Sitcom fans know Frankie Muniz for portraying the lead character in Fox’s show, Malcolm in the Middle. The former child actor has retired from the entertainment industry to pursue his love for car racing. He also tried his luck in music and business. As of 2022, Frankie Muniz has a net worth of $30 million.
Early Life
Francisco James Muniz IV was born on December 5, 1985, in Wood-Ridge, New Jersey. He was raised by restaurateur Francisco III and a nurse named Denise. He and his sister Christina are of Irish, Italian, and Puerto Rican descent.
Their family relocated to Knightdale, North Carolina when he turned four and spent most of his childhood there. His acting skills were discovered at age eight after joining a small production of “A Christmas Carol.”
Around this time, his parents split up, and he chose to live with his mom. They moved to Burbank, California, where Frankie was homeschooled beginning in sixth grade.
Acting Career
Young Muniz first appeared in various commercials as a kid. He made his official acting debut in 1997 with the TV movie “To Dance with Olivia.” Two years later, he got a small part in the rom-com “Lost & Found.”
This led to his first big break, becoming the main character in “Malcolm in the Middle” with Erik Per Sullivan and Justin Berfield as supporting characters. After premiering in 2000, the show became a massive hit, and Frankie became an award-winning child actor.
He later showed up in a number of television shows on various networks. He also had several movie projects, including Agent Cody Banks, Racing Stripes, Big Fat Liar, and Deuces Wild.
Racing Career
While getting acting gigs, Frankie Muniz also started an interest in car racing. In 2001, he was the Daytona 500 pace car driver. In 2004, he became a celebrity participant in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race and finished in seventh place.
In 2008, he stopped acting to focus more on his new passion. That year, he qualified to take part in the open-wheel racing Atlantic Championship and finished in 11th place at the end of the season.
Apart from driving sports cars, he also got busy with music and business. He became the drummer of two bands, “You Hang Up” and “Kingsfoil.” In 2018, he opened a specialty shop called “Outrageous Olive Oils & Vinegars.”
Net Worth and Earnings
In Malcolm in the Middle’s seasons one to three, Frankie Muniz earned $30,000 per episode. From seasons four to six, he was making $75,000 per episode. In the final season, he was paid $150,000 per episode.
He also had other major media projects. Furthermore, there are his earnings as a racer, musician, and entrepreneur. In total, he has a fortune of $30 million.
Personal Life
Muniz got engaged to two women in the past: Jamie Grady in 2005 and Elycia Marie Turnbow in 2011. In 2012, it was revealed that he suffered from multiple mini-strokes and memory loss.
He later clarified that some reports of his condition were exaggerated. In 2020, he settled down with Paige Price. They have a son named Mauz, and they live in Scottsdale, Arizona.
