Aaron Paul is an American actor, producer, and director, with an estimated net worth of $25 million. He is best known for his award-winning role as Jesse Pinkman on AMC’s Breaking Bad, a role he played for all five seasons from 2008 to 2013. Paul’s career spans various projects, including notable appearances in Big Love, BoJack Horseman, Westworld, and The Path, along with films like El Camino and Need for Speed.
Earnings from Breaking Bad
During the final two seasons of Breaking Bad, Aaron Paul earned $200,000 per episode. With 13 episodes in season five and 16 in the final season, his salary from these two seasons alone totaled $5.8 million.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born on August 27, 1979, in Emmett, Idaho, Aaron Paul grew up in a Baptist family as the youngest of four children. He graduated from Centennial High School in Boise, Idaho, in 1997 and moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting with just $6,000 in savings. Aaron initially worked as a movie theater usher at Universal Studios and appeared as a contestant on The Price Is Right in 2000.
Aaron’s career began with appearances in music videos for Korn and Everlast and TV commercials for major brands like Juicy Fruit and Corn Pops. He also appeared in several films such as Whatever It Takes (2000), K-PAX (2001), Bad Girls from Valley High (2005), and Mission: Impossible III (2006). His TV credits include guest roles on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, ER, Veronica Mars, and Bones.
Breakthrough Role in Breaking Bad
Aaron Paul’s big break came with his role as Scott Quittman on HBO’s Big Love. However, it was his portrayal of Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad that catapulted him to stardom. His performance earned him multiple Primetime Emmy nominations, and he won three times for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2010, 2012, 2014). He also received other awards, including the Critics’ Choice Television Award and the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor.
After Breaking Bad, Aaron Paul continued to build his career with a diverse range of roles. He starred in the film Smashed (2012), a selection for the Sundance Film Festival. He appeared in the Hulu series The Path (2016) and joined the cast of Westworld in 2020. Aaron voiced characters in BoJack Horseman (2014-2020) and Tron: Uprising (2012-2013). He also featured in the 2022 film Dual and appeared in the 2023 season of Black Mirror and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Personal Life
Aaron Paul married Lauren Parsekian in 2013 after meeting her at Coachella. They became engaged in Paris in 2012, and they have two children: a daughter, Story Annabelle, born in 2018, and a son, Ryden Caspian, born in 2022. Lauren runs the non-profit organization Kind Campaign, which promotes anti-bullying, and Aaron helped raise $1.8 million for it in 2013.
In 2019, Aaron and Bryan Cranston launched their own mezcal brand, Dos Hombres. Aaron also has a special connection to Idaho, where October 1st was declared “Aaron Paul Sturtevant Day” by the state’s governor. In November 2022, Aaron legally dropped “Sturtevant” from his name.
Real Estate Ventures
Aaron has invested in several properties over the years. In 2012, he bought a home above the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles for $1.4 million, later selling it in 2020 for $2.2 million. In 2019, he purchased a $6.95 million home from actor Jim Parsons. Additionally, Aaron owns a property in Boise, Idaho, with a built-in hot spring, which he listed for sale in 2022 for $1.35 million.
