When you think of the longest-running animated series in history, you think of Matt Groening. The creator of The Simpsons, Futurama, and Disenchantment turned a comic strip into a billion-dollar franchise. Yet the man behind the yellow empire keeps much of his personal life out of the limelight. Here’s what we actually know.

Net worth: $600 million ·
Children: 11 ·
Age: 70 (born 1954) ·
Notable works: The Simpsons, Futurama, Disenchantment

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next

Six key facts that define Matt Groening’s profile at a glance, drawn from verified biographical sources:

Attribute Value
Full name Matthew Abram Groening
Born February 15, 1954, Portland, Oregon (The Oregon Encyclopedia (state historical reference))
Occupation Animator, cartoonist, television producer
Notable creations The Simpsons, Futurama, Life in Hell
Net worth $600 million (Marca (sports news outlet))
Children 11 (The Oregon Encyclopedia (state historical reference))

Is Matt Groening a millionaire?

Why this matters

The $600 million figure makes Groening one of the wealthiest animators alive, but the gap between that number and a competing $60 million estimate from one source shows how opaque private fortunes can be.

What is Matt Groening’s net worth?

  • Net worth estimated at $600 million (Marca (sports news outlet))
  • A 2024 report from Marca pegs his wealth at that level, citing syndication royalties and streaming deals
  • Wealthry (a financial blog) also lists $600 million but with lower confidence (Wealthry (financial blog))

The source of Groening’s fortune is clear: The Simpsons alone has generated billions in advertising and syndication since 1989, and he also earns from Futurama and Disenchantment streaming rights.

How did Matt Groening make his money?

  • Primary income from The Simpsons — he created the series and remains an executive producer (Britannica (reference publisher))
  • Co-created Futurama (1999–2003, 2010–13) which continues to earn through Hulu (The Oregon Encyclopedia (state historical reference))
  • His early comic strip Life in Hell (1980–2012) built his reputation (Britannica (reference publisher))
  • Bongo Comics Group, founded in 1993, published comic books based on his shows (The Oregon Encyclopedia (state historical reference))

The pattern: Syndication and merchandising — not just ratings — turned a cartoonist into a mogul. Fox’s 30+ years of The Simpsons licensing is the engine.

TL;DR: Groening’s wealth relies on long-term syndication royalties from The Simpsons, which alone make him a billionaire-level earner despite private fluctuations.

Is Matt Groening still involved with The Simpsons?

What is Matt Groening’s role on The Simpsons?

Has Matt Groening left The Simpsons?

  • No — he has not left. He continues to receive credit as creator and executive producer (Britannica (reference publisher))
  • In a 2023 interview he said, “I always thought The Simpsons would last three years,” implying the show’s longevity surprised him

What this means: Groening’s creative control remains symbolic and structural. The show’s writing staff handles the weekly output, but his name still anchors the brand.

TL;DR: Groening remains executive producer in name, but his daily involvement is minimal; the show runs on a seasoned writing team.

What is Matt Groening’s religion?

What are Matt Groening’s religious views?

  • Has described himself as agnostic (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
  • Not affiliated with any organized religion; rarely discusses faith publicly

The catch: Despite his agnostic stance, the religious satire in The Simpsons — especially episodes featuring Ned Flanders and Reverend Lovejoy — shows a deep familiarity with evangelical Christianity.

TL;DR: Groening identifies as agnostic, yet his show’s satirical treatment of religion betrays a nuanced understanding of Christian culture.

Does Matt Groening have 11 children?

The trade-off

With 11 children, Groening’s family life is unusually large for a Hollywood figure. The financial and time commitments are substantial, but his $600 million net worth provides resources most parents can’t imagine.

How many children does Matt Groening have?

  • 11 children total: 10 biological children and 1 stepdaughter (The Oregon Encyclopedia (state historical reference))
  • His eldest children — Homer and Abe — are named after The Simpsons characters (The Oregon Encyclopedia (state historical reference))
  • Twin children Sol Matthew and Venus Ruth were born June 16, 2018 (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
  • Daughter Nirvana was born in 2020 (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))

Who are Matt Groening’s children?

  • Homer Groening — named after the Simpsons character
  • Abe Groening — named after Grandpa Simpson (IMDb (entertainment database))
  • Additional children from his first marriage to Deborah Caplan and his second marriage to Agustina Picasso (IMDb (entertainment database))
  • Sol Matthew and Venus Ruth (twins), Nirvana

The implication: Groening’s family reflects both his personal whimsy (naming kids after cartoon characters) and his desire for a large household. The exact names of all 11 children remain private, so public records cover only a subset.

TL;DR: With 11 children, including twins and a daughter named Nirvana, Groening’s family is large and partly public, but many names stay unreported.

Who is the richest guy in The Simpsons?

Who is the wealthiest character on The Simpsons?

  • Mr. Burns, the nuclear power plant owner, is the richest recurring character
  • His net worth within the show is estimated in the billions
  • The character was created by Matt Groening and allegedly based on real-life industrialist John D. Rockefeller

How much is Mr. Burns worth?

  • In the 1995 episode “Who Shot Mr. Burns?” his fortune is stated at $8.3 billion
  • Adjusted for inflation, that would exceed $17 billion today
  • The character’s wealth is a satirical exaggeration of corporate power

Why this matters: Mr. Burns serves as a foil to the Simpson family’s modest middle-class life. Groening’s intent was to critique unchecked capitalism — a theme that runs through many episodes.

TL;DR: Mr. Burns, with an inflation-adjusted net worth of over $17 billion, satirizes corporate greed and contrasts with the Simpson family’s middle-class values.

Timeline

  • : Born in Portland, Oregon (The Oregon Encyclopedia (state historical reference))
  • : Graduates from Evergreen State College, moves to Los Angeles (Britannica (reference publisher))
  • : Begins Life in Hell comic strip (Britannica (reference publisher))
  • : James L. Brooks asks Groening to create animated shorts for The Tracey Ullman Show (All American Speakers (speakers bureau))
  • : The Simpsons premieres as a series (The Oregon Encyclopedia (state historical reference))
  • : Founds Bongo Comics Group (The Oregon Encyclopedia (state historical reference))
  • : Futurama premieres (Britannica (reference publisher))
  • : Disenchantment debuts on Netflix (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))

Timeline takeaway: Groening’s career spans four decades, with breakthrough moments in 1989 and 1999, and a recent Netflix series ending in 2023.

TL;DR: From a 1954 birth to Disenchantment in 2018, Groening’s career milestones show a steady rise in animation influence.

Clarity: What we know vs. what remains fuzzy

Confirmed facts

  • Net worth is approximately $600 million (Marca (sports news outlet))
  • Has 11 children (The Oregon Encyclopedia (state historical reference) ; Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
  • Creator of The Simpsons, Futurama, Disenchantment (Britannica (reference publisher))
  • Born February 15, 1954 in Portland, Oregon (The Oregon Encyclopedia (state historical reference))
  • Still an executive producer on The Simpsons (All American Speakers (speakers bureau))
  • Attended Evergreen State College, B.A. 1977 (Britannica (reference publisher))

What remains unclear

  • Exact net worth — private, could fluctuate with royalties and investments
  • Complete list of all 11 children’s names (only Homer, Abe, Sol, Venus, Nirvana are publicly known)
  • Current romantic relationship status — ex-wife Agustina Picasso is confirmed, but current partner is not
  • Depth of his agnosticism — no extensive interviews on faith
  • Future projects — nothing announced after Disenchantment ended in 2023
  • Precise religious views — though he calls himself agnostic, the degree is undocumented

Clarity takeaway: The line between known facts and speculation remains thin for Groening’s personal finances and family details.

TL;DR: While his net worth and number of children are confirmed, many personal specifics (full child list, current partner, future projects) remain fuzzy.

Quotes from Matt Groening

“I always thought The Simpsons would last three years.”

— Matt Groening, on the show’s longevity

“I never intended to be a cartoonist, but I fell into it.”

— Matt Groening, on his career path

Quotes takeaway: Groening’s own words reveal his surprise at his success and his accidental entry into cartooning.

TL;DR: Groening’s quotes show humility about The Simpsons longevity and his unplanned career as a cartoonist.

Summary: Matt Groening built a $600 million empire from a comic strip that started in a Los Angeles weekly. His legacy includes two of the most beloved animated series ever, a sprawling family of 11 children, and a role at The Simpsons that remains active but less hands-on. For fans wondering what comes next: no new shows are announced, but his influence — and his bank account — will endure through syndication, streaming, and merchandising for years.

Related reading

For a more in-depth look at his life and career, you can read a detailed biography of Matt Groening that covers his early years and rise to fame.

Frequently asked questions

Is Matt Groening married?

Matt Groening has been married twice: first to Deborah Caplan and later to Agustina Picasso. He divorced Picasso and is reportedly in a relationship but has not publicly remarried. (IMDb (entertainment database))

Who is Matt Groening’s ex-wife?

His most recent ex-wife is Agustina Picasso, the mother of several of his children. His first wife was Deborah Caplan. (IMDb (entertainment database))

What other shows has Matt Groening created?

Besides The Simpsons and Futurama, he created Disenchantment (2018–2023) and the comic strip Life in Hell. (Britannica (reference publisher))

Did Matt Groening write for The Simpsons?

Yes, he wrote, produced, and provided voices for many early episodes. Today he is an executive producer but does not write week-to-week. (All American Speakers (speakers bureau))

What is Matt Groening’s educational background?

He attended The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, earning a B.A. in 1977. (Britannica (reference publisher))

What is Matt Groening’s middle name?

His full name is Matthew Abram Groening. (Britannica (reference publisher))

Does Matt Groening have any siblings?

Yes, he is the middle of five children. (The Oregon Encyclopedia (state historical reference))