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In recent years, the comedy industry has been experiencing an unexpected boom, producing fascinating personalities such as Kelvin Hart, Martin Lawrence, Steve Harvey, Rowan Atkinson, and many others. These people have not only acquired fame through their ability to draw out humor from our everyday experiences but have also gathered some measurable amount of wealth.
The rise of streaming services has meant that more people are willing to pay for quality content. Consequently yielding an increase in the amount of money that comedians can earn. According to Forbes Magazine, none of the top richest comedians in the world are worth less than $200 million.
The list includes some of the most successful stand-up comedians, as well as some of the most popular names in sitcoms and movies. Although the majority of the comedians on this list are based in the United States, it is imperative to note that the comedy industry has produced multi-millionaires in different parts of the world who did not make it to the list. Without any further ado, here are the top richest comedians in the world
1. Jerry Seinfeld ($950 million)
With a net worth of $950 Million, Jerry Seinfeld takes the lead as the richest comedian in the world. He is considered the King of Comedy in the United States.
Jerry Seinfeld became prominent in comedy for playing a semi-fictionalized version of himself in the sitcom Seinfeld, which he created and wrote with Larry David. The show aired on NBC from 1989 until 1998, becoming one of the most acclaimed and popular American sitcoms of all time.
According to Forbes magazine, Jerry Seinfeld is one of the highest-paid comedians ever.
In 1998 alone, Jerry Seinfeld earned $267 million from the show, Seinfeld. The show saw Seinfeld’s earnings grow from $40,000 per episode to $1 million per episode, by the show’s ninth and final season.
Based on records, Jerry Seinfeld has been the highest-paid comedian in recent years. According to Forbes, Seinfeld’s cumulative earnings from Seinfeld as of 2004 were $267 million.
In furtherance, Jerry earned $100 million from syndication deals and stand-up performances in 2004 and $60 million in 2006.
Between 2008 and 2009, Seinfeld earned a total of $85 million, making him the world’s highest-paid comedian that year. In 2019, Netflix reportedly acquired the global streaming rights for Seinfeld at a hefty sum of $500 million.
2. Byron Allen ($800 million)
Byron Allen is the head of the U.S. entertainment company, Entertainment Studios. The businessman and comedian began his career as a stand-up comedian at the age of 14.
Initially, Byron performed on amateur nights at comedy clubs throughout Los Angeles but was later invited by Jimmie Walker to join his comedy writing team alongside Jay Leno and David Letterman.
Meanwhile, he made his television debut at age 18 on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, before he began his show Kickin’ It with Byron Allen in 1992, which ran for more than 21 seasons.
Byron became more prominent in the industry after founding the U.S. media company Entertainment Studios, which has interests in television production, broadcasting, film production, and digital media. In 2012, the company began forays into scripted programming with the sitcoms “The First Family” and “Mr. Box Office.”
Later in the decade, Entertainment Studios began to pursue various acquisitions, including film distributor Freestyle Releasing, TheGrio, The Weather Channel, an equity stake in Sinclair Broadcast Group’s acquisition of the Fox Sports Networks, and broadcast television stations.
Allen is generally considered one of the major stakeholders in the entertainment business as his company, “Entertainment Studio” is valued at over $4.5 billion.
With a whopping net worth of $800 million, Byron Allen is the richest black comedian in the world.
3. Matt Stone ($700 million)
Matt Stone sitting with his legs crossed during an interview. Image Credit: https://southpark.fandom.com/wiki/Matt_Stone
Popular American animator and voice artist, Matt Stone began to attain the limelight after creating and producing South Park, a popular animated American Sitcom in 1997, alongside Trey Parker, his creative partner.
According to CNN, the pilot episode of South Park was made on a budget of $300,000 but had generated over $30 million in T-shirt sales alone before the first episode was even aired.
In 2011, Stone and Parker along with Robert Lopez staged one of the most satirical and controversial plays, The Book Of Mormon. According to Huffington, the musical comedy managed to be the biggest mainstream theatre hit of the decade, having grossed over $500 million.
By 2013, Matt Stone and Trey Parker launched Important Studios, a film production company that was valued at $300 million, thanks in part to the revenue from The Book of Mormon and South Park.
In 2021, Stone and Parker signed a $900 million deal with ViacomCBS to make six additional seasons of South Park and 14 movies in the South Park universe for streaming.
With an impressive net worth of $700 million, Matt Stone takes the bronze spot amongst the richest comedians in the world.
4. Matt Groening ($600 million)
SAN DIEGO, CA – JULY 22: Writer/producer Matt Groening attends the ‘The Simpsons’ panel during Comic-Con International 2017 at San Diego Convention Center on July 22, 2017, in San Diego, California. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
The executive producer of The Simpsons, Matt Groening takes the fourth position among the richest comedians in the world in 2023 with a staggering net worth of $600 Million.
Although Matt is the producer of some other projects such as Life in Hell and Futurama, he reportedly made most of his earnings from The Simpsons, which is the longest-running U.S. primetime-television series in history and the longest-running U.S. animated series and sitcom.
August 1990, Venice, Los Angels, California, USA — Matt Groening, creator of , holds an early animation cel of Homer throwing a football. — Image by © Rob Brown/Corbis Ein junger
Aside from amassing the bulk of his wealth from the show, he has also won multiple significant awards for the show such as 13 Primetime Emmy Awards and a British Comedy Award for “Outstanding Contribution to Comedy” in 2004.
In 2002, he won the National Cartoonist Society Reuben Award for his work on Life in Hell. He was also awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 14, 2012.
5. Trey Parker ($600 million)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 22: pose at the opening night after-party for Disney’s new hit musical “Frozen” on Broadway at Terminal 5 on March 22, 2018, in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Glikas/Bruce Glikas/WireImage)
Trey Parker is an American actor, animator, filmmaker, and one of the richest comedians in the world, with an estimated net worth of $600 Million.
As earlier stated, Trey Parker was a co-producer along with Matt Stone for the popular American animated Sitcom, South Park which generated a lot of wealth for the duo.
The duo also collaborated on another sitcom called The Book of Mormon, which earned them 4 Tony Awards and 1 Grammy Award.
According to Huffington, the musical comedy managed to be the biggest mainstream theatre hit of the decade, having grossed over $500 million.
By 2013, Matt Stone and Trey Parker launched Important Studios, a film production company that was valued at $300 million.
They also have 5 Primetime Emmy Awards and 1 Oscar award for their work on South Park. Personally, Trey Parker has managed to rack up a net worth of 600 million dollars, making him one of the richest comedians in the World.
6. Ellen DeGeneres ($500 million)
Ellen Degeneres is the richest female comedian in the world
With a net worth of $500 million, Ellen DeGeneres is the richest female comedian in the world in 2023. She began her career as a stand-up comedian in the 1980s before moving into acting where she starred in her sitcom “Ellen” (1994 to 1998).
Thereafter, she began to host her syndicated television talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, in 2003. In 2021, she announced plans to end the talk show after almost two decades.
According to Forbes, Ellen Degeneres is the 15th highest-paid entertainer in the world, earning over $87.5 million in just 2018.
She was also named the 50th most powerful woman in the world and second on the World Pride Power list.
Aside from her fulfilling entertainment career, Ellen has authored four books and started her own record company, Eleveneleven, as well as a production company, A Very Good Production.
She also launched a lifestyle brand, ED Ellen DeGeneres, which comprises a collection of apparel, accessories, home, baby, and pet items.
In 2016, Ellen received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Carol Burnett Award at the Golden Globes in 2020 for her work on television.
7. Jay Leno ($450 million)
Jay Leno is another American television host who has amassed a net worth of $450 million over his career. Leno is most famous for his work on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” on NBC and is regarded as one of America’s most popular TV hosts.
Before he emerged as a television host, Leno had been on TV for years performing as a Standup comedian and as an actor. He reportedly earned $32 million in 2005.
Although Jay Leno made most of his fortune as a host of a TV show with over 4 million audience, he claimed that he has not spent any of the money he earned from the show, but lives off of the money from his stand-up routines.
Jay Leno owns approximately 286 vehicles (169 cars and 117 motorbikes). He also has a website and a TV program called Jay Leno’s Garage, which contains video clips and photos of his car collection in detail, as well as other vehicles of interest to him.
He also writes a regular column in Popular Mechanics showcasing his car collection and giving automotive advice and occasional “Motormouth” articles for The Sunday Times.
8. Kelvin Hart
Kelvin Hart is an American comedian, Producer, Actor, and one of the highest-paid entertainers in the world, with a reported anet worth of $450 Million.
He is considered one of the hardest-working men in show business, as he takes on major film roles and successful stand-up tours. He recently merged two companies to form the media venture Hartbeat, which is valued at approximately $650 million.
Kelvin Hart began his career participating and winning several stand-up comedy competitions. He however had his first breakthrough when Judd Apatow cast him in a recurring role on the TV series Undeclared (2001).
Ever since he has taken on major roles in numerous movies and franchises. He also created and starred as a fictionalized version of himself in Real Husbands of Hollywood (2013–2016).
Hart’s comedic reputation continued to grow with the release of his first stand-up album I’m a Grown Little Man (2009). Throughout his career, he has released four more comedy albums, all of which attained critical and commercial success.
In 2017, he launched the Laugh Out Loud Network, a subscription video streaming service in partnership with Lionsgate.
9. Adam Sandler ($440 million)
Popular American actor, comedian, and producer, Adam Sandler also makes the list of one of the richest comedians in the world in 2023, with a net worth of $440 million. He rose to fame following his role as a cast member on Saturday Night Live before going on to star in Hollywood films.
He has starred in Hollywood comedy films that cumulatively grossed over $2 billion worldwide. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Sandler charges at least $20 million per movie which makes him one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actors.
in 2021, Adam Sandler signed a new four-movie deal with Netflix worth over $250 million. Despite the huge paycheck offered, Netflix had to convince him that they were a good fit, especially since its subscribers had spent over two billion hours watching Sandler’s original content from 2015 to 2020.
Aside from his fulfilling entertainment career, Adam Sandler is also the founder of the film production company, Happy Madison Productions.
The company is responsible for producing the 1998 films The Waterboy and The Wedding Singer, both of which grossed over $160 million and $100 million in the United States, respectively.
10. David Letterman ($400 million)
The Legendary American television host, David joins the list with a net worth of $400 Million. Like every television host on the list, David Letterman began his career as a stand-up comedian but diverted into broadcasting as an announcer and newscaster while in college.
David who hosted late-night television talk shows for 33 years, reportedly earned at least $14 million in a single year and earned as high as $40 million as of 2007. A 2009 article in The New York Times, however, said his salary was estimated at $32 million.
Aside from the massive wealth he made as a Television host. Letterman also founded his production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated, which produced his show and several others, in 1991. The company also produces films and documentaries.
Letterman alongside other co-owners owns the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, an auto racing team competing in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and NTT IndyCar series.
Letterman is a recipient of numerous Awards such as 12 Emmy awards, and 4 American Comedy Awards, and in 2011 became the first recipient of the Johnny Carson Award for Comedic Excellence at The Comedy Awards.
11. Bill Cosby ($400 million)
The legendary American Comedian, Bill Cosby began his career as a standup comedian in the 1960s and became prominent for the several standup comedy records he released through the decades.
As of the time of this report, Bill Cosby has a reported net worth of $400 Million., making him one of the richest comedians in the world.
Aside from his comedy records, Bill has starred in several television shows and sitcoms such as “I Spy” (1965–1968), “The Bill Cosby Show”, (1969 to 1971), “Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids” (1972 -1985) e.t.c.
Bill’s participation in the entertainment industry won him several awards including Five consecutive Grammy awards for Best Comedy Album from 1965 to 1970.
Cosby also made history when he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in 1966.
12. Larry David ($400 Million)
Larry David is an American actor, television producer, and one of the richest comedians in the world, with an estimated net worth of $400 Million.
He and Jerry Seinfeld created the television sitcom Seinfeld, Which is one of the most acclaimed and popular American sitcoms of all time.
He gained further recognition for the HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm, which he created and stars in as a semi-fictionalized version of himself.
Most of his wealth originates from syndication deals of Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm, the former netting US$3.1 billion in total re-run fees as of 2013.
The syndication of Seinfeld earned David an estimated $250 million in 1998 alone. In 2008, David made $55 million from Seinfeld syndication, DVD sales, and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
13. Seth MacFarlane ($300 Million)
With an estimated net worth of $300 Million, American actor, writer, animator, and comedian, Seth MacFarlane takes the thirteen spot among the richest comedians in the world.
MacFarlane is well-known as the creator and star of the television series Family Guy (since 1999) and The Orville (since 2017), and co-creator of the television series American Dad! (since 2005).
He also wrote, directed, and starred in the films Ted (2012), its sequel Ted 2 (2015), and A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014).
After several years of creative dedication and hard work, The Family Guy developed into a US$2-billion franchise, Firstly bolstered by high DVD sales and fan loyalty.
On May 4, 2008, after approximately two and a half years of negotiations, MacFarlane reached a US$100-million agreement with Fox to keep Family Guy and American Dad! until 2012.
The said deal made him the world’s highest-paid television writer at the time.
In 2020, he signed a $200 million deal with NBCUniversal to develop television projects for both internal and external networks, including the company’s then-developing streaming service Peacock.
14. Dan Aykroyd ($250 Million)
Canadian actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer Dan Aykroyd breaks the United States domination as he joins the list of the richest comedians in the world, with an estimated net worth of $250 Million.
Aykroyd began his Career as a writer and was an original member of the “Not Ready for Prime Time Players” cast on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from its inception in 1975.
He further gained prominence for writing, and starring as Dr. Raymond “Ray” Stantz in the Ghostbusters franchise, which grossed over $900 Million.
He has since appeared on various television shows and movies including It’s Garry Shandling’s Show (1990), Home Improvement (1997), Family Guy (2009), and The Simpsons (2021).
Aykroyd is also a businessman, having co-founded the House of Blues chain of music venues and the Crystal Head Vodka brand.
15. Conan O’Brien ($200 Million)
American television host, comedian, writer, and producer, Conan O’Brien is also one of the richest comedians in the world with an estimated net worth of $200 Million.
Conan began his career as a writer for the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 1988 to 1991, and the Fox animated sitcom The Simpsons from 1991 to 1993.
He however became popularly known for his late-night talk shows, which he hosted for almost 28 years. He began with Late Night with Conan O’Brien (1993–2009) and The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien (2009–2010) on NBC
His final show as a late talk host Conan (2010–2021) on aired the cable channel TBS.
In 2018, O’Brien’s production company, Team Coco, partnered with Earwolf to launch his weekly podcast, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend. The podcast has received strong reviews and became the top podcast on iTunes.
Notable report has it that the podcast had been downloaded over 250 million times and was averaging more than 9 million downloads per month In May 2022, the podcast, was sold to SiriusXM for $150 million
16 Ray Romano ($200 Million)
Ray Romano is an American standup comedian, Actor, and voice-over artist best known for his role on the ole as Raymond “Ray” Barone on the CBS sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond.
Romano began his career, by competing in the Johnnie Walker Comedy Search in 1989. He then began to appear on numerous television shows and outlets such as The Comedy Channel and Comedy Central.
He however gained more prominence after producing and Featuring on his show “Everybody Loves Raymond which won him three Primetime Emmy Awards (one as an actor and two as a producer).
In 2004, He became the highest-paid television actor in history for his role in the show, which was also the highest-earning TV show at the time generating a total revenue, of $3.9 billion.
Romano has appeared on numerous Films and television programs such as The Office, The Middle, and most notably the Ice Age Franchise which has grossed over three Billion.
With an accumulated worth of $200 Million, places him on sixteenth place among the richest comedians in the world. He is also a recipient of two Grammy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards.
17. Steve Harvey ($200 Million)
Popular American television and Stand Up Comedian Steve Harvey, is also one of the richest comedians in the world with an estimated net worth of $200 Million.
Harvey began his career as a stand-up comedian in the early 1980s, hosting numerous comedy shows around the world, and starred in the television sitcom The Steve Harvey Show on The WB.
He has since gained prominence around the world, as one of the best comedians and TV hosts in the world, hosting numerous TV shows such as Family Feud, Celebrity Family Feud, and Judge Steve Harvey.
His 1997 Kings of Comedy tour alongside Bernie Mac, Cedric the Entertainer, and D.L. Hughley is one of the highest-grossing comedy tours in history, grossing $18 million its first year and $19 million its second.
As an author, Steve Harvey has written four books, including his 2009 bestseller Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man. In 2017, He founded Steve Harvey Global, an entertainment company that houses his various other ventures.
Steve’s accomplishments include seven Daytime Emmy Awards, two Marconi Awards, and fourteen NAACP Image Awards.
18. Bill Murray ($180 Million)
Bill Murray is a member of Saturday Night Live who has made a fortune through his career as an actor and comedian and one of the most bankable stars of the 1980s.
He rose to fame on The National Lampoon Radio Hour before becoming a national presence on Saturday Night Live from 1977 to 1980, where he received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series.
Murray then established his stardom acting in a string of successful comedy films such as Meatballs (1979), Caddyshack (1980), Stripes (1981), and most notably the Ghostbusters franchise.
He also took on supporting roles in Tootsie (1982), Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Ed Wood (1994), Kingpin (1996), and Osmosis Jones (2001).
Murray has earned numerous accolades including a BAFTA Award, two Emmy Awards, and a Golden Globe Award as well as a nomination for an Academy Award. He won the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor In 2016.
19. Drew Carey ($165 Million)
Drew Carey is an American comedian actor and game show host. He is one of the few comedians, who began their career in the 1980’s and is still relevant till date.
He began his career as writer for David Lawrence and then began to perform jokes of his own in different comedy clubs across Los Angeles after winning an Open Mic Contest.
Carey gained national exposure after competing in the 1988 star search. He also appeared on numerous televesion programs including The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
He further gained prominence, starring in his sitcom The Drew Carey Show and as host of the U.S. version of the improv comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway?, both of which aired on ABC.
Carey’s income on the said programs led to his inclusion on the Forbes list of highest-paid entertainers of 1998, at 24th with $45.5 million. He has since then appeared in several films, television series, and music videos.
With an estimated net worth of $165 Million, Drew Carey is one of the richest comedians in the world.
20 Sacha Baron Cohen ($160 MIllion)
Sacha Baron Cohen is an English actor, producer and one of the richest Comedians in the world, with an estimated net worth of $160 Million.
He is best known for his creation and portrayal of the fictional satirical characters Ali G, Borat Sagdiyev, Brüno Gehard, and Admiral General Aladeen.
Baron Cohen has produced and/or performed in numerous comedic films such as Ali G Indahouse (2002), Borat (2006), TBrüno (2009), and The Dictator (2012), among others.
He adopts a variety of accents and guises for his characters and interacts with unsuspecting subjects who do not realise they have been set up.
At the 2012 British Comedy Awards, he received the Outstanding Achievement Award and accepted the award in-character as Ali G.
He has also received the BAFTA Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy. The Times Magazine named him among the 30 best living comedians in 2018.
The Top Richest Comedians in the World [2023/2024]
The table below contains the names and respective net worths of the top richest comedians in the world, as estimated by Forbes Magazine:
| Rank | Comedian | Net Worth |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jerry Seinfeld | $950 Million |
| 2 | Byron Allen | $800 Million |
| 3 | Matt Stone | $700 Million |
| 4 | Matt Groening | $600 Million |
| 5 | Trey Parker | $600 Million |
| 6 | DeGeneres | $500 Million |
| 7 | Jay Leno | $450 Million |
| 8 | Kelvin Hart | $450 Million |
| 9 | Adam Sandler | $440 Million |
| 10 | David Letterman | $400 Million |
| 11 | Bill Cosby | $400 Million |
| 12 | Larry David | $400 Million |
| 13 | Seth MacFarlane | $300 Million |
| 14 | Dan Aykroyd | $250 Million |
| 15 | Conan O’Brien | $200 Million |
FAQs
Who is the richest comedian in the World?
Jerry Seinfeld has a net worth of $950 million, making him the richest comedian in the world. He is also one of the highest-paid comedians.
Ellen Degeneres is the world’s richest female comedian, with an estimated net worth of $500 million, per Forbes.
Who is richer: Jay Leno or David Letterman?
Jay Leno has a net worth of $450 million while David Letterman has a net worth of $400 million. Therefore, Jay Leno is richer than David Letterman.
Is Steve Harvey the richest comedian?
No, Steve Harvey is not the richest comedian. However, he has a net worth of $250 million and earns about $100,000 per episode, which makes him one of the highest-paid comedians.
How rich is Kelvin Hart?
Kelvin Hart boasts of a $450 million net worth. The majority of his earnings come from comedy, acting, real estate, and an underwear line he launched with Tommy John in 2017.
