Vanna White - $85 Million
Wheel of Fortune co-host Vanna White knows how to keep it real. Besides being one of the most recognizable television personalities to ever grace the small screen (which she’s been doing since 1982), she’s also a real estate investor, house flipper, and crocheter. As if that weren’t enough, White also regularly donates to charity and holds a Guinness World Record for being TV’s most frequent clapper. How does she support all these endeavors?
With $85 million in the bank, of course. Indeed, while White may not be the richest celebrity on this list, no one can deny that she earns a good, consistent salary, which is reported to be somewhere around $10 million per year.
Kaley Cuoco - $100 Million
If you don’t know her name, you most certainly know her face - and voice. Kaley Cuoco is probably best known for her 12 year long tenure on The Big Bang Theory in the role of Penny. While the show and its cast of characters have had their fair share of both critical praise and vitriolic scorn, none of that could ever detract from the actors’ salaries - during the show’s peak, the main cast members are reported to have earned a million dollars per episode.
Since The Big Bang Theory’s ending, Cuoco has acted in a variety of other roles, most notably lending her voice to the role of Harley Quinn, and has pursued several other business ventures as well, ensuring her bank account stays firmly in the green.
Kenny G - $100 Million
What do Kenny G and Kaley Cuoco have in common besides the letter “K”? That’s right - both celebrities are estimated to be worth at least $100 million. Beyond that, however, Kenny G has walked an altogether different path to success. The acclaimed saxophonist has been active since the early 70s, cutting his teeth on the hard edges of the music industry as a player, composer, and producer. And yet, while his records have earned him some serious cash, it was his early investment in Starbucks that really boosted his bank account.
Nowadays, in addition to maintaining his music career, Kenny G spends the majority of his spare time on the golf course or in the sky aboard his personal aircraft.
LL Cool J - $120 Million
Believe it or not, there was a time when LL Cool J was huge. Coming from the same generation as Run DMC and Beastie Boys, LL Cool J was one of the first hip-hop artists to achieve major commercial success, and while he has since been eclipsed by numerous other artists in terms of popularity, he still casts a long shadow. Besides making some big profits off of his music career, LL Cool J has since turned his gaze to other fields as well and is probably better known nowadays for being the host of Lip Sync Battle and starring in NCIS: Los Angeles.
LL Cool J’s steady, consistent work ethic has paid off: he earns $350,000 per episode of NCIS, bringing his total net worth to somewhere around $120 million which is nothing to scoff at.
David Guetta - $150 Million
Sometime around 2010 and onward, it seemed that you couldn’t get away from David Guetta and his catchy beats and show-stealing features. No matter which station or channel you tuned into, there he was with another earworm just waiting to crawl inside your skull. The French-born DJ is still very popular today, but much of the hype has mellowed out. Nevertheless, Guetta is still more than capable of producing a hit, and he is reported to earn around $37 million per year.
If that weren’t enough, Guetta also sold his entire catalog to Warner Bros. Music in a deal worth around $100 million. All those hits really did pay off in the end.
Rowan Atkinson - $150 Million
Rowan Atkinson may be better known as Mr Bean or Johnny English, but it’s a fair bet to say that he’s worth more than any of his most famous characters. After all, Mr Bean lives a simple life, and even if being an oafish secret service agent pays well, it’s doubtful that Johnny English gets a lot of time to spend the money he earns. So, what does Rowan Atkinson do with all his spare time (and money)?
He races, of course! Indeed, the iconic British writer and comedian has an extensive car collection, and he is estimated to be worth somewhere around $150 million.
Sacha Baron Cohen - $160 Million
Speaking of iconic British actors, Sacha Baron Cohen is probably more recognizable in character as one of his hilarious comedic creations, perhaps even more so than Rowan Atkinson. After all, the entire schtick of characters like Borat, Ali G, and Bruno is to catch audiences off-guard with the characters’ ridiculous, controversial, and utterly side-splitting antics, which can only have a maximum effect so long as the public does not recognize the man underneath the mask.
And so, for a while, Baron Cohen could live the envious life of a rich celebrity without being recognised everywhere he went. Over the course of his illustrious career, he’s secured himself a cool $160 million for his work.
Heidi Klum - $160 Million
While plenty of celebrities have managed to secure big, fat bank accounts by sticking to one particular line of work, as we’ve seen on this list, dipping into multiple ventures can pay off in an even bigger way. Take Heidi Klum, for example. For a time, she was the highest-paid and most recognizable supermodel in the world. Rather than rest on her laurels, Klum turned her eye to the screen, acting in numerous minor or supporting roles before becoming the host of Project Runway.
Since then, she’s also become a judge on America’s Got Talent beginning in 2013, and coupled with her numerous fashion and beauty product ranges, Klum has managed to earn a net worth estimated to be worth around $160 million.
Jim Parsons - $160 Million
Like his former co-star Kaley Cuoco, Jim Parsons will always be remembered for his role on The Big Bang Theory, where he starred as Sheldon Cooper, a character so iconic, quotable, and genuinely hilarious that he’s become a huge part of our modern pop culture zeitgeist. Also, like Cuoco, Parsons earned a million dollars per episode for his work on the show. Besides that, Parsons founded his own production company in 2015 and has lent his talents to several other projects.
Of course, he never strayed too far from the franchise that gave him his breakthrough, and Parsons went on to become a producer for Young Sheldon. All of this has led to a net worth totaling around $160 million.
Adam Levine - $160 Million
Love him or hate him, Adam Levine’s impact on the music industry is undeniable, and despite the more pop-focused records of his later career, there was a time when Maroon 5 was making some excellent, funky rock bops. The man’s talents speak for themselves, and the level of success he’s achieved means he could probably retire tomorrow and never have to strain his vocals again. Of course, that’s not going to happen, at least not when gigs like being a vocal coach on The Voice keep coming around. For his time on the show, Levine was paid $14 million per year.
Of course, he’s also embarked on numerous other ventures, including acting and starting a menswear collection, all of which have brought his total net worth to $160 million.
Sofia Vergara - $180 Million
In recent years, the small screen has - ironically - started to eclipse the big screen, what with the advent of Netflix and other streaming platforms that make quick entertainment easy to access. But there was a time just before the rise of streaming when TV was just about at its peak. This is when stars like Jim Parsons and Kaley Cuoco really came into their own, but beating them on this list is the one and only Sofia Vergara. Between the years of 2013 and 2020, Vergara was the highest-paid actress in television, which is no small feat considering she came from very humble beginnings.
Nowadays, her bank account is anything but humble, and though Modern Family has since ended, the show left Vergara with $180 million.
Adele - $200 Million
If someone tells you that they don’t like Adele, they’re lying. Even the manliest of manly men turn to putty in the English singer’s hands when one of her tunes comes on. If she’s not tugging at your heartstrings with one of her slow-burn ballads, she’s getting you to sing along with an empowering bop. Indeed, though she has since announced her indefinite hiatus from music, Adele’s legacy has been firmly secured by no less than 120 million records sold worldwide.
Of course, her bank account is also pretty secure. All those album sales have netted Adele roughly $200 million.
Gordon Ramsey - $200 Million
Chefs - even some of the most popular celebrity chefs - tend to go underappreciated and occupy that strange nexus zone between celebrity and obscurity. The same can’t be said for Gordon Ramsey, though. Despite being better known for his profanity-fueled rants than for his culinary skills, by all accounts, Ramsey is a maestro in the kitchen, and viewers all over the world have gotten to witness his particular brand of “guidance” when it comes to all things cooking (and hotels, apparently).
Indeed, Ramsey’s on-screen antics have turned him into a superstar and earned him a fat wallet worth at least $200 million. Keep the sponsors coming in!
Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds - $200 Million
Most of the names on this list so far shouldn’t be too unfamiliar to the average, pop-culture-inclined reader, but you would be forgiven for not instantly recognizing Babyface. Though his face may not ring any bells, you’ve most definitely heard one of the many songs he’s co-written or produced. This is the same guy who co-founded the label responsible for signing Usher and Toni Braxton, and he’s worked with an exhaustive range of artists spanning everything between Eric Clapton and Lil Wayne.
And what did Babyface get for his prolific output? Quite a lot - in fact, Babyface is worth around $200 million.
Steve Harvey - $200 Million
In case you’ve forgotten about the first name on our list, let this be a reminder that reality television can pay just as well as regular scripted TV. Of course, it helps if your name happens to be Steve Harvey. One of daytime television’s most iconic faces, Harvey is the host of Family Feud (and its celebrity counterpart) as well as the comedic Judge Steve Harvey. He’s also written several books, including bestseller Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, and has his own production company too.
But what does all this mean? How much value can be ascribed to all these material ventures? Quite a lot - $200 million, to be precise.
Jessica Simpson - $200 Million
Whether you're a fan of hers or not, Jessica Simpson is here to stay, and she’s proven that time and again with her numerous endeavors in both the music industry and her entrepreneurial pursuits. Though her career has, at times, taken an unfortunate dip, Simpson has always managed to bounce back. In fact, in 2005, around the end of her reality show, Simpson launched her own fashion brand, fattening up her pockets even more. Her albums - which mostly span the spectrum of pop and country - have also sold more than 20 million units worldwide.
The result of all this work? A cool $200 million to her name, and at only 44 years old, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to imagine her wealth increasing even more.
Ed Sheeran - $200 Million
Speaking of people that you either love or hate, Ed Sheeran is one of the biggest names in music right now, even if the old-heads and elitists don’t like him very much. The ginger swooner has proven himself to be a capable musician and an unstoppable hit-maker - it seems like every few months or so, another Ed Sheeran tune comes along to dominate the airwaves. And if everyone were to be completely honest with themselves, they would realize that Ed Sheeran really isn’t so bad.
If he were, Sheeran’s records would not have sold as well as they did, nor would his extensive touring schedule be so packed. From music alone, Sheeran has earned himself a cool $200 million.
Billy Joel - $225 Million
It’s hard to believe that the Piano Man himself has been going strong for around 60 years already. Technically speaking, he’s been active for much longer than that - Billy Joel started playing piano at the age of four. With over 160 million records sold worldwide, it’s safe to say that despite dropping out of high school, Billy Joel’s passions paid off in the end, and he is probably one of the most enduring musical icons of the 70s.
Age hasn’t really stopped the Piano Man from doing what he loves, and while his pace may have slowed down, Joel is still a regular performer at Madison Square Garden (where he has a permanent residency) and is worth around $225 million.
Vin Diesel - $225 Million
“It doesn’t matter what’s under the hood. The only thing that matters is who’s behind the wheel.” So goes one of Vin Diesel’s most iconic lines in the role of Dom Toretto from the Fast and Furious franchise. Given the amount of money he’s made. However, a more fitting line might read thusly: “It doesn’t matter what’s under the hood. The only thing that matters is money.” That may be entirely too glib, and to Diesel’s credit, he’s done more than just explode-y car movies; he’s also been part of an explode-y sci-fi franchise!
All jokes aside, Diesel’s career has been a long one, and he’s clearly worked hard to get where he is. Luckily, all that work paid off to the tune of $225 million.
Pharrell Williams - $250 Million
Pharrell is one of the music industry’s best and brightest producers, whose name is dropped more than Diddy’s, and for wholly better reasons as well. Pharrell’s talents are undeniable both behind the mic and the soundboard, and he’s lent his skills to a variety of acts, including Kendrick Lamar, Migos, Pusha T, Tyler the Creator, and 21 Savage, all of whom have had nothing but glowing praise for the Virginia-born producer. He’s also led plenty of his own albums along with frequent collaborator Chad Hugo.
All of this work (and talent) has equated to $250 million in net worth, meaning Pharrell could retire today and be set for life. We sincerely hope he doesn’t, though.
Samuel L. Jackson - $250 Million
Samuel L. Jackson is the only guy on the planet who can get George Lucas to agree to have the words “Bad Motherf***er” on a lightsaber. He’s also the highest-grossing actor of all time in terms of sheer numbers and has appeared in more than 150 movies. And with the end of the MCU nowhere near in sight, audiences can be guaranteed he’ll appear in a few more films before he retires for good.
Jackson’s consistent output and terrific work ethic have earned him the respect of generations of actors (and audiences). His reward? $250 million in net worth.
Denzel Washington - $280 Million
Speaking of once-in-a-generation talents on the big screen, how could we not mention the one and only Denzel Washington? Talk about range! The great Denzel has proven himself to be a tour de force in front of the camera and was even voted to be the greatest actor of the 21st century. But besides his on-screen showmanship, Washington has also proven to be a capable director and producer as well, and even his more middling projects carry a certain weight and gravitas to them so long as his name is attached.
For his work over several decades and multiple eras of Hollywood filmmaking, Denzel has himself a net worth of $280 million.
Jennifer Aniston - $300 Million
Whatever your thoughts on Jennifer Aniston are, let’s just make one thing clear: Ross and Rachel were definitely on a break. Now that that’s out of the way, what is there to say about Ms Aniston that hasn’t been said already? She’s funny, talented, intelligent, and beautiful, and she’s won the hearts of legions of fans worldwide for both her work on Friends and everything that came after. At the peak of the show’s popularity, Aniston was making $1 million per episode.
Aniston now has the good fortune of being able to pick and choose the roles she wants - after all, she’s worth about $300 million.
Calvin Harris - $300 Million
That’s right - this list features no less than two extremely popular (and extremely successful) DJs, both of whom have several number ones under their belt in addition to millions of records sold worldwide. While Calvin Harris has been steadily working for a while now, it was really in the 2010s that the Scottish DJ came into his own and became a worldwide phenomenon. Nowadays, Harris’ songs are popular at both clubs and on the radio, and that’s thanks to his genuine talent and creativity.
Luckily for Harris, all of that hard work and dedication paid off, and he is now worth around $300 million.
Katy Perry - $330 Million
When selling over 140 million records worldwide just isn’t cutting it enough to pay the bills, there’s always reality television! Adam Levine did it, and so did Pharrell, so when Katy Perry signed on to be a judge on American Idol, the world had already gotten used to this sort of celebrity presence on their favorite competition shows. And it’s not like Katy Perry was doing bad for herself before; far from it. She had already made several hits and a handful of decently received albums - but that probably pales in comparison to the $25 million she earned per year on American Idol.
Katy Perry is still making music, and has recently released a new album as well. But if she decided to retire, she could do so comfortably with $330 million to her name.
Keanu Reeves - $380 Million
Keanu Reeves is one of the world’s most beloved actors and probably one of its most beloved people in general. The 60-year-old (!) actor is probably best known for his roles in The Matrix and the John Wick series, which are two of the best action franchises to ever come out of Hollywood. But what really makes Reeves special is just how down-to-earth he is, choosing to live his life modestly, unlike so many celebrities with his net worth.
And speaking of - Reeves is worth around $380 million. While he may live modestly, his hobbies (which include motorcycles) can be pretty expensive, but if anyone deserves to indulge a bit, it’s Keanu Reeves.
Jennifer Lopez - $400 Million
Ah, J. Lo. The world seems to have something of a love-hate relationship with the Latino-American actress, singer, and dancer. With all the hats she’s worn throughout her career, she can be forgiven for making a few blunders here and there (besides the unforgivably bad Gigli) because whenever she loses audiences in one area, she draws crowds in another. She was also something of a trailblazer back in her 90s heyday and was the first Latin-American actress to make more than $1 million for a movie.
And nowadays? J. Lo is worth around $400 million and is successful in each of the fields she’s entered, including a tenure as an American Idol judge.
Penn and Teller - $400 Million
So far on this list, we’ve covered musicians, actors, reality television hosts, DJs, and models, but we’re just as surprised as anyone by the lack of professional magicians thus far. Fortunately, Penn and Teller have come along at just the right time to break up the monotony. The magical duo have been performing together since the 1970s and have a permanent residency at the Las Vegas hotel that hosts their shows. As well, they’ve also had their own TV show and have made several other notable appearances here and there across the entertainment spectrum.
Together, Penn and Teller are worth about $400 million, which certainly isn’t bad for anybody who makes a living off of sawing ladies in half and pulling rabbits from hats.
Gisele Bündchen - $400 Million
Throughout the 2000s, Gisele Bündchen was something of a household name and could be counted to be seen at many high-profile events, often locking arms with some huge names (not least of which included Leonardo Di Caprio, with whom she was involved from 2000 to 2005). How did she find herself here? Simple: her mother had enrolled her in a modeling course to teach the young Bündchen confidence, and it ended up paying off big time.
For a time, Bündchen was the highest paid model in the world, leaving her with a net worth estimated to be around $400 million.
Shania Twain - $400 Million
Though the genre has its fair share of standouts, country artists don’t tend to make it onto lists like these as easily as some of their pop and hip-hop peers. That makes Shania Twain being on this list (and at such a high spot) that much more impressive. Despite a lengthy hiatus during which her vocal cords had to be healed and retrained, Twain could probably have remained in retirement and lived out the rest of her days comfortably. But even at 59 years old, the legendary country-pop icon has proven she’s still got it.
Twain’s records have sold over 100 million units worldwide, making her the best-selling female country artist in the world. This (along with some extensive touring in her heyday) has left her with around $400 million.
George Clooney - $500 Million
At 63 years old, George Clooney may still be Hollywood’s most handsome guy. With a winning smile and truly unfair good looks, Clooney first took the world by storm with his role in ER, before making the transition to the big screen. Over the years, he’s been part of some of the most successful movies in history, and his name is almost guaranteed to place butts in seats, which in turn guarantees that he can always expect a big payday.
Together with wife Amal, Clooney has embarked on several philanthropic ventures, and still lives comfortably thanks to his net worth of $500 million.
Dolly Parton - $600 Million
If anyone deserves the biopic treatment, it’s Dolly Parton. Despite being active for more than six decades, the country music icon has yet to receive her own biographical drama in the vein of Walk the Line or Bohemian Rhapsody. Nevertheless, her popularity doesn’t seem to have suffered for it, and Parton is just as influential today as she was back in the 60s thanks to the enduring appeal of her music and several successful business ventures.
In total, Parton has written over 3,000 songs, and her albums have sold over 100 million units worldwide. She’s now worth over $600 million.
Simon Cowell - $600 Million
Shows like American Idol and The Voice have come up several times on this list already, but no one is more representative of the reality competition show format than Simon Cowell. Known for his acerbic wit and sometimes scathing criticisms of the contestants on his shows, Cowell is a divisive figure, to say the least, but this has in no way affected his income, which is further bolstered by his producing of the shows himself.
Nowadays, many of Cowell’s more aggressive tendencies seem to have been toned down, but his net worth hasn’t taken a dip in the slightest, and he’s now worth $600 million.
Howard Stern - $650 Million
Speaking of controversial figures, how could we not mention Howard Stern? The inflammatory radio jockey once described himself as the “King Of All Media,” and it’s not hard to understand why - at the peak of his show’s popularity, some 20 million listeners were tuning in. His confrontational approach and brusque demeanor have landed him in some hot water from time to time (including with the FCC), but the unstoppable shock jock has always bounced back.
Thanks to his numerous business ventures (including serving as a judge on America’s Got Talent), Stern is worth around $650 million.
Bono - $700 Million
In simpler times, Bono may have only been the lead singer for U2, but in recent years (past the band’s peak popularity), the Irish vocalist has become more well-known for his many business ventures and philanthropic work. Not only is he an investor for several wildly successful companies, but he’s also got his own fashion brand and recently joined the board of directors for a drone company. He sure has plenty of things on the go, right?!
Coupled with his record sales, Bono’s keen eye for business has earned him a cool $700 million, and he continues with his humanitarian work to this day.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson - $800 Million
Dwayne Johnson is one of the most bankable stars in the world right now, and it looks like it’s going to be that way for some time to come. The former WWE superstar turned actor seems to always have a new project on the horizon, which means that his cash flow never really slows down. As the old saying goes: “It’s about drive, it’s about power, we stay hungry, we devour.”
Say what you will about his talent, but Johnson’s popularity doesn’t look to be waning anytime soon, even if some of his fellow WWE alumni are pursuing more creatively challenging and interesting projects - none of them can claim to be worth $800 million like Johnson.
Jerry Seinfeld - $950 Million
The one and only Jerry Seinfeld presents an interesting case because he’s far from being the most popular comedian in the world, though he may be the richest. Seinfeld cut his teeth on stand-up shows before hitting the big time with his classic 90s sitcom, Seinfeld. The show was the best thing to happen to Seinfeld’s bank account, and the comedian now earns money off of reruns of the show. He also sold the rights to Netflix for $500 million and still makes a good living off of the occasional tour and performance.
The result of all of this? Around $950 million to Seinfeld’s name, which he uses to indulge in his interests in coffee and vintage cars.
Tyler Perry - $1 Billion
It’s debatable as to whose name should be in the 38th spot on our list: Tyler Perry or Madea. The Louisiana-born actor, producer, screenwriter, and businessman originally made a name for himself in the theater before landing a multi-year-long partnership with the Oprah Winfrey Network. From here, Perry ventured out in several directions, creating the immensely popular Madea film series while also purchasing stakes in the BET Network and founding his own production company.
These entrepreneurial efforts seem to have paid off, as Perry was once the highest-paid man in entertainment (back in 2011) and is now worth over $1 billion.
Rihanna - $1.4 Billion
Barbadian-born singer Rihanna shouldn’t be unfamiliar to anyone. Despite only being 36 years old, Rihanna is already the best-selling female musician of the 21st century, as well as the second wealthiest in the world. And with hits like “Diamonds”, “Umbrella”, and “Love the Way You Lie” (to name but a few) under her belt, it’s no wonder. But it’s not just her artistry that has contributed to her wealth: Rihanna also has her own fashion and beauty lines, in addition to several other business ventures.
Today, she’s worth an estimated $1.4 billion, and her native country of Barbados even declared her a national hero in 2021.
Kim Kardashian - $1.8 Billion
Despite the immense talent on display elsewhere on this list, there can only be one person at the top, and that person just happens to be Kim Kardashian. Hopefully, this goes to show that wealth isn’t always dependent on talent - sometimes you just need a little help from inherited wealth, nepotism, and a host of controversies trailing you wherever you go. In fairness to Kim, however, she’s shown herself to be a shrewd businesswoman, which is commendable in its own right.
Not that such faint praise matters in the face of $1.8 billion, which makes Kim Kardashian one of the richest people in the world, period.