When you come to our Montreal comedy shows, you know you’re going to have a great night! Comedy in Montreal is very popular with hilarious comics taking our stage for each show, making Comedyville the perfect place for a fun time. Sometimes, comedians become incredibly popular, becoming household names and earning large fortunes. Who are the richest stand-up comedians? Here are the top 10 richest stand-up Comedians in the World.
1. Jerry Seinfeld
Seinfeld’s love of stand-up developed while acting in college, leading him to start performing at open mic nights while attending college. His work led to an appearance on an HBO Rodney Dangerfield special. He would go on to be a frequent guest on The Tonight Show and Late Night with David Letterman.
In 1988, one year after his first one-hour standup special, he and Larry David developed the sitcom, Seinfeld. Much of his wealth came from this sitcom’s success, including royalties that continue with its syndication. In 2017, he sold Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee to Netflix. He continues to tour with his stand-up act and is estimated to have a net worth of $950 million.
2. Ellen DeGeneres
DeGeneres worked for years as a popular stand-up comedian before eventually earning the starring role in her network sitcom, Ellen. Of course, she is perhaps best known as the host of her daytime talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, where she showcases her dance moves.
She is also the voice actor for Dory, the talking fish from Finding Nemo and Finding Dory. Ellen still does stand-up comedy; however, her tour schedule is not as extensive as it once was. She is estimated to have a net worth of $500 million.
3. Jay Leno
Leno began stand-up comedy in the 1970s, performing for the very first time on The Tonight Show in 1977. He also had small parts in a variety of television shows and movies. Leno became a regular substitute host for Johnny Carson in 1986. Upon Carson’s retirement in 1992, Leno took over The Tonight Show, which he hosted until 2014 with the exception of a short time when Conan O’Brien served as host in 2009.
Leno is an avid car collector and has also volunteered with many charities including doing USO tours. He continues to do stand-up, frequently performing over 200 dates each year. He has an estimated net worth of $450 million.
4. Kevin Hart
Hart is one of the most popular comedians today. His popularity with his stand-up acts led him to transition into an extensive film career. He has headlined movies including Ride Along, Jumanji, and Central Intelligence. He has also lent his voice to animated characters in movies like DC League of Super-Pets and The Secret Life of Pets.
Endorsements and ownership of a media comedy also contribute to Hart’s fortune. He is a stand-up comedian who has turned his talent into many different creative outlets. His net worth is estimated at $450 million.
5. Adam Sandler
From stand-up to performing skits on Saturday Night Live, Adam Sandler became extremely popular in the 90s. He actually got his start in stand-up comedy at the age of 17. After college, he took on a number of writing gigs on television shows.
Most of Sandler’s earnings have come from his movie career. He is known for iconic cult classics like The Waterboy, The Wedding Singer, and Happy Gilmore. He owns his own production company and has signed multiple deals with Netflix. Sandler has a net worth of $440 million.
6. Larry David
Larry David supported his early stand-up comedy career by also working as a store clerk and historian while living in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen. He served as a writer on Saturday Night Live and later worked with Jerry Seinfeld to create the show, Seinfeld.
David would later perform a one-hour stand-up special on HBO which led to a reoccurring series Curb Your Enthusiasm. The show won several awards including an Emmy and Golden Globe. He is estimated to have a net worth of $400 million.
7. David Letterman
Letterman originally worked as a broadcaster and later a weatherman but got attention for his humorous improvisations. He moved to Los Angeles in hopes of becoming a comedy writer. He began performing stand-up, including at the prestigious Comedy Store.
While Letterman earned a number of small television and film gigs, his stand-up led him to be a popular act on The Tonight Show. He would later host his own morning comedy show before hosting late-night comedy shows on NBC and later CBS. His net worth is $400 million.
8. Bill Cosby
Cosby’s stand-up career began in the Philadelphia club scene. In 1961, he made his first performance in New York City, where he continued to work frequently. He began touring nationally, performed on late-night television and released several albums.
While he had a number of roles on television and film, he is most known for his portrayal of father Cliff Huxtable on The Cosby Show. Cosby does not currently perform stand-up. His net worth is estimated at $400 million.
9. Ray Romano
Romano began his career in 1989 when he competed in the Johnnie Walker Comedy Search. After a number of small roles in television, he began frequently appearing on Late Show with David Letterman. Most of his earnings are from his popular television series Everybody Loves Raymond, which aired for a decade.
You’ll see Romano in cameos in many television series including The Office and The Middle. He also was a regular cast member on the drama series Parenthood. Romano continues to do frequent stand-up comedy and has a net worth of $200 million.
10. Eddie Murphy
Another stand-up comedian that rose to prominence through his roles on Saturday Night Live, Murphy’s career began with a performance in a talent show at a local youth center. He worked at comedy clubs as early as high school. His signature SNL characters included a cynical Gumby and a black version of children’s television host Mr. Rogers.
His popularity led to a successful movie career including Beverly Hills Cop, Another 48 Hours, and The Nutty Professor. He also did voice work for Shrek movies, playing the role of Donkey. He also had a brief music career. While Murphy does not currently do stand-up, he has spoken about a return in the future. His net worth is estimated at $200 million.
Get Your Laughs at Comedyville
There you have it, the 10 richest Stand-up Comedians in the World. One thing these performers all have in common is that their careers started in comedy clubs. Comedyville has some of the best comedy shows in Montreal. Who knows? If you check out some of our Montreal comedy shows, you may see the next huge name in comedy before they get their big break! One of the future 10 richest Stand-up Comedians may be on a stage near you.
Post by Eddie Case, exclusively for Comedyville.ca, All rights reserved.
Comedyville is a Comedy Club located in Downtown Montreal.
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