Comedians

Ellen DeGeneres Net Worth

Published

2 years ago

Mar 4, 2024

Net Worth:	$500 Million
Age:	68
Born:	January 26, 1958
Gender:	Female
Height:	1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Country of Origin:	United States of America
Source of Wealth:	Professional TV Host/Comedian
Last Updated:	Jul 31, 2026

Table of Contents

Introduction

Ellen DeGeneres is an American professional comedian and talk show host with an estimated net worth of $500 Million.

DeGeneres is one of the most well-known comedians of our time. She has achieved significant success over the last decade through her talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Through the years that the show has been on the air, it has won over 80 awards. Besides being a comedian, Ellen is also a writer, producer, and actress.

Quick Facts

Typically earns between $70 million and $85 million annually
Peak annual earnings of $87.5 million in 2018

Before Wealth & Fame

Ellen DeGeneres began her career by performing stand-up comedy at small clubs in the early 1980s and was the MC at Clyde’s Comedy Club. She began touring shortly after with some of the funniest stand-up comedians of all time, and in 1984 was named Showtime’s Funniest Person in America.

DeGeneres landed her first regular TV role in the Fox sitcom Open House, before being cast in Laurie Hill. While that series only lasted four episodes, producers brought DeGeneres back to star in the pilot for These Friends of Mine. However, after being inspired by her comedy career, the show was renamed Ellen and proved incredibly popular.

Comedy Career

Starting in 1994, Ellen was often referred to as the “female Seinfeld.” Later on, DeGeneres came out as a lesbian on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Her coming-out episode ended up being one of the highest-rated episodes of the show, but after its fifth season, the ratings began to drop. DeGeneres returned to TV in 2001 with the CBS sitcom The Ellen Show, although it was canceled after just 13 episodes. Following these sitcom appearances, Ellen focused all of her energy on becoming a successful talk show host on NBC.

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

In September 2003, The Ellen DeGeneres Show was launched as one of the many celebrity-hosted shows of the time. However, unlike others, DeGeneres’ show consistently rose in the Nielsen Ratings and received widespread critical praise. During its first season, the show was nominated for 12 Daytime Emmy Awards, winning four, including the award for Best Talk Show.

In total, The Ellen DeGeneres Show won 25 Emmy Awards in its first three seasons, proving its immense success. On her show, Ellen was known for dancing with her audience members and giving away prizes and trips. Ellen celebrated the 1000th episode of her show in May 2009 with celebrity guests including Paris Hilton and Oprah Winfrey.

For her 2,000th show in 2015, Jennifer Aniston and Justin Timberlake made surprise appearances to celebrate. In 2021, Ellen announced her talk show would end after its 19th season the following year, with its final episode airing on May 26, 2022.

Earnings History

Year	Earnings
2010	$55,000,000
2011	$45,000,000
2012	$53,000,000
2013	$56,000,000
2014	$70,000,000
2015	$75,000,000
2016	$75,000,000
2017	$77,000,000
2018	$87,500,000
2019	$80,500,000
2020	$84,000,000
Total	$758,000,000

Between 2010 and 2020, Ellen DeGeneres was consistently ranked among the highest-paid television hosts, earning anywhere between $45 million and $87.5 million annually through all her endeavors. Her income was primarily generated through The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which, in the latter half of the decade, reportedly earned her between $50 million and $60 million annually. Her other income sources included her production company, A Very Good Production, which she formed in 2003, as well as paychecks from her real estate investments and film salaries.

In the first few years of the 2010s, Ellen typically earned between $45 million and $55 million annually. However, in 2014, The Ellen DeGeneres Show had become one of the top three most-watched shows on daytime television in the United States. That year, her earnings increased to an estimated $70 million. From then until 2018, Ellen’s annual income gradually increased, reaching a peak of $87.5 million in 2018. In the two years that followed, she earned $80.5 million and $84 million, respectively.

Additional Projects

Ellen DeGeneres replaced Paula Abdul during the ninth season of American Idol but left after one season, saying it wasn’t the right fit for her.

In 2017, she began hosting Ellen’s Game of Games, which ran for four seasons until it was canceled in 2022. She has also gained prominence by appearing in numerous films, including Finding Nemo in 2003, where she voiced the fan-favorite character Dory.

DeGeneres reprised her role as Dory in 2016 in the film Finding Dory, which grossed $1 billion worldwide as the third-highest-grossing film of the year. Ellen also has her own lifestyle brand, ED by Ellen, which she launched in the summer of 2015, as well as her own record label, eleveneleven. She has also served as the commercial spokesperson for numerous brands, including American Express, CoverGirl, J.C. Penney, and Walmart.

Allegations Of Bullying

In July 2020, ten former employees of The Ellen DeGeneres Show came forward and accused the comedian of creating a toxic workplace atmosphere. Some of the allegations include racist microaggressions towards employees of color, firing employees for medical leave, and failing to address sexual harassment. This story went viral after being published on BuzzFeed, and several other people came forward to talk about their experiences with DeGeneres.

An internal investigation was launched by Warner Bros. Entertainment shortly after, and Ellen issued an apology to her staff, vowing to change the culture. However, despite this hiccup, Ellen has remained one of the richest comedians in the world, and this seems unlikely to change anytime soon.

Real Estate

Throughout her career, Ellen DeGeneres has invested heavily in real estate, frequently purchasing properties and reselling them for a substantial profit. It’s estimated that Ellen and her wife have earned more than $100 million through real estate investments. While it would be impossible to list every single one of their property acquisitions, we’ve covered the couple’s most important real estate transactions below.

Ennisbrook Montecito Home

In September 2017, Ellen paid $7.2 million for a 3,129-square-foot, four-bedroom, three-bathroom home situated on a 5.96-acre lot. She sold the property for $11 million less than a year later in May 2018.

Montecito Compound

In January 2019, the couple paid $27 million for a 1,674-square-foot, four-bedroom, ten-bathroom mansion in Montecito, California. They relisted the property just over a year later with an asking price of $39.9 million, but ultimately sold it for $33.3 million.

Comedians

Jay Pharoah Net Worth

Published

2 months ago

Jun 9, 2026

John Mulder

Net Worth:	$4.5 Million
Age:	78
Born:	October 14, 1987
Gender:	Male
Height:	1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Country of Origin:	United States of America
Source of Wealth:	Professional Actor/Comedian
Last Updated:	Jul 30, 2026

Table of Contents

Introduction

Jay Pharoah is an American professional actor, stand-up comedian, and rapper with an estimated net worth of $4.5 Million.

Throughout his career, Jay Pharoah has realized success as both an actor and comedian, notably starring in 128 episodes of Saturday Night Live between 2010 and 2016. His trademark celebrity impressions quickly earned him a name within the industry.

This profile outlines our research into Jay Pharoah’s net worth, income sources, and other aspects of his finances.

Quick Facts

Potentially earned $2.2 million from Saturday Night Live (estimate)
Grossed $835 million in worldwide box office revenue (film career)
Assets include a $3.5 million, 5,650-square-foot home in Tarzana

Saturday Night Live Salary

In the early years of his career, Pharoah’s work on Saturday Night Live represented a substantial portion of his income. At least based on the typical salary for featured cast members. Jay began appearing on the show in 2010, where he was allowed to show off some of his iconic celebrity impressions, including Denzel Washington, Barack Obama, Will Smith, Eddie Murphy, and Chris Rock.

Cast members are typically paid depending on how long they’ve been with the show, and the pay scales are often as follows:

First-year cast members – $7,000 per episode
Second-year cast members – $8,000 per episode
Third-year cast members – $15,000 per episode
Veterans – $25,000 per episode

However, the figures can vary, and since Jay Pharoah’s official salary from SNL has never been publicly disclosed, there’s no way of knowing exactly how much he earned during his tenure on the show. If we assume the information is correct, we can do some quick calculations to estimate how much Pharoah earned per season of SNL.

In his first season, he appeared in 22 episodes, potentially earning $154,000 (Season 36). He was also in 22 episodes of his second season, likely earning $176,000 with the pay rise. With 21 episodes of a third SNL season, he potentially earned up to $315,000, which leaves us with his three final seasons between 2014 and 2016. If he were paid a veteran’s salary during this time, he could have received approximately $1.575 million. All things considered, that would place his total earnings in the ballpark of $2.22 million, based on our estimates.

Additional Income Sources

Following his success on SNL, Jay Pharoah’s comedy career reached new heights. He began performing stand-up comedy more frequently on tour, and landed roles in various films and television shows. Given his unique ability for voice manipulation, he naturally attracted attention from animated productions, working on shows like The Simpsons, Family Guy, American Dad!, and Legends of Chamberlain Heights.

Pharoah also put together his own television show, White Famous, which aired on Showtime for ten episodes in 2017. Though this wasn’t his first project with the network. The comedian’s debut stand-up comedy special, Can I Be Me?, was also released on Showtime in 2015. Pharoah recently released his second stand-up special, JARED, on YouTube in 2024.

In summary, Jay Pharoah’s income sources outside of SNL comprise the following:

Stand-up comedy
Comedy specials
Voiceover work (TV & film)
Acting
TV hosting
Brand endorsements

Highest-Grossing Films

While technically not known for his box office hits, Jay Pharoah’s films have racked up some decent numbers. The highest-grossing film of his career was the 2016 animated flick Sing, in which he voiced the character of Meena’s grandfather. The film grossed $634.2 million worldwide against a $75 million budget. Pharoah’s only other film to gross more than $100 million was Ride Along (2014), starring Ice Cube and Kevin Hart. Though he only appeared in a single scene of the movie.

Here’s a list of Jay Pharoah’s highest-grossing films:

Sing (2016) – $634.2 million
Ride Along (2014) – $154.5 million
Top Five (2014) – $25.9 million
Unsane (2018) – $14.2 million
Busboys (2026) – $2.65 million
All My Life (2020) – $1.96 million
Get A Job (2016) – $23,910

Real Estate

In November 2018, Pharoah purchased a $2.4 million, 5,650-square-foot, six-bedroom, six-bathroom home in Tarzana, California. According to public records, the home’s property taxes are roughly $31,000 per year. The property is also estimated to be worth $3.5 million now.

Comedians

David Cross Net Worth

Published

3 months ago

May 8, 2026

Dan Western

Net Worth:	$10 Million
Age:	62
Born:	April 4, 1964
Gender:	Male
Height:	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Country of Origin:	United States of America
Source of Wealth:	Comedian
Last Updated:	Jul 30, 2026

Table of Contents

Introduction

David Cross is an American professional stand-up comedian, actor, and director with an estimated net worth of $10 Million.

Cross began his stand-up comedy career as a teenager in the 1980s and transitioned to film and television in the 1990s. Since then, he’s starred in more than 150 projects, though he’s best known for Arrested Development and voiceover roles in Kung Fu Panda and Megamind. To date, his films have grossed more than $5.3 billion at the global box office.

In this profile, we’ll discuss our research into David Cross’ net worth, income sources, highest-grossing films, and any events that have significantly impacted his finances.

Quick Facts

Fined $150,000 for breaking an NDA regarding Alvin & The Chipmunks
Grossed $5.3+ billion in worldwide box office revenue

Alvin & The Chipmunks Loss

Cross’ role in the Alvin and the Chipmunks franchise brought him significant financial rewards but also serious frustrations. Starting with Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007), the films became global hits, earning over $1.04 billion at the box office. Cross reportedly made a seven-figure sum across all three films, giving him financial stability and the means to fund other projects.

However, in 2011, while promoting Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, he called the experience “the most miserable” of his career due to alleged mistreatment and difficult working conditions.

In several interviews, Cross stated that he was forced into uncomfortable situations, like wearing a heavy Pelican costume for long periods. Despite the challenges, he still acknowledged that the financial rewards outweighed the negatives, allowing him to pursue other goals and interests.

Consequently, speaking out about his negative experience resulted in a $150,000 penalty for violating his non-disparagement clause, compounding the bitterness of his involvement. This highlighted the problematic balance between financial gain and the personal cost of participating in a creatively unsatisfying and emotionally draining project.

Highest-Grossing Films

As we briefly mentioned in the introduction, Cross’ films have grossed approximately $5.3 billion worldwide. Upon researching which of his films returned the most money at the box office, here’s what we found.

Seven of his ten highest-grossing films are animated, or semi-animated children’s films, belonging to just three franchises. The first, and most successful franchise, was Kung Fu Panda. Cross voiced the character of Crane in the first three Kung Fu Panda films, grossing a combined $1.8 billion in box office revenue.

Between 2007 and 2011, he played Ian in the Alvin & the Chipmunks trilogy, with the three films grossing $1.04 billion worldwide. The second film, The Squeakquel, was the most successful, bringing in $443.1 million against a $70 million budget.

The last children’s film on the list is Megamind, which was released in 2010 and grossed $321.9 million.

Here’s a list of David Cross’ highest-grossing films:

Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) – $665.7 million
Kung Fu Panda (2008) – $632 million
Men in Black (1997) – $589.4 million
Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016) – $521.2 million
Men in Black II (2002) – $445.1 million
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009) – $443.1 million
Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007) – $361.3 million
Megamind (2010) – $321.9 million
Pitch Perfect 2 (2015) – $287.5 million
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (2011) – $234 million

Real Estate

The only information we could find about David Cross’ real estate investments is that he owns a townhouse in the Brooklyn neighborhood of New York City. There aren’t any details online about the value of the home, nor how much he paid for it.

Comedians

Seth Meyers Net Worth

Published

3 months ago

Apr 24, 2026

Dan Western

Net Worth:	$26 Million
Age:	52
Born:	December 28, 1973
Gender:	Male
Height:	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Country of Origin:	United States of America
Source of Wealth:	Comedian
Last Updated:	Jul 30, 2026

Table of Contents

Introduction

Seth Meyers is an American professional comedian, writer, and actor with an estimated net worth of $26 Million.

Meyers is predominantly known for his tenure on Saturday Night Live and Late Night with Seth Meyers. However, he’s also produced more than a dozen TV shows and films, including The Awesomes, Mapleworth Murders, and The Amber Ruffin Show. Seth’s work also extends to acting, starring in a dozen films since 1995.

This profile outlines our research into Seth Meyers’ net worth, income sources, salary, and real estate investments.

Quick Facts

Earned $5 million per year from Late Night With Seth Meyers
Assets include a $7.5 million, 3,200-square-foot NYC duplex

Late Night With Seth Meyers

In 2024, shortly after Meyers celebrated 10 years of hosting Late Night with Seth Meyers, NBCUniversal announced that his contract had been renewed until 2028. The agreement also included a deal between Meyers’ own production company, Sethmaker Shoemeyers, and Universal Studio Group for him to develop other projects for NBCUniversal.

Meyers’ contract for hosting the show pays him around $5 million per year. However, this amount is significantly lower than that of other late-night TV hosts, such as Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel, who both earn $15 million per year.

Despite the renewal, the show’s house band, the 8G Band, was let go in August 2024 to cut costs. However, they still provided pre-recorded music, rather than playing live in the studio. Since Meyers took over the slot from Jimmy Fallon in 2014, the show has received 11 Emmy nominations, 7 Writers Guild of America Award nominations, and has won 2 Critics’ Choice Awards.

Real Estate

Meyers and his wife purchased an apartment in the West Village neighborhood of New York in December 2013 for $3.5 million. Subsequently, they renovated the property before listing it for sale in 2017 for $4.5 million. The two-bedroom apartment, which featured a sunken living room with a fireplace, a modernized kitchen, and a spa bathroom, was sold in early 2018 for the full asking price.

Before the apartment sale was completed, the couple purchased a five-bedroom duplex in Greenwich Village in 2016 for $7.5 million, as they needed more space after the birth of their first child. The 3,200-square-foot residence features two wood-burning fireplaces, a chef’s kitchen, a spacious living/dining room, four and a half bathrooms, and wooden beamed ceilings. The duplex occupies two floors of a 15-story building, which has only two apartments per floor, providing complete privacy for Meyers and his wife in a prime city location.

Philanthropy

Meyers has supported various charitable organizations, including Amnesty International, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Cycle for Survival, Forgotten Harvest, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, Mia Hamm Foundation, Motion Picture and Television Fund Foundation, Natural Resources Defense Council, and Somaly Mam Foundation.