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From 2000-2006, Frankie Muniz played the titular character in one of the greatest sitcoms in television history,Malcolm in the Middle. The Fox sitcom came at a time when family audiences saw only well-off families on TV. Lois and Hal’s family were not financially well-off and they sent their four children (later five) to public school including Malcolm, who had an IQ of 165.
Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek played the role of the parents, while Christopher Kennedy Masterson, Justin Berfield, and Erik Per Sullivan played Malcolm’s brothers, Francis, Reese, and Dewey. In December 2024, it was announced that Muniz, Cranston, and Kaczmarek were set to reprise their roles in a limited four-episode revival on Disney+.
How much did Frankie Muniz earn per episode forMalcolm in the Middle?
Frankie Muniz‘sMalcolm in the Middleexplored the dysfunctional relationships in a family, with Malcolm finding it difficult to fit in. The series was famous for the central character turning to the camera to make asides about his failures. Interestingly, Muniz was paid handsomely for his lead role, making him one of the richest child stars on television.
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According toMsMojo, Muniz signed on for the role for a $30,000 paycheck per episode. He went on to earn the same for three seasons, earning a total of $1.89 million (for 63 episodes). He renegotiated his contract before the fourth season, which saw his salary double to $75,000 per episode.
He earned that salary for up to season six. During this period, he earned a total of $4.95 million (for 66 episodes). For the final season, he once again renegotiated his contract for one last time. He doubled it to $150,000 per episode, thanks to the ever-growing popularity of Muniz’s series and his character. For the 22 episodes of his final season, he earned a total of $3.3 million.
According to calculations, he earned a total of $10.14 million from just the first run of the series on television. In addition to this base salary, it is highly likely that he earned a good amount in the syndication run of the series.Celebrity Net Worthcalculates this amount to be almost 80% of his original salary, meaning he could’ve possibly earned something north of $8 million in syndication.
Despite the show contributing massively to his livelihood, Muniz shared thathe never watched the showwhen it was on air (via People).
What is Frankie Muniz’s net worth?
Frankie Muniz further found success in projects likeAgent Cody Banks,Big Fat Liar, andMy Dog Skip. He appeared in the 25th season ofDancing with the Starsand paired with professional dancer Witney Carson. Besides his acting career, Muniz is also a NASCAR race car driver, musician, screenwriter, and producer.
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Muniz signed a two-year contract with Jensen Motorsport in 2005 and entered races during the 2006 Formula BMW USA and the 2007 Champ Car Atlantic Series. He made his stock car racing debut in 2021, competing in the SRL Pro Late Model series. As for the latest in his racing career, it was announced in October 2024 that he would drive for Reaume Brothers Racing for the NASCAR Truck Series 2025 season (via NASCAR.com).
Muniz also had a lucrative real estate business during his time acting inMalcolm in the Middle. He bought parking lots in Downtown L.A. to generate a passive income but sold it in 2006 (via LA Times). He and his wife Paige Price bought Outrageous Olive Oils & Vinegars in Scottsdale, Arizona. They had a booming business until they decided to sell it during the time of Paige’s pregnancy (via Arizona Republic).
While his earnings from racing or various business ventures are currently unknown, Muniz announced his net worth to the world earlier this year. Muniz appeared as a contestant in the tenth season ofI’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! Australia. During the show, he revealed all the bullying he got on social media for“awful acting”.
Muniz shared his response to those comments,“Yeah it is, but you know what’s not awful? Being retired at 19 with $40 million”(via news.com.au). The hefty paychecks fromMalcolm in the Middleand racing sure secured him financially.
Frankie Muniz’sMalcolm in the Middlegets a revival on Disney+
Frankie Muniz will be back for moreMiddle in the Malcolmmoney. As the 25th anniversary of the Fox sitcom approaches, Disney+ is planning alimited revival of the seriesfor just four episodes. Muniz appeared in a hilarious video announcement of the revival alongside his TV parentsBryan Cranstonand Jane Kaczmarek.
A post shared by Frankie Muniz (@frankiemuniz4)
Alongside the three actors, creator Linwood Boomer and producing director Ken Kwapis were also confirmed to return (via Deadline). Regency Television, a joint venture between 20th Television and New Regency, will produce the series for Disney Branded Entertainment.
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According to Deadline, the others will join the cast, too, but the trio of actors playing Malcolm and his parents will be the focus of the series. In these new episodes, Malcolm and his daughter will join Hal and Lois as they celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. It was also reported that the show is looking for an actress to play Malcolm’s wife.
It is unlikely that Erik Per Sullivan, who played Dewey, will return to the series revival. He quit acting in 2010 and has never joined any of the cast reunions. Cranston will also be serving as an executive producer on the new series. Ayo Davis, Disney Branded Entertainment President, shared in a statement aboutMalcolm in the Middle:
Malcolm in the Middle is a landmark sitcom that captured the essence of family life with humor, heart and reliability. Its hilarious and heartfelt portrayal of a lovably chaotic family resonated with audiences of all ages, and we’re so excited to welcome the original cast back to bring that magic to life again. With Linwood Boomer and the creative team at the helm, these new episodes will have all the laughs, pranks, and mayhem fans loved — along with a few surprises that remind us why this show is so timeless.
During its incredible seven-season run, the original sitcom earned seven Emmy wins out of its 33 nominations.
Frankie Munez was once nominated for Best Actor, while Cranston and Kaczmarek earned three and six nominations respectively. Cloris Leachman played the main antagonist of the show Ida Welker, who is Lois’ evil and conniving mother. She twice won the Emmys for Oustanding Guest actress.
Malcolm in the Middleepisodes are now available for streaming on Hulu.
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
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Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
