Next >> Comedians in Hollywood have experienced a visible transition into the acting game after a certain period of time in the stand up comedy world. The path of many comedians starts out the same, in either stand up comedy or writing for shows like Saturday Night Live. They then break into the television or film market and if they are good they manage to stay. The men and women on this list not only managed to stick around but are iconic at this point in their careers, boasting a net worth any CEO would envy. There are those who are just starting out in the industry and are showing incredible promise, while there are other who have proven their worth and are bringing in more money than they know what to do with. ADVERTISEMENT Some of the highest earning comedians are actually the ones behind some of television’s most brilliant shows. We have the mastermind behind The Simpsons, as well as the dynamic duo who is responsible for bringing us South Park. So much of our lives is spent in front of the television, so these shows – Seinfeld, Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock, Chappelle’s Show, and The Late Show, are a bigger part of it than we care to admit. These comedians rely on their wit and timing to make audiences laugh; sometimes they succeed incredibly well, while other times they fall flat. Sometimes comedians walk the thin line of decency with the content of their jokes. The term ‘too soon?’ comes to mind when some of these comedians are brought up, but most of the time they do a good job of making our jaws drop without getting us too angry or annoyed about the topic being laughed about. Go ahead and take a gander as to how much these unbelievably talented and funny men and women make… begin >>

Amy Schumer | $16 million Relatively new to the scene, Amy Schumer is making up for lost time by being one of the funniest and most talented comedian and actresses of the last few years. Schumer jumped right into the deep end with her first film Trainwreck, which she wrote and starred in. She has had her own sketch comedy series called Inside Amy Schumer on Comedy Central. Amy has never been one to keep quiet or sit there and look pretty, which is why we are certain that her $16 million current net worth is going to skyrocket over the next few years.

Kristen Wiig | $16 million The lovely and hilarious Kristen Wiig, known to us from films like Bridesmaids, Ghostbusters and doing the voice of the hot dog named Brenda in Sausage Party (because of course she did), has earned herself a respectable nest egg of $16 million. Wiig is a Saturday Night Live alum as are many of today’s comedians and has hosted the show as well. She is currently focusing on her film career.

Amy Poehler | $18 million Something about Amy! Amy Poehler was also one of those comedians who got their start on Saturday Night Live. She was on the show for years before joining best friend Tina Fey in the film circuit. Poehler has been in hit films like Mean Girls, Man of the Year, Baby Mama, and Sisters, in addition to television shows like Arrested Development, Parks and Recreation, Louie, Broad City and continued skits on SNL. We would say $18 million is only the beginning.

Jack Black | $20 million It’s not a list of comedians without Jack Black. The actor, singer, and producer shot to fame with his starring role in the film The School of Rock (he was even nominated for a Golden Globe for his role). His band, Tenacious D, has a pretty big following too! Jack’s $20 million come from his supreme work ethic and zero problem with working himself to the bone. His most recent projects include voicing a character in the Kung Fu Panda film franchise, as well as starring in Goosebumps.

Louis C.K. | $25 million Louis C.K. is one of the hottest comedians at the moment. He started out doing stand up comedy at on open mic nights in Boston back in the 80s, and worked his way up to television and films such as Saturday Night Live, Comedy Central Presents, Park and Recreation, Louis (which he is still starring in today), and some voice acting roles in animated films like The Secret Life of Pets. Louis has recently been on tour around the globe, going back to his original style of comedy delivery – stand up.

Chelsea Handler | $35 million Chelsea Handler, the woman who gives zero cares and is way more talented than she leads on. Her style is entirely her own, making you believe she cares for no one but herself and will say exactly what’s on her mind. Chelsea had her own show, Chelsea Lately, for seven years and a yearly salary of $12.5 million. After her time on Chelsea Lately, Handler signed a deal with Netflix for $10 million for exclusive content and a docu-series that she would host. Handler is also a best selling novelist.

Adam McKay | $40 million Adam McKay is not one you will recognize from his face. He is not the one in front of the camera but behind it. The director is responsible for such hilarity as Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, and The Big Short. Funny enough, he was actually rejected by Saturday Night Live as a performer, only to become the head writer for the show. McKay is now an Oscar winner for his adapted screenplay in The Big Short.

David Spade | $40 million David has been in comedy for decades. His commitment to the art of making people laugh is inspiring. Spade has been in hits like Grown Ups, Just Shoot Me!, Rules of Engagement, 8 Simple Rules, and voiced the character of Kuzco in The Emperor’s New Groove. Spade was thought to be written off as a B-list actor, but whether that is true or not, the man has a net worth of $40 million, so there’s that.

Stephen Colbert | $45 million Stephen Colbert’s $45 million net worth comes from his $15 million a year as the host of The Late Show. Stephen was also the host of The Colbert Report and The Daily Show before settling in to his longtime home. His skills at making audiences laugh, political opinions and sharp wit are the reason he filled the coveted late night desk gig. We are sure to see Colbert’s net worth only balloon some more.

Billy Crystal | $45 million Billy Crystal is a legend in Hollywood at this point. In addition to films, award shows and stand ups that he is known for, Billy is also a five-time author and Broadway star. We first got to know him (intimately even) when he starred in the film When Harry Met Sally and continued to enjoy his on-screen presence as he was making the Academy Awards much funnier than they normally would be thanks to his hosting job.

Whoopi Goldberg | $45 million Whoopi Goldberg has a net worth of $45 million. She has been in Hollywood for decades and has earned the respect of many in the industry. She started out with comedy but has worked her way to more serious roles. In the beginning we loved her in Sister Act, Ghost, and voiced the character of Shenzi (one of the hyenas) in The Lion King. Today, Goldberg has taken up roles in Law and Order, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and King of the Dancehall.

Melissa McCarthy | $50 million A funny woman is a sight for sore eyes, for sure. Melissa McCarthy’s breakout role was as Sookie St. James on the show Gilmore Girls. It was after her time one GG that her comedic skills truly started to shine. Her film breakout role came with the film Bridesmaids (we all want to forget that bathroom scene, we know) and continued on a mega-hit level with This Is 40, The Heat, Tammy, Spy, The Boss, and Ghostbusters. Melissa is keeping busy and pulling in the major paychecks that have lead to her current $50 million bank balance.

Tracy Morgan | $50 million Comedian, actor, and fighter Tracy Morgan is one tough funny guy. We got to know Tracy through his role on 30 Rock alongside Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin. His character of Tracy Jordan was based on his real-life behavior, with some creative privileges taken here and there. Tracy was also one of the many to grace the stage of Saturday Night Live. In 2014, Tracy was in a horrific car accident that left him in pretty rough shape for a while. However, fighter that we know he is, Tracy bounced back little by little.

Jeff Dunham | $60 million Jeff Dunham made collective audiences practically lose their bladders with laughter each time he opened his mouth (or that of one of his dummies). The talented ventriloquist took to the stage with Ahmed the dead terrorist and the rest is history. His skits have been viewed over 150 million times on YouTube just for Ahmed’s bit. Dunham has many other characters to his show now and has taken them all on tour. His $60 million comes from his endless amounts of shows and his seemingly never-ending level of energy.

Tina Fey | $65 million Tina got her real start on Saturday Night Live, it is what gave her the platform to jump from and create the hilarious content she does today. Tina’s successful film roles include Means Girls (which she also wrote), Man of the Year, Date Night, Admission, and Sisters. Her television career has been nothing less than stellar as well, with shows like 30 Rock and continued roles on SNL. Her $65 million net worth is entirely believable considering the amount of hard work and dedication Fey has for the comedy genre.

Chris Rock | $70 million Chris Rock’s facial expressions alone are some of the funniest around. Rock was a part of the Saturday Night Live cast since 1990. Prior to his time on SNL he was in films like Beverly Hills Cops II in a very small part, as well as himself in a short documentary. It was thanks to his roles in Down to Earth and Head of State that he became much more recognized, not to mention his voice role in the Madagascar film series. Rock has an incredibly distinctive voice that we would recognize anywhere. His other accomplishments include hosting the Academy Awards, Emmy Awards and Grammy Awards several times.

Eddie Murphy | $75 million Eddie Murphy and comedy are synonymous. From his Saturday Night Live beginnings to Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, Vampire in Brooklyn, The Nutty Professor and Shrek, to name a few, Murphy has had one stellar career. Over the last few years he has transitioned to roles that have a more serious edge to them, such as Dreamgirls, A Thousand Words, and Mr. Church. His many roles, both live and voice have earned Murphy a net worth of $75 million.

Will Ferrell | $80 million Anchorman Will Ferrell changed what we think is funny thanks to his impressive skills. He made us stretch our laughing muscles to the maximum, which is why he gets paid the big bucks. His hits include, Blades of Glory, Elf, Old School, Step Brothers, and Talladega Nights. WE can’t imagine a world where Ferrell isn’t making us belly laugh and we sure don’t want to!

Kevin James | $80 million Kevin James got noticed for his comedic chops on The King of Queens. After the show, James went into film. He starred in films like Hitch, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, and ZooKeeper (which he also wrote and produced!). James is a talent we are sure to be seeing lots of more in years to come. His most recent project is the film Sandy Wexler, coming out this year.

Jon Stewart | $80 million Jon Stewart was the host of The Daily Show for 17 years. The show was what brought Jon’s success and income to a whole new level. By the time he left the show he was earning $16 million a year. His current $80 million net worth is mostly from The Daily Show, however, he has also co-authored two books that are politically oriented, as well as signed a four-year deal with HBO in 2015 that will include exclusive original digital content for the network.

Ricky Gervais | $80 million English comic Ricky Gervais rocked our American world when he hosted the Golden Globe Awards and made some pretty out there jokes. Other than hosting the award show, Gervais has been in shows like The Office, Extras, The Simpsons, Louie, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Family Guy. He has won three Golden Globes himself, as well as two Emmy Awards, seven BAFTA Awards and five British Comedy Awards. Well earned, indeed!

Conan O’Brien | $85 million Ah, another late night show host who started out on the comedy stage. Conan O’Brien started out as a writer for Saturday Night Live, delivering quick witted satire where it needed to be placed. He then went on to host The Tonight Show for a short while, only to finally get his own show – Conan. He was also the host of Late Night in place of David Letterman, but eventually moved on to The Tonight Show and then entirely out of NBC, the split of which earned him $32 million of his $85 million.

Bob Saget | $100 million While we all thought Bob Saget was not to be heard from after the 1990s, he got the last laugh. Saget was introduced to us as the head of the household on the show Full House. He was on the show for the 8-year duration. There was a time when Saget was counting his coin and biding his time. He is now on the Full House spin off, Fuller House and continuing to collect his $100 million.

Mel Brooks | $100 million To us, Mel Brooks in the father of comedy. The film director, producer and actor is responsible for some of cinema’s funniest films. Our personal favorite is Robin Hood: Men in Tights, along with Young Frankenstein, Spaceballs, and Dracula: Dead and Loving It. Brooks holds the incredibly prestigious title of EGOT member, meaning he has won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony for his efforts! There are only 12 people in the world who are a part of the club. His $100 million net worth is more than earned.

Sacha Baron Cohen | $110 million We all know him better as Borat since that is how we were introduced to Sacha Baron Cohen. The self deprecating comedian has no problem looking like a total fool for the sake of a joke. There are many out there who thought Cohen to be totally ridiculous, however, his incredible net worth has him winning the argument of his seriousness in Hollywood. $110 million is having Sacha laughing all the way to the bank.

Martin Lawrence | $110 million It all started with What’s Happening Now!! and continued with Lawrence’s roles in Martin, House Party, Boomerang, Bad Boys, Wild Hogs, Big Momma’s House, and A Thin Line Between Love & Hate. Lawrence has always remained pretty below the radar in Hollywood, being a part of his projects and then returning to his quiet life outside of the limelight. It’s his $110 million that allows him to do so, we guess.

Kevin Hart | $120 million Kevin Hart has hilarious director and producer Judd Apatow to thank for getting his career started. Hart’s breakout role was in the series Undeclared. It was thanks to the show that he landed roles in films like Paper Soldiers. Scary Movie 3, Soul Plane, In the Mix and Little Fockers. In recent months, Hart has been a part of the reality television show scene, entering the mess of a genre with the show Real Husbands of Hollywood. Oy.

Steve Harvey | $120 million So what if he messed up during the Miss Universe Pageant? Steve is still one of our favorites. Steve’s $120 million come from years of on air experience and his current long run on The Steve Harvey Morning Show, Steve Harvey talk show, Little Big Shots, and Family Feud. What can we say, the man loves to host! He is also an author of two books. Harvey is a multiple award-winning actor and host with five Daytime Emmy Awards as well as 14 NAACP Image Awards.

Ray Romano | $130 million Everybody loves Raymond, indeed! Actor and comedian Ray Romano has a delightful net worth of $130 million from his many years on the sitcom. It was thanks to his appearance on Late Show with David Letterman that he landed the role of a lifetime for any struggling comedian – his own sitcom. Everybody Loves Raymond has since ended but Ray has lent his voice to the Ice Age animated film franchise as well as appeared in Get Shorty and Vinyl.

Rowan Atkinson | $130 million What’s a list of comedians without Mr. Bean himself. Actor Rowan Atkinson is worth much more than we thought he did, with a net worth if $130 million. Atkinson’s epic role of Mr. Bean is the role of his and our lifetime. While that was his most popular role, he was also the voice of Zazu in the animated film The Lion King, as well as the annoyingly slow salesman in Love Actually.

Steve Martin | $130 million Funny man Steve Martin started out his comedic career during his time in college when he would do stand up at local Los Angeles clubs before dropping out to pursue his acting and comedy full time. Flash forward to today and Steve is worth $130 million and has been in hit films like Father of the Bride, Bringing Down the House, Cheaper by the Dozen, and The Pink Panther, to name a couple. Martin has hosted Saturday Night Live an impressive 15 times as audience levels would always rise when he was set to host.

Dan Aykroyd | $135 million Cone Head himself Dan Aykroyd is worth $135 million. Aykroyd’s other main achievements include hits like Ghostbusters, The Blues Brothers, and Driving Miss Daisy. He has mostly been on comedic roles but he has the unique ability to be serious and be taken seriously as well! Aykroyd is also a successful businessman, he co-founded the House of Blues music venue chain, as well as Crystal Head Vodka. His $135 million net worth is an ode to his many accomplishments.

Drew Carey | $165 million Drew Carey started his comedy career fresh off his military duty. He was a stand up comedian for a while before entering slowly and surely into the television market as a supporting actor. It would only be when Drew was the star of The Drew Carey show that we would learn of his epic comedic skills. The show ran for nine years, at the end of which Drew was earning $750,000 an episode. He was also the host of the show Whose Line Is It Anyway? Drew is now continuing to do what he does best, host! He is the host of The Price Is Right.

Seth MacFarlane | $200 million Seth Macfarlane, creator of Family Guy, is sitting pretty with a net worth of $200 million. Before he made it big with the show, he was an animator and writer for animated shows like Johnny Bravo, Dexter’s Laboratory and Cow and Chicken. Family Guy is much more than a show at this point but a piece of the American way of life. Macfarlane has since also directed, acted, produced, and voice acted his way to the big leagues with the voice of Ted and Ted 2.

Jay Leno | $350 million We’re getting to those insane net worths now aren’t we. At $350 million, we have late night talk show icon Jay Leno. Leno started out like most comedians, as a stand up artist, and worked his way up to The Tonight Show host. At the height of Jay’s career, he was making upwards of $30 million a year for his hosting and comedy gigs. Today, Leno is (mostly) retired, with the occasional television guest spot.

Ellen Degeneres | $360 million Ellen Degeneres may have started out as a stand up comedian, but she has come a long way since then. Ellen went to star in the sitcom Ellen from 1994 until 1998. She has hosted the Academy Awards, Primetime Emmy Award and Grammy Awards and has had her own syndicated talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, since 2003. DeGeneres’ fortune is as big as her heart, which is why she is an avid philanthropist. Ellen is married to fellow actress Portia de Rossi.

Adam Sandler | $360 million Adam may have started out as just another funny actor, but he quickly proved to the world that he is much more than a funny guy. Sandler has been in hit films like Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, The Wedding Singer, Big Daddy, and Mr. Deeds, what many people don’t know is that he not only stars in most of his films but he also produces them with his production company, Happy Madison Productions. Sandler’s $360 million comes from many hit paydays but from many behind the scenes jobs as well. We can’t forget Sandler’s origins though, SNL writer for the win!

David Letterman $400 million $400 million for 33 years of late night hosting seems like a very fair exchange. David Letterman is sitting on a fortune, a fortune he earned entertaining those who were up late! Letterman has since retired from the show since during the time on Late Night with David Letterman he also kept very busy with production of shows like Everybody Loves Raymond, King of Queens and other television legends through his company, Worldwide Pants.

Matt Stone and Trey Parker | $400 million Matt and Trey are the brilliant minds behind South Park. To this day, the two have creative control over the series that says more than is on its mind in a way that is most of the time too dirty for us to repeat. The show, which started in 1997 and is still in production, has given us some of the biggest topics of conversation throughout its air time and we couldn’t be more grateful for it. Matt and Trey have worked beyond television and entered the realm of film, theater and video game market.

Matt Groening | $500 million Matt Groening is the creative mind behind the longest running show on American television – The Simpsons! The creator of the show has won 12 Emmy Awards for his creation and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Simpsons is currently on its 28th season and is still a fan favorite. His $500 million fortune is only going to grow over the years as he is still banging out new episodes, not to mention older ones that are being shown on different channels around the world.

Larry David | $800 million We’re reaching the top here with these kinds of net worths. Larry David, creator of shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm and Seinfeld, is worth $800 million and counting. His income from syndication is more than what most actors earn for their working hours on set. Prior to hitting it big with Seinfeld, David was the odd job master until such time that his show was picked up and his world would never be the same again.

Jerry Seinfeld | $870 million Jerry, the star of Seinfeld and the show’s co-creator. Just from the syndication of Seinfeld Jerry makes a VERY nice living, which doesn’t include his other projects. Jerry started out doing plain old fashioned stand up until he made it huge. He rakes in $45 million a year from syndication and much more from being the voice in Bee Movie, and being the brains behind a reality television show called The Marriage Ref. Jerry is married to Jessica and has three children.

Kathy Griffin | $20 million D-list comedian and actress Kathy Griffin has gotten herself in some seriously hot water lately with her comments on the president. However, before she made a mess of things, Griffin was almost beloved by audiences. She made fun of herself a lot and never had a filter to save her life – which we loved. She is part of what is called ‘observational comedy’ which for her turned out to work and then not work. Still, Griffin has a net worth of $20 million, for now.

Dave Chappelle | $45 million It took a while for Dave to earn the comedy cred and the financial freedom to have his own show, Chappelle’s Show, but the ride sure has been fun to witness. Funny enough (pun intended) Dave’s first role was in none other than Mel Brooks’ film Robin Hood: Men in Tights! He then moved on to films like The Nutty Professor, Con Air, Half Baked, which he also wrote and produced. $45 million later and Chappelle is a funny force to be reckoned with.

Jim Carrey | $150 million Jim Carrey, the brilliance that brought us Ace Ventura, Batman Forever, The Mask, the Truman Show, and Liar Liar, to name a small few, is worth $150 million for his efforts. Carrey is one of the most beloved film comedians, who did not do any stand up like some of the others on this list, but went directly into making every movie he was in the most belly laugh-filled one of the year. Most recently, Carrey was a part of the Dumb and Dumber sequel, Dumb and Dumber To.