Bowen Yang is an American actor, comedian, writer, and podcaster best known for his work on “Saturday Night Live” (SNL). He joined the SNL writing staff in 2018 and was promoted to on-air cast member in 2019, making history as the first SNL featured player to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award.
In addition to his work on SNL, Bowen Yang has appeared in television series such as “Girls5Eva,” “Ziwe,” and “The Other Two.” He has also starred in LGBTQ romantic comedies like “Fire Island” and “Bros.” Additionally, Bowen co-hosts the comedy pop culture podcast “Las Culturistas” with Matt Rogers. His unique perspective and humor have established him as a significant figure in the comedy and entertainment industry.
Continue reading as we explore Bowen Yang’s net worth, height, age, personal challenges, a detailed overview of his career journey, and an in-depth analysis of all the income sources that contribute to his net worth.
Early life and Educational Background
Bowen Yang was born on November 6, 1990, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, to a family that emigrated from China in 1986. His father, Ruilin, holds a doctorate in mining explosives, while his mother is a highly educated physician. When Bowen was six months old, the family moved to Canada and eventually settled in Aurora, Colorado.
Inspired by late-night hosts David Letterman and Conan O’Brien, Bowen excelled academically, achieving a near-perfect score on the ACT and graduating as homecoming king from Smoky Hill High School. His high school calculus teacher also coached the school’s improv comedy group.
At the age of 17, Bowen Yang’s father discovered that he was gay, which led to a challenging period as Bowen attended gay conversion therapy sessions. Despite this difficult experience, Bowen moved to New York City to attend NYU, initially pursuing pre-med studies before ultimately shifting his focus to comedy.
Quick Information
| Attributes | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Bowen Yang |
| Date of Birth | November 6, 1990 |
| Place of Birth | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian, writer, podcaster |
| Net Worth | $5 million |
| Age | 34 years |
| Height | 5 ft 8 inches (1.73 m) |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Podcast | “Las Culturistas” with Matt Rogers |
| Known For | “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) |
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Career Overview of Bowen Yang
Graphic Design and Comedy
Bowen Yang taught himself Adobe Photoshop and graphic design software. He worked at One Kings Lane, a luxury interior and home design website, from 2013 to 2018 as a graphic designer. The company was adjustable with his time-off needs for comedy. During this period, Bowen Yang also performed improv at the Upright Citizens Brigade and designed graphics for his shows and those of his friends.
Las Culturistas Podcast
Bowen Yang co-hosts the podcast Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers. The podcast, described as “delightfully screwy” and a “two-headed snark routine,” premiered in 2016 and has over 300 episodes. Each episode features an interview with a pop culture guest and rounds of “I Don’t Think So, Honey!” (IDTSH), where hosts and guests share their pet peeves.
Television and Viral Videos
Bowen Yang appeared in the shows Broad City, The Outs, and High Maintenance. He was a supporting cast member in the 2019 film Isn’t It Romantic and performed stand-up on HBO’s 2 Dope Queens. Bowen Yang gained attention for his viral Twitter posts, which included expertly timed lip-sync videos of famous movie scenes.
Saturday Night Live
In 2018, Bowen Yang was hired as a staff writer for Saturday Night Live (SNL) for the show’s 44th season. He has writing credits on 21 episodes of the show for the 2018–2019 season. His writing included sketches “GP Yass” and “The Actress” with Emma Stone, which was hailed as the “gayest SNL sketch of all-time.” In September 2019, Bowen Yang was promoted to featured player for the 45th season and became the first Chinese-American cast member and the third gay male cast member on SNL.
Bowen Yang’s Height and Age
Bowen Yang stands at 5 ft 8 inches (1.73 meters) tall and is currently 34 years old as of 2025. His height and age have played a role in his journey, but it’s his talent and dedication that have truly made him stand out in the entertainment industry. Yang’s height gives him a distinctive presence on screen, while his age reflects the experiences and maturity he brings to his roles.
Bowen Yang’s Prestigious Awards
Bowen Yang has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including being named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Hollywood & Entertainment list (2019), the Out 100 Entertainer of the Year list (2019), and the Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award (2020). He also won the Just for Laughs Breakout Comedy Star of the Year award in 2021.
Personal challenges
Bowen Yang has openly discussed his challenges, particularly relating to his mental health. He has talked about experiencing severe bouts of depersonalization, where he felt as though he was observing himself outside of his body and perceiving things that weren’t real.
Additionally, Yang has shared that, as a teenager, he was forced into gay conversion therapy by his parents. This experience significantly shaped his perspective and contributed to his resilience.
Bowen Yang Net Worth
Bowen Yang’s net worth is estimated to be $5 million. This wealth comes from his salary from Saturday Night Live, television appearances, podcast revenue, film roles, and speaking engagements. Each of these income sources is detailed below.
Income Sources
Saturday Night Live (SNL): As a main cast member, Bowen Yang likely earns between $15,000 and $25,000 per episode, totaling approximately $315,000 to $525,000 per season.
TV Appearances: Yang has appeared on shows such as “Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens” and “High Maintenance,” where he earns about $10,000 to $20,000 per episode.
Podcast (“Las Culturistas”): Co-hosting the podcast with Matt Rogers, Bowen Yang earns between $50,000 and $100,000 annually.
Film Roles: Yang has acted in films like “Isn’t It Romantic” and “The Lost City,” with estimated earnings of $50,000 to $150,000 per film.
Stand-up Comedy: His stand-up performances typically earn him between $5,000 and $15,000 per show.
Endorsements: Bowen Yang’s endorsements and brand partnerships bring in approximately $20,000 to $50,000 per endorsement.
Speaking Engagements: For speaking engagements, he earns around $5,000 to $20,000 per event.
Impact and Legacy
Bowen Yang has made a big impact on comedy and representation in mainstream media. As one of the few Asian-American and openly gay comedians on Saturday Night Live (SNL), he has broken barriers and helped bring more diversity to the entertainment industry. His presence on SNL has shown that Asian Americans and LGBTQ+ people can be funny and relatable.
Bowen Yang has inspired many future comedians and performers by being himself and sharing his personal stories. His openness about his mental health struggles and his experience with conversion therapy has given hope to others facing similar challenges.
FAQs
Who is Bowen Yang?
Bowen Yang is an American actor, comedian, writer, and podcaster, best known for his work on Saturday Night Live (SNL).
When and where was Bowen Yang born?
Bowen Yang was born on November 6, 1990, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
What is Bowen Yang’s net worth?
As of 2025, Bowen Yang’s estimated net worth is $5 million.
What are some of Bowen Yang’s income sources?
Bowen Yang’s income comes from his SNL salary, TV appearances, podcast, film roles, stand-up comedy performances, endorsements, and speaking engagements.
What is Bowen Yang’s height and age?
Bowen Yang is 5 ft 8 inches (1.73 m) tall and is currently 34 years old as of 2025.
