PROFILE DETAILS
NAME: Sean Penn
REAL NAME: Sean Justin Penn
AGE: 65
Gender: Male
weight: 170 lbs (77 kg) (Estimated)
Height: 5’8″ (173 cm)
Birthdate: August 17, 1960
Birth Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Santa Monica, California, U.S.
NET WORTH: $70 Million – $80 Million (Estimated)
Salary: $5M – $10M per major film project
MAIN INCOME SOURCE: Acting, Directing, Producing, and Real Estate
Profession: Actor, Filmmaker, Activist
RELIGION: Agnostic
FAMILY: Dylan Penn (Daughter), Hopper Penn (Son)
PARENTS: Leo Penn (Father), Eileen Ryan (Mother)
SPOUSE: Valeria Nicov (Partner); Previously: Madonna (1985–1989), Robin Wright (1996–2010), Leila George (2020–2022)
CHILDREN: 2
CAREER: 1974–Present
Nationality: American
SOCIAL PROFILES: Information not publicly available
What is Sean Penn Net Worth and salary?
As of early 2026, Sean Penn’s net worth is estimated to be approximately $70 million to $80 million. While some financial analysts have projected his “empire value”—including private equity and diversified assets—at higher figures, his liquid wealth remains rooted in a four-decade career of high-salary acting roles and successful directorial ventures. Penn typically commands between $5 million and $10 million for leading roles in major studio productions, though he often takes significantly less for independent projects or films he directs. His wealth is further bolstered by a strategic real estate portfolio in California and backend points on classic films.
Early Life
Sean Penn was born into a prominent show business family in Santa Monica, California. His father, Leo Penn, was a respected actor and director who was blacklisted during the McCarthy era, and his mother, Eileen Ryan, was an accomplished actress. Growing up in a secular household with a mix of Jewish and Irish-Italian heritage, Penn was raised in a creative environment that encouraged social consciousness and artistic expression.
Before fame
Before becoming a household name, Penn attended Santa Monica High School alongside future stars like Rob Lowe and Emilio Estevez. During his teens, he developed a passion for surfing and began making short films with his friends using Super 8 cameras. He bypassed a traditional college education to apprentice at the Group Repertory Theatre in Los Angeles, working as a stagehand and assistant for actor/director Pat Hingle before landing his first television roles in the mid-1970s.
Awards
- Academy Awards: Best Actor for Mystic River (2003) and Milk (2008).
- Golden Globe Awards: Best Actor for Mystic River (2003); Nominated for Best Supporting Actor for One Battle After Another (2026).
- Cannes Film Festival: Best Actor for She’s So Lovely (1997).
- Humanitarian Awards: Bob Hope Humanitarian Award (2022) for his work with CORE.
- Honorary César: Awarded in 2015 for his lifetime contribution to cinema.
Personal Life and Relationships
Sean Penn’s personal life has been a subject of intense media scrutiny for decades. Following high-profile marriages to Madonna and Robin Wright, and a brief marriage to Leila George, Penn entered a steady relationship with Moldovan actress and model Valeria Nicov in late 2024. As of February 2026, the couple is frequently seen together at international film festivals and in Santa Monica. Penn has recently stated in interviews that he prioritizes “freedom and purpose” in his personal life, balancing his romantic relationships with his demanding humanitarian schedule.
Family life
Penn remains close to his two children, Dylan Frances Penn and Hopper Jack Penn, both of whom have followed him into the acting profession. He collaborated professionally with Dylan in the 2021 film Flag Day. Penn’s family legacy is deeply tied to the arts; his late brother Chris Penn was a renowned character actor, and his brother Michael Penn is a successful musician.
Associated with
- Paul Thomas Anderson: Directed Penn in the 2025/2026 awards-contender One Battle After Another.
- Tom Hardy: Set to star in Penn’s upcoming directorial project (shooting Summer 2026).
- Bono: A long-time friend and collaborator on global humanitarian initiatives.
- Jack Dorsey: A major donor to Penn’s CORE organization.
Real Estate
Penn is a long-time resident of Malibu, California, where he has owned several multi-million dollar properties. In 2022, he sold a gated Malibu estate for approximately $6.9 million. He currently maintains a more modest but highly private residence in the same area, along with reported investments in international properties used during his humanitarian missions.
Net Worth History
- 1980s: Breakout success with Fast Times at Ridgemont High; net worth reaches ~$1M.
- 2000s: Peak acting salaries and first Oscar win; net worth grows to ~$30M.
- 2010s: Diversification into directing and real estate; net worth stabilizes at ~$50M.
- 2024-2026: Renewed acting activity and private investments; net worth reaches ~$70M-$80M.
Trivia
- Penn famously gave one of his Oscar statuettes to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2022 as a symbol of support.
- He went viral in January 2026 for lighting a cigarette indoors during a Golden Globes after-party.
- He is a licensed pilot and an avid surfer.
- Penn wrote a satirical novel titled Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff in 2018.
BIOGRAPHY
Executive Summary
Sean Penn remains one of the most formidable and polarizing figures in American culture as of 2026. With a career spanning over fifty years, he has successfully transitioned from a “Brat Pack” icon of the 1980s to a two-time Academy Award-winning dramatic heavyweight and a globally recognized humanitarian. His recent performance as Col. Steven J. Lockjaw in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another (2025) has reaffirmed his status as a premier character actor, earning him critical acclaim and a 2026 Golden Globe nomination.
Beyond the screen, Penn’s legacy is increasingly defined by his activism. His non-profit organization, CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort), which began as a response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake, has evolved into a global crisis-response powerhouse. In 2025 and early 2026, Penn has been active on the ground in various conflict zones and disaster areas, leveraging his celebrity to secure millions in aid. Despite occasional controversies regarding his political stances and intense personality, Penn’s commitment to “boots-on-the-ground” philanthropy is widely respected.
In 2026, Penn is entering a new creative phase. He has announced a hiatus from acting to return to the director’s chair for an untitled project starring Tom Hardy, scheduled to begin production in the summer of 2026. This move marks a return to his roots as a filmmaker who favors gritty, character-driven narratives. Personally, Penn appears more settled than in previous years, maintaining a low-profile but steady relationship with Valeria Nicov. At 65, Sean Penn continues to defy the traditional Hollywood trajectory, operating as a self-styled “outsider” who remains essential to the industry’s artistic and moral fabric.