Comedian and actor John Mulaney has candidly discussed his role as a financial supporter for his wife Olivia Munn's extensive family network. The revelation came during a recent appearance on Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out podcast, where the 43-year-old star opened up about personal family dynamics.
Financial Support for Extended Family
Mulaney explained that he has become "one of the significant financial contributors" to Munn's large Vietnamese family based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. "So Olivia has a large – she’s Vietnamese, and she has a large Vietnamese family in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, of which I am one of the significant financial contributors," he stated during the podcast conversation.
The comedian highlighted the dramatic shift in his financial responsibilities, noting that "For the first 39 years of my life, I supported zero Vietnamese people – probably none – and now I have 10 on the books." This change represents a significant commitment that has developed since his relationship with Munn began.
Family Background and Personal Joy
Mulaney expressed genuine happiness about being able to assist his wife's family, who are Vietnamese refugees. He contrasted this with his own family situation, explaining that his parents are economically secure and don't require his financial support. "With parents of some success, you can’t really do anything for them," he noted. "And it brings me great joy to help out, to help and do fun things for Olivia’s family."
During the podcast, Birbiglia posed a question about whether family members might be thinking about potential financial support during interactions. Mulaney responded with characteristic humor: "There’s no wonder. In the back of the mind? You mean the front of the voice? The front of the voice – the words coming out of their mouth?" He added, "How refreshing, by the way, [having come from] a goddamn white family, [in which we] never talk about money at all."
Family Relationships and Background
Mulaney and Munn, who is 45, began dating in 2021 and welcomed their son Malcolm later that year, just one day before Thanksgiving. The couple tied the knot in July 2024 and later welcomed daughter Méi via surrogate in September 2024.
Interestingly, Munn revealed last year during an appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers that her mother, Dung Kim Schmid, didn't meet Mulaney until after their first child was born. Schmid came to visit the newborn and celebrate the holiday, marking their first introduction.
Developing Close Bonds
Since that initial meeting, Mulaney and Schmid have developed a remarkably close relationship. Munn described them as "besties" during a Today With Jenna & Friends interview last year. She shared that "John has a list – an actual notepad – of Korean dramas and movies to watch with her and checks them off. They love it."
The couple's journey to expand their family involved significant challenges. Munn previously opened up to Vogue about her decision to freeze her eggs following her breast cancer diagnosis, as chemotherapy and radiation treatments can affect fertility. "After my diagnosis, we decided to try one more round of egg retrievals and hoped it was a good month," she explained, noting she had attempted the process at ages 33, 39, and 42.
Munn elaborated on their family planning discussions: "John and I talked about it a lot and we don't feel like we're done growing our family, but didn't know if I would have to do chemotherapy or radiation." This context adds depth to understanding the couple's family dynamics and the importance of their support systems.
Mulaney's appearance on the podcast also served to promote his Mister Whatever tour, though the conversation notably veered into these deeply personal family matters, providing fans with rare insight into the comedian's private life and values regarding family support and cultural integration.
