Paul purchased a 3,000-square-foot home in LA’s Los Feliz neighborhood for $415,000, set on 1.4 acres of land. This dwelling would serve as his primary residence for the next forty years. In May 2024, Paul’s estate placed the home on the market for just under $5 million, ultimately selling in July 2024 for $3.8 million.