Rich Dudes│How Standup & Sitcoms Made Jerry Seinfeld’s Net Worth $950M
Jerry Seinfeld’s $950 million net worth ranks him among the world's wealthiest comedians, obtained from sitcoms, stand-up tours, TV specials, and collaborations with Microsoft and Netflix.
Updated Apr 5, 2023
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Jerry Seinfeld’s net worth is huge at around $950 million, making him the richest comedian alive. As a television actor, Seinfeld was making a million dollars per episode.
His net worth didn’t get worth near a billion dollars just come from a TV show, but also from doing other shows, stand-up comedy specials, selling books, and making deals with big companies like Netflix and Microsoft.
Seinfeld's diverse real estate investments include a $32 million 12-acre oceanfront estate in East Hampton…
Jerry Seinfeld’s wife Jessica is a renowned author and founder of the GOOD+ Foundation, an organization that supports families in need. The couple is happily married with kids.
Despite his wealth, Seinfeld's relatable and down-to-earth demeanor has endeared him to fans worldwide.
Jerry Seinfeld
$950 million
Net Worth
Jerry Seinfeld net worth at a glance
Net worth | $950 million |
Born | Apr 29, 1954 |
Nationality | American born in Brooklyn, New York, USA |
Became a millionaire at | 44 |
Occupations | Actor, television producer, film Producer, writer, screenwriter, stand-up comedian, voice actor |
Sources of wealth | Seinfeld series royalties, media syndication, television series, comedy specials |
Asset classes | Stocks, exotic cars, and real estate |
How Jerry Seinfeld made his money
How Jerry Seinfeld made his money
Jerome Allen Seinfeld needs little introduction to the world of comedy and entertainment. Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1954 to parents Kalman Seinfeld and Betty Hosni, Jerry is a Syrian Jew by ancestry and attended Massapequa High School.
Jerry Seinfeld's net worth is $950 million all from his successful career—he began with college performances and shows. Jerry Seinfeld’s career began as a stand-up comedian performing in clubs and at open mic nights in the late 1970s. His career truly took off after his Las Vegas performances and appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
Seinfeld appeared on The Tonight Show for the first time in 1981, garnering recognition from audiences nationwide. The Queens College graduate earned $100,000 for Seinfeld’s debut season, and by the ninth season he was earning $1 million per episode, making him the first TV actor to earn that much.
Seinfeld became a big hit in 1989 when he helped create and star in the popular TV show Seinfeld (initially called The Seinfeld Chronicles with co-creator Larry David). The show lasted nine seasons and has made over $4 billion from reruns and royalties so far.
The Seinfeld series was one of the most successful sitcoms of all time, earning the star millions a year in syndication royalties. Seinfeld and David made a financial deal during the final season that paid off big time. In 2019, Netflix secured the Seinfeld streaming rights for $500 million in a competitive five-year deal, outbidding NBCUniversal.
Seinfeld's remarkable journey began as a dream to excel in the world of stand-up comedy. The American stand-up comedian went on to create and star in the reality series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.
Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee caught the attention of Netflix, which bought the show in an impressive $100 million acquisition. Seinfeld also made $20 million for his Netflix comedy special "23 Hours to Kill.”
Expanding his creative pursuits, the multifaceted comedian produced The Abbys, the animated Bee Movie, and authored two books—Seinlanguage and the children's book Halloween.
Seinfeld's journey from aspiring comic to entertainment mogul highlights the lucrative potential of alternative investments and diversification across unconventional channels like entertainment, collectibles, and intellectual property.
How Jerry Seinfeld invests
How Jerry Seinfeld invests
Seinfeld has built a diverse investment portfolio encompassing high-end real estate, stocks in major companies, and a valuable collection of rare and exotic cars.
Real estate
Seinfeld's diverse portfolio of properties includes a $32 million 12-acre oceanfront estate in Amagansett complete with a private baseball diamond and a $4 million Manhattan townhouse located on the 19th floor of the Beresford on Central Park West overlooking the famous grassy enclave.
There are also two estates in Telluride, Colorado—one 27-acre property listed for sale in 2021 for $14.95 million and a four-bedroom home on a 17-acre lot listed for almost $2.8 million. Others include a warehouse in Santa Monica airport which Seinfeld bought for $4.5 million and a lake home in Vermont he purchased for an undisclosed amount.
Jerry Seinfeld’s home in East Hampton, New York, cost $32 million in 2000.
Source: miamirealestate.com
Real estate in particularly high-demand areas of the United States has proven to be a lucrative investment, even for Jerry Seinfeld. According to the S&P 500 Real Estate index, the average annual return on investment for residential real estate in the United States is 10.6%.
Exotic cars
The American comedian is also a well-known car lover and has made significant investments in rare and exotic automobiles over the years. He owns an estimated 150 cars, including 45 vintage Porsches, which he keeps in a specially designed garage in New York City.
Seinfeld's impressive Porsche collection includes several rare and expensive models, including a 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder, a 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 IROC RSR, and a 1958 Porsche 356 A 1500 GS/GT Carrera Speedster.
Seinfeld auctioned off 18 of his Porsches at a Gooding & Company auction in Florida in 2016, fetching around $22 million in the process.
Car | Price | Estimated Price |
|---|---|---|
1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 IROC RSR | $2,310,000 | $1,200,000 |
1960 Volkswagen Beetle | $121,000 | $35,000 |
1990 Porsche 962C | $1,650,000 | $1,500,000 |
1966 Porsche 911 | $275,000 | $200,000 |
2011 Porsche 997 Speedster | $440,000 | $300,000 |
2012 Porsche 997 GT3 Cup 4.0 Brumos | $462,000 | $300,000 |
1997 Porsche 993 Cup 3.8 RSR | $935,000 | $1,200,000 |
1958 Porsche 356 A 1500 GS/GT Speedster | $1,540,000 | $2,000,000 |
1994 Porsche 964 Turbo 3.6 S Flachbau | $1,017,500 | $1,000,000 |
1973 Porsche 917/30 Can-Am Spyder | $3,000,000 | $5,000,000 |
1958 Porsche 597 Jagdwagen | $330,000 | $350,000 |
1963 Porsche 356 B 2000 GS/GT Carrera 2 Coupe | $825,000 | $1,100,000 |
1959 Porsche 718 RSK | $2,860,000 | $3,800,000 |
1989 Porsche 911 Carrera Speedster | $363,000 | $250,000 |
1957 Porsche 356 A Speedster | $682,000 | $500,000 |
1955 Porsche 550 Spyder | $5,335,000 | $5,000,000 |
1964 Volkswagen Camper | $99,000 | $80,000 |
2000 Porsche Carrera GT Prototype | Not sold | $1,500,000 |
Seinfeld continues to possess an impressive collection of rare and sought-after cars. He and rich dudes like Jay Leno are an inspiration to car enthusiasts worldwide.
Jerry Seinfeld’s 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder fetched $5.3 million at an auction in 2016.
Source: gq-magazine.co.uk
Jerry Seinfeld's exotic car collection highlights their investment potential, with a study by Vanarama revealing that affordable classic car investments have yielded, on average, a 97% return over the past decade. And when compared to more traditional investments, cars outperformed gold (45%), art (49%), and real estate (50%) over the same period.
This outstanding performance is due to the rarity and uniqueness of these vehicles, as well as their historical significance and the prestige associated with them. Although investing in exotic cars requires significant knowledge and expertise, involves risk, and costs a ton of money, it can be rewarding for those willing to drive them to the finish line.
Stock
Jerry Seinfeld is a daring investor and often puts his money into stocks he believes can provide long-term returns. Seinfeld owns shares of tech stocks like Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Netflix.
It's unclear exactly how much Seinfeld has invested in these stocks, but his financial success suggests that he’s been making smart investment decisions all along.
Over the years, stocks have proven to be profitable for many people, including Jerry Seinfeld. According to official data, the S&P 500 Index—the stock market benchmark, has returned about 10.13% on average since its inception in 1926.
The stock market is not without its risks, and past performance doesn’t always indicate future returns. A strategic investment approach is the best way to build wealth over time.