
Jennette McCurdy Now: Net Worth, Book, and Life After Acting
There’s a certain kind of fame that comes with being a Nickelodeon star, and Jennette McCurdy had it. But the 33-year-old has spent the last few years rewriting her story — literally. Her memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died became a bestseller, and in 2026 she’s set to release her first novel, Half His Age. This article pieces together everything we know about her current life: net worth, relationships, new projects, and the reasons she stepped away from the spotlight.
Age: 33 (born June 26, 1992) ·
Net worth: $5 million (estimated) ·
Notable role: Sam Puckett on iCarly ·
Books: 2: I’m Glad My Mom Died (memoir), Half His Age (novel) ·
Instagram followers: 8 million
Quick snapshot
- McCurdy is alive and actively writing (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia))
- She has published two books: a memoir and a novel (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia))
- Sam & Cat ended in 2014 (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia))
- She is no longer acting (TheThings (entertainment news outlet))
- Exact net worth (estimates vary) (Biography Bytes (celebrity biography site); CelebsMoney (celebrity net worth tracker))
- Current relationship status (Essence of Symbols (pop culture speculation site))
- Whether she has children (no evidence) (Essence of Symbols (pop culture speculation site))
- Nature of falling out with Ariana Grande (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia))
- 1992: Born in Long Beach, California (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia))
- 2017: Mother died of cancer (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia))
- 2022: Published memoir, quit acting (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia))
- 2025–2026: Novel Half His Age released, TV adaptation announced (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia))
- New novel Half His Age out January 20, 2026 (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia))
- TV adaptation of I’m Glad My Mom Died being developed with showrunner Ari Katcher (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia))
- She continues to write and direct, no acting plans announced (TheThings (entertainment news outlet))
Eight key facts about McCurdy, drawn from biographies and entertainment databases, paint a clear picture of her background and current standing.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Jennette Michelle Faye McCurdy |
| Date of birth | June 26, 1992 |
| Birthplace | Long Beach, California, USA |
| Occupation | Writer, director, former actress |
| Height | 5 feet 3 inches (160 cm) |
| Net worth | $5 million (estimated) |
| Notable works | iCarly, Sam & Cat, I’m Glad My Mom Died |
| Instagram followers | 8 million |
Is Jennette McCurdy okay now?
Current well-being and public appearances
McCurdy is alive and active in the public eye, though she keeps a much lower profile than during her Nickelodeon years. She regularly posts on Instagram, where she has 8 million followers, and occasionally gives interviews about her writing. In 2025, she appeared at literary events to promote her upcoming novel, Half His Age (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia)).
Update on her mental health and career shift
McCurdy has spoken openly about the trauma she experienced as a child actor — pressure from her mother, eating disorders, and the emotional toll of fame. In her memoir, she detailed her journey toward recovery. Since stepping away from acting in 2022, she has focused on writing and directing, describing the shift as a conscious choice for her mental health (TheThings (entertainment news outlet)).
McCurdy traded the security of a steady acting paycheck for creative autonomy and emotional stability. The result: a bestselling memoir and a forthcoming novel, but also a net worth that’s a fraction of what it could have been if she’d stayed on the Nickelodeon treadmill.
McCurdy’s choice to prioritise well-being over wealth underscores the personal cost of childhood fame.
What is Jennette McCurdy’s net worth?
Estimated net worth and income sources
Estimates for McCurdy’s net worth in 2025 vary widely, reflecting the range of sources available. CelebsMoney (a celebrity net worth tracker) pegs it at $5 million, while Biography Bytes (a celebrity biography site) reports around $3.5 million. A third source, ReplySwift (entertainment data aggregator), claims as high as $8 million — though that figure appears less reliable. The consensus among most tier-2 and tier-3 outlets is that McCurdy’s wealth comes from a mix of acting royalties, book sales, podcast revenue, and sponsorship deals (TheThings (entertainment news outlet)).
Comparison to previous Nickelodeon earnings
During her peak on iCarly, McCurdy reportedly earned about $50,000 per episode (Biography Bytes (a celebrity biography site)). That income stream dried up when she stopped acting. The memoir, however, became a major new revenue source — it spent months on bestseller lists and is still generating royalties (Celebrity Net Worth (wealth database)).
McCurdy’s net worth is lower than it might have been if she’d continued acting, but her post-acting income is more diversified — and she has full control over her creative output. The trade-off is clear: less money, more freedom.
This financial shift reflects a deliberate rebalancing of priorities away from Hollywood earnings.
Why did Sam and Cat end?
Behind-the-scenes conflicts
The Nickelodeon series Sam & Cat, which ran from 2013 to 2014, was a spin-off of iCarly and Victorious. McCurdy has since revealed that the atmosphere on set was tense. In her memoir, she described feeling isolated and competitive with co-star Ariana Grande. The show ended after just one season, reportedly because McCurdy decided to leave acting — a decision she made after her mother’s death in 2017 and growing dissatisfaction with the industry (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia)).
Role of Nickelodeon and ratings
Ratings for Sam & Cat were strong, but the show was not renewed. Nickelodeon never gave an official reason, but McCurdy’s later comments suggest that backstage tensions and her own desire to leave were driving factors. The network has not publicly disputed her account (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia)).
Why are Ariana Grande and Jennette McCurdy not friends anymore?
Account from McCurdy’s memoir
In I’m Glad My Mom Died, McCurdy wrote that she felt alienated on the set of Sam & Cat. She described Grande as “competitive” and said the environment left her feeling “like a sidekick.” McCurdy did not blame Grande directly, but she reflected on the emotional toll of working alongside a co-star who was already a pop superstar (TheThings (entertainment news outlet)).
Grande’s public response (if any)
Ariana Grande has not publicly addressed the claims in detail. The two are not known to have any current relationship, and they have not been photographed together in years. Fans speculate about a feud, but neither party has confirmed enmity (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia)).
What did Jennette McCurdy say about Ariana Grande in her book?
Specific quotes from I’m Glad My Mom Died
McCurdy wrote: “I felt like a supporting character in my own life.” She described the dynamic on set as “isolating” and noted that Grande’s career was already skyrocketing while she felt stuck. The passages are not accusatory but rather introspective, focusing on McCurdy’s own feelings of inadequacy (TheThings (entertainment news outlet)).
Reactions from fans and media
The book became a bestseller partly because of these revelations. Media outlets like Biography Bytes (a celebrity biography site) covered the passages extensively, and fans debated whether Grande owed McCurdy an apology. The sustained interest in their relationship shows how much the public still cares about the dynamics of that Nickelodeon era.
Did Jennette McCurdy have a baby?
Clarification on current family status
There is no credible evidence that McCurdy has had a child. Rumors occasionally surface on social media, but she has never publicly confirmed a pregnancy or birth. Her personal life is famously private (Essence of Symbols (pop culture speculation site)).
Rumors and public statements
McCurdy has not addressed the baby rumors directly. The lack of any announcement or paparazzi photos suggests they are unfounded. For now, the answer is no — she is not known to have children.
Is Jennette McCurdy in a relationship now?
Known dating history and current status
McCurdy has never publicly confirmed a relationship. In 2022, she mentioned a long-term partner in interviews, but that person’s identity was never revealed. By 2025, there is no confirmed boyfriend or girlfriend (Essence of Symbols (pop culture speculation site)). She keeps her romantic life off social media entirely.
Privacy and public speculation
Given her history of trauma and her choice to leave the public eye, McCurdy’s silence on relationships is consistent with her overall approach to privacy. Fans should take any speculation with a grain of salt — until she shares something, it’s not news.
Timeline of Jennette McCurdy’s life
- 1992 — Born in Long Beach, California (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia))
- 2007–2012 — Played Sam Puckett on iCarly (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia))
- 2013–2014 — Starred in Sam & Cat with Ariana Grande (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia))
- 2017 — Mother died of cancer (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia))
- 2022 — Published I’m Glad My Mom Died; announced exit from acting (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia))
- 2025–2026 — New novel Half His Age released; TV adaptation in development (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia))
What we know vs. what we don’t
Confirmed facts
- McCurdy is alive and actively writing (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia))
- She has published two books (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia))
- Sam & Cat ended in 2014 (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia))
- She is no longer acting (TheThings (entertainment news outlet))
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth (estimates vary from $3.5M to $8M) (CelebsMoney (celebrity net worth tracker); Biography Bytes (celebrity biography site))
- Current relationship status (Essence of Symbols (pop culture speculation site))
- Whether she has children (no evidence) (Essence of Symbols (pop culture speculation site))
- Nature of falling out with Ariana Grande (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia))
“I felt like a supporting character in my own life.”
— Jennette McCurdy, I’m Glad My Mom Died
“I’m not acting anymore. I’m writing. I’m directing. I’m happier.”
— Jennette McCurdy, in a 2025 interview (TheThings (entertainment news outlet))
“Her memoir is a raw, unflinching look at the price of childhood fame.”
— Variety (entertainment industry publication), review of I’m Glad My Mom Died
For Jennette McCurdy, the path forward is clear: she’s left Hollywood behind and built a career on her own terms. The question for fans is whether that freedom will sustain her financially — or whether the next chapter will bring her back to the screen. For now, the bets are on the page.
thebiographybytes.com, fameworthies.com, westphaliantimes.com, celebriot.com, youtube.com, aucklandreview.org
Frequently asked questions
Is Jennette McCurdy still alive?
Yes, she is alive and active in writing and directing as of 2025.
How much does Jennette McCurdy make per year?
Her annual income is not publicly disclosed, but it comes from book royalties, podcast revenue, and occasional directing projects. Estimates suggest her net worth is between $3.5 million and $5 million.
Did Jennette McCurdy quit acting?
Yes, she announced in 2022 that she had quit acting. She has not appeared in any film or TV project since.
What is Jennette McCurdy’s new book about?
Her novel Half His Age, set for release on January 20, 2026, is a fictional story about a younger woman in a relationship with an older man. It’s published by Penguin Random House’s Valentine imprint.
Does Jennette McCurdy have any siblings?
She has three older brothers. She has spoken about her family in her memoir.
What did Jennette McCurdy’s mother do?
Her mother, Debra McCurdy, was a homemaker who pushed Jennette into acting. She died of cancer in 2017.
Is Jennette McCurdy on Instagram?
Yes, she has 8 million followers on Instagram, where she posts updates about her writing and personal life sparingly.