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.

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.

Before Wealth & Fame

Growing up in New York City, Jerry attended Massapequa High School in Long Island and volunteered at Kibbutz Sa’ar in Israel. He began studying at the State University of New York but transferred to Queens College to further his studies in theater. While at Queen’s College, he performed on open-mic nights at Budd Friedman’s Improv Club, which sparked his interest in stand-up comedy. 

Early Career

After graduating, he tried out at an open-mic night at Catch a Rising Star, leading to an appearance in a Rodney Dangerfield HBO special. At the same time, he had a small recurring role on the sitcom “Benson.” Unfortunately, not long after, Seinfeld was abruptly fired from the show. Despite being fired from the show, he made his first appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” and his comedic personality impressed Carson.

This breakthrough led him to make frequent appearances on other shows, such as “Late Night with David Letterman,” and gained him attention from a wider audience. A few years later, his first one-hour special, “Stand-Up Confidential,” aired live on HBO, further expanding his popularity as a comedian.

Seinfeld

Soon after, Jerry created “The Seinfeld Chronicles” with Larry David, later renamed “Seinfeld,” which became one of the most-watched sitcoms on American television. The final episode of “Seinfeld” aired in 1988, but remained a popular rerun, and despite being offered $110 million for another season, Seinfeld declined.

Well-known actors such as Michael Richards and Julia Louis-Dreyfus starred in the show, but Jerry was the only actor to appear in every episode.

Comedy Career

After his sitcom ended, he returned to stand-up comedy and recorded a special, “I’m Telling You for the Last Time.” A few years later, Seinfeld appeared at the National Museum of American History to donate the shirt he wore in an episode. He gave a speech when presenting the shirt, saying playfully, “This is the most embarrassing moment of my life.”

Jerry also made cameo appearances on various shows and events, including “Saturday Night Live” and the Academy Awards as the presenter for Best Documentary. His film “Comedian” documented Seinfeld’s return to stand-up comedy, expressing mixed feelings about it but appreciating the process and ultimately finding it rewarding.

A few years later, he appeared in a series of commercial webisodes for American Express titled “The Adventures of Seinfeld and Superman.” Shortly after that, Jerry starred in “Bee Movie” and voiced the main character; he was cast alongside fellow comedians Chris Rock and Renée Zellweger.

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

Conan O’Brien is an American television host, comedian, writer, and producer with an estimated net worth of $200 Million. 

Early Career

After graduating from Harvard, Conan O’Brien moved to Los Angeles and became a writer for the sketch comedy series No Necessarily the News. During that time, he was also a writer for The Wilton North Report before being hired in 1988 by Saturday Night Live executive producer Lorne Michaels. 

O’Brien spent three years on SNL and wrote many recurring sketches, including “The Girl Watchers,” which was performed by Tom Hanks and Jon Lovitz. In 1991, he left SNL, citing burnout, and was quickly snatched up by Mike Reiss and Al Jean, the showrunners of The Simpsons.

Conan O’Brien was one of the first new hires following the original crew of The Simpsons, and Lisa Kudrow even helped him with the transition. From 1991 to 1993, O’Brien was a writer and producer for The Simpsons and was thought a shoo-in to become a showrunner. 

After writing some of the show’s most acclaimed episodes, Lorne Michaels approached him about producing the talk show Late Night. However, with David Letterman preparing to leave the show, O’Brien auditioned for the role and was picked as the new host. 

Late Night with Conan O’Brien

Once he was cast as the host of Late Night, Fox refused to let him out of his contract with them on The Simpsons. Ultimately, NBC and O’Brien split the cost to end the agreement prematurely so he could switch networks. 

Late Night with Conan O’Brien premiered on September 13, 1993, to mixed reviews from critics. Since he was relatively unknown at the time, people quickly nitpicked and tore apart everything they felt was out of place about O’Brien. Fortunately, the show gradually gained commercial success and outperformed its competitors in ratings. 

The Tonight Show

In June 2009, O’Brien officially took over The Tonight Show from Jay Leno; however, just seven months later, in January 2010, O’Brien left the show and NBC altogether. It was alleged that NBC had promised O’Brien back in 2004 that he would replace Leno. At the time, O’Brien was extremely popular, and NBC wanted to prevent him from going to a rival network, particularly Fox.

Although exact details weren’t made public, it was estimated that NBC had offered O’Brien between $12 million and $15 million per year to host the show. NBC had always believed that by 2009, and after 17 years as the host, Leno would be ready to leave The Tonight Show. However, Leno wasn’t prepared to retire, and so, NBC planned to give him a new show at 10 p.m., while O’Brien would host The Tonight Show at 11:35 p.m.

In September 2009, Leno’s prime-time show debuted, but it received poor ratings and reviews, and audience numbers steadily declined. This, in turn, affected local TV stations, which rely heavily on the popular 10 p.m. slot as it traditionally captures audiences who then go on to watch local news and commercials. As a result, local stations put pressure on NBC to find a solution, and so it decided to move Leno’s show back to 11:35 p.m., and The Tonight Show was shifted to the later time of 12:05 a.m. Despite NBC’s best efforts, O’Brien refused to agree, arguing that pushing The Tonight Show after midnight would damage its legacy and his role as host.

NBC Settlement

As the problem grew, NBC faced the option of either sticking by its decision, which would affect ratings, or getting O’Brien to leave. At the time, O’Brien had about two and a half years left on his contract for The Tonight Show, and to avoid a legal battle, NBC offered him a generous severance package.

After negotiations, NBC finally agreed to pay $45 million to be split between O’Brien and his staff members, many of whom had relocated from New York to Los Angeles for the show. O’Brien reportedly covered some of the payments for stagehands and crew who had not been included in NBC’s deal. To secure the money, the settlement also required O’Brien to follow specific conditions. He had to agree not to appear on another network until September 2010 and was not to make any jokes or remarks about NBC.

O’Brien’s last appearance on The Tonight Show was on January 22nd, 2010, before Leno returned. Up until that point, O’Brien had been with NBC for almost two decades, and his departure was considered to be undignified and unnecessary. However, it didn’t affect the rest of his career, as in November 2010, TBS offered him around $12 to $15 million per season to host the Conan show, which ran for 10 and a half years. Although the show was popular with younger audiences, its ratings declined over time, with audiences dropping to just 282,000 per episode in the final season.

Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend

Conan’s production company, Team Coco, teamed up with Earwolf in 2018 for Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, a weekly podcast. In every episode, O’Brien is joined by a guest, with some of the most prominent being Barack Obama, Stephen Colbert, and Bob Newhart. Since its debut, the show has won numerous awards and has been downloaded over 250 million times across various hosting platforms. 

In 2022, this podcast, along with other Team Coco podcasts, Inside Conan, and Parks and Recollection, was sold to SiriusXM for $150 million. Conan announced that his four-episode travel series, Conan O’Brien Must Go, was in production in 2023 and is set to be released on Max.

Conan Salary

When TBS began airing Conan in 2010, O’Brien reportedly earned $12 million annually in compensation. He typically hosted between 159 and 165 episodes per season, resulting in a salary of roughly $75,000 per episode.

The show ran from 2010 to 2021, for eleven seasons and 1508 episodes. Assuming the $12 million figure was constant throughout (somewhat unlikely), he would have earned $132 million from the show.