What Is Marc Maron's Net Worth and Salary?
Marc Maron is an American stand-up comedian and actor who has a net worth of $10 million. Marc has earned the bulk of his fortune through stand-up specials, acting roles, and nearly 16 years of podcasting, which has totaled over 1.1 billion downloads and impressions.
Marc Maron is a pioneering figure in modern comedy and podcasting, renowned for his raw honesty, introspective humor, and deep-dive interviews that helped redefine the podcast medium. Maron began his stand-up career in the late 1980s and became a fixture in the alternative comedy scene, appearing frequently on shows like "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and "The Late Show with David Letterman." He also hosted several radio programs on Air America, including "The Marc Maron Show" and "Breakroom Live."
In 2009, following the cancellation of his radio show and facing personal and professional struggles, Maron launched "WTF with Marc Maron," a twice-weekly podcast recorded in his Los Angeles garage. The show quickly gained acclaim for its candid, longform conversations with a wide array of guests, including comedians, musicians, actors, and public figures. Notable episodes featured President Barack Obama, recorded in Maron's garage in 2015, and a deeply personal interview with Robin Williams in 2010, which was later archived by the Library of Congress.
Over nearly 16 years and more than 1,600 episodes, "WTF" became a cultural touchstone, influencing the podcasting landscape and earning a devoted following. Maron's monologues, often delving into his own experiences with addiction, relationships, and grief, resonated with listeners for their vulnerability and authenticity.
In June 2025, Maron announced that "WTF" would conclude in the fall, citing burnout and a sense of fulfillment with the work he and producer Brendan McDonald had accomplished. The decision marked the end of an era for podcasting, as "WTF" had been instrumental in legitimizing the medium and setting a standard for in-depth, personal interviews.
Beyond podcasting, Maron has maintained a robust career in stand-up comedy, releasing several specials, and has acted in various film and television roles, including the Netflix series "GLOW" and the film "Joker" (2019). His contributions to entertainment continue to be marked by a commitment to honesty, introspection, and a deep connection with his audience.
Early Life
Marc David Maron was born on September 27, 1963, in Jersey City, New Jersey. Raised in a Jewish family in Wayne, New Jersey, Marc moved to Alaska at the age of six when his father joined the United States Air Force. Marc's family then moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, when his father decided to open a medical practice there as an orthopedic surgeon. Maron attended high school in Albuquerque until the '80s, at which point he attended Boston University. He studied literature, graduating in 1986 with a B.A. in English literature.
Stand-Up Career
Maron's stand-up career began at the age of 24, but he went largely unnoticed until moving to Los Angeles. At this point, he truly started to break through after performing at The Comedy Store, a famous comedy club in L.A. Next, Marc relocated to New York City, becoming involved in the alternative comedy scene that was evolving in this city. During the '90s, he subsequently made numerous appearances at the Boston Comedy Club. Although he unsuccessfully auditioned for "Saturday Night Live" in the mid-1990s, Maron pushed forward with his career and continued to appear at various comedy clubs.
He also found early television work as a host for "Short Attention Span Theater," Comedy Central Presents," and other projects. His voice was used in various episodes of "Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist." By the year 2000, Maron had created his own one-man show, "Jerusalem Syndrome," which became a popular off-Broadway production. He later adapted the play into a book. Years later, Marc would create another one-man show called "Scorching the Earth."
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WTF with Marc Maron
In September 2009, following the cancellation of his Air America radio show, Maron launched "WTF with Marc Maron," a twice-weekly podcast recorded out of his garage in Los Angeles. What began as a Hail Mary career move quickly turned into a podcasting juggernaut. WTF pioneered the longform, emotionally honest interview style that would come to define the medium. Early episodes featured comedians and friends like Louis C.K., Janeane Garofalo, and Judd Apatow, with Maron often delving into deeply personal territory about his own insecurities, sobriety, and career frustrations.
The show's breakout moment came in 2010, when comedian Robin Williams opened up about depression and suicide in a now-iconic conversation. In 2015, Maron hosted then-President Barack Obama in his garage, a landmark episode that shattered download records and solidified WTF as a cultural institution. The Obama interview was later preserved by the Library of Congress, along with the Robin Williams episode, which was selected for the National Recording Registry.
Over the next 16 years, WTF released more than 1,600 full-length episodes and over 300 bonus episodes for premium subscribers, accumulating more than 1.1 billion downloads, listens, and impressions. Guests ranged from Hollywood legends like Sir Paul McCartney and Lorne Michaels to indie artists, filmmakers, musicians, and fellow comics. Maron's monologues, introspective and often raw, became a defining feature of the show.
In June 2025, Maron announced that WTF would conclude in the fall. He cited creative burnout and a sense of closure, saying he and longtime producer Brendan McDonald were "utterly satisfied" with what they had built. "We started the show on our terms, we grew it on our terms, and we'll end it on our terms," Maron told listeners. Though he left the door open for future projects, WTF will stand as one of the most influential and respected podcasts of all time.
(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Other Projects
Outside of stand-up and podcasting, Marc Maron has built a wide-ranging career in film, television, voice acting, and writing. He starred in and co-created the IFC series "Maron," which ran from 2013 to 2016 and was loosely based on his own life. He played the recurring role of Sam Sylvia, a washed-up director in the acclaimed Netflix series "GLOW," earning praise for his dramatic performance. He's also appeared in films such as "Sword of Trust," "Stardust," and "Joker," in which he played a talk show producer opposite Robert De Niro and Joaquin Phoenix.
In 2025, Maron returned to HBO with a new stand-up special and wrapped production on "In Memoriam," a feature film directed by Rob Burnett and co-starring Judy Greer, Sharon Stone, and Regina Hall. He also portrays Bruce Springsteen's longtime producer Chuck Plotkin in "Deliver Me From Nowhere," a biopic starring Jeremy Allen White.
Relationships
Maron's first marriage was to Kimberly Reiss. After separating from Reiss, Marc married Mishna Wolff, who was also a stand-up comedian at the time of the relationship. At some point around 2007, Maron separated from Wolff in what has been called a "bitter divorce." Divorces and marital issues are often a central theme for Maron's stand-up routines.
Marc then became engaged to Jessica Sanchez, although he announced in 2013 that the relationship was over. In addition, he has dated actress and author Moon Zappa and visual artist Sarah Cain. The latter relationship ended in 2019, and that year, Maron announced that he was in a relationship with director Lynn Shelton. In May 2020, Shelton passed away from acute myeloid leukemia. After Lynn's tragic death, Marc released a statement that read, "I have some awful news. Lynn passed away last night. She collapsed yesterday morning after having been ill for a week. There was a previously unknown, underlying condition. It was not COVID-19. The doctors could not save her. They tried. Hard." He added, "She made me happy. I made her happy. We were happy. I made her laugh all the time. We laughed a lot. We were starting a life together. I really can't believe what is happening. This is a horrendous, sad loss."
Real Estate
Marc Maron's most notable real estate transaction centers around his former home in Highland Park, Los Angeles—a modest 932-square-foot Spanish-style bungalow built in 1927. Purchased in 2003 for just over $375,000, the property gained cultural significance as the birthplace of his acclaimed podcast, WTF with Marc Maron. The detached garage served as the recording studio for over 900 episodes, hosting guests ranging from Robin Williams to President Barack Obama. In 2018, Maron listed the home for $749,000, but due to its unique history and the fame of the garage, it sold for $920,000—nearly three times his original purchase price. Following the sale, Maron relocated to a larger Craftsman-style home nearby, continuing his creative endeavors in a more spacious setting.