The Net Worths Of Your Favorite Celebrities Will Blow Your Mind
We all think that celebrities are rich and famous. Take one look at their social media or see them walk a red carpet, and you'll quickly realize that they're loaded. But no one seems to really know exactly how much money a celebrity is worth.
Yes, we know that Maria Sharapova has won a bunch of tennis tournaments and has a ton of ad partnerships, but exactly how much money has she made from that? Check out the list below to be blown away by some of the insane net worths of the biggest celebrities in the world.
Dolly Parton - $500 Million
The queen of country music has had a long and successful career that just keeps making her money. Parton burst onto the scene with her debut album Hello, I'm Dolly in 1967. While she topped the charts for years, she's also been hustling numerous side businesses to up her net worth.
Parton is a songwriter and is the genius behind Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You." On top of that, she actually owns her own label, Dolly Records. Her net worth is $500 million and she made $19 million of that in 2016 alone.
Jon Stewart - $80 Million
Your favorite political talk show host has been quietly accumulating millions over a thirty-year career. Stewart began accumulating his net worth with stand-up gigs and writing for other comedy shows. Then, he shot to stardom in 1993 on MTV with The Jon Stewart Show.
Since that time, Stewart has hosted a variety of talk shows, but is best known for hosting The Daily Show. Stewart shocked us all by announcing his departure from The Daily Show in 2015 to work on his writing. It seems to have worked out in his favor though and his net worth isn't going to be depleted any time soon.
Simon Cowell - $550 Million
Simon Cowell may not have ever released his own music, but we know the producer and manager has a knack for picking out the best talent. Some of the early acts he signed as a young manager were the U.K. boybands Five and Westlife.
Then, of course, he moved on to become a judge for American Idol and The X Factor. While he's been known to be brash as a judge, both shows have launched huge careers for singers and Cowell has been the genius behind it. When you're managing people like Il Divo, Leona Lewis, Fifth Harmony, and One Direction, you're definitely making a lot of money.
Stephen Colbert - $45 Million
Another one of our favorite television hosts, Colbert has won numerous awards and has a net worth to back it up. He's earned nine Emmys, two Grammys, two Peabodys, and $45 million. Colbert actually got his start as a serious actor before transitioning to comedy and talk shows.
He started his career in an acting troupe where he was actually an understudy for none other than Steve Carell. When acting didn't work out, Colbert then transitioned to becoming a writer on shows like Saturday Night Live and The Daily Show. After serving his time as a writer, he was eventually promoted to appear on The Daily Show and the rest is history.
Judy Sheindlin - $400 Million
Judge Judy runs a tight ship in her courtroom, and by doing so, she's made a fortune over the years. Yes, she is a real judge with a real law degree. Sheindlin started her career in Manhattan family courts but transitioned to our television sets in 1996. Since 1996, Judge Judy has been one of the highest-rated daytime television programs and has earned Sheindlin a nice $47 million every year!
Even her bailiff is reported to bring in $1 million for every season. How do they make so much money? Production costs are low and they shoot all 260 episodes over the course of about 50 days.
Bob Barker - $70 Million
He might be retired now, but for years, Bob Barker was raking in cash on daytime television. Barker must have been smart with his money over the course of his 50-year career because well into his retirement he's still worth an impressive amount.
Most of his money came from being the face of game shows like The Family Game, Simon Says, That's My Line, and of course, The Price Is Right. He's won 19 Emmy Awards and has a star on the Walk of Fame. We're sure his legacy and $70 million worth of cold hard cash keep him warm at night in his retirement.
Ellen DeGeneres - $400 Million
While most people know Ellen DeGeneres from her daytime television show, it's easy to forget that she was successful long before. After getting her start as a stand-up comedian in the 1980s, DeGeneres landed her own sitcom, Ellen. The show was so successful that many people considered it the "female Seinfeld."
It was only after the success of her television show that DeGeneres started to make serious money to reach her $400 million net worth. Alongside her shows, she has authored four books, and runs a record company, a production company, and a lifestyle brand. DeGeneres is living proof that being funny, kind, and generous can actually pay off.
Beyoncé - $355 Million
Queen Bey has been in the industry for a long time and she's got a net worth to reflect it. After years with Destiny's Child and then a successful solo career, Beyoncé has built enough wealth to last a lifetime. That's probably why she's not shy about spending her cash on outrageous items.
Bey is known for indulging in multimillion-dollar mansions, insane beauty treatments, and luxurious vacations. She's also reportedly a great gift-giver and has dropped cash gifting her husband Jay-Z a private jet, a car, a million dollar Rolex, and much more. Oh, and don't forget the time she rented out the Louvre.
Jerry Springer - $75 Million
Springer has had a long and strange career that has paid off. While most people know him for his drama-filled television show, he actually got his start in politics. Springer trained as a lawyer in New York and actually got his start as an advisor for John F. Kennedy. He then started his own political career in Cincinnati.
After his political career fizzled out, Springer turned to be a political reporter and commentator. His natural broadcasting skills eventually led him to host a talk show called The Jerry Springer Show. As we all know, that "talk show" aspect went away and now it's just the most outrageous drama-filled episodes imaginable.
Kylie Jenner - $1 Billion
Kylie Jenner has spent much of her life in the spotlight. She was just 10 years old when Keeping Up with the Kardashians aired on E! Now at 21, Jenner is still as relevant as ever and just became the world's youngest self-made billionaire.
Her net worth is largely thanks to her wildly popular makeup line, Kylie Cosmetics. In 2018 alone, Kylie Cosmetics' revenue climbed 9% to around $360 million. The company is valued at a cool $900 million and Jenner owns all of it. Add in the money that Jenner has already earned from the profitable business (and her other business ventures) and she has an estimated fortune of $1 billion.
Jay-Z - $900 Million
Now that we know how rich Beyoncé is, what about her husband Jay-Z? Believe it or not, he's actually worth more than Queen Bey. His impressive $900 million net worth is thanks to his numerous business ventures. Jay-Z has investments in entertainment labels, a clothing line, alcohol brands, the music streaming service Tidal, and even owns an upscale sports club.
All of that is on top of Jay-Z's revenue from his own music. The $900 million net worth led him to be named America's richest musician by Rolling Stone and number five on Forbes' rankings of celebrity net worths.
Leonardo DiCaprio - $245 Million
Yes, he finally has an Oscar, but with a net worth of $245 million, we doubt Leonardo DiCaprio cared that much about it. DiCaprio got his start in the industry when he was a young boy on the sitcom Growing Pains. He even received his first Oscar nomination for his role in What's Eating Gilbert Grape. None of that mattered though until 1997 when he shot to international fame in Titanic.
Since then, DiCaprio has been in box office hit after hit. He's one of the most bankable actors in Hollywood and without a wife (or any divorces) to fund, DiCaprio's $245 million net worth is all for himself.
Richard Gere - $100 Million
We might not see much of Richard Gere in Hollywood anymore, but in the 1990s, he was a certified A-lister. Gere came to prominence in the film American Gigolo, which cemented his status as a certified Hollywood hunk. He held that title for nearly two decades and in 1999 was voted People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive.
Being good looking doesn't make you $100 million though. Being the king of 1990s romantic comedies does. After starring in favorites like Runaway Bride, Pretty Woman, and Dr. T & The Woman, he earned his fame and fortune and is an icon in rom-com history.
Barbara Walters - $150 Million
The first female news anchor on the national evening news changed the journalism industry and has been paid well for it. Over her long career, Barbara Walters has conducted some of the biggest interviews with celebrities, politicians, and world leaders. On top of that, she's also taken home massive paychecks from hosting shows like 20/20, ABC News, Today, and The View.
It's not all self-made though. Walters was born into a very wealthy family. Her father was an entertainment director for the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. He was known for making and gambling away his fortunes, which helped Walters realize the value of money.
Oprah Winfrey - $2.5 Billion
Everything Oprah touches seems to turn to gold, so it's not really shocking to see her insane net worth. Oprah has been ranked as one of the wealthiest African-Americans in the United States, and the first female black billionaire ever.
Oprah came from humble beginnings so she doesn't exactly blow her fortune on just anything. She primarily invests in real estate around the globe, creating new businesses, and donating money to charity. While Oprah spends most of her time now focusing on health and wellness, she's still raking in cash thanks to the OWN Network and re-runs of her television shows.
Robin Williams - $100 Million
Sadly, the late great comedian is no longer with us, but when Robin Williams was alive, he held a substantial net worth. Williams may have started out as a mime and stand-up comedian, but he quickly found a home as a beloved actor. His first series, Mork & Mindy, brought him international fame.
From there on, Williams turned to both comedic and serious acting. His ability to go from starring in Mrs. Doubtfire to The Dead Poet's Society to voicing the genie in Aladdin showed us all his incredible acting range. After his tragic death, Williams left his $100 million fortune to his three children.
Michael Phelps - $55 Million
If you thought the most decorated swimmer in history earned a lot of sponsorship money, what about the most decorated Olympian in history? Phelps began his career at the 2000 Sydney Olympics where he qualified but didn't win. Fast forward to the 2016 Rio Olympics, where Phelps took home more medals than 161 countries.
With a total of 28 medals, Phelps is a walking, talking goldmine for advertisers. Nike, Speedo, and Kellogg's are just a few sponsors that have paid him millions. In 2009, a video of Phelps smoking marijuana was released which caused him to lose some sponsorships, but not enough to hurt his net worth.
Maria Sharapova - $195 Million
As one of ten women to obtain a career Grand Slam in professional tennis, the Russian-born tennis player is one of the best the world has ever seen. After Sharapova turned pro in 2001, she made most of her money off of prize winnings and endorsements. In 2004, she signed contracts with Motorola, Tiffany and Co., Nike, Gatorade, and Tropicana.
Sharapova has also been featured as a model in many campaigns thanks to her striking looks and long, tall figure. In 2016, she was banned from women's tennis for 15 months after failing a drug test but lucky for her, it didn't affect her net worth that much.
Steve Harvey - $100 Million
Born in West Virginia, Harvey struggled to become a stand-up comedian and was left homeless for many years. All of that changed when he landed a job as host of It's Showtime at the Apollo. That big break led him to host multiple other television shows like The Steve Harvey Show and Family Feud.
Having all that experience might have made Harvey a lot of money, but it doesn't mean he is a perfect host. No one will forget when he messed up naming the winner of the 2016 Miss Universe pageant. While people ridiculed him for the mistake, Harvey was probably laughing all the way to the bank.
Kobe Bryant - $360 Million
Sadly, he's no longer with us. Kobe Bryant made bank when he was still in the NBA. The former professional basketball player was lucky enough to be born into a hoops-loving family. Bryant's father, Joe, was also an NBA player and groomed his son for greatness.
Bryant signed multi-million dollar contracts as a basketball player but his net worth came from all the brands he partnered with as a star. He received several endorsements over his years from Nike, Spalding, and Coca-Cola. After his time in basketball was over, Bryant kept the cash flow coming by creating the sports brand Kobe Inc. We will miss him.
David Letterman - $400 Million
When you think of iconic television hosts, David Letterman is right up there with Johnny Carson and Jack Paar. Letterman has had an impressive career that spans all the way back to 1982. His shows, Late Night with David Letterman and The Late Show, ran a total of 6,080 episodes and he was ranked as one of TV Guide's 50 best TV stars of all time.
In 2015, Letterman announced his retirement from television. His $400 million net worth just keeps growing though since Letterman now hosts a Netflix series and his production studio makes money from re-runs of The Late Late Show and Everybody Loves Raymond.
Tyra Banks - $90 Million
Starting out as a supermodel, Tyra Banks has spent years transforming her good looks into a multi-media empire. After struggling to find her place in the fashion industry alongside industry giants like Naomi Campbell and Gisele Bundchen, she finally broke through.
Banks landed acting roles until 2003 when she created the still-running television series America's Next Top Model. Two years later, she began hosting her own daytime television talk show. From there, she's only expanded her empire into music, cosmetics, writing, and other businesses. The model with humble beginnings is still considered as one of Time magazine's most influential people.
John Madden - $200 Million
The legendary former football coach and sportscaster might be retired, but he's still making a hefty sum of money. Madden won a Super Bowl as the coach for the Oakland Raiders and then turned to be a color commentator for NFL sportscasts. He provided color commentary for CBS, Fox, ABC, and NBC from 1979-2009.
All of the revenue from his career in football pales in comparison to the money he's made with video games. Madden is the name, voice, and personality behind the Madden NFL video game series. The games are consistently best-sellers and are one of the reasons Madden still has such a large fortune.
Shania Twain - $350 Million
She might be a Canadian girl, but the country singer has racked up a major fortune in US dollars. Twain has been in the music industry since she was a teenager. Her self-titled debut album had decent sales, but her second studio album shot her to fame and led her on the path to making millions.
Since her debut in the 1990s, she's made her fortune by releasing iconic songs like "Man, I Feel Like A Woman" and "Honey I'm Home." Twain is still releasing new music to this day and touring, which just keeps adding to her $350 million net worth.
Simone Biles - $2.4 Million
The pint-sized gymnast who stole our hearts at the Olympics is only in her twenties, yet she already has a net worth of $2.4 million. How did a gymnast end up with that big of a fortune? Well, when you become the most decorated gymnastics in United State history, brands want to partner with you.
By the time she was 19 years old, she held a combined 18 medals between the Olympics and World Championships. In 2016, she has received sponsorships from Kellogg's, Procter & Gamble, United Airlines, Hershey, and Beats By Dre. Just imagine what she'll do with the rest of her life.
George Strait - $300 Million
The king of country music was credited with bringing country music back to its roots in the 1980s, and he was rewarded financially for it. His first single, "Unwound," was a massive hit in 1981 and the next seven albums topped the country charts. All that success led Strait to embark on tours that earned him $99 million in only three years.
For his contributions to country music, Strait has become one of the best-selling artists of all time and the 12th best-selling artist in the United States overall. While he's not making music anymore, Strait is still making money with a tequila brand endorsement and other business ventures.
Garth Brooks - $280 Million
Consider the fact that this country music legend brought in $70 million in just 2015, it's not shocking to hear he has a net worth of $280 million. To date, Brooks is one of the world's top earning country music singers.
He could probably retire any day and be set for life, but Brooks doesn't sit back and waste his time. From 2014-2017, he embarked on a worldwide comeback tour. After returning home, he released a new single and announced yet another stadium tour. It sounds like Brooks is just going to keep increasing his net worth.
Phil McGraw - $400 Million
Phil McGraw probably never expected to turn his degree in psychology into a million dollar career. That all changed after one fateful meeting with Oprah. The Dr. Phil Show premiered in September 2002 and is still running to this day.
McGraw has faced a lot of criticism for his show over the years but he's laughing all the way to the bank. In 2017 alone, he took home a salary of $79 million. His fame and fortune even launched some surprising guests to stardom, like Danielle Bregoli, AKA the "Cash Me Outside" girl.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. - $400 Million
Earnhardt Jr. comes from a long line of professional race car drivers who earned plenty for their family, but he's made the most money by far. Over his nearly two-decade career, Earnhardt Jr. has taken home numerous cash prizes for races but most of his money was made from car advertisers.
A spot on Earnhardt Jr.'s car during a big race could cost an advertiser upwards of $1 million. Earnhardt Jr.'s merchandise sales also accounted for a big chunk of his net worth, and his merchandise outsold other drivers by more than 25%. He's semi-retired now but continues to bring in money as a NASCAR analyst for NBC.
Derek Jeter - $185 Million
Over his 20-year career with the New York Yankees, Derek Jeter pulled in $265 million. That doesn't even include the numerous endorsement deals he signed as one of the MLB's top players. Nike's Jordan brand and Gatorade each paid Jeter millions for sponsorship. Other partners included Rawling, Steiner Sports, Movado, and Avon.
While those numbers are impressive, they still weren't enough for Jeter to buy the Miami Marlins franchise on his own in 2017. He had to hook up with Jeb Bush and together, they financed the Marlins. Still, he is rich enough to say he owns a baseball club.
Chelsea Handler - $40 Million
Is there anything this female comedian can't do? Since she burst onto our television screens in 2007 with her show Chelsea Lately, it seems like she's everywhere. The show was an instant hit, especially because it posted small clips to YouTube to gain a following.
Handler's fortune from television is nothing in comparison to the sales from her writing. Since 2005, Handler has written five books that covered a variety of subjects, but all with her humor. Four of the five books hit number one on The New York Times bestseller list, and three of them have been turned into television series.
Johnny Depp - $200 Million
After rising to fame on the 1980s show 21 Jump Street, Johnny Depp used his bad boy charm to make nearly every woman on earth fall in love with him. His net worth steadily increased thanks to him being director Tim Burton's personal muse, and after he landed the role of Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
In 2016, his net worth was $400 million but that has since been slashed in half thanks to backlash from the domestic abuse lawsuit that his ex-wife Amber Heard brought against him. Depp might not be paying for the abuse charges with his career but he is with his wallet.
Robert De Niro - $300 Million
De Niro has built a legitimate Hollywood empire thanks to him starring in some of the most iconic films in history. His role as Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II was enough to put him (and his money) on the map but he also added films like Taxi Driver and Cape Fear to the list.
The impressive part is that much of his current net worth is thanks to his investment in the Nobu restaurant chain and Tribeca Enterprises. Founded in 1994, Nobu is expected to earn $1 billion by 2023 and the Tribeca Film Festival brings millions in for De Niro each year.
Sandra Bullock - $200 Million
She might seem to fly under the radar, but Sandra Bullock is one of Hollywood's top 20 actresses when it comes to her net worth. With a 30-year career under her belt, Bullock has amassed a major fortune, and in 2014, she actually topped the Forbes' Highest Paid, Actresses List. She's earned her luxe living thanks to movies like Miss Congeniality, The Blind Side, Gravity, Oceans 8, and Bird Box.
Bullock also owns her own production company, Fortis Films, that has made 19 movies. With all that money coming in, Bullock makes sure to give back, and after Hurrican Harvey, she donated $1 million to the American Red Cross.
Carrie Underwood - $85 Million
When she stepped into the American Idol auditions back in 2005, everyone in the room seemed to know Carrie Underwood was destined to be a star. After winning the season, Underwood released her debut album that produced hit after hit that was popular for both country and pop music fans.
To date, Underwood has sold more than 65 million records worldwide. With her success, she's won 12 Country Music Awards, has been inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, and has won seven Grammys. With all her money and success, she's known as the most successful American Idol winner to date.
Dr. Dre - $830 Million
The only person who could rival Jay-Z's musical empire is Dr. Dre. The musician got his start as a producer and performer for the rap ground N.W.A. Eventually, Dre decided to go solo and focus on his own music and building an empire. He founded Aftermath Entertainment that signed other major rappers like Eminem and 50 Cent.
Aside from his music, Dr. Dre has also made a fortune with his Beats By Dre headphones. He sold the headphone technology to Apple in a staggering $3.2 billion deal. He still own 1/4 of the Beats company which means he's rolling in cash.
Matt Groening - $500 Million
It might not sound like a household name but Matt Groening's creative television shows are likely in your household every single night. Groening is the brainchild behind hit series like The Simpsons and Futurama. Understandably, he can credit most of his fortune to the success of The Simpsons.
The cartoon is the longest-running U.S. primetime television series in history. The Simpsons has won Groening 12 Emmy Awards and even garnered him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Who knew that drawing cartoon characters for a living could make you richer than most Hollywood A-listers?
Mariah Carey - $520 Million
As one of the best-selling singers in the world, Mariah Carey has some powerful pipes that have made her a ton of cash. The singer signed with Columbia Records in 1991 and her debut album was named the top-seller of the year after fans bought more than 15 million copies.
Since then, she's continued to put out huge songs. Her 1994 track "All I Want For Christmas Is You" has made the singer $60 million on its own. Since then, Carey has signed huge record contracts, had a Las Vegas residency, and even been a judge on American Idol.
Jimmy Buffett - $550 Million
Most people probably think that Jimmy Buffett is wasting his money away on a beach somewhere while sipping on margaritas and they'd be totally wrong. While the singer used to live the laidback lifestyle, now he's all business, all the time. Yes, he's made a lot of money from his music career, but most of his net worth comes from his Margaritaville Cafe and Cheeseburger in Paradise chains.
Just owning the restaurants isn't enough for Buffett though. The singer has also launched a beer, opened a casino, invested in a. $1 billion retirement village, and written a Broadway musical.
Bono - $700 Million
This Irish frontman of the band U2 can thank a healthy touring schedule and some smart investments for his $700 million net worth. Bono has headed U2 since 1976 and that band has won 22 Grammy Awards. The average U2 show will gross about $2.1 million! Still, a good chunk of Bono's fortune has come from his 2.3 percent share of Facebook.
For Bono, having all that money has rubbed some people the wrong way. In 2007, Bono was called out for not paying taxes to his home country Ireland. He tried to claim that 95% of his income comes from outside the country, but people still weren't happy.
Jerry Seinfeld - $950 Million
He might have started out as a lowly stand-up comedian but after creating the television sitcom Seinfeld, Jerry Seinfeld has become one of the highest-paid comedians in the world. He was making a lot of money when the show was airing but most of his fortune has come after the show's end. Seinfeld and co-creator Larry David receive a big, fat check for every time a Seinfeld re-run in aired on television.
He's also made money as an author, public speaker, and with endorsement deals. In 2017 alone, Seinfeld took home $69 million thanks to a new partnership with Netflix. What does he do with his fortune? He buys fancy cars and gets coffee.
