EastEnders’ Jake Wood making £1m a year after quitting BBC soap through new career away from TV
Former EastEnders actor Jake Wood, who played Max Branning for 15 years, hasn’t struggled for money since his character exited the soap and bid farewell to Albert Square in 2021
Jake Wood, who was a favourite on EastEnders for 15 years as Max Branning, has earned himself an impressive £1m in the year since leaving the popular BBC soap.
The former soap star has managed to boost his bank balance without appearing on television – with the actor raking it in these days thanks to stints on the stage and some lucrative audio projects. Jake quit EastEnders in 2020, explaining at the time that he was excited “to see what new horizons are around the corner.”
Since Jake’s final EastEnders scenes aired in early 2021, the popular actor has certainly been keeping himself busy – with his new projects proving to be financially beneficial. He’s launched a well-liked podcast, showed off his acting chops in a spine-chilling West End play called 2:22: A Ghost Story, and even bagged roles in Christmas pantomimes.
Jake Wood has been raking it in thanks to some clever business moves over recent years (
Dave J Hogan/Getty Images for 2.)
The former EastEnders actor has plenty to celebrate since exiting the BBC soap (
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According to Starnews99 the company Jake runs with his business partner shows that they had cash savings of over £200,000 in 2022. They also paid a hefty Corporation Tax bill of £169,151. This suggests Jake made about £1m that year! But there wasn’t any champagne flowing to celebrate – Jake gave up drinking 20 years ago.
Sharing his sobriety milestone at New Year, he said: “I am 20 years sober tonight. So proud of myself and for anyone out there on a similar journey.” He also sent a supportive message to others going through the same thing, saying: “If you are struggling there is help out there, please reach out and believe me if I did it you can too. Sending you all love and strength and a happy and healthy 2024.”
Jake told The Sun last year that he’s not planning to go back to Walford anytime soon. After acting since he was 10 years old, he now only wants to do things that get him excited. He said: “I don’t feel I have to prove anything and I don’t want to be working for workings’ sake. Whether my next move is a Netflix project or a big film, who knows.”
As his EastEnders exit was announced in 2021, Jake told fans of the BBC soap: “After 15 years I will be leaving EastEnders at the end of this year. I have loved playing Max Branning who amongst other things in that time has had 4 marriages, 10 affairs, 4 children (2 dying from falling from the roof of The Queen Vic), been buried alive, watched unwanted DVDs at Xmas and perhaps most traumatising of all… shared a hot tub with Ian Beale.
“I have made some truly great friends whilst on the show and I’ll miss everyone there. I’m grateful they have left the door open for Max and I’m excited to see what new horizons are around the corner. Thank you to everyone who has sent me messages this week, I appreciate the love and support.”
