It looks like we’ll be seeing much more of the former Friends’ actor in the near future. Reports say Matt Leblanc will appear in the new chapter of long running hit TV show Top Gear, that will air this upcoming May.
48-year-old Matt -who’s been living in London -said is thrilled to be a part of the iconic show, being a self proclaimed “car nut and a massive fan of Top Gear.”
Matt of course, is no stranger to TG screens. After setting that scorching lap time, he reappeared in the following series to test the new Kia cee’d against its predecessor, drove The Stig around in a McLaren MP4-12C, and recently presented the standalone spin-off Top Gear: The Races.
Matthew Steven “Matt” LeBlanc was born July 25, 1967 in Newton, Massachusetts. The son of an office manager mom and a mechanic father, he found stardom by giving life, the beloved “Joey Tribbiani” –role he played for a total of 12 years; ten years in on the NBC sitcom, Friends and two more years for “Joey.”
Before the success of Friends, Leblanc first appeared in TV commercials and other TV projects but it wasn’t until the long running show aired in 1994 that he began to have recognition for his talent. Following 10 seasons of Friends and two season of Joey, Leblanc wen on to win a Golden Globe award for his work on Episodes –a BBC Two/Showtime television series in which he starred as a fictional version of himself.
Matt has also appeared in a number of films and even in a couple of music videos.
However his personal life hasn’t been as successful as his professional life.
He’s been married only once, to former model Melissa McKnight. The couple tied the knot in 2003 and were divorced in 2006. The couple split after three years of marriage and a child together.
Melissa McKnight also known as Missy McKnight, was born March 10, 1965.
She was first married to rock musician Anthony Esposito with whom she had two children. She gave birth to her 1st child, a son Tyler Esposito and to her 2nd child, a daughter Jacqueline Esposito, with her now ex-1st husband Anthony Esposito.
The two ere introduced in 1997 by mutual friends and Matt quickly fell for her asking her to be his wife a year later. Melissa welcomed her 3rd child at age 38, a daughter Marina Pearl LeBlanc on February 8, 2004. Their infant daughter suffered from seizures and is believed that might have distanced the couple.
At the time of their divorce, Melissa McKnight revealed she was stunned and accused her husband of having another woman.
The other woman happened to be Matt’s fellow actress Andrea Anders. The two met while filming the short-lived sitcom Joey. The two were together for 8-years. They split in January 2015.
Andrea Anders was born May 10, 1975. The Wisconsin native, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point and a Master of Fine Arts from Rutgers University.
She is the sister of director, Sean Anders.
Andrea began her acting career in Theater and is better known for her TV roles as Alex in NBC sitcom Joey, Nicole Allen in the CBS sitcom “The Class”, and Linda Zwordling in the ABC sitcom “Better Off Ted.”
Think Matt Leblanc will ever find true love?
Matt LeBlanc Net Worth
Matt LeBlanc, is a famous TV and film actor, who has been successful in the entertainment industry for years.
LeBlanc has enjoyed major recognition after he became extremely popular for playing
the beloved, funny and sometimes clueless character of Joey Tribbiani on the hit TV series, Friends. He has since gone on to appear in multiple additional television shows and films.
Want to know more? Keep reading and learn personal details about Matt LeBlanc, who his wife is, Matt LeBlanc success, his career, Matt LeBlanc net worth and a lot more.
Matt LeBlanc net worth timeline
Matt LeBlanc net worth timeline begins in the 1980s , appearing in a series of television commercials for such nationally-known products as Heinz and Coca-Cola.
In 1988 he landed his first TV role for the show “TV 101” which only lasted one season.
LeBlanc scored a recurring role in 1991 on the popular Fox sitcom “Married…with Children” playing Vinnie Verducci.
In the early 90’s he went onto appear in music videos for artists such as Bon Jovi and Alanis Morissette.
His big break came after he landed the role of Joey Tribbiani on the sitcom Friends. The series ran from 1994 to 2004.
After Friends ended, Matt starred in the spin-off TV series “Joey” from 2004 to 2006.
From 2011 to 2017, LeBlanc starred in the television series “Episodes”
He hosted the series “Top Gear” from 2016 until 2018.
In 2016, he began starring as Adam Burns on the CBS television series “Man With a Plan” -which was cancelled in 2020.
Matt LeBlanc Net worth 2021
According to online sources, Matt LeBlanc net worth in 2021 is estimated at approximately, $80 million.
For the first season of “Friends”, each cast member earned $22,500 per episode. Their salaries were boosted to $40,000 per episode in the second season.
Ahead of the third season when their contracts were up, the cast banded together to negotiate as a group. They ended up with a deal that paid $75,000 per episode of season three.
They got $85,000 for season 4, $100,000 for season 5 and $125,000 in season 6.
Ahead of season 7 the cast negotiated for a massive raise. They each ended up earning $750,000 per episode in seasons 7 and 8.
For seasons 9 and 10, each cast member earned $1 million per episode.
As part of their 2000 contract negotiations, the cast was able to demand backend points on the show which would allow them to earn royalties off the show’s sale into syndication.
“Friends” continues to generate north of $1 billion per year in syndication royalties and streaming deals. It has been reported that each cast member in some years can earn $10-20 million in royalties alone.
Matt LeBlanc BBC deal
In 2016, Matt signed a two-year series deal with BBC. BBC Two editor Patrick Holland said: “I am thrilled Matt LeBlanc is returning to Top Gear. He’s a huge talent whose love of cars is infectious.”
LeBlanc’s deal was not exclusively paid for the TV license fee as Top Gear is partly paid for by BBC Worldwide.
Matt LeBlanc reportedly earned a salary of £1 million a year on Top Gear- half of what Chris Evans was earning.
Matt LeBlanc CBS deal
In 2016, Matt was announced to star in CBS’s series, Man with a Plan. The comedy stars LeBlanc as a contractor who spends more time with his kids after his wife goes back to work. Liza Snyder, Matt Cook, Jessica Chaffin, Grace Kaufman, Hala Finley, and Matthew McCann also star.
Reports suggested that CBS decided not to renew the show for season 5 due to LeBlanc’s salary. Production problems are affecting all programs due to COVID-19 complicated the decision to renew the series.
Matt LeBlanc House
In 2007, Matt spent $7.4 million on a house in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. He moved out of the home in 2012 and rented it for $13,000 per month according to real estate listings.
He tried to sell the house in 2016 for $10 million. He ultimately found a buyer in 2017 who paid a little less than the $7.4 million Matt spent on the house 10 years earlier.
He owns two side-by-side homes in Encino, California and a 1,000-acre ranch in Santa Ynez, California that he bought in 2002.
Matt LeBlanc Early life
Matt LeBlanc was born Matthew Steven LeBlanc on July 25, 1967 in Newton, Massachusetts.
He attended Newton North High School. Comedian Louis C.K. was his classmate. After graduating in 1985, Matt went on to attend the Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, but he left shortly after starting his second semester to pursue an acting career.
Before making it big, the actor struggled financially. He revealed during a TV interview that he was down to $11 before he found success on Friends. “You know when you think, ‘Alright, I got a little money in the bank. I can hold out until the next gig,’” “I think I was down to $11. Now, that’s holding out too long.” The actor says he was so broke, he even had to resort to filing down his own tooth because he couldn’t afford to pay for dental work.
Matt LeBlanc Career
Matt began his career in 1987 when he appeared in a Heinz Tomato commercial. The following year he starred in the television drama ‘101’. He appeared in two of Jon Bon Jovi’s music videos: “Miracle”, from the Young Guns II soundtrack in 1990, and “Say It Isn’t So” in 2000.
He found his success in the role of Joey Tribbiani on the sitcom ‘Friends’ and went on to play this character for 12 years.
This role propelled him to stardom, along with his co-stars, and LeBlanc quickly became a household name. He also starred in the spin-off TV series “Joey” from 2004 to 2006. LeBlanc also made a few appearances in Lisa Kudrow’s show “Web Therapy” around this time. Matt went on a five-year hiatus from acting following the cancellation of “Joey”.
For his incredible performance in the sitcom, he received three Primetime Awards nominations, three Golden Globe nominations, and one Screen Actors Guild Award.
His most notable movie roles have been in “Ed”, “All The Queen’s Men”, “Lost In Space”, “Lovesick”, and “Charlie’s Angels”. LeBlanc starred in the television series “Episodes” from 2011 to 2017.
In 2012, LeBlanc appeared in the second episode of the eighteenth series of ‘Top Gear’. He also appeared in the fourth episode of the nineteenth season, to race the New Kia Cee’d, and beat his previous time. In February 2016, the BBC announced LeBlanc was to be one of the new presenters of Top Gear.
Also in 2016, he began starring as Adam Burns on the CBS television series “Man With a Plan”. Matt retired from “Top Gear” in May 2018, after three years. In May 2020, “Man with a Plan” was canceled.
Matt LeBlanc Success and Achievements
Matt LeBlanc became a household name after playing Joey Tribbiani on the hit series Friends.
His talent has not gone unnoticed. In 1996, he won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.
Then in 2002, he won a Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actor: Comedy. This led to a People’s Choice Award in 2005 for Favorite Male TV Performer in the television series Joey.
LeBlanc won his first Golden Globe Award for Best Actor—Television Series Musical or Comedy in 2012. Five years later, he won his second People’s Choice Award for Favorite Actor in a New TV Series.
Matt LeBlanc Ventures
In addition to his acting career, Matt is also a comedian, and producer. He has at least three production credits.
He made his production debut with the 2010 film Jonah Hex, which he executive produced. In 2015, he produced the TV movie The Prince. A year later, LeBlanc signed on to be the executive producer of the television show Man with a Plan.
Matt LeBlanc Wife
In May of 2003 LeBlanc married his longtime girlfriend, British-born Melissa McKnight. The couple divorced in October 2006.
After becoming divorced he dated actress Andrea Anders from 2006 to 2015. The pair had met on the set of “Joey”.
Most recently, the actor is said to be reportedly in a relationship with Irish documentary maker and former Top Gear producer Aurora Mulligan.
Matt LeBlanc Children
Matt LeBlanc is the proud father of one child. He and ex-wife Melissa McKnight share a daughter who was born in 2004 and whom the ex’s named, Marina.
Matt LeBlanc Cars
Safe to say Matt LeBlanc has a passion for cars, the actor owns an incredible car collection which includes at least 13 luxurious and exotic rides.
His incredible Porsche collection includes:
2012 911 Carrera GTS
1988 964 (911) Carrera
1987 930 (911) Turbo
2014 911 Turbo S
2016 911 R
2017 911 GT2 RS
While his biggest love is Porsche, Matt also enjoys dabbling in other brands of four-wheeled transport too.
Satisfying his ‘hot hatch’ requirements is his Ford Focus RS, an all-wheel-drive hatchback complete with ‘drift’ button. He also has a classic American muscle car in the form of a De Tomaso Pantera, complete with its room-shaking V8 engine.
Matt also bought himself a Ferrari Testarossa, which will sit nicely alongside his Pantera, and his other Ferraris — a 360 Modena and 458 Italia.
Perhaps the most unusual car in his collection is a Fiat X1/9.
Lessons learned from Matt LeBlanc
Throughout Matt LeBlanc’s life and career choices, the actor has shown important lessons such as, putting family first and also, it is important to take time off.
In May 2018, it was confirmed that Matt would leave Top Gear at the end of the series in 2019 after having joined in 2016.
At the time, Matt said he made the decision to leave the show to spend more time with his family and friends.
The 52-year-old star said that although the show had been “great fun,” the “time commitment and extensive travel… takes me away from my family and friends more than I’m comfortable with.”
After playing dim-witted but equally charming character Joey Tribbiani in the NBC sitcom Friends and its spin-off Joey; Matt took a five year hiatus from his acting career before returning to our screens as a fictional version of himself in Episodes – winning a Golden Globe for Best Actor and then going on to co-host the BBC series of Top Gear for three consecutive years.
Matt LeBlanc Favorite quotes
Some of our favorite quotes from the prominent actor include
“The way I look at it, everything is a trade. You acquire some money, so then you’ve got no financial burdens, but everyone wants your money and so who can you trust? Or you’ve got no money and you can trust anyone, but then you’ve got the worry to pay bills. Which is worse?”
“Is it better to strive for success as a self-representing artist or try to get your feet wet in the gallery world? That is such a common question these days among artists. I truly believe that most artists will come to a crossroad where they will have to decide on which route to take as it’s extremely hard to be successful in both worlds.”
“This whole acting thing was always just for me and was always an absolute shot in the dark. If it didn’t pan out, I had my hammer and tool belt, banging nails again tomorrow if I had to.”
What does Matt LeBlanc do now?
Matt LeBlanc is continuously working on new and innovative projects. He keeps his fans updated throughout his different media channels.
In 2020, it was announced that the Friends cast would be reuniting for a one-hour HBO Max special that would earn Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Courtney Cox, Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer, and LeBlanc a cool $2.5 million.
Due to the pandemic the reunion was put on hold.
Matt LeBlanc has millions of fans worldwide, he is active on most popular social media platforms including
Matt LeBlanc Instagram
Matt LeBlanc is active on Instagram where he has over 6 million followers.
In his most recent IG post, Matt paid tribute to his Top Gear co-star Sabine Schmitz in the wake of her death.
Matt LeBlanc Twitter
Matt LeBlanc is active on Twitter where he has over 500k followers.
Matt LeBlanc Facebook
Matt LeBlanc can also be found on Facebook with 4.7 million followers.
