As of 2026, Matt Groening net worth is estimated at around $600 million, reflecting decades of success as the creator of some of television’s most profitable animated franchises. Best known for The Simpsons, the longest running primetime scripted series in U.S. history, Groening built a media empire that also includes Futurama, Disenchantment, and the cult comic strip Life in Hell.
But how did he turn simple cartoon sketches into a global brand worth hundreds of millions? From syndication deals and streaming revivals to merchandise and licensing revenue, this breakdown explains exactly where his wealth comes from and how he became one of animation’s richest creators.
Matt Groening : Complete Profile Summary (2026)
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Matthew Abraham Groening |
| Date of Birth | February 15, 1954 |
| Age (2026) | 72 Years Old |
| Birthplace | Portland, Oregon, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Norwegian, Canadian, Swiss-German |
| Religion | Not Publicly Disclosed |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |
| Education | Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington (1972–1977) |
| Field of Study | Philosophy |
| Profession | Cartoonist, Animator, Writer, Producer, Voice Actor |
| Known For | The Simpsons, Futurama, Disenchantment, Life in Hell |
| Net Worth (2026) | $600 Million (USD) |
| Primary Income Source | The Simpsons Royalties & Syndication |
| Other Income Sources | Futurama, Disenchantment, Merchandise Licensing, Real Estate, Bongo Comics |
| First Marriage | Deborah Caplan (1986–1999) |
| Second Marriage | Agustina Picasso (2011–Present) |
| Children | 11 (Homer, Abe + 9 others including two sets of twins) |
| Father | Homer Philip Groening |
| Mother | Margaret Ruth Groening |
| Siblings | 4 (Middle child of five) |
| Career Start | 1977 (Life in Hell Comic Strip) |
| The Simpsons Premiere | December 17, 1989 (Fox) |
| The Simpsons Total Episodes | 800+ (as of 2026) |
| The Simpsons Current Season | Season 37 (2025–2026) |
| The Simpsons Renewed Until | Season 40 (2028–2029) |
| The Simpsons Movie (2007) | $536 Million Worldwide Box Office |
| The Simpsons Movie 2 | Scheduled September 3, 2027 |
| Futurama | Created 1999 Season 13 Expected 2025–2026 (Hulu) |
| Disenchantment | Netflix 2018–2023 (5 Seasons) |
| Bongo Comics | Co-Founded 1993 (Closed After 2 Decades) |
| Zongo Comics | Launched 1995 |
| Emmy Awards Won | 27 Primetime Emmy Awards (The Simpsons) |
| Peabody Award | Yes First Animated Series Ever |
| Time Magazine Ranking | Greatest TV Series of the 20th Century |
| Guinness World Record | Longest-Running American Animated Series + Longest-Running American Sitcom |
| Santa Monica Home | Purchased 2011 for $11.65 Million |
| Adjacent Property | Purchased May 2019 for $11.9 Million |
| Malibu Beach House | Purchased 2000 for $8.5 Million |
| Total Real Estate Value | Estimated $35–40 Million+ (Current Market) |
| Merchandise Revenue | $750 Million/Year (Global as of 2009 data) |
| Licensed Companies | 500+ Worldwide (as of 2003) |
| Social Media | Largely Private / Minimal Online Presence |
| Residence | Los Angeles, California, USA |
Who Is Matt Groening? A Quick Background
Matt Groening is an American cartoonist, animator, writer, and television producer best known for creating some of the most successful animated series in history. Born on February 15, 1954, in Portland, Oregon, he rose from an underground comic artist to one of the most influential figures in modern entertainment.
He is the creator of The Simpsons, the longest running primetime scripted TV series in U.S. history. He also co-created Futurama and developed Disenchantment, expanding his legacy in adult animation.
Groening first gained attention with his comic strip Life in Hell, which led to his breakthrough in television.
As of 2026, he is widely regarded as a pioneer of satirical animation and one of the wealthiest cartoon creators in the world.
Life in Hell: Where It All Started
Before television fame and billion dollar franchises, Matt Groening’s journey began with a simple, self published comic called Life in Hell. Launched in 1977 after he moved to Los Angeles, the strip was a raw, darkly humorous take on anxiety, relationships, dead-end jobs, and everyday struggles.
Featuring anthropomorphic rabbit characters like Binky and Sheba, the comic quickly gained underground popularity. Its honest, sarcastic tone resonated with young adults navigating city life. By the early 1980s, Life in Hell was syndicated in hundreds of newspapers nationwide.
The strip’s growing success caught the attention of television producer James L. Brooks in 1985 a moment that would eventually lead to the creation of The Simpsons and permanently change animation history.
The Day The Simpsons Were Born In a Lobby
In 1987, James L. Brooks, the producer behind Taxi, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and Terms of Endearment was developing animated shorts for The Tracey Ullman Show. He invited Groening to pitch an adaptation of Life in Hell.
There was just one catch. Moving the strip to television meant surrendering his publication rights. Groening wasn’t willing to do that.
So, sitting in the lobby of Brooks’ office waiting for his pitch meeting, Groening sketched out an entirely new family on the spot. He named them after his own relatives Homer, Marge, Lisa, and Maggie and replaced his own name with “Bart,” an anagram of “brat.”
The Simpsons debuted as short segments on The Tracey Ullman Show in 1987. On December 17, 1989, the standalone series premiered on Fox with “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire.”
Nobody expected it to last. More than three decades later, it’s still going and it just received a renewal through its 40th season.
Matt Groening Net Worth in 2026: The $600 Million Breakdown
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Matt Groening’s net worth stands at $600 million as of 2025–2026. This figure is consistently reported across major financial and entertainment sources. It reflects decades of royalties, syndication deals, streaming agreements, and smart real estate investments.
Here is where that money actually comes from.
1. The Simpsons: The Golden Goose
The Simpsons is the backbone of Groening’s wealth and arguably the most profitable animated series in television history.
As creator and executive producer, Groening earns royalties on every episode, every broadcast, every stream, and every syndication deal. The show has aired on Fox for 37 seasons and is now also available on Disney+ and Hulu, creating multiple simultaneous income streams.
In April 2025, Fox announced a major renewal: The Simpsons is picked up through Season 40, covering the 2028–2029 broadcast season. Each renewed season includes 15 Fox episodes plus two exclusive Disney+ episodes. That is guaranteed income for Groening well into the end of the decade.
As of early 2026, the show has aired over 800 episodes. The 800th episode broadcast on December 7, 2025, with Groening’s 72nd birthday on February 15, 2026 coinciding with the season’s final Fox broadcast episode milestone. Television has never seen anything quite like it.
The Simpsons holds the Guinness World Record as the longest running American animated series, the longest running American sitcom, and the longest running scripted primetime television show in the United States all simultaneously.
2. The Simpsons Movie and the Upcoming Sequel
In July 2007, The Simpsons Movie earned $536 million worldwide against a production budget of roughly $75 million. Groening served as both writer and producer.
The sequel has been in development for years. In September 2025, it was officially confirmed: The Simpsons Movie 2 is scheduled for a theatrical release on September 3, 2027 exactly 20 years after the original. Groening is returning to oversee the project. A sequel to a $536 million film carries significant financial weight before a single frame is screened.
3. Syndication and Streaming Royalties
This is where serious passive income lives.
Every time a Simpsons episode airs on any network, in any country, Groening receives a portion of that licensing revenue. The show is syndicated globally across dozens of markets. Add Disney+ streaming on top, and you have income that continues flowing whether Groening is at his desk or at his Malibu beach house.
4. Merchandise and Licensing
The Simpsons is one of the most licensed entertainment properties in the world. As of 2009, consumers globally were spending an estimated $750 million annually on Simpsons merchandise, a figure that has grown alongside e-commerce and streaming era fandom.
From apparel to video games, theme park attractions at Universal Studios, and brand collaborations, the licensing machine never stops. Groening collects royalties on all of it as the show’s original creator.
Around 2003, 500 companies worldwide held active licenses to use Simpsons characters in advertising. At that point, it was already less of a TV show and more of a global brand.
5. Futurama
Groening created Futurama in 1999. The show is a sci-fi comedy set in the year 3000, and it has had one of the most unusual journeys in television history. It was cancelled, brought back on Comedy Central, cancelled again, and then revived on Hulu where it ran all the way through Season 12. Season 13 is expected to arrive in 2025–2026.
Futurama never reached the scale of The Simpsons. But it built something The Simpsons never needed to fight for a fiercely loyal global fanbase that has kept the show alive through every cancellation. Streaming numbers remain strong, and its syndication value continues to grow.
6. Disenchantment
Disenchantment first appeared on Netflix in 2018 as a medieval fantasy comedy show. The show continued until its fifth season when Netflix canceled it in 2023. The show increased Groening’s income through its Netflix licensing agreement while also adding to his collection of original intellectual property.
7. Bongo Comics
In 1993, Groening established Bongo Comics, which published comic books that adapted The Simpsons and Futurama series for more than 20 years. He also launched Zongo Comics in 1995 for more mature readers. The businesses he started during the early development of his franchise expanded his brand while producing additional revenue streams for him.
Matt Groening’s Real Estate Portfolio
A man with $600 million doesn’t keep it all in a checking account. Groening has made significant real estate investments in some of California’s most valuable markets.
His major properties include a historic Santa Monica estate he purchased in 2011 for $11.65 million, originally built in 1910. In May 2019, he added the neighboring property for $11.9 million, creating a compound spanning more than an acre in one of L.A. County’s most sought after areas.
He also owns a Malibu beachfront home acquired in 2000 for $8.5 million. Given Malibu’s property value trajectory over the past 25 years, that investment has appreciated substantially. Combined, his California real estate holdings represent a major asset base entirely separate from his entertainment income.
How Does He Compare to Other Wealthy Creators?
Trey Parker and Matt Stone, creators of South Park, each hold estimated fortunes in the range of $200–600 million depending on the source. Jerry Seinfeld, frequently cited as one of the richest comedians alive, sits at approximately $900 million, largely driven by Seinfeld syndication.
What separates Groening’s situation is that his primary income source is still actively producing. Most creators at this wealth level built their fortune from a show that ended. The Simpsons is still airing, still signing streaming deals, still generating merchandise revenue, and still heading toward a theatrical sequel. The asset isn’t frozen, it keeps growing.
Matt Groening’s Personal Life
Groening married Deborah Caplan in 1986. They divorced in 1999 and have two sons together: Homer and Abe.
He later began a relationship with Agustina Picasso, an Argentinian artist, and the two married in 2011. Together they have had eight children, including two sets of twins. With Picasso’s daughter from a previous relationship, the household includes 11 children total.
How a man simultaneously runs multiple active television franchises while fathering 11 children is a question that deserves its own documentary.
Awards and Cultural Legacy
The Simpsons has won 27 Primetime Emmy Awards. It was the first animated series to receive a Peabody Award. Time magazine named it the greatest television series of the 20th century.
More significantly, it rewrote the rules of what television was allowed to be. Before The Simpsons, primetime animation was considered too risky for major networks. After its success, the door opened for Family Guy, South Park, Bob’s Burgers, Archer, Rick and Morty, and the entire genre of adult animation as we know it. Groening didn’t just make a show he created a category.
The show also has a well documented history of appearing to predict real world events from technology to politics. When asked about this at the Annecy Animation Festival in 2025, Groening reportedly joked that “all the conspiracy theories are true.” The audience laughed. Some people were probably not entirely sure he was joking.
What Is Matt Groening Working on in 2026?
At 72, Groening is not slowing down.
The Simpsons Season 37 premiered on Fox on September 28, 2025 and wrapped its broadcast run in early 2026. Disney+ exclusive episodes are set to continue releasing through July 2026. Groening serves as a consulting producer this season.
Season 40 renewal is locked in. Fox’s April 2025 deal guarantees The Simpsons continues through the 2028–2029 season with Groening’s involvement baked in.
The Simpsons Movie 2 is currently in production at 20th Century Studios, targeting a September 3, 2027 theatrical release. The original film earned $536 million globally, so expectations are not exactly modest.
Futurama Season 13 is expected on Hulu in the 2025–2026 window, keeping that franchise alive and generating additional income.
The Early Struggle That Makes This Story Worth Telling
It would be easy to read “$600 million” and assume the outcome was always obvious. It wasn’t.
Groening arrived in Los Angeles in his early twenties with no money, no industry connections, and no safety net. He worked odd jobs just to keep the lights on. At the same time, he was putting out a comic strip that barely paid anything. Then the biggest opportunity of his career walked through the door and he almost gave away the one thing he had spent years building. He changed his mind in the time it takes to find a seat in a waiting room.
That instinct to protect creative ownership is as important as any talent he possesses. Groening understood that the work belonged to him, and every significant financial decision in his career reflected that understanding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Matt Groening’s net worth in 2026?
Matt Groening’s net worth is estimated at $600 million as of 2025–2026, according to Celebrity Net Worth and multiple corroborating sources. His wealth comes from The Simpsons royalties, global syndication, Disney+ and Hulu streaming deals, merchandise licensing, real estate, and additional projects including Futurama and the upcoming Simpsons Movie 2.
How does Matt Groening make money today?
He earns ongoing royalties as the creator and executive producer of The Simpsons, which continues airing on Fox and streaming on Disney+. He also receives income from global syndication, merchandise licensing across hundreds of partners, real estate holdings, and his involvement in The Simpsons Movie 2 scheduled for September 2027.
Is Matt Groening still working on The Simpsons in 2026?
Yes. The Simpsons Season 37 aired from September 2025 through early 2026, with Disney+ exclusive episodes releasing through July 2026. The show is renewed through Season 40, covering the 2028–2029 television season.
When is The Simpsons Movie 2 coming out?
The Simpsons Movie 2 is scheduled for a theatrical release on September 3, 2027, twenty years after the original 2007 film which earned $536 million worldwide.
How old is Matt Groening in 2026?
Matt Groening turned 72 years old on 2026.
Conclusion
Matt Groening’s $600 million net worth is not just a number, it’s the measurable result of a man who spent his twenties working terrible jobs, protecting his creative work at every turn, and refusing to give up on a family of yellow cartoon characters he invented in a Hollywood lobby.
The Simpsons has aired for nearly four decades, crossed 800 episodes, spawned a global merchandise empire, and still isn’t finished. A sequel is in production. A 40th season is guaranteed. Groening at 72 has more active projects than most people manage at 35.
If you are looking for a real argument to take your creative work seriously this is it.
