Paul Shaffer Net Worth: Paul Shaffer is an American musician and bandleader who has a net worth of $30 million dollars. Born November 28, 1949 in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Paul Shaffer is best known as the musical director, bandleader and sidekick for comedian/talk show host David Letterman since 1982. In addition to accompanying musical guests on Letterman's show, Shaffer has released occasional albums and contributed his expertise to other projects. In his early years, he studied classical piano as a child and later joined a rock band after discovering the Beatles and Neil Young. Shaffer originally wanted to earn a law degree and join his father's firm, but while majoring in psychology as an undergraduate at the University of Toronto, he found himself unable to bear giving up music. After graduation, Shaffer landed a job as musical director of a Toronto production of Godspell in 1972, where he befriended Martin Short and Gilda Radner. He branched out into the radio work, including National Lampoon's Radio Hour, and played on other artists' recording sessions, commercial jingles and demos. Shaffer had previously befriended many of the comedians at a then new comedy program Saturday Night Live (now affectionately known as SNL), as well as producer Lorne Michaels, and he joined the program in 1975, writing special musical material. Shaffer's big break came in 1982, when he became the musical director of Late Night with David Letterman and the leader of the World's Most Dangerous Band. In 1991, Shaffer recorded his first album, which featured guest Dion, Ben E. King, Bobby Womack, Wilson Pickett and more, entitled Coast to Coast, which paid tribute to the rock and soul classics Shaffer had fallen in love with in his younger days. In 1993, Letterman and Shaffer moved to CBS, and legal difficulties forced Shaffer to rename his band the CBS Orchestra.

Paul Shaffer Salary

What is Paul Shaffer's salary as musical director of the David Letterman Show? $5 million per year.