Comedy is a serious business, at least when it comes to the money generated by it. The top stand-up comics and comedic actors in the world rake in millions every year from their films, TV shows, and live acts. In fact, one comedian - the richest in the world - has been cashing residual checks for a show that ended almost three decades ago. That alone earns him more than superstars like Tom Cruise and Shah Rukh Khan, and has helped him become a billionaire over the years. 

Jerry Seinfeld, the stand-up comedian and actor best known for his iconic sitcom Seinfeld, is the richest comedian in the world. According to Forbes, his net worth currently stands at a staggering $1.1 billion, scores more than any other comedian in the world, and even eclipsing all the mainstream actors from Hollywood or Bollywood. In comparison, Dwayne Johnson has a net worth of $890 million, Shah Rukh Khan $870 million, Tom Cruise $800 million, and Brad Pitt 'only' $400 million. Among comedians, the only one competing with Seinfeld is Ellen DeGeneres, worth $500 million. Byron Allen, once a comic and now a media mogul is also worth $735 million, but the source of his wealth is the media group he owns.

How Seinfeld made his billion

Jerry Seinfeld's acting career can be summed up in two sentences. He made his acting debut with a side role in the TV show Benson in 1980. After another cameo in 1982, he made headlines as the star of his own show - Seinfeld - in 1989. Seinfeld rules the TV ratings for the next nine years, establishing the comedian as a star. But after the show ended in 1998, he returned to stand-up and hosting shows, acting only twice again. He did two films - Bee Movie (2007) and Unfrosted (2024). Both were box office disappointments.

One might ask why Jerry Seinfeld is so rich. The reason is that the show, which may have ended 26 years ago, continues to earn the comedian millions of dollars each year. According to Bloomberg, Jerry has earned $465 million from syndication deals of the show in the last 26 years and an additional $94 million from its streaming rights to Netflix. His stand-up specials and shows have earned him $100 million since the 1980s.

Forbes estimates that the comedian earns up to $100 million yearly from the show alone. For many years, he has pipped top stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Tom Cruise, and Brad Pitt in the list of highest-paid celebrities despite the fact that they do films. His wealth has allowed Seinfeld to amass a 150-car garage, including 43 Porsches, the most in the world. He also owns several million-dollar villas across the world.

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