10 richest comedians of 2022 – net worths, ranked: from Adam Sandler’s lucrative Netflix deal and Kevin Hart’s Jumanji fortune, to Eddie Murphy’s on-screen power and Mr Bean’s BMWs

Jul 13 , 2022

Laughing all the way to the bank: wealthy comedians Kevin Hart, Ellen DeGeneres, Jerry Seinfeld, Adam Sandler and David Letterman. Photos: AP, USA Today Sports, @jerryseinfield/Instagram, AFP

While action and adventure generally rule the box office, comedies aren’t far behind. What’s more, many of the blockbuster animations and even certain films in the Marvel franchise we’ve seen in recent years have benefited hugely from infusing a healthy dose of humour into their scripts.

And let’s not forget television. From late night chat shows that are a laugh a minute to numerous Hollywood comedians’ Netflix comedy specials – they’re all in high demand right now.

Cheering us all up seems to come with serious perks too. Here, we round up the most-profitable comedians by net worth in 2022, as listed on Celebrity Net Worth.

10. Rowan Atkinson – US$150 million

Rowan Atkinson is one of the world’s most recognisable comedians thanks to his silent character Mr Bean. Photo: Camera Press

The hilarious British actor might just be one of the most famous faces on the planet thanks to his legendary work in the Mr Bean (1990) and Johnny English films.

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But what most don’t realise is that Atkinson is also an avid car collector. He owns dozens of sports cars, ranging from McLarens and BMW to Rolls-Royces, Jaguars, Aston Martins and a vintage Ford Falcon, to name a few. One car brand seems to be missing from his collection, however – a Porsche. Amusingly, Atkinson explained to GQ why: “They’re wonderful cars – I don’t go around saying Porsches are a pile of dung – but I know I could never live with one. Somehow the typical Porsche people – and I wish them no ill – are not, I feel, my kind of people.”

His recent Netflix show Man vs Bee has already been viewed for a total of 25.4 million times in July, and the miniseries is currently ranking high on Netflix’s top 10 lists globally.

9. Will Ferrell – US$160 million

Actor Will Ferrell doesn’t just play hilarious characters on screen, but produces off screen too. Photo: Invision/AP

Ferrell earns his US$160 million net worth from acting, writing and producing gigs over his almost three-decade career. He was also one of Saturday Night Live’s alumni, and can command US$20 million for a film, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

He currently co-produces the critically acclaimed Succession (2018) on HBO and will appear in the upcoming Barbie flick opposite Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling.

Oh, and Ferrell is also a part-owner of Los Angeles FC team.

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8. Sacha Baron Cohen – US$160 million

British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen has made big bucks from his unique brand of satire. Photo: AP

Cohen made a name for himself in the UK as the controversial Ali G, but gained worldwide acclaim thanks to his Kazakh creation Borat.

According to Parade, the Emmy and Oscar-nominated (and Golden Globe winning) star reportedly earned US$53 million in total for The Dictator (2012) and was paid a whopping US$80 million for Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (2020).

The British star also has nearly 20 producer credits to his name, as well as several properties. He and wife Isla Fisher now live in Australia.

7. Mike Myers – US$200 million

Mike Myers – pictured with his wife Robin Ruzan before a screening of Shrek 2 at the Cannes Film Festival, in 2004 – has made a fortune from playing outlandish comedy characters. Photo: AP

Another iconic comedian from the 90s, Myers started out doing skits on Saturday Night Live before making it big with Wayne’s World, Austin Powers and voicing Shrek in the Shrek films.

His successful comedy franchises have served the actor well, not least because in several of them he was both the actor and producer. The first Austin Powers film earned him US$3.5 million, according to Variety, but by the third instalment he was taking home US$25 million.

While his recent Netflix series The Pentaverate bombed with critics and audience alike, the Canadian-born actor has still amassed US$200 million net worth. Not too shabby, we think.

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6. Eddie Murphy – US$200 million

Eddie Murphy was a permanent fixture in Hollywood throughout the 80s and 90s, and his films have grossed over US$7 billion at the box office. Photo: EPA

Known for his 80s and 90s comedies (Coming to America, Beverly Hills Cop, The Nutty Professor), Murphy is believed to have a cool US$200 million in 2022. His films have grossed over US$7 billion worldwide, and at one point he was the world’s highest-paid actor, collecting US$20 million per film salary in his heyday.

In 2019, he joined the roster of comedians with their own Netflix comedy special in a US$70 million deal with the streaming network.

On the personal front, his Beverly Hills mansion is thought to be worth over US$40 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth, he is the father of 10 children (including one with former Spice Girl Mel B), and also owns a private island in the Bahamas which he paid US$15 million for in 2007.

5. David Letterman – US$400 million

The first episode of David Letterman’s Late Show first aired in 1993 – now he gets US$2 million per episode for My Next Guest. Photo: @letterman/Instagram

Letterman enjoyed 22 years of success on the Late Show with David Letterman, which made him one of the most successful US late-night hosts of all time. He returned to the spotlight with his Netflix special My Next Guest in 2018, and reportedly earns US$2 million per episode with four ongoing seasons.

Letterman was also reportedly making up to US$50 million a year from licensing and syndication fees. In terms of investments, the 75-year-old host owns several properties and co-owns an auto racing team called Rahal Letterman Racing.

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4. Kevin Hart – US$450 million

Kevin Hart may well find himself higher on this list soon, thanks to his newly merged production company, HartBeat. Photo: Invision/AP

The Jumanji star is regarded as one of the highest-paid entertainers in the world and is reported to earn somewhere between US$40 million to US$60 million annually.

In addition to his films and stand-up specials, Hart recently raised US$100 million when he merged his two existing production companies to create media venture HartBeat, which he still owns an 85 per cent stake in. Celebrity Net Worth estimates his share of the company alone could be valued at US$552 million before taxes. Wow!

3. Adam Sandler – US$480 million

Whether you like Adam Sandler’s films or not, his net worth is no laughing matter. Photo: AP

While his comedies can be hit-or-miss, Sandler is still one of Hollywood’s most successful actor-comedians. He first got noticed after joining the cast of Saturday Night Live before making the jump over to Hollywood. To date he has an incredible 82 acting credits to his name on IMDB.

Sandler easily earns US$20 million per film and earns somewhere between US$50 to US$60 million annually in total from other endeavours, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

He signed a four-film deal worth US$250 million with Netflix back in 2016 (he renewed his contract in 2017) according to Men’s Health, and his Happy Madison Production company has produced most of his films since 1999. In total, his films are reported to have grossed over US$4 billion worldwide.

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2. Ellen DeGeneres – US$500 million

Ellen DeGeneres has interviewed some of the world’s biggest stars on her show. Photo: AFP

The only female comedian on the list, DeGeneres is undoubtedly one of the most successful chat show hosts in the world too. Parade and Celebrity Net Worth estimate her annual earnings for The Ellen DeGeneres Show to be around US$60 million, but this doesn’t include her other endeavours.

DeGeneres has also done voice acting for Disney (playing Dory in Finding Nemo and Finding Dory), has her own production company and also regularly does brand endorsements for companies including VitaminWater, Olay and American Express, according to Parade.

She and wife Portia de Rossi are serial house flippers and have sold over 20 properties since 2003. She also reportedly pocketed US$20 million for her Netflix special Relatable and has her own line of lifestyle products, ED by Ellen DeGeneres, which includes everything from pet products to clothing.

1. Jerry Seinfeld – US$950 million

Jerry Seinfeld has splurged much of his wealth on luxury cars, with a collection thought to be worth a total of US$50 million. Photo: @jerryseinfeld/Instagram

Given that Seinfeld was acquired by Netflix for US$500 million, it perhaps shouldn’t be a surprise that the man it’s named after ranks first on our list. Dubbed “one of the most profitable shows in television history”, Seinfeld earned millions of dollars not just from his salary from acting in the show, but from the syndication revenue, which he also gets 15 per cent of. According to Celebrity Net Worth, the comedian can earn up to US$50 million in any given year, particularly if he is doing a stand-up tour.

The 68-year-old has reportedly splurged a cool US$50 million on his car collection and a house in the Hamptons thought to be worth US$70 million to US$100 million.

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Comedians and comedy

Ellen DeGeneres is the only woman – and LGBT comedian – on the list, but ranks up there with Jerry Seinfeld and Kevin Hart thanks to her and Portia de Rossi’s additional knack for flipping property
Several comedians, like Will Ferrell and Adam Sandler, started out on SNL, while others made their own luck, including the UK’s Rowan Atkinson and Sacha Baron Cohen