Bo Burnham is a well-known comedian, writer, and filmmaker who became famous for his clever mix of music and comedy. In 2016, he retired from live performances after experiencing severe anxiety and panic attacks while on stage. Burnham has spoken openly about how these struggles affected his ability to perform, leading him to take a step back from stand-up comedy to focus on his mental health.
Bo Burnham was born on August 21, 1990, in Hamilton, Massachusetts, United States. He grew up in a friendly and creative family; his mother, Patricia, worked as a nurse, and his father, Scott Burnham, owned a construction company. Bo was the youngest of three children and often enjoyed making his family laugh. He studied at St. John’s Preparatory School, where he was active in theatre and loved performing in school plays. His early interest in entertainment and comedy began at home, where he started writing songs and performing funny sketches for his friends and family.
Bo Burnham began his career in 2006 by posting funny songs on YouTube, which quickly became popular and gained millions of views. His online success led him to sign with Comedy Central Records, where he released his first comedy album Bo Fo Shoin 2008 and his debut full-length album Bo Burnhamin 2009.
He continued to rise in the comedy world with his specials Words Words Words(2010), what.(2013), and Make Happy(2016), which were praised for their clever lyrics and social commentary. After experiencing anxiety and panic attacks during live performances, Burnham took a break from stand-up but shifted his focus to writing and directing.
In 2018, he made his film directing debut with Eighth Grade, which received strong critical acclaim and won several awards for its honest look at teenage life. He later returned to performing with his Netflix special Insidein 2021, created during the COVID-19 lockdown, which earned him Emmy Awards and global praise for its creativity and emotional depth.
As of 2025, Bo Burnham’s estimated net worth is around $5 million. He built this amount through a mix of comedy, music, and filmmaking. His early YouTube success and comedy specials with Netflix and Comedy Central brought in strong earnings. Burnham also made money from his film Eighth Grade, which he wrote and directed, and from his award-winning Netflix special Inside.