Richest Comedians in the World
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Most of the time, comedians get their start doing standup on open mic nights, performing for tiny audiences (and likely getting booed for a while). Others find their creative outlet in television, film, radio, cartoons or on the internet.
With enough time, patience, and luck, a good funny person can make an OK living out of making people laugh. It's rare, but it can happen. On even rarer occasions, a comedian can make hundreds of millions of dollars.
These comedians have amassed tons of money by making people laugh and through other ventures. They are the richest comedians in the world.
32. Jeff Foxworthy
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Net worth: $100 million
Age: 62
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Jeff Foxworthy
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American comedian Jeff Foxworthy has done a little of everything in his lengthy career. In addition to standup comedy, he's been an actor, writer, TV producer, TV host, radio host and author.
While many recognize him from his appearance as the host of "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader," he also hosted his own sitcom starting in the mid-1990s called the "The Jeff Foxworthy Show."
Foxworthy is also a member of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour alongside Larry the Cable Guy, Bill Engvall and Ron White. Foxworthy has released six comedy albums with major record labels, and the first two went triple platinum. Fans of his can also read his books, including an autobiography titled "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problem!"
In Their Own Words: Jeff Foxworthy
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"Find something in life that you love doing. If you make a lot of money, that's a bonus, and if you don't, you still won't hate going to work." —Jeff Foxworthy
30. Matthew Perry (Tie)
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Net worth: $120 million
Age: 51
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Matthew Perry
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Before Matthew Perry was making $1 million per episode on "Friends," he was a fledgling comic doing improv at the L.A. Connection comedy club, where he trained under Kent Skov.
Perry went on to have small parts in television shows, including an appearance on "Beverly Hills 90210," and a starring role on a failed sitcom called "Home Free."
Aside from "Friends," Perry has appeared in a smattering of films like "Fools Rush In" and "The Whole Nine Yards" and has done numerous television shows.
In Their Own Words: Matthew Perry
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"I learned to fall down early in life — I was like 6 — because I realized it was a way to make girls laugh." —Matthew Perry
30. Jon Stewart (Tie)
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Net worth: $120 million
Age: 58
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Jon Stewart
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Jon Stewart began his comedy career in the New York City comedy club circuit in the late 1980s, making his debut at The Bitter End and performing at the 2 a.m. slot at the Comedy Cellar for two years. In 1992, he made his debut on "The Late Show with David Letterman" and then nabbed a talk show on MTV the following year, which was almost as popular as "Beavis and Butt-Head."
Of course, it was when Stewart took the reins of "The Daily Show" from Craig Kilborn that his career really started to take off. The show's scathing political satire slowly became one of the most influential and popular programs in the country. At its height, the comedian was making $25 million-$30 million per year and was the highest-paid TV host in the country.
He's currently working with Apple TV+ for a new show that will mix comedy and serious journalism.
In Their Own Words: Jon Stewart
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"If you don't stick to your values when they're being tested, they're not values, they're hobbies." —Jon Stewart
26. Steve Martin (Tie)
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Net worth: $140 million
Age: 75
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Steve Martin
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Before becoming a comedian, Steve Martin studied philosophy at California State University, Long Beach. It was an unlikely major to spark something in him to pursue comedy.
"Something about non sequiturs appealed to me. In philosophym I started studying logic, and they were talking about cause and effect, and you start to realize, 'Hey, there is no cause and effect! There is no logic. There is no anything!'" he told Rolling Stone. "Then it gets real easy to write this stuff, because all you have to do is twist everything hard – you twist the punch line, you twist the non sequitur so hard away from the thing that set it up, that it’s easy . . . and it’s thrilling."
It's that kind of oddball, manic way of thinking that led to Martin storming the stage and throwing everything he had at the audience (metaphorically), from banjos to juggling balls. He also has made several hit movies.
In Their Own Words: Steve Martin
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"Before you criticize a man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, when you do criticize him, you'll be a mile away and have his shoes." —Steve Martin
26. Ricky Gervais (Tie)
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Net worth: $140 million
Age: 59
Country: England
Bottom Line: Ricky Gervais
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Would you believe that Ricky Gervais tried to be a pop star in a new wave music group before trying his hand at comedy? Well, it's true. The comedian was the lead singer in a band called Seona Dancing.
Gervais has had a long career in the entertainment business, from radio to television. Notably, his show, "The Office," first developed for the United Kingdom audience, was picked up in America and became a smash hit.
Royalties and syndication deals amount for the bulk of his wealth. He is estimated to earn 10 percent of profits generated by the hit TV show.
In Their Own Words: Ricky Gervais
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"Most people I've met who weren't kind to animals weren't kind to people either. Kindness is kindness. Simple as that." —Ricky Gervais
26. Jeff Dunham (Tie)
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Net worth: $140 million
Age: 59
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Jeff Dunham
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For a time, Jeff Dunham was the No.1 touring comedian in the United States, earning more than people like Jerry Seinfeld and Jeff Foxworthy on the comedy circuit. It also helps that his ventriloquist act is family-friendly and relatively inoffensive.
In 2017, he earned a Guinness World Record for selling the most tickets for a standup comedy tour for his "Spark of Insanity" tour, which sold 1,981,720 tickets.
In Their Own Words: Jeff Dunham
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"When a bad experience happens, you just chalk it up to the great fact that you just got five more jokes in the show." —Jeff Dunham
26. Bill Maher (Tie)
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Net worth: $140 million
Age: 65
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Bill Maher
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Bill Maher makes the bulk of his money via his long-running HBO show, "Real Time with Bill Maher."
The political comedy show has been running since 2003. Maher operates as the host, co-producer and co-writer of the show.
He earns an estimated $10 million per episode.
In Their Own Words: Bill Maher
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"You know, there's a name for people who are always wrong about everything all the time: Husband." —Bill Maher
23. Rowan Atkinson (Tie)
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Net worth: $150 million
Age: 66
Country: England
Bottom Line: Rowan Atkinson
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Rowan Atkinson is one of the most beloved comedic actors in all of Britain, thanks mostly to his work on "Blackadder" and "Mr. Bean."
He has starred in numerous television shows, movies and theater productions. He's one of the wealthiest celebrities in Britain, and certainly one of the funniest.
In Their Own Words: Rowan Atkinson
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"I'm not a naturally funny man. I find that I can only be funny if I become someone else." —Rowan Atkinson
23. Joan Rivers (Tie)
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Net worth: $150 million
Age: Passed away at 81 in 2014
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Joan Rivers
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Joan Rivers, born Joan Alexandra Molinsky, actually passed away in 2014. We felt she deserved a place on this list, however, considering her outstanding contributions to the comedy industry and her groundbreaking work as a female comic.
She was considered a comedic pioneer of female comedians, with a sharp, self-deprecating sense of humor and controversial commentary. She had humble beginnings in small comedy clubs in Greenwich Village.
She made her big break when she made a guest appearance on The Tonight Show in 1965. From there, she proceeded to launch a rival TV show called "The Late Show With Joan Rivers." With that one move, she became the first woman in television history to host a late-night network talk show.
During the rest of her career, she hosted and co-hosted several more shows, starred in a reality show and was the subject of a full-length documentary.
In Their Own Words: Joan Rivers
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"I don't exercise. If God had wanted me to bend over, he would have put diamonds on the floor." —Joan Rivers
23. Conan O’Brien (Tie)
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Net worth: $150 million
Age: 57
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Conan O’Brien
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Conan O'Brien is currently the longest-working, late-night talk show host in the United States.
The string-dancing funnyman has hosted several late-night talk shows since 1991 and is set to host another show on HBO Max after the last season of "Conan" airs on TBS in 2021.
He currently makes an estimated $12 million salary from TBS, although we don't know how much he's making from the HBO deal.
In Their Own Words: Conan O'Brien
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"When all else fails, there's always delusion." —Conan O'Brien
20. Terry Fator (Tie)
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Net worth: $160 million
Age: 55
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Terry Fator
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Terry Fator might not be a household name, but he's being paid like he is one.
Fator came to prominence on the second season of "America's Got Talent" in 2007, which he won for his highly skilled ventriloquist and singing act.
That easily paved the way to success in Las Vegas, where he signed a $100 million deal with the Mirage in Las Vegas.
In Their Own Words: Terry Fator
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"Winston the Impersonating Turtle: [after doing a levitation trick] Well, I just saved you folks a hundred bucks.
Terry Fator: How'd you do that?
Winston the Impersonating Turtle: Now you don't have to go see Criss Angel." —Terry Fator
20. Stefan Raab (Tie)
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Net worth: $160 million
Age: 54
Country: Germany
Bottom Line: Stefan Raab
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Stefan Raab is a German entertainer and talk show host who has had several popular television shows aired in Germany, including "TV Total," which ran for 16 years.
He's a private individual so little is known about his personal life, although he's estimated to be worth $160 million.
In Their Own Words: Stefan Raab
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In the show "Schlag den Raab"
Dr. Mark Benecke: Could you please take a piece of the cotton?
Stefan Raab: Yes, of course. 'Take a piece of the cotton' is my middle name.
20. Sacha Baron Cohen (Tie)
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Net worth: $160 million
Age: 49
Country: England
Bottom Line: Sacha Baron Cohen
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Sacha Baron Cohen is a special kind of comedic genius. The English comedian started playing characters at a young age and even went to a clown school in Paris.
The development of his Ali G character was his breakout role, and early appearances on British television earned him "Da Ali G Show," a program that first ran in Britain and was then purchased by HBO after the first season.
And, of course, there's Borat, the ever-hopeful, idiotic, backwoods journalist from a fictionalized version of Kazakhstan.
In Their Own Words: Sacha Baron Cohen
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"I think if you come from a history of persecution, you have to develop a sense of humor." —Sacha Baron Cohen
19. Drew Carey
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Net worth: $165
Age: 62
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Drew Carey
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After getting kicked out of Kent State University (twice), Drew Carey enlisted into the United States Marine Corps Reserve, where he served for six years as a field radio operator in Ohio. After a short stint in Las Vegas working odd jobs as a bank teller and a Denny's waiter, he pursued a comedy career.
Carrey first appeared on Johnny Carson's "The Tonight Show" in 1991, which helped propel his career. He picked up small film roles until he was greenlit to produce and star in "The Drew Carey Show," which premiered in 1995. By the end of its run, Carey was making $750,000 per episode.
Currently, the comedian is making $12.5 million per year hosting "The Price is Right."
In Their Own Words: Drew Carey
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"Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called everybody, and they meet at the bar." —Drew Carrey
17. Bill Murray (Tie)
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Net worth: $180 million
Age: 70
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Bill Murray
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Bill Murray is a living legend. Even if the guy makes a bad movie, it still manages to be watchable because he'll at least have some good lines, and that's sometimes worth the price of admission.
Murray came to prominence on "Saturday Night Live" in the late 1970s before making a series of classic films in the 1980s, including "Caddyshack," "Stripes" and "Ghostbusters."
Today, Murray pretty much does whatever film he feels like.
In Their Own Words: Bill Murray
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"Whatever you do, always give 100 percent. Unless you're donating blood." —Bill Murray
17. Jim Carrey (Tie)
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Net worth: $180 million
Age: 59
Country: Canada
Bottom Line: Jim Carrey
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Jim Carrey grew up dirt poor in the Toronto suburb of Ontario, Canada, where his family lived across the street from a tire factory — and also all worked there. He dropped out of high school at the age of 16 and performed standup comedy in the city in his off time. When he was 19, he was rejected from being a cast member for the 1980-1981 season of "Saturday Night Live."
Eventually, he was good enough on the mic that he was noticed by comedic legend Rodney Dangerfield, who let him be his opening act during a North American tour.
Carrey went on to gain exposure on Johnny Carson's "The Tonight Show" in 1983 and appear in a few movies and television shows. But it was his role as a cast member on "In Living Color" in 1990 to 1994 that propelled him to fame and earned him the leading role in "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective."
Today, Jim Carrey does not do many movies. He reprised his role as Lloyd Christmas in 2014's "Dumb and Dumber To" and played Dr. Robotnik in 2020's "Sonic the Hedgehog." The latter was a success at the box office.
In Their Own Words: Jim Carrey
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"Your need for acceptance can make you invisible in this world. Risk being seen in all your glory." —Jim Carrey
13. Steve Harvey (Tie)
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Net worth: $200 million
Age: 64
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Steve Harvey
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Steve Harvey ate bologna sandwiches and slept in his car while he was trying to make it as a comedian. He was so destitute that he resorted to stealing gas in order to get between comedy gigs.
But he made it, and eventually became the host of "It's Showtime at the Apollo" in 1990, and then went on to work on the Kings of Comedy tour in 1997. He has been the host of his own radio show since 2000, which is also his highest source of income, netting him an estimated $20 million a year.
He also hit pay dirt in 2010 as the host of "Family Feud," making an estimated $10 million per year for hosting the popular game show.
In Their Own Words: Steve Harvey
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"Your reality is yours. Stop wasting time looking at someone else's reality while doing nothing about yours." —Steve Harvey
13. Ray Romano (Tie)
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Net worth: $200 million
Age: 63
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Ray Romano
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Ray Romano has a career dating back to 1989, when he competed in the Johnnie Walker Comedy search. The Queens, New York, native had several gigs, including an appearance on "The Late Show with David Letterman," where he made connections at CBS that paved the way for his show, "Everybody Loves Raymond."
Debuting in 1996, "Everybody Loves Raymond" was a smash hit, winning 15 Primetime Emmy Awards out of 69 nominations.
For his work, Romano was paid a salary of $1.7 million to $1.8 million per episode at the height of the series in 2003.
In Their Own Words: Ray Romano
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"Having children is like living in a frat house. Nobody sleeps, everything's broken and there's a lot of throwing up." —Ray Romano
13. Kevin Hart (Tie)
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Net worth: $200 million
Age: 41
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Kevin Hart
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Funnyman Kevin Hart was a shoe salesman before he started playing at amateur hours in various nightclubs in Philly, and it was a slow start. The comic was booed off stage a few times during his nascent career but kept working at his craft.
By 2009, at the age of 29 or 30, Hart released his comedy special "I'm a Grown Little Man." His audience grew rapidly, and by 2011, his "Laugh at my Pain" tour broke records by grossing $15 million in ticket sales in just two days. It sold faster than Eddie Murphy's "Raw" tour.
Hart has since appeared in several major motion pictures, including the blockbuster hits, "Central Intelligence" and both modern "Jumanji" films.
In Their Own Words: Kevin Hart
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"People may hate you for being different and not living by society's standards, but deep down, they wish they had the courage to do the same." —Kevin Hart
13. Dan Aykroyd (Tie)
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Net worth: $200 million
Age: 68
Country: Canada
Bottom Line: Dan Aykroyd
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Dan Aykroyd made a lot of money on "Saturday Night Live" and various movies — including "Ghostbusters," which he wrote — but he made an absolute killing in various other business ventures.
He is the cofounder of the House of Blues, a popular chain of music venues that was purchased for $350 million by Live Nation in 2006.
He also co-founded Crystal Head Vodka in 2008. By 2011, it had sales exceeding $55 million.
In Their Own Words: Dan Aykroyd
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"My whole thing is to entertain, make people laugh and to forget about the real world for awhile." —Dan Aykroyd
12. Seth MacFarlane
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Net worth: $300 million
Age: 47
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Seth MacFarlane
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Seth McFarlane's "Family Guy" aired on Fox in 1999. Less than 10 years later, in 2008, he signed a $100 million deal with the network. The show had accumulated $1 billion in total sales, and that was over 12 years ago.
In 2020, McFarlane signed a $200 million, multiyear deal with NBCUniversal to make new TV shows for the network. At the same time, "Family Guy" will still run on Fox, meaning he'll still be drawing money from that juggernaut.
That's not to mention his other work, like the "Ted" films or "The Orwell," which has a cult following among sci-fi fans.
In Their Own Words: Seth MacFarlane
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"When you can't formulate a substantive rebuttal to an argument, you can always depend on 'That's just ... wow.'" —Seth MacFarlane
11. Ellen DeGeneres
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Net worth: $370 million
Age: 63
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Ellen DeGeneres
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Ellen DeGeneres grew up in the New Orleans suburb of Metairie, Louisiana. She attended the University of New Orleans but dropped out after just one semester.
Her early jobs included working at J.C. Penny and as a waitress at TGI Fridays. She found great success in standup, which led to a television career. "Ellen" was a memorable show wherein DeGeneres' character came out as gay, not long after she came out in real life on "The Oprah Winfrey Show." It was a controversial episode for the time, and "Ellen" was canceled the following year due to falling ratings.
DeGeneres found her most success with "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," a talk show she has hosted since 2003. She makes around $50 million per year from the show, which includes a 60 percent cut of profits from advertising and product placements on the show. She also likes to flip houses for profit.
And there's that whole toxic workplace culture thing.
In Their Own Words: Ellen DeGeneres
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"Never follow anyone else's path. Unless you're in the woods and you're lost and you see a path. Then by all means follow that path." —Ellen DeGeneres
8. Larry David (Tie)
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Net worth: $400 million
Age: 73
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Larry David
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Larry David hit pay dirt when he co-created "Seinfeld," but before that, during the 1970s, he was in the National Guard. During that time, he worked as a chauffeur, taxi driver and bra salesman.
In 1984, he got a job on "Saturday Night Live" writing sketches. But only one sketch of his aired the entire year. Angry and frustrated, David stormed up to a producer and screamed "I'm done! I quit! F--- you!"
Later, he told his coworker, Kenny Kramer (the real-life inspiration for "Seinfeld"'s Kramer) what he had done. "I'm so stupid," David said regretfully. Kramer told him to just go back and act like it never happened. So David did, and it worked.
If that sounds familiar, it's because George Costanza did the exact same thing in an episode of "Seinfeld."
In Their Own Words: Larry David
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"Sometimes you have to wander a bit and do what you don't want to in order to figure out what it is you're supposed to do." —Larry David
8. David Letterman (Tie)
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Net worth: $400 million
Age: 73
Country: United States
Bottom Line: David Letterman
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When David Letterman was hosting "The Late Show," he was the favored late-night host among comedians and younger viewers. The show won six Emmys and was nominated for a total of 47 Emmys.
Letterman hosted "The Late Show" for over 30 years and, by his final seasons, was earning over $30 million per season. He also owns a production company called Worldwide Pants, which has produced a number of shows, including the super-successful "Everybody Loves Raymond."
Letterman's show on Netflix, "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction," earns him $2 million per episode.
In Their Own Words: David Letterman
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"While I was gone, I had quintuple bypass surgery on my heart. Plus, I got a haircut." —David Letterman
8. Bill Cosby (Tie)
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Net worth: $400 million
Age: 83
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Bill Cosby
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Bill Cosby expected to spend the rest of his life behind bars. Then, in June 2021, he was freed from prison after his sex conviction was overturned by Pennsylvania’s highest court.
Cosby, who served nearly three years of a 10-year sentence for drugging and violating a woman, was one of the funniest people in the world at one time.
But the man who was once known as "America's Dad" isn't generating many laughs these days.
In Their Own Words: Bill Cosby
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"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." —Bill Cosby
7. Adam Sandler
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Net worth: $420 million
Age: 54
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Adam Sandler
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It shouldn't come as a surprise that Adam Sandler is this rich.
The former "Saturday Night Live" cast member has been making movies since 1995. While Sandler's days of making hugely popular movies like "Happy Gilmore" are long behind him, he still has a huge following.
He has had a four-film deal with Netflix since 2014, which has been continually re-upped every three years because his movies are so popular.
In Their Own Words: Adam Sandler
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"My name is Adam Sandler. I'm not particularly talented. I'm not particularly good-looking. And yet I'm a multi-millionaire." —Adam Sandler
5. Byron Allen (Tie)
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Net worth: $450 million
Age: 59
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Byron Allen
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Byron Allen got his start in comedy and caught his big break early. In 1979, he made his first television appearance on Johnny Carson's "The Tonight Show" when he was just 18 years old. He's had a few television shows, like "Kickin' It with Byron Allen" in the 1990s and "Entertainers with Byron Allen," which still runs today.
But it wasn't comedy that made this comedian rich. Allen founded Entertainment Studios in 1993. It became a force in the television industry. Entertainment Studios owns The Weather Channel and co-owns Diamond Sports Group.
Entertainment Studios also has produced sitcoms, court shows, game shows and comedy specials.
In Their Own Words: Byron Allen
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"There has to be a place carved out for independents, films where the heroes don't fly around in capes, but there are journeys and struggles we need to learn from and be inspired by." —Byron Allen
5. Jay Leno (Tie)
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Net worth: $450 million
Age: 70
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Jay Leno
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You know what they say about the man with the big chin — he has a huge wallet.
Leno's long career dates back to the 1970s, where he performed on Johnny Carson's "The Tonight Show," and later became a regular substitute host. In 1992, he took the crown from Carson as the new king of late night. He was the host of "The Tonight Show" until 2014, minus a brief hiatus where Conan O'Brien became host, only for Leno to take it back when ratings were falling.
Although Leno was nearly 65 when he finally retired from late-night TV, he has been actively touring the country with his comedy act.
In Their Own Words: Jay Leno
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"You can't stay mad at somebody who makes you laugh." —Jay Leno
3. Trey Parker (Tie)
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Net worth: $600 million
Age: 51
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Trey Parker
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Trey Parker grew up in a small Colorado town and met future future "South Park" co-creator Matt Stone at the University of Colorado in Boulder. They created multiple comedy videos while at college, with one of them being "The Spirit of Christmas," a precursor to "South Park."
A Fox Broadcasting Company executive, who was also a mutual buddy of theirs, thought it was hilarious and commissioned the duo to create another video as a Christmas card in 1995. They made two, "Jesus vs. Frosty" and "Jesus vs. Santa." "Jesus vs. Santa" gained popularity online as one of the first viral videos and eventually landed a deal at Comedy Central.
How they got rich is interesting. Much of their wealth comes from a clause that their lawyer put in their first contract with Comedy Central in 1997. It stated that any revenue that was not specifically from Comedy Central's direct broadcast would be split between Comedy Central and the co-creators. It meant nothing in 1997, but as streaming became the new way of watching shows, the two reaped in millions and millions of dollars.
In 2019, HBO Max bought the streaming rights to "South Park" for $500 million, netting Parker and Stone $125 million each.
In Their Own Words: Trey Parker
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"Love isn't a decision. It's a feeling. If we could decide who we loved, it would be much simpler, but much less magical." —Trey Parker
3. Matt Groening (Tie)
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Net worth: $600 million
Age: 67
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Matt Groening
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Matt Groening was born to Margaret Ruth and Homer Phillip Groening in Portland, Oregon, in 1954. He drew cartoons during his time at school and then moved to Los Angeles at the age of 23, not long after graduating from Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington.
There, while making a living working menial jobs, he penned the "Life in Hell" series of comics and grabbed a spot in an alternative local newsletter. That became popular and caught the attention of Hollywood producer James L. Brooks, who called him up to develop some short live animated skits for "The Tracey Ullman Show."
Groening, fearing he would lose the rights to the "Life in Hell" characters, quickly scribbled down the prototype for what would become "The Simpsons" family in the lobby. "The Tracey Ullman Show" wasn't very popular, but it landed Groening a deal with Fox to produce "The Simpsons," which is now the longest-running sitcom and animated show on television.
In Their Own Words: Matt Groening
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"You should listen to your heart, and not the voices in your head." —Matt Groening
2. Matt Stone
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Net worth: $700 million
Age: 49
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Matt Stone
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"South Park" co-creator Matt Stone is $100 million richer than his business partner, Trey Parker, although it's unclear as to why.
Both have impressive real estate portfolios, and both benefited from "South Park," "The Book of Mormon" and their various other movies like "Team America: World Police" as co-creators. It's possible that Stone gets a few percentage points more than Parker, but it's not entirely clear from where.
Regardless, he can now harass Parker about having $100 million more while they hang out in a jacuzzi with some other random, silent dude.
In Their Own Words: Matt Stone
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"Once you get yourselves into things that are working on a deeper level, you just have to keep going. When you reach that deeper level, you can't go back." —Matt Stone
1. Jerry Seinfeld
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Net worth: $950 million
Age: 66
Country: United States
Bottom Line: Jerry Seinfeld
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Jerry Seinfeld grew up in Brooklyn, New York City, and graduated from Queens College where he studied communications and theater. It was a path he chose because he wanted to be a comedian. At the age of 8, he was watching comedians and trying to impersonate their mannerisms.
Throughout the late 1970s, he made his way through the New York City comedy circuit, eventually landing himself a gig on Johnny Carson's "The Tonight Show" in 1981 when he was 27 years old.
It was a quick route to super-success from there. Seinfeld became a highly popular comedian and nabbed a standup special on NBC in 1987, which led to him being asked to develop a sitcom for the network alongside Larry David. In 1989, "Seinfeld" aired, and the rest is history. "Seinfeld" became one of the most popular shows in the history of television and is easily one of the most influential. By the show's ninth and final season, Seinfeld was making $1 million per episode, which broke down to about $13,000 per each line he delivered.
What did Shakespeare say about brevity? It'll make you rich? Sure, that's it.
In Their Own Words: Jerry Seinfeld
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"Dogs are the leaders of the planet. If you see two life forms, one of them is making poop, the other one's carrying it for him, who would you assume is in charge?" —Jerry Seinfeld
Related: Greatest Standup Comedians of All Time