Richest comedians in the world

-Net worth: $150 million

Though you might know him best as the bumbling Mr. Bean or Johnny English, that's just part of Rowan Atkinson's formidable (and lucrative) comedy resume. He gained fame in the 1970s by performing on radio shows like "The Atkinson People," in which he played both an interviewer and his own guests, before moving on to theater, film, and the hugely popular TV show "Blackadder." Besides his prolific on-screen work, Atkinson also famously collects luxury cars—in 2015, he sold a McLaren F1 that he'd crashed twice for a cool $12.2 million.

- Net worth: $160 million

A ventriloquist and impressionist, Terry Fator was almost ready to give up on show business by the time he won the second season of "America's Got Talent." His career took off immediately thereafter, leading to Las Vegas residencies and various TV appearances. Fans should try to catch Fator on tour, as he's embarking on a series of shows across North America this summer.

- Net worth: $160 million

Once known as the "most powerful man in German television," Stefan Raab hosted the comedy-based talk shows "Vivasion" and "TV Total." He's also contributed to the Eurovision Song Contest as a performer, songwriter, and producer. In 2015, he retired from television to focus primarily on production.

- Net worth: $160 million

Famed British TV comedy creator Ricky Gervais is best known for hit series "The Office," "Extras," "Derek," and "After Life." He's won two Emmy Awards and two Golden Globes, a ceremony he's also hosted five times. His latest comedy special, "Ricky Gervais: Armageddon," debuted on Netflix in December 2023. Though he came under fire for a joke about terminally ill children, the special was also a critical success, winning Gervais the Golden Globe for Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television.

- Net worth: $165 million

A former member of the Marine Corps Reserve, Carey originally pursued stand-up comedy in his native city of Cleveland. Supporting roles in TV and film helped pave the way for his eponymous sitcom, which ran for nine seasons. When adjusted for inflation, he was reportedly earning $1 million per episode at the height of the show's success.

- Net worth: $180 million

Before establishing himself as a major film star throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Bill Murray kicked off his career in sketch comedy. He's worked fairly steadily since and channeled his signature persona into various genres. Savvy deal-making reportedly earned him around $125 million (unadjusted for inflation) on the first two "Ghostbusters" movies alone.

- Net worth: $200 million

Steve Harvey worked a variety of menial jobs and even experienced homelessness before breaking out with a career in stand-up comedy. He was soon headlining a popular sitcom and performing alongside other legendary comics as part of the lucrative "Kings of Comedy" tour. High-profile hosting gigs would follow and so would the Steve & Marjorie Harvey Foundation, which specializes in youth outreach.

- Net worth: $200 million

Everybody must love Raymond because how else could one explain this comedian's massive net worth? It's been reported that he was earning $800,000 per episode by season five of his popular sitcom. He continues to perform stand-up and appears in both TV shows and movies to this day.

- Net worth: $200 million

This TV host and comedian turned his late-night popularity into a full-blown media empire with the founding of the production company Team Coco. His podcast "Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend" averaged over nine million monthly downloads in 2021. A 2022 deal with SiriusXM sent O'Brien's net worth skyrocketing even higher.

- Net worth: $250 million

This "Saturday Night Live" alum-turned-movie star is far more productive than his well-known acting career would suggest. Behind the scenes, he helped create such enduring films as "Ghostbusters" and "The Blues Brothers." He also co-founded both the House of Blues venue and restaurant chain as well as Crystal Head vodka.

- 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.

- Net worth: $400 million

Unsuccessful as a stand-up comic, Larry David turned his anti-social instincts into TV gold. Most of his fortune comes from selling and then reselling the rights to the smash sitcom "Seinfeld," which he co-created. His similarly popular HBO series "Curb Your Enthusiasm" has also netted him a small fortune. The show came to an end in April 2024 after 12 seasons.

- Net worth: $400 million

David Letterman was a quirky Indianapolis weatherman and rising comedy star before he became the king of late-night television. His production company Worldwide Pants produced his self-titled talk show and other hits such as "Everybody Loves Raymond." He currently hosts "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman" on Netflix.

- Net worth: $440 million

Industry trends may come and go, but Adam Sandler continues to draw legions of viewers after three decades. Following the success of 2019's "Murder Mystery," the comedy star extended his production deal with Netflix for a reported $250 million. Upcoming movies include an as-yet untitled film directed by Noah Baumbach and another collaboration with "Uncut Gems" co-directors the Safdie brothers.

- Net worth: $450 million

One of the hardest-working men in show business, Kevin Hart continues to earn big bucks through major film roles and successful stand-up tours. In 2022, he merged two companies to form the media venture Hartbeat, valued at approximately $650 million in the same year. Once Hartbeat's chief executive, he remains chairman of its board.

- 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.

- 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.

- Net worth: $600 million

Trey Parker was exploring controversial comedy as early as age 11 when he grossed out his schoolmates during a talent show. He fine-tuned those provocative instincts over time and co-created the animated comedy series "South Park," which debuted on Comedy Central in 1997. In 2021, he and Matt Stone signed a deal worth a reported $900 million with the Paramount+ streaming network.

- Net worth: $600 million

While not a comedian in the traditional sense, animator Matt Groening did create one of the most enduring comedy shows in the history of television. Now in its 34th season, "The Simpsons" holds a Guinness World Record for the longest-running animated sitcom. His additional works include the "Life is Hell" comic strip and the TV shows "Futurama" and "Disenchantment."

- Net worth: $700 million

Here's a head-scratcher for "South Park" fans: Co-creator Matt Stone is reportedly worth $100 million more than series co-visionary Trey Parker. That's namely thanks to lucrative network deals and the resounding success of the Broadway play "Book of Mormon." Stone is also known for his savvy real estate investments.

- Net worth: $800 million

At 18 years old, Bryon Allen became the youngest-ever stand-up comic to perform on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson. He later founded Entertainment Studios and starred in the production company's debut series, "Entertainers with Byron Allen." Now known as Allen Media Group, the company is one of the largest independent producers and distributors of first-run syndicated programming for broadcast TV worldwide.

- Net worth: $900 million

As the co-creator and star of his self-titled sitcom, Jerry Seinfeld has raked in serious bucks through syndication and streaming deals. Other projects such as "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" and various stand-up specials have also added to his bottom line. He recently made his directorial debut on the Netflix comedy "Unfrosted," a fictionalized take on the founding of Pop-Tarts.