David Duchovny Net Worth, Career, Awards and Honors, Assets
David Duchovny is an accomplished American actor, musician, writer, and director with a net worth of $80 million. He is widely recognized for his award-winning performances as Fox Mulder in “The X-Files” and Hank Moody in “Californication.” While his television roles brought him fame, Duchovny has also featured in over 30 films, including notable titles such as “Kalifornia” (1993), “Evolution” (2001), and “Zoolander” (2001). Beyond acting, he is a talented author and musician.
Early Life
David William Duchovny was born on August 7, 1960, in New York City. His mother, Margaret, was a teacher and school administrator, while his father, Amram, was a writer and publicist who passed away in 2003. David’s heritage includes Scottish roots from his mother and Jewish ancestry from his father.
He has two siblings: Daniel and Laurie, with Daniel having directed an episode of “Californication” and guest-starred in “The X-Files.”Duchovny attended Grace Church School and The Collegiate School For Boys before enrolling at Princeton University, where he graduated summa cum laude with a degree in English literature in 1982. During this time, he earned recognition from the Academy of American Poets for his poetry. He later pursued a Master of Arts in English Literature at Yale University but left the Ph.D. program to focus on acting.
Early Acting Career
While studying for his Ph.D., Duchovny took acting classes in New York during the summer of 1987. His first acting job was a commercial for Löwenbräu beer, followed by a role in “Working Girl” (1988). He gained attention for portraying transgender DEA agent Denise Bryson in three episodes of “Twin Peaks” (1990-1991) and hosted Showtime’s “Red Shoe Diaries” from 1992 to 1996.
The X-Files
In 1993, Duchovny landed the iconic role of Special Agent Fox Mulder on “The X-Files.” The series ran until 2002 and returned for seasons 10 and 11 in 2016 and 2018, respectively. The show’s success also led to two feature films: “The X-Files: Fight the Future” (1998) and “The X-Files: I Want to Believe” (2008). After season seven, Duchovny reduced his involvement, appearing in only 12 episodes during seasons eight and nine. In 2004, he was ranked #7 on TV Guide’s list of the “50 Greatest Sci-Fi Legends.”
X-Files Salary
During the first three seasons of “The X-Files,” Duchovny earned $150,000 per episode, totaling approximately $3.6 million per year. By the fourth season, his salary increased to $240,000 per episode, equating to about $5.76 million per season. In 1999, he sued 20th Century Fox over profit-sharing issues related to the show, ultimately settling for a one-time payment of $20 million.
Californication
David Duchovny returned to television in 2007 as novelist Hank Moody on Showtime’s “Californication,” which ran for seven seasons until 2014. He served as an executive producer on the show and earned approximately $225,000 per episode, totaling around $2.7 million per season.
Other Work
While starring on “The X-Files,” Duchovny appeared in several films including “Playing God” (1997) and “Return to Me” (2000). He also hosted “Saturday Night Live” twice, in 1995 and 1998. In 2005, he wrote and directed the film “House of D.”
Music Career
David Duchovny began playing guitar in 2011 and released his debut album, “Hell or Highwater,” in 2015, followed by “Every Third Thought” in 2018. He wrote all songs on both albums and toured across the U.S. and Europe. Proceeds from “Every Third Thought” were partially donated to the D’Addario Foundation to support music education.
Writing Career
David Duchovny Published his first book, “Holy Cow: A Modern-Day Dairy Tale,” in 2015, which reached #15 on the New York Times Best Seller List. He followed this success with Bucky Fcking Dent* (2016) and Miss Subways: A Novel (2018). His fourth book, Truly Like Lightning: A Novel, is set to be published in 2021.
Personal Life
David Duchovny married actress Téa Leoni on May 6, 1997; they have two children: daughter Madelaine (born April 1999) and son Kyd (born June 2002). In August 2008, Duchovny sought treatment for sex addiction, leading to a brief separation from Leoni. Although they reconciled briefly, they ultimately divorced in June 2014.
Awards and Honors
David Duchovny has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama for “The X-Files” (1997) and another for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical for “Californication” (2008). He also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2016.
Assets
In 2008, David Duchovny sold his Malibu estate to Mel Gibson for $11.5 million. That same year, he purchased a Manhattan co-op for $6.25 million, which he later listed for $9.25 million in 2013. In addition, he acquired a three-bedroom home at The Ardsley in New York City for $6.25 million that features luxurious amenities including high ceilings and stunning park views. David Duchovny’s multifaceted career showcases not only his talent as an actor but also his skills as a musician and writer, making him a prominent figure in contemporary entertainment.
