Meet Will Ferrell's Eldest Son Magnus! All About the Musician and His Relationship with His Famous Dad (Including Their Viral Frat Party Moment!)

Will Ferrell has kept his eldest son, Magnus, laughing since 2004.

Will and his wife, Viveca Paulin, who also share sons Mattias and Axel, gave their firstborn a Scandinavian name as a nod to his mother’s Swedish heritage. Though Will has joked that people assume he named his son after himself — Magnus means “great one” in Latin — he has insisted that wasn’t the intention.

Much like his famous father, Magnus has a knack for humor. "He's very subtly funny," The Elf actor revealed to Parade in 2018. But Magnus isn’t just about jokes — he’s also a talented musician.

The University of Southern California student has played in a band and even had his dad join him onstage for a cowbell cameo during a 2022 performance in San Diego — a playful nod to Will’s iconic SNL sketch from 2000.

Related: https://people.com/movies/who-is-viveca-paulin-will-ferrell-wife/

Despite his dad’s status as one of Hollywood’s most beloved comedic actors, Magnus appears to take his father’s antics in stride — even when they become embarrassing. In a June 2024 TikTok, Magnus rated moments from his childhood, including the time Will showed up to his prom dressed as a medieval lord.

Here’s everything to know about Will Ferrell’s first-born son, Magnus Ferrell.

Magnus was born in 2004

Will and Paulin welcomed Magnus on March 7, 2004, and chose a name that honored her Swedish heritage.

“My wife was born in Sweden and we loved the idea of a Scandinavian name,” the Saturday Night Live alum told PEOPLE in 2006. He humorously addressed misconceptions about the name, which means "great one," noting, "I've gotten a lot of flack: 'What kind of ego do you have to have to name your child the great one?' "

Related: Will Ferrell's 3 Kids: All About Sons Magnus, Mattias and Axel

But, the comedian insisted he and Paulin picked the name because of her heritage and not because of the meaning.

Like his dad, Magnus attends the University of Southern California

Following in his father's footsteps, Magnus attends the University of Southern California. Despite his major in acting, Magnus has been actively launching his music career, releasing several singles and signing to Republic Records.

Magnus has also already made a name for himself on campus. In October 2023, his dad played a surprise DJ set during one of his fraternity's tailgates — a moment that later went viral on TikTok.

Will joined Magnus onstage for one of his band's performances

The budding musician has played the keyboard and sang in a band, performing original songs and covers. In December 2022, he played his first-ever live show in San Diego, opening for the Psychedelic Furs. His set included three original songs and a cover of Radiohead’s "Creep," and he even got a little help from his famous dad.

During Will’s surprise appearance onstage, he brought back his legendary "More Cowbell" routine from season 5 of SNL. Dressed in a hoodie reading "Hot Buttered Soul," the actor joined Magnus’ band onstage, much to the delight of the crowd.

The performance was part of a benefit concert for Cancer for College, a scholarship fund founded by Will’s longtime friend Craig Pollard, per Rolling Stone.

He's close with his dad's famous friends

During a 2024 interview on the Lightweights Podcast with Joe Vulpis, Magnus was asked to name the “craziest person who came over for family dinner.” Without hesitation, he singled out his dad’s longtime friend and Step Brothers costar, John C. Reilly.

“We were doing this Christmas thing where we had close friends and family,” Magnus recalled. “John C. Reilly was there. And it was pretty normal. And then he just at one point started singing opera.”

The unexpected moment left a lasting impression. Magnus described how Reilly didn’t just sing a few notes — he delivered an entire aria. “It was the most amazing thing. Like, it was bizarre! But then you’re like, ‘Wait, this is so funny,’ ” the musician said.

Magnus likes to joke around with his dad

Magnus has inherited more than just his dad’s love for comedy — he’s also got a knack for poking fun at him in the best way possible.

The young musician often shares hilarious glimpses into life with his actor dad. In February 2025, Magnus jumped on the viral “My Emergency Contact” TikTok trend, posting a 10-second clip of Will awkwardly dancing to Hannah Montana’s “Ordinary Girl.”

This wasn’t the first time Magnus roasted his dad online. In 2023, he posted another TikTok, humorously rating different things Will had done — one of the highlights being when the Blades of Glory star showed up to his prom in costume.

“Dressed as a medieval lord to embarrass me at prom 10000/10,” Magnus wrote, rating the encounter.

He and his siblings once rescued Will from a wardrobe malfunction

Magnus and his brothers proved they always have their dad’s back — literally — when they came to his rescue during a red carpet mishap in September 2024.

While attending the premiere of his documentary Will & Harper at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, Will was mid-interview when Magnus and Mattias noticed something wasn’t quite right with his suit. The back tails of his navy blue jacket were still stitched together, and rather than let their dad continue, the brothers sprang into action.

In a now-viral clip shared by The Hollywood Reporter, Magnus and Mattias can be seen ducking behind their dad, attempting to separate the fabric. When their efforts weren’t enough, they quickly returned with a pair of scissors to finish the job. Ever the comedian, Will jokingly called his kids “primates” as they worked to fix his suit.

One of his songs was featured in one of his father’s film

Magnus’ song “Slow Down” made it onto the soundtrack of You're Cordially Invited, a 2025 romantic comedy starring his father and Reese Witherspoon. The song, which was a collaboration with Witherspoon’s son, Deacon Phillippe, came about when Magnus and his college roommate decided to experiment with new sounds, creating what he previously described to PEOPLE as a “really weird-sounding, super-fast, kind of Latin” track.

Initially, the song was just a creative outlet, but Magnus saw an unexpected opportunity when his dad, who was in the middle of filming, mentioned that the production team was still looking for a song for a party scene.

After Will played it for them, the filmmakers loved it, and Magnus' track officially became part of the film. “I've got such an amazing support system and people that really believe in me,” he told PEOPLE. “I'm just so lucky that I found such a good group of people.”

Magnus hasn’t seen all of his dad’s movies

Magnus has not made his way through his father’s entire filmography. On the Lightweights Podcast, he admitted that there are still several of his dad’s movies he has yet to watch — including Blades of Glory.

“There are still some movies I haven't seen yet, just 'cuz I haven't seen them,” Magnus said, calling his lack of Blades of Glory knowledge “kind of a crime.” That being said, he does have a favorite among his dad’s work — Step Brothers. “I just think it's funny," Magnus said.

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