Mayim Bialik, an American actress and neuroscientist, has an estimated net worth of $20 million. She first gained recognition for portraying a young Bette Midler in the 1989 film “Beaches.” Bialik is best known for her roles as Blossom Russo on NBC’s “Blossom” and Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler on CBS’s “The Big Bang Theory,” a role that earned her four Primetime Emmy nominations. Besides acting, Bialik earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience in 2007 and worked as a research professor before returning to acting. She also periodically hosted “Jeopardy!” alongside Ken Jennings after the death of Alex Trebek, earning a salary of $1 million per season for her hosting duties.
Big Bang Salary
For most of the middle seasons of “The Big Bang Theory,” Mayim earned $200,000 per episode, which equates to roughly $4.5 million per season. In March 2017, the show’s five core stars agreed to take a $100,000 pay cut so that Mayim and co-star Melissa Rauch could receive a pay raise for the final two seasons. Consequently, Mayim and Melissa began earning $450,000 per episode, translating to approximately $10 million for each of the final two seasons.
How Did Mayim Bialik’s Early Life Shape Her Career?
Mayim Chaya Bialik was born on December 12, 1975, in San Diego, California. She is the only child of Barry and Beverly Bialik, who raised her in Reform Judaism. In 2012, Mayim stated that she considers herself an “aspiring Modern Orthodox.” Bialik attended North Hollywood High School and graduated in 1993. After deferring her acceptance to UCLA due to acting commitments, she majored in neuroscience and minored in Hebrew and Jewish studies, earning her B.S. degree in 2000. Although she started studying for her doctorate, she took a break in 2005 to focus on acting and later completed her Ph.D. in neuroscience from UCLA in 2007.
What are the Highlights of Mayim Bialik’s Acting Career?
Mayim Bialik landed her first acting role in the 1988 horror film “Pumpkinhead” and also appeared in “Beaches” that same year. Between 1988 and 1990, she guest-starred on several popular television shows, including “The Facts of Life,” “Webster,” “Empty Nest,” “MacGyver,” “Doogie Howser, M.D.,” and “Murphy Brown.” In 1990, Bialik was cast as Blossom Russo in the NBC sitcom “Blossom,” which ran until 1995. During her time on “Blossom,” she appeared in Woody Allen’s TV movie “Don’t Drink the Water” and guest-starred on “The John Larroquette Show” and “The Hidden Room.”
After “Blossom” ended, Bialik lent her voice to numerous animated projects, such as “Hey Arnold!,” “The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest,” “Extreme Ghostbusters,” and “Kim Possible.” In 2005, she appeared in a three-episode arc on “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and guest-starred on shows like “Fat Actress,” “Bones,” and “The Secret Life of the American Teenager.” In 2010, Bialik landed the role of neurobiologist Amy Farrah Fowler on “The Big Bang Theory,” starting as a guest star and becoming a series regular by season four. The show ran until 2019, with Bialik appearing in 203 episodes.
In addition to her television work, Bialik appeared in the films “Kalamazoo?” (2006) and “The Chicago 8” (2011). In 2019, she formed a production company, Sad Clown Productions, and began starring in and executive producing the Fox sitcom “Call Me Kat.” Her directorial debut, “As Sick As They Made Us,” was released in 2022, featuring Dustin Hoffman, Candice Bergen, and Simon Helberg.
What is Mayim Bialik’s Writing Career Like?
Mayim Bialik is also an accomplished author. In 2012, she published her first book, “Beyond the Sling: A Real-Life Guide to Raising Confident, Loving Children the Attachment Parenting Way.” She collaborated with pediatrician Jay Gordon for her second book, “Mayim’s Vegan Table: More Than 100 Great-Tasting and Healthy Recipes from My Family to Yours,” released in 2014. Bialik’s third and fourth books, “Girling Up: How to be Strong, Smart and Spectacular” (2017) and “Boying Up: How to be Brave, Bold and Brilliant” (2018), both became bestsellers, with “Girling Up” reaching #1 on the “New York Times” Best Seller List. In 2021, she released “Flash Facts,” further expanding her repertoire as a writer.
What is Mayim Bialik’s Personal Life Like?
Mayim Bialik met Michael Stone in a chemistry class at UCLA, and they married on August 31, 2003, after Stone converted to Judaism. The couple has two sons, Miles (born October 10, 2005) and Frederick (born August 15, 2008). Bialik and Stone divorced in May 2013. Bialik is a vocal proponent of attachment parenting and has been a celebrity spokesperson for the Holistic Moms Network since 2009.
She is a Zionist, feminist, and vegan, and co-founded the Shamayim V’Aretz Institute, a Jewish nonprofit dedicated to veganism and animal advocacy. Bialik co-owned the Los Angeles vegan restaurant Bodhi Bowl with her longtime friend Ali Cruddas until it closed in 2020 due to the pandemic. In 2015, she founded the website Grok Nation, a platform for discussing contemporary issues.
What Awards and Honors Has Mayim Bialik Received?
In 1988, Bialik won a Young Artist Award for Best Young Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Fantasy for her role in “Beaches.” She received further nominations for her guest-starring role on “Empty Nest” in 1990 and for her performance on “Blossom” in 1992 and 1993. For her work on “The Big Bang Theory,” Bialik earned Online Film Critics Society awards in 2012 and 2013, Critics’ Choice Television Awards in 2016 and 2018, and a Critics Choice Award from the Broadcast Film Critics Association in 2018. In 2019, she received the Keter Shem Tov Award at the Jew in the City 6th Annual All-Star Awards. Boston University awarded Bialik an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in 2014.
What Real Estate Does Mayim Bialik Own?
In 2004, Mayim Bialik purchased a home in Studio City, California, for $529,000. Today, this home is likely worth around $2 million, reflecting the appreciation of property values in the area.
Conclusion
Mayim Bialik’s diverse career spans acting, writing, and academia. With a net worth of $20 million, she has successfully balanced her passions and talents across multiple fields. Her roles in iconic television shows, contributions to literature, and commitment to scientific inquiry make her a remarkable figure in contemporary entertainment and intellectual circles.