Ryan Rodney Reynolds is a Canadian-American actor, entrepreneur, and film producer whose razor-sharp wit, self-deprecating humor, and remarkable business instincts have made him one of the most beloved and commercially successful entertainers of his generation. Born on October 23, 1976, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Reynolds spent years building a solid career in film and television before achieving global superstardom with his portrayal of the irreverent mercenary superhero Deadpool. Beyond his acting career, Reynolds has distinguished himself as a savvy entrepreneur, having co-owned and profitably sold stakes in Aviation American Gin and the Mint Mobile telecommunications company, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in business profits that have dramatically elevated his personal wealth.
Early Life
Ryan Rodney Reynolds was born on October 23, 1976, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He is the youngest of four brothers. His father, James Chester Reynolds, was a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer who later worked as a food wholesaler, and his mother, Tammy Reynolds, worked as a retail saleswoman. Reynolds has described his upbringing as a challenging one, noting that his father was a strict and emotionally reserved man, and he has spoken in interviews about the impact this had on his relationship with anxiety, which he has candidly discussed publicly. Despite this, he grew up in a loving family environment and was encouraged in his interests from a young age.
Reynolds developed an interest in acting during his childhood and began pursuing roles in local film and television productions while still a teenager. His natural charisma, comic timing, and expressive face made him a compelling presence on camera from the outset, and he quickly began landing roles in Canadian television productions while still in his early teens.
Education
Ryan Reynolds attended Kitsilano Secondary School in Vancouver, British Columbia. He was an active student with a particular interest in drama and performance. After graduating from high school, he briefly enrolled at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in British Columbia but dropped out to pursue his acting career full-time, a decision that would prove to be one of the most consequential of his life. He has spoken with characteristic humor about his decision to leave university, noting that his career opportunities in acting were accelerating faster than his academic ambitions.
Career
Ryan Reynolds began his professional acting career in Canadian television, appearing in the teen drama series Hillside (known as Fifteen in the United States) beginning in 1991. He made the transition to American television with roles in various series before landing his breakthrough role as Michael Bergen in the ABC sitcom Two Guys and a Girl, which ran from 1998 to 2001. The show gave Reynolds national exposure in the United States and established him as a natural comedic talent with strong leading-man qualities.
His film career gained momentum through the 2000s with roles in comedies and action films, including Van Wilder (2002), Blade: Trinity (2004), and the romantic comedy The Proposal (2009) opposite Sandra Bullock. However, the defining role of his career came with Deadpool (2016), the R-rated superhero film that Reynolds had championed and developed for years against considerable studio resistance. The film was a phenomenon, grossing over $783 million worldwide on a modest budget and spawning the sequel Deadpool 2 (2018) and the massively successful Deadpool and Wolverine (2024), which grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide. Reynolds' comedic instincts and ownership of the character are widely credited as the central reason for the franchise's extraordinary success.
Beyond acting, Reynolds has demonstrated exceptional entrepreneurial talent. He became a co-owner of Aviation American Gin in 2018, and the brand was sold to Diageo in 2020 for up to $610 million, with Reynolds reportedly pocketing approximately $30 to $50 million from the transaction. He also acquired a stake in the Mint Mobile wireless phone service, which was sold to T-Mobile in 2023 for approximately $1.35 billion, generating an estimated $300 million for Reynolds. He and fellow actor Rob McElhenney purchased the Welsh football club Wrexham AFC in 2020, and their ownership of the club — documented in the acclaimed Disney+ series Welcome to Wrexham — has become one of the most celebrated stories in international football.
Personal Life
Ryan Reynolds was previously married to actress Scarlett Johansson from September 2008 to 2011. He subsequently began a relationship with actress Blake Lively, and the couple married in September 2012 in a private ceremony in South Carolina. Together, Reynolds and Lively have four children: daughters James (born 2014), Inez (born 2016), and Betty (born 2019), and a fourth child whose birth was confirmed in 2023. Reynolds is widely known for his playful and affectionate public dynamic with Blake Lively, and their relationship is regularly cited as one of the most beloved in Hollywood.
Net Worth
As of 2026, Ryan Reynolds's estimated net worth is approximately $350 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. His wealth is derived from a combination of acting earnings including substantial fees and profit participation deals on the Deadpool franchise, the proceeds from the sale of his stakes in Aviation American Gin and Mint Mobile, his ongoing ownership interests in various business ventures including Wrexham AFC, and brand endorsement deals. His entrepreneurial success has arguably generated more wealth for him than his film career alone, and he is widely cited as one of the most successful actor-entrepreneurs in Hollywood history.
Quick Facts
- Full Name: Ryan Rodney Reynolds
- Date of Birth: October 23, 1976
- Birthplace: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Nationality: Canadian-American
- Height: 6 ft 2 in
- Net Worth: $350 Million (estimated 2026)
- Spouse: Blake Lively (married 2012)
- Children: James, Inez, Betty, and one more daughter (born 2023)
- Profession: Actor, Entrepreneur, Film Producer
- Best Known For: Deadpool franchise, Aviation Gin, Mint Mobile, Wrexham AFC
