Penn became actively involved in politics during Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in 2007 and 2008, serving as a visible advocate for the candidate. After Obama’s victory, Penn was appointed Associate Director in the White House Office of Public Engagement in 2009. He left the post briefly in 2010 to resume acting and complete “A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas,” released in November of that year, before returning to his White House duties. In November 2013, President Obama appointed Penn to the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities, further recognizing his commitment to public engagement.

Television Hosting and Later Roles

Kal Penn hosted “The Big Brain Theory: Pure Genius,” a competitive engineering reality show that premiered on the Discovery Channel on May 1, 2013. Shortly afterward, on May 10, 2013, it was announced that he would join the cast of the CBS sitcom “We Are Men.” Though the series was short-lived, it marked Penn’s continued presence on network television.

Personal Life and Net Worth

Despite his high-profile career, Kal Penn has maintained a notably private personal life. In 2021, he publicly came out as gay and revealed he had been in a long-term relationship with his partner, Josh, with whom he later became engaged. Prior to this announcement, Penn had kept his romantic life private, leading to occasional speculation.

Kal Penn’s net worth is estimated to be around $15 million, accumulated through his diverse career in acting, academia, public service, and television hosting.