Just like his father, Damon Wayans Jr. can make you laugh to tears in no time. Born in the family of entertainers, Damon Wayans Sr. first started off in the ‘80s as a stand-up comedian before he shifted his focus to acting, and then writing and producing. His son, Damon Wayans Jr., is an acclaimed actor, writer, and stand-up comedian in his own right, best-remembered for his role of Brad Williams in hit sitcom Happy Endings.
So yeah, both Jr. and Sr. have the same name, the same career, and the same look. Are we sure they aren’t the same person? Anyway, while it will take Wayans Jr. lots of time and hard work before he has a portfolio or savings account to compare with his fathers’, we can all agree that Hollywood appreciates the good genes with a net worth of $35 million.
$35 million
Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon, who also has a spot on this list, are often mistaken for one another. It could have something to do with the fact that they're both named Jimmy, or that they are both comedians, or that they both have successful talk shows, or that they are basically the same person traveling back and forth from a parallel universes and messing with our brains. The two actually have a skit about the issue, which leaves you with more questions than you've had in the first place.
Other than the talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Kimmel's successful career includes radio hosting, TV writing, wiring a children's book, and, of course, a handsome net worth of $35 million.
$60 million
Stephen Colbert, from Washington D.C, is also a writer, actor, author, and talk show host. Early on in his career, he began at the ImprovOlympic’s Annoyance Theater where he performed long-form improvisation. From there he moved on to Second City where he made a lot of connections which ultimately let him to his first television gig.
This gig aired on Comedy Central and was called Exit 57. Since then he has made appearances on several television shows and films. A few are Stranger with Candy, The Dana Carvey Show, and The Daily Show. We’re also sure that he’s very proud of the three Emmy Awards he won as a writer. In Early 2014 Stephen was chosen to take David Letterman’s place on The Late Show. All of his accomplishments have his net worth sitting at $60 million.
$65 million
Bob Newhart is a Chicago-area actor and stand-up comedian known for his deadpan delivery. He hit the scene with a series of monologues that he recorded with Warner Bros., called 'The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart'. The record shot to No. 1 on the pop charts. He released ten additional comedy albums. At 90 years old, Newhart’s 60-plus year career is as active as ever, still performing stand-up comedy with dates lined up. The younger generations probably remember him from his guest appearances on 'The Big Bang Theory'.
Working as an accountant when he was 30 years old, hating every minute of it, he found an unlikely break. He and a co-worker began recording absurd telephone conversations and he used the tape to audition as a comedian. His success as a stand-up comedian led to the eponymous variety show on NBC, 'The Bob Newhart Show'. The 1961 show won an Emmy award and a Peabody nomination. In 1972, the comedy sitcom 'The Bob Newhart Show' hit the airwaves to rave reviews. The show ran for six seasons. His current net worth is $65 million.
$80 million
James made his first stand-up comedy act in 1989 at the East Side Comedy Club which is located in Manhattan. He has also made some television appearances on talk shows such as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Show with David Letterman, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and Live with Regis and Kathy Lee. James landed the 89th spot on Comedy Central’s 100 Greatest Stand-Up Comedians of All Time.
He has also starred in films like Hitch, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, and Zookeeper, which is a movie he wrote and produced. He is someone we will continue to see on television for years to come.