Highest Earning Comedians
Posted by Media Outrage on July 17, 2009
Chris Rock landed in the #2 spot for highest earning comedians this past year. Jerry Seinfeld broke the bank with $85 million securing the #1 position.
Via OMG!:
Jerry Seinfeld tops the list. He earned $85 million during the 12-month period. Syndication deals for his eponymous sitcom, which he produced, wrote, and starred in, made up the bulk of his income. Off the air for more than a decade, the “show about nothing” continues to mint money. The funnyman was able to bolster his TV earnings with a pricey Microsoft campaign and lucrative stand-up gigs.
Seinfeld’s next project is a reality show titled “The Marriage Ref,” which he’ll produce for his former network, NBC. The premise: Opinionated stars will comment, judge, and offer differing strategies to real-life couples in the midst of marital disputes. Despite heavy fan interest, the General Electric-owned network’s onetime golden boy will reportedly remain behind the scenes.
Chris Rock lands at No. 2 on the list with $42 million. Over the course of the year, he added a slew of big-screen flicks to his resume (“Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa,” the upcoming “Death at a Funeral,” and “Grown Ups”), released a new top-rated HBO comedy special (“Kill the Messenger”), and snagged another book deal with Grand Central Publishing. Come fall, his TV show, “Everybody Hates Chris,” which he created and narrates for the CW, will kick off its syndication run.
Even more lucrative, Rock hit the road for his first worldwide stand-up tour. In addition to typical stateside stops like Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago, his “No Apologies” tour touched down in the U.K., Australia, and South Africa. “He was the first American comic to really break open international markets,” says Steve Levine, executive vice president of the concert department at ICM, which counts Rock among its star clients. “The old saw was ‘comedy doesn’t translate,’ but that’s definitely not the case with Chris Rock. They loved him.”
Mediaoutrage- We salute all those who are able to get that paper in a recession.
Lio said
My boy Russell Peters made the list too..This cat was telling he making “aright money” ..well he’ll have to buy for the whole club tonight
Atlanta said
Chris Rock got the grey hair going on.
MissTX85 said
Good for them!
Dickwell Thrust said
Next time i go to the Comedy club Ill be sure to have my ski mask and AR-15
ucanb2 said
Good for Chris… I don’t like Seinfelds comedy.