Ben McKenzie has earned a considerable net worth for his roles on popular TV shows. He broke out with his role in the hit teen drama series The O.C. McKenzie later made a splash as Commissioner Jim Gordon on the DC show Gotham. However, in 2022, he made headlines for branching out into a new space: economics.
McKenzie took on the celebrity cryptocurrency debate from the opposing angle. Given his status as a wealthy actor, he understands why not everyone would take him seriously. His intentions are to protect the layman, as the former teen heartthrob has done well for himself, monetarily speaking.
Ben McKenzie’s net worth
McKenzie broke out in the early ’00s. The actor (who uses his middle name as his stage name — his real last name is Schenkkan) grew up in Texas. He graduated from the University of Virginia after majoring in foreign affairs and economics. Yet he pursued a career on stage.
According to estimates from Celebrity Net Worth, Ben McKenzie is worth about $13 million. He earned between $15,000 and $25,000 per episode for The O.C., in which he appeared in 92 episodes. Ben McKenzie married his wife, his Gotham co-star Morena Baccarin (net worth: $8 million), in 2017. In addition to acting, the star directed and wrote episodes of the crime drama.
McKenzie became famous for ‘The O.C.’
McKenzie’s starring role on Gotham wasn’t his first prominent TV gig. He portrayed Ryan Atwood, the boy from the wrong side of the tracks who moves to a wealthy Southern California suburb, in The O.C. McKenzie also appeared on five seasons of the critically acclaimed crime drama Southland between 2009 and 2013.
While much of his prominent work is on the small-screen, McKenzie’s ventured into theatrical releases, too. His first movie, 2005’s Junebug, earned Amy Adams her first Oscar nomination. However, his roles have been sporadic. In 2022, he appeared in his first film in a few years: the Amazon romantic-comedy I Want Your Back.
Ben McKenzie addresses the cryptocurrency trend
Following waves of celebrities like 50 Cent jumping on the bitcoin trend, McKenzie came on strong in opposition of NFTs and other forms of cryptocurrency. “Because you’re dealing in a…largely unregulated market, there’s vast potential for manipulation,” he told CNN. Due to his econ education and position as a public figure, McKenzie makes an excellent spokesperson for those critical of crypto — specifically, how it could hurt those without the resources to bounce back.
“All I really care about is that people who can’t afford to lose the money don’t lose it,” he told the Cut in a March 2022 profile. “I feel like a dork Liam Neeson in Taken; I have a particular skill set, and I’m using that particular skill set,” McKenzie adds of what led to him speaking out. “I’m an econ dork, and I have a megaphone.”
Not only is the actor speaking to journalists about the dangers of crypto: He’s writing a book on the subject. As for his other career? “I’ve been sitting around for two years,” he says of how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic stalled the entertainment industry. While Ben McKenzie has enjoyed focusing on his kids with Baccarin during this time, he’s looking forward to taking on a new “adventure” as an author and crypto critic.
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