Cillian Murphy net worth in 2024 has intrigued fans of the acclaimed actor. Known for his compelling performances in both film and television, Murphy has established himself as one of the most talented actors of his generation. From his role in Peaky Blinders to his work in major films like Inception and Oppenheimer, he has garnered critical acclaim and a devoted following.
Let’s explore his earnings, sources of income, and the remarkable journey that has contributed to his impressive net worth.
Cillian Murphy in Brief
| Full Name | Cillian Murphy |
| Date of Birth | May 25, 1976 |
| Place of Birth | Douglas, County Cork, Ireland |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Height | 5 feet 8 inches (175 cm) |
| Spouse | Yvonne McGuinness |
| Children | Malachy Murphy, Aran Murphy |
| Net Worth | $20 million |
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What is Cillian Murphy Net Worth in 2024?
Cillian Murphy is an Irish actor with a net worth of $20 Million as of 2024. The main source of Cillian Murphy’s wealth comes from his successful career as an actor. He has earned significant income from his roles in popular movies and TV shows.
Some of his most notable work includes starring in films like “28 Days Later,” “Inception,” and “Dunkirk,” as well as playing Thomas Shelby in the hit TV series “Peaky Blinders.” His acting talent and choice of high-profile projects have contributed greatly to his wealth.
Cillian Murphy’s Early Life and Education
Cillian Murphy was born on May 25, 1976, in Douglas Cork. His mother taught French while his father Brendan worked for the Department of Education. His family had a strong teaching background with his grandfather aunts and uncles all being educators. Growing up in Ballintemple Cork, he was raised with his younger siblings Páidi Sile and Orla. Murphy began writing and performing music at just 10 years old.
Raised as a Catholic, Cillian Murphy attended Presentation Brothers College a private Catholic school. Although he excelled academically he often found himself in trouble and was occasionally suspended. By his fourth year, he decided that misbehavior wasn’t worth the trouble. He wasn’t interested in sports a key part of the school’s program and felt that the school overlooked artistic pursuits.
Murphy’s first taste of performance came during secondary school through a drama module led by Pat Kiernan from Corcadorca Theatre Company. He found this experience exhilarating and wanted to chase that feeling. His English teacher William Wall encouraged him to pursue acting but Murphy was determined to become a rock star. In his late teens and early 20s, he played guitar and sang in several bands with his brother Páidi.
Their most successful band The Sons of Mr. Green Genes was named after a Frank Zappa song. They turned down a five-album deal from Acid Jazz Records as they disagreed with the deal’s terms and the low payment offered for Murphy’s music. He later expressed relief that they didn’t sign feeling that it would have limited their creative freedom.
Cillian Murphy started studying law at University College Cork (UCC) in 1996 but failed his first-year exams. He realized early on that he had no desire to practice law and was more focused on his band. After seeing a Corcadorca production of A Clockwork Orange he shifted his focus to acting. His first significant role was in the UCC Drama Society’s amateur production of Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme featuring Irish-American comedian Des Bishop.
He also played the lead in their performance of “Little Shop of Horrors” at the Cork Opera House. At that time his main interest in acting was to attend parties and meet women rather than pursue a career in it.
Cillian Murphy’s Career
Theatre work
In September 1996, Cillian Murphy made his professional acting debut at Corcadorca Theatre Company playing a troubled Cork teenager in Enda Walsh’s “Disco Pigs.” Walsh was struck by Murphy’s magnetic presence noting it wasn’t just about his striking eyes. Murphy himself admitted to being quite confident which suited the role well.
What started as a three-week run in Cork turned into a two-year tour across Europe, Canada, and Australia. Murphy left university and his band to pursue acting after his agent saw him in “Disco Pigs” marking the start of his acting career.
Cillian Murphy appeared in various theater productions such as Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” and “The Country Boy” and ventured into independent films like “On the Edge.” He reprised his role in the film adaptation of “Disco Pigs” and appeared in BBC’s mini-series adaptation of “The Way We Live Now.” During this time he moved from Cork to Dublin and then to London.
In 2002, Cillian Murphy starred in Neil LaBute’s “The Shape of Things” with his performance earning praise for its subtlety and intelligence.
28 Days Later
Murphy’s big break came in 2002 with Danny Boyle’s horror film “28 Days Later.” He played Jim a survivor in a post-apocalyptic London. Boyle was impressed by Murphy’s work in “Disco Pigs” leading to his casting. Murphy’s performance was well-received and the film became a global hit.
He was nominated for several awards including Best Newcomer at the 8th Empire Awards and Breakthrough Male Performance at the 2004 MTV Movie Awards. Murphy considered the film a game-changer in the zombie genre.
In 2003, Cillian Murphy played Konstantine in Chekhov’s “The Seagull” at the Edinburgh International Festival. He found the character’s journey fascinating and meaningful.
Villainous roles
Murphy starred in “Intermission” a bank heist comedy that became the highest-grossing Irish independent film until 2006. He also had minor roles in “Cold Mountain” and “Girl with a Pearl Earring.”
Cillian Murphy took on the role of Dr. Jonathan Crane in “Batman Begins” originally auditioning for Batman. His portrayal of the Scarecrow received praise for its intensity. In Wes Craven’s “Red Eye,” Murphy’s role as Jackson Rippner earned him acclaim as a memorable villain.
He played a transgender woman Kitten Braden in “Breakfast on Pluto.” Murphy’s commitment to the role including significant physical transformations was noted by critics. He was nominated for a Golden Globe and won the Irish Film and Television Academy Best Actor Award.
Further theatre
In 2006, Murphy starred in “The Wind That Shakes the Barley” a film about the Irish War of Independence. His role as Damien O’Donovan a revolutionary earned him widespread praise. The film won the Palme d’Or at Cannes and was a major success in Ireland. Murphy’s performance was highlighted for its depth and nuance earning him GQ’s Actor of the Year award.
Cillian Murphy returned to the stage in London’s “West End” from November 2006 to February 2007 starring alongside Neve Campbell in John Kolvenbach’s play Love Song. His portrayal of Beane described as a “winsomely cranky” and emotionally unstable character was praised for its magnetic quality and shift from shy to charming. Variety magazine noted that Murphy’s performance was captivating both on stage and screen bringing depth to his character’s unique innocence.
In 2007, Cillian Murphy appeared in the sci-fi film Sunshine playing a physicist-astronaut working to reignite the sun. He also starred with Lucy Liu in the romantic comedy “Watching the Detectives” which debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival before its direct-to-DVD release. Murphy took on the role of Richard Neville in “Hippie Hippie Shake” but the film was shelved in 2011 after delays.
Murphy briefly reprised his role as the Scarecrow in “The Dark Knight” and then appeared in “The Edge of Love” a film about poet Dylan Thomas alongside Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller. In 2008, Murphy was featured on an Irish postage stamp celebrating recent films from Ireland. He also starred in the silent Canadian short film “The Water” and the crime dramedy Perrier’s Bounty.
In 2010, Cillian Murphy returned to theater with From Galway to Broadway and Back Again marking the 35th anniversary of the Druid Theatre Company. He also starred in the psychological thriller “Peacock” and had a notable role in Christopher Nolan’s “Inception.” Murphy made an uncredited cameo in “Tron: Legacy” that year.
Peaky Blinders
In 2011, Murphy received acclaim for his performance in the stage monodrama “Misterman” earning awards and praise for his ability to create a compelling character. He also appeared in the horror film “Retreat” and the science fiction film “In Time.”
Murphy starred in “Red Lights” with Robert De Niro and played the Scarecrow again in “The Dark Knight Rises.” His role in the British independent film “Broken” earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Since 2013, Cillian Murphy has been known for his role as Thomas Shelby in the BBC series “Peaky Blinders.” The show has been a hit and Murphy’s role has been widely praised. He made his directorial debut with a music video for the band Money in 2013.
In 2014, Murphy starred in “Aloft” and “Transcendence” both of which received mostly negative reviews. He later worked with Enda Walsh in “Ballyturk” and appeared in Ron Howard’s “In the Heart of the Sea.” In 2015, he contributed vocals to Paul Hartnoll’s album 8:58 and starred in “Free Fire” and “Anthropoid.”
Murphy’s role as a shell-shocked soldier in “Dunkirk” was widely praised. He also appeared in “Anna” and “A Quiet Place” Part II earning positive reviews for his performances.
In 2023, Murphy portrayed J. Robert Oppenheimer in “Oppenheimer” directed by Christopher Nolan. His portrayal received high praise earning him several awards including the Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Actor.
Murphy co-founded the independent production company Big Things Films in February 2024. He is producing and starring in the historical drama “Small Things Like These” and has upcoming projects including a “28 Days Later” sequel and a “Peaky Blinders” film. He will also star in “Blood Runs Coal” for Universal Pictures.
Since 2013, Murphy has hosted shows on BBC Radio 6 Music. His series “Cillian Murphy’s Limited Edition” started in 2020 featuring music from his collection and answering listener questions. As of 2024, the show has produced three seasons with 28 episodes.
Cillian Murphy’s Personal Life
In 2004, Cillian Murphy married his long-term partner Yvonne McGuinness whom he met in 1996 at one of his band’s concerts. They lived in Dublin until 2001, then moved to London so Yvonne could attend the Royal College of Art. After 14 years they returned to Dublin in 2015. They have two sons born in 2005 and 2007.
Murphy was raised Catholic but began to lean towards agnosticism while preparing for his role as a physicist in the 2007 film “Sunshine.” This experience confirmed his atheism. Despite this, he mentioned in 2019 that his Catholic upbringing still influences his values.
For about 15 years, Murphy was a vegetarian primarily due to concerns about mad cow disease rather than moral reasons. He also had issues with certain agricultural practices. He resumed eating meat to gain weight for his role in “Peaky Blinders.” By 2022, he had gone back to being a vegetarian.
Cillian Murphy’s Awards
Cillian Murphy’s most popular films include his collaborations with Christopher Nolan, like “Oppenheimer,” “Inception,” “Batman Begins,” and “Dunkirk.” After the huge success of “Oppenheimer” and the Barbenheimer trend, Murphy made Variety’s list of the top influential figures in entertainment for 2023.
Murphy has also starred in other well-regarded movies such as “A Quiet Place II” and “The Wind That Shakes the Barley.” Throughout his career, he has earned numerous awards, including four Irish Film & Television Awards, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, and an Academy Award.
