If you are also curious about how much money William Zabka has, then you’re not alone. William Zabka net worth is somewhere between $3 million and $4 million right now. That’s what happens when you play a high school bully in 1984, drop off the radar for two decades, and then return for Cobra Kai.
Not Tom Cruise money. But for a dude who was typecast as a bad guy his whole career and spent years making commercials, it’s a pretty good turnaround.
The Karate Kid Didn’t Make Him Rich
William Zabka age is 60. Born October 20, 1965 in New York. He was 19 when he got cast as Johnny Lawrence. Had zero martial arts experience. He was a wrestler. The movie made him famous but it also ruined his career for a while. Nobody wanted to cast him as anything except the bad guy.
We don’t know what he made from the first Karate Kid. It was his first big role. Probably wasn’t much for a teenager in 1984. The film made over $130 million but that went to the studio and the big names. Zabka got famous and typecast.
He did films through the 80s and 90s. Just One of the Guys, Back to School, and some TV stuff. Steady but not rich. By the 2000s he was directing commercials for Verizon and Little Tikes. He made a short film called Most in 2004 that got an Oscar nomination. Cool but doesn’t pay like a hit show.
William Zabka Net Worth Before Cobra Kai Was Maybe $2 Million
Zabka was likely worth between $1.5 million and $2 million before 2018. He has worked, but not at a level that builds real wealth. Just getting by.
In 2017, when he and Ralph Macchio pitched Cobra Kai to everyone, every platform wanted it. Amazon, Hulu and Apple offered bids as well as Netflix. YouTube Red emerged victorious, and that felt strange. Nobody had YouTube Red. Didn’t matter! Because it later moved to Netflix, duh.
The first two seasons on YouTube Red paid around $100,000 per episode. Ten episodes per season. That’s about $1 million a season. Decent but not huge. He was also a co-executive producer alongside Macchio, which meant more money.
When season 3 was picked up by Netflix, everything blew up. Everyone started watching. He no doubt earned somewhere in the vicinity of $150,000 to $200,000 an episode for those later seasons. There is no way to know for sure since contracts aren’t public.
Where His Money Comes From
William Zabka net worth comes from multiple things now. Six seasons of Cobra Kai from 2018 to 2025 brought in millions. He also did a cameo in Karate Kid Legends in 2025.
As co-executive producer, he gets producer fees and probably backend points. When the show does well, he gets a cut. With Cobra Kai being huge on Netflix globally, those backend deals likely paid off.
He still directs commercials and music videos. Been doing that since the 2000s. Pays well and keeps money coming between acting jobs. Plus residuals from old projects. Every time someone streams The Karate Kid, he gets a small cut.
His Instagram has about 2.7 million followers. Some estimates say he could make $400,000 to $580,000 yearly from sponsorships but that’s just guessing. Celebrity Net Worth says $4 million. Other sites say $3 million. The difference is probably how they calculate assets and residuals.
Ralph Macchio Net Worth Is Double
For comparison, Ralph Macchio net worth is around $8 million. He made more partly because he was the star of Karate Kid, not the villain. He’s also had a longer steady career with bigger roles. Both made $100,000 per episode for early Cobra Kai seasons but Macchio’s overall earnings are higher.
Still, Zabka’s done okay. Going from a dead career to making over $1 million yearly on a Netflix hit is pretty solid.
His Wife Stays Out of Spotlight
Zabka married Stacie Zabka in 2008. She was Stacie Lynn Doss before marriage. Works in finance management. Super private. Some sources say she was born in 1974, making her 51 now. Others say 1979, which would be 46. She’s never confirmed it.
Stacie Zabka net worth is estimated to be around $600,000 from her business stuff. She doesn’t use social media. Doesn’t do interviews. Barely shows up at red carpet events. In Hollywood that’s basically unheard of, but it’s worked for their marriage. They’ve been together 17 years.
They have two sons. Names and ages were never made public. The Zabkas protect their kids’ privacy hard, which is refreshing when most celebrities post everything online.
What Happens Now
Cobra Kai wrapped in 2025. Show’s done. That paycheck’s gone. So what’s next?
William Zabka’s upcoming projects aren’t really public yet. He was in Karate Kid Legends this year, so he’s still willing to play Johnny when it makes sense. But at 60, he’s probably not signing up for another six-season show.
More likely he’ll pick acting roles carefully, keep producing and directing, and maybe develop new stuff. He’s got the connections now. Cobra Kai proved he can carry a show. That opens doors that were closed before.
He’s also been training in Tang Soo Do since going back to Johnny Lawrence. Got a black belt. Stays in shape. Guy’s 60 and still looks like he could fight, which is pretty impressive.
What It All Means
William Zabka net worth of $3 million to $4 million isn’t massive by Hollywood standards. But for someone typecast in the 80s who disappeared for years and then made one of the better comebacks in recent TV, it works.
He took the Cobra Kai chance when it came. Got producer credits that meant more money and control. Kept working during lean years. Married someone who keeps their life actually private. That stability probably helped his career more than people think.
He’s 60 with plenty of working years left if he wants them. Not bad for the guy everyone remembers as the jerk from 40 years ago.
