Have you ever had to stand up in front of thousands of people with the sole responsibility to make them all laugh? If you’re like most, the answer is no and if you’re like most you’re awfully thankful that the answer to that question is no. That’s just for the general public, but there are some out there that love it and there are a select few who excel at it. Comedy extends beyond just stand-up. There are dozens of avenues to fall into the category of comedy. Movies, television and radio are just a few of the major media that can make someone who is skilled at making others laugh some serious money. And yes, the take home from this post is going to be making money. The 15 Richest Comedians don’t just make a lot of money, they are a collection of some of the funniest minds in the world.
Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images
15. Bill Murray – $140 million
Bill Murray is like many famous comedians in that he got his start on Saturday Night Live. For his work on SNL Murray was given an Emmy Award, but that was just the start of a brilliant career making comedy (and other genres) movies. The 63-year old has been in over 50 movies during a 38 year career. Perhaps his most famous comedic work was done in Ghostbusters, Caddyshack and Groundhog Day. Murray has one of the most accomplished careers in all of Hollywood and he did it all without an agent.
Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
14. Joan Rivers – $150 million
Joan Rivers is probably most well-known for the excessive amounts of plastic surgery she’s had throughout the years, but don’t let that confuse you. Rivers is a highly-successful actress, comedian, writer, producer and television host. Most of our generation know Rivers for her work on the E! Network where she uses her comedic style to poke fun at celebrities. Rivers started her career working along famed comedic genius Johnny Carson. The 81-year old Rivers has built an enormous net worth in a career spanning close to 40 years.
Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images
13. Seth MacFarlane – $150 million
Seth MacFarlane is a 40-year old comedian who’s made his way onto this list via the creation of the popular TV show Family Guy. MacFarlane has been honored several times for the creation, writing and voicing of many characters on the show. He’s also created TV shows American Dad! and The Cleveland Show. MacFarlane stepped into the mainstream film with the movie Ted starring Mark Wahlberg. Seth pretty much does everything – acting, singing, writing, producing, directing, animating and more – all contributing to his net worth.
Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images
12. Drew Carey – $165 million
I guess you could say The Price is Right when it comes to Drew Carey’s net worth. Carey made a name for himself as a stand-up comedian after serving in the Marine Corps. His success in comedy led to an opportunity to have his own television show, The Drew Carey Show. Before taking over hosting duties on The Price is Right, Carey made money appearing in films, television series, music videos, made-for-television movies and a video game. The 56-year old millionaire is a minority owner of the Seattle Sounders MLS team.
Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
11. Ellen DeGeneres – $285 million
Ellen DeGeneres started her stand-up comedy career in the early 198os. She was so successful that she became the first female comedian to be invited onscreen with Johnny Carson. The ringing endorsement from one of the all-time greats buoyed Ellen’s career into superstardom. She would go on to star in her own TV show, Ellen, and also appear in movies. Ellen’s net worth is driven by the insane popularity of her talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show. She’s hosted the Emmys, Academy Awards and Grammy Awards.
Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images
10. Johnny Carson – $300 million
In sports we talk about all-time greats, but do we do the same in comedy? It’s a bit more subjective, but if you want to try and be as objective as possible Johnny Carson might be the greatest of all-time. If he lived today, we can only guess how high his net worth would be. Carson hosted the unfathomably successful The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson for 30 years. During that time he became one of the most successful TV hosts in the history of the game. He won six Emmys, the Governor’s Award, Presidential Medal of Freedom, and was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.
Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images
9. Adam Sandler – $300 millon
Adam Sandler is the second name on this list that started his career on Saturday Night Live. The 47-year old actor, comedian, screenwriter, entrepreneur, film producer, and musician got Lorne Michael’s attention in 1990 and the rest was history. Sandler did his fair share of stand-up work, but his films are his bread and butter. Sure, he hasn’t made a really great film in years, but throughout his career his work has amassed over $2 billion at the box office. Who doesn’t love Billy Madison or Happy Gilmore?
Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images
8. Byron Allen – $300 million
Perhaps one of the lesser known names on the list, Byron Allen is a highly-successful comedian and television producer. He is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of the U.S. television and production company Entertainment Studios. Like many of his fellow comedians on the list Allen made an appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson (seemingly integral to being a successful comedian) at the age of 18.
Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images
7. Trey Parker – $300 million
Trey Parker is an actor, animator, screenwriter, director, producer, comedian, and singer who’s most well-know for the creation of the animated series South Park with his best friend Matt Stone. South Park has been a wildly successful show on Comedy Central for close to twenty years. While that show is the main driver of Parker’s net worth, he’s branched out in recent years. Stone and Parker wrote and directed the hit musical The Book of Mormon. Between South Park and Book of Mormon Parker and Stone have six Emmys and nine Tony Awards.
Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images
6. Matt Stone – $300 million
You didn’t think that Parker was going to be on the list and his partner and best friend Matt Stone wasn’t going to be. For the record, Stone is on the right in this picture if you’re confused. As for his net worth, it’s pretty much a duplicate of what you just read. South Park and The Book of Mormon have given the two best friends a combined net worth of $600 million. Absolutely incredible.
Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images
5. Jay Leno – $350 million
The top five are going to be the most famous names in comedy and their net worth are going to be ridiculous. For almost 25 years Jay Leno was the host of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. His work on the show earned him a ticket into the Television Hall of Fame. We’re not saying that the 64-year old is a one-trick pony, but his hosting duties of his show and it’s immense popularity were enough to drive his net worth to $350 million.
Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images
4. Larry David – $400 million
Larry David might not be a household name to some, but he’s easily one of the most accomplished comedians of all-time. Starting as a stand-up comedian, he eventually partnered with Jerry Seinfeld to create the hit TV series Seinfeld. If you don’t know by now, those involved with Seinfeld are filthy rich. David would go on to create the hit HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm starring himself, but Seinfeld is the end-all-be-all when it comes to making hundreds of millions… hundreds.
Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images
3. David Letterman – $450 million
Letterman has been a fixture on late night television for over 30 years. Late Show with David Letterman was ranked #45 on TV Guide’s Top 50 Shows of All-Tome. Apparently, that’s enough to get you a whopping $450 million. Success is a huge factor in Letterman’s net worth, but it’s also a product of longevity. Letterman surpassed Johnny Carson as the longest tenured TV host, which will all come to an end in August 2015. What a run and what a net worth!
Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images
2) Matt Groening – $500 million
One could easily win an argument declaring that Matt Groening is the most successful cartoonist of all-time. He’s also a screenwriter, producer, animator, author, musician, comedian and voice actor, but let’s be serious… when we’re talking Matt Groening we’re talking The Simpsons. Airing 552 episodes, The Simpsons is the most successful animated TV series of all-time. Groening has won 12 Emmys in total and has profited not only from the show and it’s merchandise, he’s gone on to create other successful projects as well.
Photo by Valerie Macon/Getty Images
1. Jerry Seinfeld – $800 million
We tried to give you a forewarning about Seinfeld when we highlighted Larry David, but in case you didn’t get it here it is. For 10 years, Seinfeld was the most successful show airing on television. Yes, Seinfeld has an illustrious stand-up career and has gone on to succeed in other projects, but it’s all Seinfeld all the time. His stand-up career is nothing to sneeze at either – he was ranked 12th all-time in Comedy Central’s 100 Greatest Comics List. That $800 million is just phenomenal and unfathomable, but hey Seinfeld is a great show.
Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images
