We all know that celebrities and star athletes alike make more money than some of us could ever dream of having. But we still can’t help gawking when we hear the net worths of our favorite celebs.
Take a look at the list of the world’s wealthiest stars, and see if you can read this without your jaw hitting the floor.
Jon Stewart – $80 million
Soon after his first hosting gig on You Wrote It, You Watch It, Stewart found himself on MTV with his namesake show: The Jon Stewart Show. Most notably, however, was Stewart’s stint on The Daily Show, which he co-hosted from 1999-2015. While we shed a tear during Stewart’s exit announcement from the beloved political talk show, we know he’s happy enjoying his millions.
Stephen Colbert – $45 million
With 2 Peabody Awards, 2 Grammys, and 9 Primetime Emmys, it’s no wonder Colbert is worth as much as he is. Colbert was actually joined by Jon Stewart in hosting The Daily Show, and the pair made an unbelievable team for satirizing daily news. It didn’t matter which side of the political spectrum you fell on; these guys were a funny duo. In 2005, Colbert left the show to host a spin-off series, The Colbert Report. At one point, his show was Comedy Central’s top-rated series. Following his TV successes, Colbert was even offered to perform at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner. Colbert knows showbiz – find the happy medium when talking about polarizing issues and try not to offend too many people!
Dolly Parton – $500 million
Dolly Parton is an icon in country music. She has been inducted into numerous halls of fame and has quite the trophy wall at home. The sparkle-loving songstress was a pioneer in the country music industry and helped change the game for female singers. And she did it all with class.
Judy Sheindlin – $47 million
Everyone’s favorite daytime TV judge, Judge Judy, is as sassy and impressive as they come. Her courtroom is a no-frills, no joking zone, and she makes that clear to everyone who sets foot inside. A former Manhattan family judge, Judge Judy has been gracing our TV screens since 1996, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. She even held the highest-rated daytime television spot from her 3rd-5th seasons on air.
David Letterman – $47 million
David Letterman is a true “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” kind of guy. After his attempt at an NBC morning show failed, he had to start once more at the bottom. In 1982, he switched to CBS and christened Late Night with David Letterman. The show was soon an enormous success. A recent retiree, Letterman is still raking in millions from owning his own show and production company. Reruns of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, The King of Queens, and Everybody Loves Raymond keep Letterman swimming in the moolah. This guy is the definition of determination.
Oprah Winfrey – $2.9 billion
The list’s first billionaire! Not only has Oprah Winfrey been ranked the richest African-American in history, but she is also North America’s first and currently only black multi-billionaire. Known first for her wonderful philanthropy, Winfrey is also the creator of the hugely successful OWN – the Oprah Winfrey Network. A prominent television personality, Winfrey has also co-authored 5 books and has her own Oprah Radio channel.
Tyra Banks – $90 million
Tyra Banks has certainly paved the way for herself and fought for her millions. During a time when stars like Naomi Campbell and Gisele Bundchen owned the runway, Banks proved she had what it took to be a supermodel too. A former America’s Next Top Model host, Banks eventually owned her own Tyra Banks Show from 2005-2010 and remains a successful businesswoman to this day.
Kobe Bryant – $360 million
An LA Laker great, Kobe Bryant, played his entire 20-year basketball career with the same team. During his time in the NBA, he helped the Lakers win 5 NBA championships and was named MVP in 2008. Retiring from the game in 2016, Bryant walked away with a long list of accolades and a comfortable $360 million.
Simone Biles – $2.1 million
The 4’9” gymnast captured America’s heart when she won the Women’s Olympic gymnastics all-around title in 2016. She now ranks as the most decorated gymnast in US history with a combined 18 Olympic and World Championship medals. At just 19 years old, Biles is both a millionaire and a daredevil!
Beyoncé – $450 million
Talk about A-list celebrities! Rising to fame in the 90s as lead singer of Destiny’s Child, Queen B has remained a star in the music industry. Breaking chart records left and right, Beyoncé is a talented R&B/pop singer with equally impressive dance moves. With an insane 22 Grammy Awards, she is the award’s most-nominated woman in history.
Lisa Kerney – $14.8 million
Up until April 2018, Lisa Kerney was a sportscaster for ESPN on SportsCenter. Kerney has worked hard for her millions and remained a figurehead in a traditionally male-dominated industry.
Bob Barker – $70 million
Bob Barker is arguably one of the most famous game-show hosts in TV history. With names like That’s My Line, Simon Says, and The Family Game under his belt, it’s no wonder Barker, who retired in 2007, holds a net worth of $70 million. Even more notable, Barker has a Hollywood Walk of Fame star, 19 Emmys, and a GSN Lifetime Achievement Award.
Barbara Walters – $150 million
Though born into a wealthy family, Walters has worked hard to personally mold her image. She was the first female anchor on national evening news, and earned her affluence by covering the world’s biggest news events. She has graced ABC News, 20/20, Today, and The View, and is well known for her high-profile coverage of celebrity and politician news.
Jay Leno – $350 million
It should come as no shock that before Jay Leno was the host of famed The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, he was a standup comedian. Finally after a decade, NBC gave Leno his own primetime TV spot with The Jay Leno Show. While the show was eventually cancelled due to hosting issues, Leno went back to The Tonight Show. The comedian retired in 2014 and has since been inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. And rightly so we think!
Dr. Phil – $400 million
Dr. Phil McGraw originally came into the spotlight after appearing as a guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show numerous times. Those regular appearances game him the avenue to release several bestselling self-help books. In 2002, Dr. Phil launched everyone’s guilty TV pleasure: Dr. Phil, and the rest is history. The talk show still airs to this day and through it, Dr. Phil has helped numerous individuals and families heal relationships and lifestyles. McGraw also has a spin-off project, The Doctors, produced with the help of his son Jay McGraw.
Peyton Manning – $185 million
Former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback, Peyton Manning, is worth a staggering $185 million. Over his astonishingly long 18-season career, Manning was a 5-time MVP winner and 2-time Super Bowl champ. Manning is widely regarded as one of the best NFL quarterbacks of all-time. Wonder how much his fellow NFL-playing brother is worth?
Derek Jeter – $195 million
Former Yankee player Derek Jeter has a laundry list of accolades attached to his name. The MLB star is ranked 6th in history in career hits and 1st among shortstops. He is a 5-time World Series champion and a 14-time All-Star. In 2017, the Yankees retired Jeter’s jersey number 2. A star both on and off the field, Jeter has been known for dating high-profile celebrities.
Tonya Harding – $10,000
Tonya Harding’s story is one of shame and sadness and a perfect example of how not to use your celebrity money. She may have been the girl from the “wrong side of the tracks”, but she was an immensely talented figure skater. Though she is a two-time Olympian, she is perhaps more famous for the scandal involving Nancy Kerrigan. Right before the 1994 US Figure Skating Championship, Harding had her ex-husband hire a hit man to break the leg of competitor, Nancy Kerrigan. Now an allegory for catfights everywhere, Harding has become a pariah in the world of figure skating. She has not had any success since the infamous incident pointing to her $10,000 net worth.
Nancy Kerrigan – $8 million
And here we have the flip side of the story. In 1993, “America’s Sweetheart” Nancy Kerrigan won the US National Figure Skating Championship. She is also a two-time Olympic medalist with a bronze and silver to her name – the latter of which she went on to win after the attack!
Jerry Springer – $75 million
Interestingly, Springer did not start his path to fame in the media or on TV. He was actually a lawyer and campaign adviser for Robert F. Kennedy. When Springer’s run for Congress failed, he was elected to the Cincinnati City Council in 1971. In 1991, Springer created The Jerry Springer Show, which has been bringing us all the drama ever since.
Crazy right? For more fun facts about celebrities, take a look at the stars who look exactly like their parents.
