- - Meet Will Ferrell’s 3 Kids! Everything to Know About His Sons Magnus, Mattias and Axel

Emily Weaver, Caroline BlairDecember 11, 2025 at 7:00 AM

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Karwai Tang/WireImage

Mattias Paulin Ferrell, Axel Paulin Ferrell, Will Ferrell, Viveca Paulin and Magnus Paulin Ferrell attend the "Barbie" premiere in London on July 12, 2023. -

Will Ferrell enjoys making his three kids laugh just as much as he loves humouring audiences around the world

The Elf actor and his wife, Viveca Paulin, are parents to three sons: Magnus, Mattias and Axel

All three sons seem to have inherited their dad's sense of humor and frequently share videos poking fun at their dad

Will Ferrell's kids seem to have inherited the funny gene!

The Step Brothers actor and his wife, Viveca Paulin, welcomed their first child together, son Magnus, in 2004. The family of three expanded once again two years later when son Mattias was born in 2006. Ferrell and Paulin completed their family in 2010 when they welcomed their youngest child together, son Axel, in 2010.

Just like their dad, all three sons seem to enjoy making people laugh and even recreated a scene from their dad's beloved 2003 Christmas movie, Elf, in 2025. Magnus and Mattias played the roles of their dad and his on-screen love interest, Zooey Deschanel, in the famous scene where he sings a Christmas song while she's in the shower.

Over the years, Ferrell has spoken about parenting by both joking about it and sharing more real advice. In 2017, he told PEOPLE, "There is usually a high volume in the house. Whether they're having a great time or whether they're losing their minds, they are always yelling."

In July 2023, the whole family supported Ferrell at the London premiere of his movie Barbie. Magnus, Mattias and Axel all wore suits for the special occasion. The family of five also made a cameo in the Jonas Brothers holiday movie, A Very Jonas Christmas.

Here's everything to know about Will Ferrell's three sons: Magnus, Mattias and Axel.

Magnus Paulin Ferrell, 21

John Phillips/Getty

Magnus Ferrell and Will Ferrell attend The European Premiere Of "Barbie" at Cineworld Leicester Square on July 12, 2023 in London, England.

Ferrell and Paulin welcomed their first son, Magnus, on March 7, 2004. A few years after his birth, the Saturday Night Live alum explained the meaning behind his firstborn's name, as well as the reason why the moniker raised some eyebrows.

"My wife was born in Sweden and we loved the idea of a Scandinavian name. I've gotten a lot of flack: 'What kind of ego do you have to have to name your child the great one?' That is not it at all," he shared.

Just like his famous dad, Magnus is quite the jokester. "He's very subtly funny," Ferrell said of his oldest child during a 2018 interview with Parade. The comedian went on to recall a funny stunt Magnus pulled off on picture day at school. "Last year, for his yearbook photo, he borrowed another kid's glasses. He doesn't wear glasses. There he is with this very serious look with glasses on," the proud dad said.

Of course, Ferrell had to applaud Magnus' sense of humor. "Like 'Magnus, that is so subversive and funny. Totally my sense of humor.' " Ferrell continued. "He's like, 'Am I in trouble?' Like, 'No, you've got to do it every year! Fantastic!' "

Magnus' hobbies include music, particularly playing the keyboard. The budding musician was in a band with two of his friends and sometimes his dad. In December 2022, the band had their first live gig in San Diego, and Ferrell got up on stage to play the cowbell — reminiscent of his iconic Saturday Night Live sketch from more than 20 years ago.

When Ferrell's eldest was attending his alma mater — the University of Southern California — the actor made headlines DJing a Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity tailgate during Trojan Family Weekend.

In June 2024, Magnus shared a video on TikTok "rating things my dad has done," sharing a photo from his prom and revealing the embarrassing thing that Ferrell did that night.

In the picture, Ferrell is dressed in full medieval garb as he stands next to Magnus, who is wearing a checkered suit. "Dressed as a medieval lord to embarrass me at prom 10000/10," he wrote on the video.

Magnus spoke to PEOPLE in May 2025 about living with his dad during a recent leave of absence from college to pursue music. Although he admitted "it's hard to get" his "personal space," he enjoyed living at home more than he expected.

“I love my family so much. That sounds so bad. I love hanging out with them, but I think that's part of it. I get to live at home. I get to have home-cooked meals,” he shared. “But I also have to do things you got to do when you live at home. I mean, you got to help run the house. It's like you have to."

Mattias Paulin Ferrell, 18

Kevork S. Djansezian/Getty Mattias Ferrell and Will Ferrell attend the Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies basketball game at Staples Center on February 21, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.

The couple welcomed their second child together, son Mattias, on Dec. 30, 2006. While appearing on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno in 2007, Ferrell admitted he doesn't know the English translation of his son's Swedish moniker.

"Mattias means 'one who eats fire,' " he joked. "No, I don't know what it means. It's a very popular name in Sweden." The name Mattias actually means "gift of God."

In a Q&A conducted by his The House costar Amy Poehler on CBS This Morning, Ferrell revealed that his children seem to have inherited his sense of humor. "They've all got a little glimmer in their eye," he said. However, when it comes to his own comedy, Mattias and his brothers can be a tough audience.

"A lot of times I'll get, 'Stop with the voices, let's get back to the story. Like, I appreciate what you're trying to do but you're taking away from the story,' " Ferrell told Poehler of his kids' reactions to his impressions.

Speaking to Parade in 2018, Ferrell shared that Mattias had started getting into his old SNL sketches in the sixth grade. "It's fun when they discover," he told the magazine.

In addition to comedy, Mattias is passionate about sports. In 2015, Ferrell shared with PEOPLE that he and Paulin had signed up to coach Mattias' soccer team.

"My wife and I are coaching, together, our 8-year-old's team," he said at the time, adding, "so, look out, AYSO Region 76. Here comes the Chargers!"

Axel Paulin Ferrell, 15

Noel Vasquez/GC Images Will Ferrell and his son Axel Ferrell attend a basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on February 23, 2014 in Los Angeles, California.

Ferrell and Paulin's youngest, son Axel, was born on Jan. 23, 2010, in L.A.

As Ferrell has said on multiple occasions, one of his greatest joys is embarrassing his children — especially when they've been misbehaving. "If they've been mouthing off or something, I turn up at dinner wearing just my underpants to warn them," the actor told BANG Showbiz in 2017, per 8Days.

"I can only imagine, but I sometimes equate [parenting boys] to what it must be like running a prison," he joked, adding that he often ends up "barking out orders" to his sons. "There is so much chaos you can't really take the time to articulate."

Axel and his brothers are very into Halloween, and they even pick out their dad's Halloween costume every year.

"We have a standing tradition that they get to pick out my Halloween costume, no matter what it is," Ferrell said. "I was a poop emoji a couple years ago."

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”