Learn how Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul made their combined net worth of $60 million through acting, investments, and their own liquor brand Dos Hombres Mezcal.
Updated Feb 27, 2023
Many companies on MoneyMade advertise with us. Opinions are our own, but compensation and in-depth research determine where and how companies may appear.
Startups
Real Estate
Wine
Bryan Lee Cranston and Aaron Paul made a name for themselves in Hollywood as actors in the iconic television series Breaking Bad. Bryan Cranston is best known for his role as high school chemistry teacher-turned-drug lord Walter White in the hit series, while Aaron Paul is gained recognition for his critically-acclaimed role as Jesse Pinkman.
Both actors are incredibly successful and have earned a considerable amount of money over the years and have a combined net worth of $60 million.
In this article, we’ll explore the lives of both stars, how much they made from Breaking Bad, how they invest their money.
Net worth | $40 million |
Born | Mar 7, 1956 |
Nationality | American born in Canoga Park, California |
Became a millionaire at | 52 |
Occupations | Actor, television director, television producer, screenwriter, film producer, film director, voice actor, writer |
Sources of wealth | ‘Breaking Bad’ TV series, Dos Hombres Mezcal |
Asset classes | Startups, real estate |
Bryan Cranston's big break came in the late 80s when he got a brief starring role on a television program called Raising Miranda. After that, he kept appearing in all sorts of TV shows and movies, such as a recurring role as the dentist on the hit sitcom Seinfeld. But it was Bryan Cranston’s role as the lovable family patriarch Hal on the Fox sitcom Malcolm in the Middle that really launched his acting career.
In 2008, he assumed the iconic role of Walter White on Breaking Bad, which made him his fortune. Bryan Cranston’s salary per episode was $225,000 and it even earned him the Primetime Emmy award for outstanding lead actor three times.
Alongside Aaron Paul portraying Jesse Pinkman, the show was a hit and made Bryan a multi-millionaire. Cranston has since gone on to win countless awards, including a Golden Globe, a Satellite Award, and a Critics Choice Television Award. The widely-decorated American actor has an estimated net worth of $40 million.
Net worth | $20 million |
Born | Aug 27, 1979 |
Nationality | American born in Emmett, Idaho |
Became a millionaire at | 29 |
Occupations | Actor, voice actor |
Sources of wealth | ‘Breaking Bad’ TV series, Dos Hombres Mezcal |
Asset classes | Startups, real estate, wine |
Aaron Paul Sturtevant began his acting career with the runner-up title at the 1996 International Modeling and Talent Association competition in Los Angeles. From there, the American actor appeared in music videos, television commercials, and films like Whatever It Takes (2000), K-PAX (2001), National Lampoon's Van Wilder (2002), Mission Impossible III (2006) and The Last House on the Left (2009).
It was his supporting role on Breaking Bad opposite Bryan Cranston’s Walter White that really made Aaron Paul a household name. Paul appeared in all five seasons of Breaking Bad, which aired from January 2008 to September 2013. His performance earned him numerous accolades, including the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series a total of three times in 2010, 2012, and 2014.
Aaron Paul won an Emmy for best supporting actor for his role in ‘Breaking Bad.’
Source: Getty Images
Since Breaking Bad, Paul has continued to act in multiple projects, including recurring roles on The Path, Truth Be Told, and Westworld, voice acting gigs for several shows, and a job narrating a 2015 Mazda commercial. He even reprised his role as Jesse Pinkman in the Netflix film El Camino and in the spinoff series Better Call Saul.
These roles have earned him millions of dollars and made him one of the most sought-after celebrities in Hollywood.
If you’re a fan of Breaking Bad, then you’re familiar with the awesome great chemistry they displayed on the show—that relationship continued off-screen in their real-life friendship.
Together, the duo founded the liquor company Dos Hembros Mezcal which makes up most of their portfolio, with the rest mostly invested in real estate.
Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul are both savvy investors when it comes to real estate.
In 2007, Cranston purchased a beachfront home in Ventura County for $2.5 million and spent an extra 30% on eco-friendly enhancements. He put the property up for sale in February 2021 for $4.995 million and quickly sold it for $455,000 above asking price, fetching $5.45 millon total—proving his investment a smart one.
Bryan Cranston sold his eco-friendly home for $5.45 million.
Source: people.com
Meanwhile, Paul chose to invest in an already established property in 2012, spending $1.4 million on a home above the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles. Apparently, he liked the location so much that he decided to buy the house of his pal Jim Parsons for a grandiose $6.95 million. Paul later sold his Sunset Strip home for $2.2 million in 2019.
Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul’s successful careers in the entertainment industry made them a lot of money. But after seeing George Clooney's tequila brand Casamigos do so well, the two decided to invest their own funds in their own mezcal brand called Dos Hombres—a subtle homage to the name of the chicken restaurant in Breaking Bad.
Launched in 2019, the two invested their own money to launch the brand and it was quickly crowned one of the top mezcals on the market. To spread the word about their new brand, they toured the country to spread awareness and excitement. They've even surprised shoppers at Costco by handing out samples of their product.
Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul promoting Dos Hombres Mezcal.
Source: Getty Images
Additionally, the two have taken meetings with major distributors and hotel chains to expand their reach. And it's a good thing they did because Constellation Brands Inc. saw the potential and bought a minority stake in the brand through their venture capital arm.
The U.S. mezcal market had grown 14% in 2020, but Cranston and Paul have yet to take a pay check. With the success of their brand and the potential of becoming the world’s top-selling mezcal, they remain hopeful. Just look at Casamigos and Aviation Gin—Diageo purchased both for a combined $1.6 billion.