Richest comedians in the world

Jeff Kravitz // Getty Images Want to make a comedian laugh? Tell them you’re getting into comedy to get rich. They might tell you the road ahead is bumpy at best and downright soul-crushing at worst, as one navigates through lonely hotel rooms and lifeless audiences while honing their craft. Only the truly passionate need apply because anyone else is bound to be disappointed. And yet, for the precious few who do succeed, comedy can pay off quite handsomely. For proof, look no further than the world’s richest comedians. Whether through writing, performing, or both, these individuals have forged an enduring path and reaped spectacular rewards as a result. It’s said that laughter is the best medicine. And they’ve deftly managed to fill the most prescriptions. So who’s earned the most buck for their comedic bang? Examples include such comedians as ventriloquist Jeff Dunham, movie star Adam Sandler, and iconic show creator Seth MacFarlane, among other funny people. If there’s a throughline, it’s that one must find their own distinctive voice and nurture it over time, even as one evolves stylistically or explores different mediums. Stacker gathered data from Celebrity Net Worth on entertainment’s richest comedians and itemized the top 25 by current net worth. The net worth figures on this list were calculated using a proprietary formula that factored in the publicly available data about each person including salaries, real estate holdings, divorces, record sales, royalties, and endorsements–minus estimated taxes, manager’s fees, agent fees, and lifestyle expenses. You may also like: David Bowie: The life story you may not know #25. Jeff Dunham Rick Kern // Getty Images – Net worth: $140 million Megapopular ventriloquist and stand-up comic Jeff Dunham lets his “suitcase posse” of puppet characters talk dirty on his behalf. His unique brand of offensive yet endearing humor has given way to various TV specials as well as his own sketch comedy series. He holds a Guinness World Record for the most tickets sold for a stand-up comedy tour. #24. Bill Maher Arturo Holmes // Getty Images – Net worth: $140 million A Cornell University graduate and former pot dealer, Bill Maher came up in the 1980s as a stand-up comic who scored occasional acting work. He turned his political views into a full-time gig as the creator and host of ABC’s “Politically Incorrect” and then HBO’s “Real Time.” Similarly outspoken on the subject of religion, his 2008 documentary “Religulous” made just over $13 million at the domestic box office on a reported budget of $2.5 million. #23. Rowan Atkinson NurPhoto // Getty Images – Net worth: $150 million This British talent was a sitcom and sketch comedy stalwart by the time he co-created and starred in the hit series “Mr. Bean,” which centers on the mumbling and bumbling title character, who Atkinson once described as “essentially a child trapped in the body of a man.” The show became an international sensation, spawning an animated spinoff series and two feature films, among other things. #22. Joan Rivers Momodu Mansaray // Getty Images – Net worth: $300 million A creator of massive hits on both the big and small screen, Seth MacFarlane is also a talented voice actor and singer. “Family Guy” remains the work for which he’s best known, and it’s currently in the middle of its 21st season. In 2020, he signed a $200 million deal with NBCUniversal. #11. Larry David Roy Rochlin // Getty Images – Net worth: $450 million This former late-night TV titan definitely knows how to spend his fortune, with a massive collection of rare cars and motorcycles as proof of his vast riches. According to reports, Jay Leno once earned as much as $30 million per year as the host of “The Tonight Show.” Still an active entertainer, he hosts the series “Jay Leno’s Garage” and continues to perform stand-up. #6. Ellen DeGeneres Steve Granitz // Getty Images – Net worth: $500 million In 1986, Ellen DeGeneres became the only female stand-up comic invited to sit on Johnny Carson’s couch after an inaugural performance on his show. She made history yet again by coming out as gay on her eponymous sitcom in 1997. Her career rebounded in 2003 with the debut of her talk show, which ran for 19 seasons and turned her into a very wealthy celebrity. You may also like: Bette Davis: The life story you may not know #5. Trey Parker