Introduction

Jerry Seinfeld is an American professional stand-up comedian, actor, producer, and writer with an estimated net worth of $1.1 Billion.

Seinfeld is best known for playing himself in the sitcom of the same name, which he co-created with Larry David. He’s also had an incredibly successful career as a stand-up comedian.

Quick Facts

• Peak annual income of $267 million in 1998
• Earned an estimated $56.5 million in upfront salary from Seinfeld
• Rejected an offer of $5 million per episode for a 10th season of the show
• First listed on the Forbes billionaire index in April 2025

Net Worth History

When we first started tracking Jerry Seinfeld’s net worth in 2019, he was worth approximately $950 million. At the time, while Forbes had been covering his annual income for over two decades, the publication had never mentioned Seinfeld’s net worth. That changed in April 2025, when Forbes officially listed Seinfeld as a billionaire, with an estimated net worth of $1.1 billion.

Given that he’s been grossing approximately $50 million per year since 2019, this timing aligns nicely with the original estimate for that year.

Earnings History

If you’ve already glanced at the table above, then you probably noticed there are some gaps in the figures for Jerry Seinfeld’s annual income. This is because we compiled the table using data from every year the comedian has been featured on a Forbes list. Figures for the period between 1996 and 2009 were taken from the Forbes Celebrity 100, and some of that information has been lost as the internet has evolved.

Between 2012 and 2019, Seinfeld was consistently featured in Forbes’ “Top-Earning” or “Highest-Paid Comedians” lists, allowing us to continue seeing the publication’s estimates of his annual income. Finally, when Forbes renewed the Celebrity 100 in 2020, Seinfeld’s name reappeared.

In any case, over the years we have available, Jerry Seinfeld earned over $1 billion from all his endeavors; however, given we’re missing 9 years in between, his actual earnings were likely much higher. A lot has changed over this time, so let’s highlight some key years and his most notable income sources for each.

In the late 1990s, Seinfeld was among the highest-paid actors on television, thanks to his work on the hit show of the same name. However, since he was also a co-creator of the show, salary wasn’t the only way he was making a living. In 1998, syndication deals began pouring in. Turner Broadcasting agreed to pay $1 million per episode to air reruns of the show on TBS, dramatically skyrocketing Jerry Seinfeld’s income. That year, he earned a whopping $267 million, the most lucrative year of his career.

Since Seinfeld, Jerry’s annual income has typically ranged between $30 million and $70 million, with a couple of outliers, including $100 million in 2006 and $85 million in 2009. Seinfeld royalties still accounted for the lion’s share of his earnings during this time.

Seinfeld Salary

In the late 1980s, Jerry Seinfeld co-created the hit TV sitcom Seinfeld with fellow comedian Larry David. The pilot episode first aired on NBC in July 1989, with the rest of the first season airing a year later in May 1990. Jerry was the lead in the show, given that the character was loosely based on him. While David didn’t star in the show, several other prominent actors did, most notably Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards, and Jason Alexander.

Seinfeld earned income in more ways than one from the show, as he both created and starred in it. Let’s start by discussing his acting salary over the course of the show’s lifetime. In season one, Jerry reportedly received $20,000 per episode. There were only five episodes in the debut season, earning him $100,000. For seasons two and three, his paycheck was doubled to $40,000 per episode. Since the second season comprised 12 episodes, and the third season 22, he should have earned $480,000 and $880,000, respectively.

From seasons four through six, Jerry was earning approximately $100,000 per episode, totalling $2.4 million in season four, $2.2 million in season five, and $2.4 million in season six. By this point, Seinfeld had already earned roughly $8.46 million from the show in acting salary alone.

Final Three Seasons

Seinfeld’s salary quintupled to $500,000 per episode for the show’s seventh and eighth seasons; for comparison, at the time, his fellow cast members, Louis-Dreyfus, Richards, and Alexander, had just secured a pay rise to $160,000 per episode. Jerry earned $12 million apiece for the above seasons, bringing his tally to $32.46 million.

In 1997, Seinfeld briefly became the world’s highest-paid television actor when he negotiated a $1 million-per-episode deal for the ninth and final season of the show. When his fellow cast members heard about the raise Jerry was receiving, they demanded equal pay and threatened to quit the show if they didn’t also received $1 million per episode. They later settled for $600,000, a substantial increase in its own right. Comprising 24 episodes, season nine of Seinfeld earned Jerry approximately $24 million. 

When we put all this information together, Jerry Seinfeld earned a total of $56.5 million in salary alone from the sitcom. His leading cast members are believed to have earned around $30 million. 

Rumored Tenth Season

According to reports, NBC wasn’t quite ready to close the curtains on Seinfeld and offered Jerry a ridiculous $5 million per episode to produce a tenth season. This information came to light in 2012 when Warren Littlefield, NBC’s former President of Entertainment, was interviewed by Fox News. Littlefield was asked how much he offered “Jerry to do another season,” and he replied with:

“Over $100 million. We offered him $5 million an episode. We didn’t mess around. What we put on the table was unheard of. We went in there with a staggering sum, and there was tremendous confidence that no one could walk away from it. He came to me and said, ‘I don’t have a life, I’m not married, I don’t have kids.’ We gave it everything we had; he was tempted, but in the end, it was a quality-of-life decision.”

Syndication Royalties

While $56 milion in salary is a lot of money, this clearly wasn’t what made Jerry Seinfeld a billionaire. When Seinfeld and David first created the show and secured a contract with NBC, they each owned a 7.5% stake in the sitcom’s backend revenues. Over time, and after several negotiations, the duo clawed back an additional 7.5% each, bringing their totals to 15%. This meant that when companies began knocking on the door looking for syndication rights, David and Seinfeld would each receive a healthy slice of the pie.

The show began syndication on local broadcast stations in the mid-1990s, and in 1998, TBS paid a record-breaking $1 million per episode to acquire the rights. By the end of the year, the show had generated $1.7 billion in syndication revenues, which at a 15% stake, earned Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David $255 million each.

Despite first airing over three decades ago, Seinfeld still generates tens of millions of dollars in royalties for the duo each year and continues to be picked up by other networks. In 2015, streaming platform Hulu acquired the rights for $180 million, and in 2019, Netflix did the same for $500 million. These deals earned Seinfeld and David $27 million and $75 million, respectively.

Real Estate

In May 2000, Jerry Seinfeld paid $16 million to buy Billy Joel’s mansion in East Hampton, New York. Several reports suggest he actually paid $32 million, but the public records show otherwise. Not much else is known about the property, other than that it houses Seinfeld’s $17,000 Elektra Deliziosa coffee maker and, most likely, his vast car collection.

The home’s current value is also hard to estimate, given that it’s been off the market for nearly three decades. However, industry estimates place the figure somewhere between $25 million and $35 million.

In 2007, Seinfeld and his wife paid $7.55 million for a 27-acre estate in Telluride, Colorado, featuring 11 bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, a gym, and a yoga room. This property features a snowy mountain backdrop and was likely used by the family as a skiing vacation home. Seinfeld sold it for $14 million in 2022.

Car Collection

He has a 1964 Porsche 911, a 1964 Volkswagen Camper “EZ Camper” Conversion, a 1983 Porsche 959, and a 1959 Porsche RSK Spyder. His collection of cars is estimated to be worth between $50 to $150 million.

Introduction

Judd Apatow is an American professional comedian, film producer, and screenwriter with an estimated net worth of $160 Million.

Apatow is the founder of Apatow Productions, a production company through which he’s created well-known television series such as Girls, Love, and Freaks and Geeks. Judd has also produced legendary films, including Pineapple Express, The Cable Guy (featuring Jim Carrey), and The Big Sick, and has received many awards for his genius over the years.

Before Wealth & Fame

During his teenage years, Judd Apatow started working as a dishwasher at the Long Island Comedy Club. He attended Syosset High School, where he discovered his passion for playing jazz. His love for comedy was sparked while he hosted his school’s radio station. He had the great idea of calling comedians who inspired him to interview for his school’s radio station.

At 15, Judd was motivated to become a comedian after interviewing big-time comedians Steven Wright, John Candy, and Jerry Seinfeld. He worked as a stand-up comedian from the age of 17, continuing throughout his high school years. Judd graduated in 1985 and decided to attend the University of Southern California. It was there that he enrolled in the screenwriting program.

Unfortunately, he dropped out of university during his second year after forming a bond with the well-known actor Adam Sandler. He ended up moving in with the famous actor, which helped create a path to a seriously successful career in comedy.

Career Overview

Judd met a manager named Garry Shandling, who hired him as a writer for the 1991 Grammy Awards. During the 1990s, Judd was involved with major television shows such as Freaks and Geeks, The Ben Stiller Show, and The Larry Sanders Show.

Judd made his directorial debut with the hit film The 40-Year-Old Virgin in 2005. The film starred Seth Rogan, Paul Rudd, and Steve Carell. This was the movie that gave him a name in the film industry and put him on the map. Not only was Judd climbing the Hollywood ladder at a rapid rate, but with the release of his first film, he had created a whole new comedic genre.

Judd decided to partner up with world-renowned Seth Rogen and created the masterpiece Knocked Up. After his two big hit films, comedians everywhere were fighting to be a part of Judd’s exclusive production company.

Apatow’s company became internationally well-known for its elite talent, including Seth Rogen, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, and Will Ferrell. This led to the release of two comedic films: Funny People (2009) and This Is 40 (2012). Unfortunately, these films were not as successful as his previous work. He decided to become more involved in television series and created hilarious shows such as Girls, Bridesmaids, and Love.

Highest-Grossing Films

Here’s a list of Judd Apatow’s highest-grossing films:

1. Bridesmaids (2011) – $288 million
2. Knocked Up (2007) – $220 million
3. The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005) – $177 million
4. Superbad (2007) – $171 million
5. Trainwreck (2015) – $113 million
6. Pineapple Express (2008) – $102.4 million
7. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) – $90 million
8. Funny People (2009) – $71.6 million

Real Estate

Judd has invested heavily in his property portfolio over the years, beginning with his 2,400-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bathroom home in Sherman Oaks, California. According to public records, Apatow paid $448,500 for the property in December 1993 and sold it for $485,000 in December 1997.

Beverly Hills Home

In December 2005, Apatow and his wife, Leslie Mann, paid $1.66 million for a 4,914-square-foot, five-bedroom, six-bathroom home in Beverly Hills, California. This home sits on a 1-acre lot and features black-and-white interior design throughout. The couple sold the property for$1.87 million in April 2013.

Malibu Beachhouse

In March 2013, just a month before selling their previous property, the couple upgraded to a $10.83 million beachfront home in Malibu. This home, overlooking the ocean, features 2,550 square feet, three bedrooms, and four bathrooms. However, they didn’t own it for long. Apatow officially returned the property to the market at the end of 2015, asking for $12 million. They closed a $11.5 million deal in March 2016, incurring a loss after property taxes and agent commissions. The property taxes alone amounted to roughly $370,000 during their three years of ownership.

Additional Properties

Apatow also owns a $4.9 million condo in Hawaii, purchased in 2009. Other properties in his portfolio include a beach house in California for $10.82 million, an empty lot in Santa Monica for $8.6 million, and a penthouse in Santa Monica for $14.5 million.

Summary 

Judd has created and directed masterpieces throughout his career and will go down in film history for his unique comedic tactics. He always knows how to put on a funny show or produce a new joke when he’s working with the elite of Hollywood, and that makes him a sought-after commodity.

Introduction

Jeff Dunham is an American professional actor, stand-up comedian, and ventriloquist with an estimated net worth of $140 Million.

Dunham has appeared on various television shows, notably The Tonight Show and Comedy Central Presents. His performances invariably leave the audience in stitches. He is known for pushing the limits with his jokes and getting away with sarcastic and cutting remarks, as his dummies are usually at fault.

Quick Facts

• Peak annual income of $19 million in the 2010s
• Earned an estimated $98.5 million from 2013 to 2019 (excluding 2014)

Earnings History

It’s probably no secret that Jeff Dunham was one of the highest-paid comedians in the 2010s, often earning between $15 million and $19 million per year. Forbes’ first mention of Dunham was back in 2013, when they placed him fourth on the list of the top-earning comedians that year. At the time, the publication highlighted Dunham’s merchandise revenues (ventriloquist dummy sales) as a significant source of income for the comedian, earning him “several million” dollars per year.

Dunham also earned an estimated $19 million in 2015, but his income began to decline in the latter half of the decade. In 2016, he earned approximately $13.5 million, a low for the period. Between 2017 and 2019, his annual income bounced between $15 million and $16.5 million. Aside from merchandising, Dunham’s most lucrative income stream was his residency at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. 

Between 2013 and 2019, Jeff Dunham earned approximately $98.5 million from all his endeavors. However, this excludes 2014 because we struggled to find information about that year.

Planet Hollywood Residency

In 2015, Jeff Dunham announced the beginning of a formal residency at Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. While there was never an official word on a contract being signed, the partnership, which continues on to this day, is believed to have been a primary source of Dunham’s income over the last decade. Each show runs 90 to 120 minutes, and he typically performs 6 shows per year at the venue.

Merchandising

We briefly mentioned above that Jeff Dunham earns several million dollars per year from merchandising. In the late 1990s, Dunham had a genius idea to begin producing his own ventriloquist dolls and selling them. He invested $30,000 to produce the first 3,000 units of the purple-skinned, green-haired Peanut doll, which, according to Forbes, 10% of his live audience purchased on any given night.

At the time, they sold for roughly $40 a pop. With roughly 300 people in attendance at a typical show, he sold an average of 30 dolls per night, generating a solid $1,200 in revenue. Of course, this was over two decades ago, and the doll has been through many iterations since then. 

Today, Dunham sells all three versions of his ventriloquist dolls (Peanut, Jeff, and Eddie) on his website for $199. He also offers animatronic talking dolls for $45, plush dolls for $15, and bobbleheads for $25. 

Real Estate

In July 2009, Jeff Dunham paid $4.25 million for a 6,522-square-foot, six-bedroom, seven-bathroom home in Encino, California. The property is situated on 0.42 acres of land and was built just one year before Dunham acquired it. In March 2015, he returned the property to the market, seeking $5.2 million, but unfortunately, it didn’t attract any interest. This led to numerous price reductions, resulting in his selling for just $4.1 million, a loss, in December 2017. 

In May 2014, a year before listing his Encino home, Dunham acquired a 7,204-square-foot, six-bedroom, eight-bathroom house in the Hidden Hills. He paid $4.033 million for the property, which is situated on a 2.3-acre lot. Kris Jenner is also reportedly his next-door neighbor. The property hasn’t changed hands since the purchase, and is now valued at roughly $5.47 million.

More Professional Comedians:

• Larry The Cable Guy
• Milana Vayntrub
• Kenan Thompson
• Norm MacDonald
• John Melendez
• Matt Lucas

Summary 

Jeff Dunham has brought a unique spin to the comedy industry. He’s proven that props can make a huge difference, especially for risqué jokes. By working hard to perfect his humor, he’s elevated his performance to an art form with broad audience appeal. It is impressive that he began performing in small shows at such a young age and ultimately became one of the wealthiest comedians of all time.

Not only is Jeff Dunham a role model for comedians everywhere, but he’s also an inspiration to anyone who has a passion for entertainment and wants to earn a lot of money in the bargain.