George M. Cohan Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday

Pierre-Louis Padang Coffin: The Animator Who Gave Life to Minions

Born on March 16, 1967, Pierre Coffin has built a rare legacy — transforming simple yellow characters into cultural icons. His birthday and birthdate are often noted by fans and media alike, but his story goes far deeper than just a date on a calendar.

A Childhood Between Worlds, Fueling Creative Spark

Coffin’s life began in France, born to a French diplomat father, Yves Coffin, and an Indonesian novelist mother, Nh. Dini.  As a child, his family moved frequently around Asia — including stints in Cambodia and Japan — before eventually settling in a Paris suburb in the 1970s. 

Television was off-limits at home, so young Coffin turned instead to drawing, reading and music. Surrounded by more artistically inclined friends, he found himself drawn to the world of images and motion. That early hunger for creativity would become the root of a remarkable career.

He first studied cinema at Paris-Sorbonne University between 1985 and 1988. Later, while completing his military service, he passed the entrance exam to the prestigious animation school Gobelins School of the Image in Paris — studying 2D animation from 1990 to 1993. 

His earliest professional role was as a junior animator at the London-based studio Amblin, where he worked on the film We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story. From there, Coffin moved to a French CGI studio called Ex Machina, eventually becoming an animation supervisor before stepping into directing. 

From Short Films and Commercials to Global Fame

Coffin’s directorial debut came in 1997 with a short film titled Pings. Over the next decade he worked on commercials, animated shorts, and even created characters for the television series Pat & Stan (for France’s TF1).

Everything changed in 2010: Coffin, along with fellow director Chris Renaud, launched the film Despicable Me — a deceptively simple animated comedy that introduced the world to the unforgettable Minions. Coffin didn’t just direct: he was the primary voice artist for those tiny yellow henchmen. 

That film sparked a franchise. Coffin went on to co-direct sequels and spin-offs: Despicable Me 2, Minions, Despicable Me 3 — and lent his distinctive Minion voice to them all.

The Wealth Behind the Yellow Goggles: Estimating Net Worth

Thanks to the massive global success of the Despicable Me and Minions franchises, Coffin has built considerable wealth. Several publicly available estimates put his net worth around US$10 million. 

That figure seems to hold steady in recent years: despite the enduring popularity and new entries in the franchise, trusted sources continue to list ~$10M as his net worth. 

It’s worth noting — such estimates come with caveats. They reflect a mixture of film earnings, residuals from voice and directing work, and potentially other income streams; they rarely account for private investments or property holdings. But even at the conservative $10M mark, Coffin’s financial standing illustrates how creativity can translate into serious success.

What’s Known (And What’s Not) of His Private Life

Despite global fame, Coffin has kept his personal life largely private. Reliable public records note he is the father of two children. 

Beyond that, there’s scant credible information about his relationships or marital status. Media outlets that focus on celebrity gossip offer conflicting or low-quality claims — none of which meet the threshold for reliable sourcing. As a result, public documentation of any spouse or long-term partner remains elusive.

Given his discreet approach, any mention of a “spouse,” “partner,” or “relationship” should be treated with skepticism, unless confirmed by Coffin himself or reputable outlets.

The Legacy of a Global Storyteller

Pierre Coffin’s journey — from a globe-trotting childhood, to classic training in French animation, to directing family-friendly films celebrated across continents — offers a compelling blueprint for bridging artistry and mainstream appeal.

His birthdate, March 16, 1967, is more than a trivia fact: it anchors the story of someone who turned early wanderlust and a love for drawing into some of the most recognizable characters in modern animation.

Though public estimates peg his net worth at around $10 million, Coffin’s true value lies in cultural impact: the Minions, those eccentric, comedic creatures, now belong to global pop culture.

He remains — for now — a creative figure who prioritizes craft over celebrity, letting his films and characters speak for him.