Rob McElhenney is an American actor, writer, producer, podcaster, and businessman born on April 14, 1977. You might know him as the guy who plays Mac on that super funny show “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” But he’s not just an actor. He helped create the show with his buddies Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton and he still helps make it awesome as a writer and producer.
He’s also on another show called “Mythic Quest” where he plays Ian Grimm. That one’s on Apple TV+.
In September 2020, McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds became owners of a soccer team in Wales called Wrexham A.F.C. They even made a documentary about it called “Welcome to Wrexham” which won an Emmy! How cool is that? And McElhenney got to take home an Emmy as one of the big bosses behind the scenes.
| Full Name | Rob McElhenney |
| Date of Birth | April 14, 1977 |
| Place of Birth | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Occupation | Actor, Writer, Producer |
| Height | 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) |
| Spouse | Kaitlin Olson |
| Children | Axel and Leo |
| Net Worth | $50 million |
Rob Mcelhenney Early Life and Education
Robert McElhenney III was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 14, 1977. His mom and dad were Irish. He grew up Catholic. His dad’s side of the family includes Marcus McElhenney, who’s an Olympic rower. When Robert was eight, his parents split because his mom said she was gay. He and his two younger brothers mostly lived with their dad, but their parents stayed close. Both of his brothers are gay, and he’s always felt connected to the gay community.
Robert went to Waldron Mercy Academy and St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia. He tried out Temple University for a bit and then stayed with friends at Fordham University, but he didn’t end up going there.
Career
McElhenney started out acting with small roles in movies like “The Devil’s Own” in 1997 but his part got cut. He had other small roles in films like “A Civil Action” and “Wonder Boys.” Eventually, he got bigger roles in movies like “Latter Days” and “The Tollbooth” and even did a guest spot on “Law & Order.”
He moved from New York to Los Angeles when he was 25. At 27 he was waiting tables and trying to make it in acting when he met Glenn Howerton and Charlie Day. They came up with the idea for a sitcom together which became “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” They filmed a pilot on a shoestring budget and pitched it to TV networks. FX picked it up because they gave McElhenney more creative freedom.
He spends a lot of time working on “It’s Always Sunny” but he’s managed to fit in other projects like appearing on “Lost” and “Game of Thrones.” He even got to write an episode for “Game of Thrones” creators.
He was set to direct the Minecraft movie but later dropped out. He’s also appeared in other shows like “Fargo.”
In 2020, he and Charlie Day created “Mythic Quest” a comedy series on Apple TV+ where McElhenney stars and helps write and produce. It’s been well-received by critics.
Since 2021, McElhenney Day and Howerton have been doing “The Always Sunny Podcast” where they talk about the show and share behind-the-scenes stories.
What Is Rob McElhenney’s Net Worth?
Rob McElhenney’s Net Worth is estimated to be $50 Million as of 2024, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
International Investments
In 2009, Rob McElhenney and his wife Kaitlin Olson and others bought Skinner’s Bar in Philadelphia, now called Mac’s Tavern.
In September 2020, the Wrexham Supporters Trust said that Rob McElhenney and Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds were teaming up to buy Wales’s Wrexham AFC football club. By November 2020 they officially took over the club with the support of the trust. In April 2023, Wrexham got promoted to League Two and became National League champions while they were in charge. This was a big deal because it marked Wrexham’s return to the English Football League after being absent for 15 years. Then in April 2024, some backers of Club Necaxa bought 5% of Wrexham AFC and Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds bought a small part of Club Necaxa.
On June 7, 2022, Rob McElhenney announced a new company called Adim which focuses on entertainment and technology. He started it with a group of people including Chase Rosenblatt, Melissa Kaspers, Spencer Marell, and Richard Rosenblatt.
In 2023, Rob McElhenney along with his co-stars from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” Glenn Howerton and Charlie Day started a whiskey company. They named it Four Walls in honor of Paddy’s Pub the bar from their show.
Then on June 26, 2023, it was revealed that both Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney were part of a group that bought 24% of the Alpine F1 Team.
Rob McElhenney’s Personal Life
Family Man and Advocate
McElhenney, the creator of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” picked Kaitlin Olson to play Dee Reynolds on the show. They got together romantically during season 2. He thinks she’s the funniest woman in the biz. They got married in California on September 27, 2008, and now have two sons. Their first son was on the way while they were watching a Phillies game.
In July 2023, McElhenney shared that he had been diagnosed with several neurodevelopmental disorders and learning disabilities.
Extreme Body Transformations
Getting ready for the seventh season of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” Rob McElhenney went all-in for his role. He packed on 60 pounds and let his beard go wild to amp up the humor and bring a fresh comedic vibe to the show. But not everyone was on board with the plan. His co-star Charlie Day wasn’t too thrilled calling the weight gain “disgusting” and worrying about Rob’s health. After filming wrapped Rob shed 23 pounds in just a month then lost the rest of the weight by the end of the year for the next season.
But the transformations didn’t stop there. When the 13th season rolled around Rob went from chubby to super ripped. He joked on Instagram about his new look being the perfect body image to strive for. It’s clear Rob’s dedication to his character knows no bounds!
