Ariel Winter is an American actress and voice actress. Most people know her as Alex Dunphy, the smart middle child on the ABC sitcom Modern Family. She also voiced Princess Sofia in Disney’s Sofia the First. She started acting at age four, and she has worked almost nonstop ever since.
This guide covers what people search for most: her age, height, education, family, boyfriend history and net worth. It also fills in details many other sites skip, such as her 2025 and 2026 projects, her work with SOSA, and the latest on her relationship status. Where sources disagree, we say so instead of guessing.
Ariel Winter Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full name | Ariel Winter Workman |
| Date of birth | January 28, 1998 |
| Age | 28 years old (as of October 2026) |
| Zodiac sign | Aquarius |
| Birthplace | Fairfax, Virginia, USA |
| Current home | Nashville, Tennessee |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Greek (mother) and German (father) |
| Religion | Greek Orthodox Christian |
| Height | 5 ft 1 in (155 cm / 1.55 m) |
| Weight | Reported at about 57 to 61 kg (126 to 134 lb) |
| Profession | Actress, voice actress, producer, occasional singer |
| Years active | 2002 to present |
| Best known for | Alex Dunphy in Modern Family; voice of Sofia in Sofia the First |
| Parents | Chrisoula (née Batistas) and Glenn Workman |
| Siblings | Shanelle Workman and Jimmy Workman |
| Education | Homeschooled until 14; Campbell Hall School (graduated 2016); UCLA (paused in 2018) |
| Last known relationship | Luke Benward (about 2019 to August 2025) |
| Children | None |
| Net worth | About $12 million (estimates range from $1 million to $15 million) |
| @arielwinter |
Ariel Winter Biography: Early Life and Background
Ariel Winter Workman was born on January 28, 1998. Wikipedia and most careful sources say she was born in Fairfax, Virginia. A few smaller websites say Los Angeles, which is where she later lived and worked. Fairfax is the better-supported answer.
She is the youngest of three children. Her mother, Chrisoula, comes from a Greek family. Her father, Glenn Workman, is of German descent. Ariel has said this herself on social media: her dad is German and her mom is Greek. Some sites add English or Slovak roots, but she has not talked about those in public.
She grew up in a family of performers. Her older sister, Shanelle Workman, is an actress. Her older brother, Jimmy Workman, played Pugsley in The Addams Family movies. With that background, it is not surprising that Ariel landed her first job as a child.
How Old Is Ariel Winter?
As of October 15, 2026, Ariel Winter is 28 years and 8 months old. She will turn 29 on January 28, 2027.
Her age matters to her story. She was only 11 when Modern Family premiered in 2009, and she was 22 when the show ended in 2020. Fans literally watched her grow up on screen.
Ariel Winter Education: School and UCLA
Because of her acting schedule, Ariel was homeschooled until about age 14. After that she attended Campbell Hall School, a private school in Los Angeles. She graduated in June 2016.
She was accepted to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Reports say she planned to study subjects like political science, and she has said she has always been interested in law. She first aimed to start in fall 2016, then pushed it to fall 2017. In 2018 she took an indefinite break from UCLA to focus on work.
So, to answer a common question: no, she has not finished a college degree. Sites that say she has no school history at all are wrong, because she did attend high school and was enrolled at UCLA.
Ariel Winter Career: From a Cool Whip Ad to Modern Family
Early roles (2002 to 2008)
Ariel’s career began in 2002, at age four, with a Cool Whip commercial. Her first TV role came in 2005 in an episode of Listen Up. After that she appeared as a guest on shows like Freddie, Monk, Bones, Nip/Tuck, Crossing Jordan, Criminal Minds and ER.
Her film debut was Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), when she was seven. She played Young Harmony Faith Lane in a cast that included Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer. Her next film roles included Speed Racer (2008), where she played young Trixie, and One Missed Call (2008).
Modern Family (2009 to 2020)
In 2009 she won the role of Alex Dunphy, the brainy middle child of Phil and Claire. Modern Family ran for 11 seasons and 216 episodes of her time on the show, according to Wikipedia. Her co-stars included Ty Burrell, Julie Bowen, Sarah Hyland, Nolan Gould, Sofía Vergara and Ed O’Neill.
The cast won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series four years in a row, from 2010 to 2013. Ariel has said the set itself was a joyful place with little behind-the-scenes drama.
Voice acting
Much of her fame also comes from her voice. Her best-known voice credits include:
- Sofia the First (Disney Junior, 2012 to 2018): the lead role of Princess Sofia, which began with the TV movie Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess.
- Phineas and Ferb: Gretchen, from 2008 to 2015, and again in 2025.
- Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Marina the Mermaid.
- Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014): Penny Peterson.
- Smurfs: The Lost Village (2017): Smurf Lily.
- Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (2012 to 2013): Carrie Kelley, who becomes Robin.
- Star Trek: Lower Decks (2023 to 2024): D’Erika Tendi.
- Smaller roles in Bambi II, Ice Age: The Meltdown, Horton Hears a Who!, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and ParaNorman.
- Video games: young Kairi in Kingdom Hearts, plus Final Fantasy XIII-2, Guild Wars 2 and The Quarry (2022), where she lent her voice and likeness to the character Abi Blyg.
Live-action films
Besides Speed Racer and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, her film work includes Duress (2009), Opposite Day (2009), Excision (2012), Safelight (2015) and The Last Movie Star (2017). She earned a Young Artist Award nomination for her leading role in The Chaperone (2011).
What she is doing in 2025 and 2026
Most competing bio pages stop in 2020 or 2021. Her recent work is where she has been busiest:
- Like Father Like Son (2025): film role as Hailey.
- Don’t Log Off (2025): thriller in which she also worked as a co-producer.
- Pools (2025): summer film in which she plays Delaney.
- The Sisters Grimm (2025): voice of Sabrina in the Apple TV series.
- SOSA Undercover (2025 to present): a web series tied to her volunteer work.
- Clash of the Thundermans (2026): she plays Cognita in the Nickelodeon movie.
- Sofia the First: Royal Magic (2026): she returns as the voice of Sofia.
- Predator Files (2026): recurring appearances as herself.
- Stars on Mars (2023): she took part as a contestant.
Awards and nominations
| Award | Year | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Screen Actors Guild Award, Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series (Modern Family) | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 | Won (shared with cast) |
| Screen Actors Guild Award, same category | 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016 | Nominated |
| Young Artist Award, Outstanding Young Performers in a TV Series | 2010 | Won |
| Young Artist Award, Outstanding Young Ensemble in a TV Series | 2011 | Nominated |
| Young Artist Award, Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film (The Chaperone) | 2012 | Nominated |
Ariel Winter Height, Weight and Looks
Ariel Winter’s height is 5 ft 1 in, which is about 155 cm or 1.55 meters. Almost every source agrees on this.
Her weight is less clear. Different websites list numbers between about 57 and 61 kg (126 to 134 lb), but she has never confirmed an official figure. Treat any exact number as an estimate. The same goes for shoe size and other body measurements, which vary from page to page.
Some sources say her natural hair color is blonde and that she often dyes it dark brown. Beyond looks, she has a purple belt in taekwondo and enjoys singing, cooking and board games, especially Settlers of Catan.
Her 2015 breast reduction
In 2015, at age 17, Ariel had breast reduction surgery. She has explained that she lived with back pain and constant public comments about her body. She later said the surgery made her feel like herself. At the 2016 SAG Awards she chose not to hide her scars, and she spoke out when headlines focused on her body instead of her work. Today she is often described as an advocate for body positivity and against online body-shaming.
Ariel Winter Family: Parents, Siblings and Nieces
Parents. Her mother is Chrisoula Workman (née Batistas). Her father is Glenn Workman. Some websites call her mother Crystal, but Chrisoula is the name used in court coverage and by Wikipedia.
Sister: Shanelle Workman Gray. Shanelle is an actress and director, best known for the soap opera One Life to Live and for voice work in video games. She has two daughters, Skylar and Parker, who are also child actors. Ariel is close to her nieces.
Brother: Jimmy Workman. Jimmy was discovered as a child when he tagged along to his sister’s audition. He is best known as Pugsley Addams in The Addams Family (1991) and Addams Family Values. He later moved into film production.
Guardianship and emancipation
This is the most sensitive part of Ariel’s story, so here are the facts as reported:
- 2012: Shanelle filed to become Ariel’s guardian. She alleged that their mother had been physically and emotionally abusive. Reports at the time said her father would oversee her finances.
- 2014: The court gave guardianship to Shanelle and permanently removed Ariel from her mother’s guardianship. Her mother later said the family had moved beyond the conflict.
- 2015: At 17, Ariel was legally emancipated.
She has since said she wants to speak up about childhood abuse and exploitation in the entertainment industry. That passion connects directly to her current volunteer work (see below).
Ariel Winter Boyfriend: Dating History and Relationship Status
Fans search for “Ariel Winter boyfriend” constantly, but many older pages are out of date. Here is the full history.
| Partner | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Callan McAuliffe | 2011 | Australian actor; the first publicly known relationship, which lasted about a month |
| Cameron Palatas | 2012 to 2013 | American actor |
| Laurent Claude Gaudette | 2014 to 2016 | Musician; they appeared together at Coachella 2015 and at her prom |
| Nolan Gould | 2016 | Modern Family co-star; this was rumor only, never confirmed |
| Levi Meaden | 2016 to 2019 | Canadian actor; they lived together in her Sherman Oaks home |
| Luke Benward | About 2019 to August 2025 | Actor and singer; friends first, then a couple |
What happened with Luke Benward?
Ariel and Luke became a couple around the end of 2019. They worked together on the short film Boys (2021), which he directed and she produced. They also shared a home full of dogs.
People magazine reported in early 2026 that the pair had split in August 2025 after about six years together. Ariel then responded publicly. She said Luke is still one of her best friends, a great person, and a great co-parent to their dogs. Wikipedia now lists the relationship as running from 2020 to August 2025.
Several popular bio pages still call Luke her current boyfriend. They are out of date. We have not found a confirmed new relationship in the sources we checked, so please check her official accounts for anything newer.
Is Ariel Winter married? Does she have kids?
No. Ariel Winter is not married and has no children. Her six dogs are the closest thing to a big household.
Ariel Winter Net Worth (2026)
Ariel Winter’s net worth is most often estimated at about $12 million. You will see numbers as low as $1 million and as high as $15 million, because nobody outside her team knows her real finances.
Where her money comes from
- Modern Family. This was by far her biggest paycheck. Several sites report that she earned about $70,000 per episode early on and about $125,000 per episode in later seasons. Those figures are unconfirmed.
- Voice acting. Playing the lead in Sofia the First and appearing in Phineas and Ferb and animated films gave her steady income.
- Movies and TV. Films like The Last Movie Star and newer projects add to her earnings, though they paid less than her sitcom role.
- Brand deals and social media. She has millions of followers on Instagram, which brings sponsorship work.
- Real estate. In 2022 she bought a home near Nashville for about $2.9 million. Listing details describe more than 5,000 square feet, four bedrooms and large outdoor spaces. She had earlier owned a home in Sherman Oaks, California.
Why do net worth numbers differ so much?
If you multiply the reported episode pay by 216 episodes, you get a very large number. That is far higher than $12 million. The gap exists because reported pay is gross income. Taxes, agent and manager fees, spending, and changes in pay over the years all reduce what is left. Also, early seasons paid much less than later ones. Because of this, we suggest treating every net worth figure as a rough estimate.
Life Now: Nashville, Her Dogs and Causes She Supports
Moving to Nashville. In 2022 Ariel moved from Southern California to Nashville, Tennessee. She has said she left Los Angeles partly because she disliked paparazzi invading her space.
Pets. She is a big animal lover. Reports say she has six dogs, with names that begin with C: Casper, Cobain, Cupid, Chloe, Cash and Cleo. Some pages list a dog named Rocco instead, so the list may have changed over time. She supports animal rescue groups.
SOSA. Since 2025 she has volunteered with SOSA, working as a decoy in sting operations against online child predators. She also appears in SOSA Undercover and Predator Files. This work grows out of her advocacy against childhood abuse.
Other causes. She has supported GLSEN, No Kid Hungry, the Creative Coalition and anti-bullying campaigns.
Social media. You can follow her on Instagram (@arielwinter), X (@arielwinter1) and TikTok (@arielwinter).
Facts Other Websites Get Wrong About Ariel Winter
When we compared popular bio pages, we found the same mistakes repeated again and again. Here is a quick fact-check:
- Birthplace. Some say Los Angeles. Most solid sources say Fairfax, Virginia.
- Zodiac sign. One site lists Capricorn. Because she was born on January 28, her sign is Aquarius.
- Age. Several pages still say she is 21 or 23. She is 28.
- Boyfriend. Many pages still list Luke Benward or Levi Meaden as her current partner. Her most recent publicly reported split was from Luke in August 2025.
- Film debut. One page says she debuted in 2015. Her film debut was Kiss Kiss Bang Bang in 2005.
- Education. Some say she has no education. She finished high school at Campbell Hall and enrolled at UCLA.
- Episode count. Some pages say 250 episodes. Wikipedia lists 216 episodes for her role.
- Net worth. There is no confirmed figure, so be careful with pages that state one number as fact.
Ariel Winter FAQ
How old is Ariel Winter?
She is 28 years old. She was born on January 28, 1998.
How tall is Ariel Winter?
Ariel Winter is 5 ft 1 in (155 cm) tall.
What is Ariel Winter’s net worth?
About $12 million is the most common estimate, with a wider range of $1 million to $15 million.
Where did Ariel Winter go to school?
She was homeschooled until about 14, then attended Campbell Hall School in Los Angeles and graduated in June 2016. She enrolled at UCLA but paused her studies in 2018.
Final Thoughts
Ariel Winter has grown from a four-year-old in a Cool Whip commercial into an actress, voice actress, producer and child-safety advocate. Her Modern Family years made her famous. Her voice work as Sofia made her a favorite with kids. Her recent projects and her SOSA work show a career that is still moving forward.
If you want the short version: she is 28, she is 5 ft 1 in, she lives in Nashville, her net worth is estimated around $12 million, and her long relationship with Luke Benward ended in August 2025, according to reports.