Ellen Degeneres’ Net Worth

When you hear the name “Ellen Degeneres,” what comes to mind? If we had to try to read your mind, we would guess you would think of her sense of humor, her status as a daytime TV show host, her prominence as a homosexual role model, and her short signature blonde hair. But, did you know how she came to be so successful and her net worth amount $345 million?

Ellen Degeneres’ Life

Born January 26, 1958 in Louisiana, Ellen moved to Atlanta as a teenager with her mom and stepfather shortly after her parents divorced and her mother remarried, while her older brother, Vance, stayed in Louisiana with their father. Following her high school graduation in Atlanta in 1976, she moved back to the New Orleans area to attend the University of New Orleans where she majored in communication studies.

After one semester, she dropped out of college and began working odd jobs to make a living. These included working as a legal secretary for her cousin, cashier in retail, waitress, house painter, bartender and the like prior to discovering her love of performing comedy.

Ellen Degeneres’ Career

It was Vance who was originally viewed as the humorous one in the family, but after she used comedy to help her get through a speech at an event, she knew comedy was her calling. She began performing in 1981 and would entertain audiences at small comedy clubs and bars as well as at coffee shops. By 1982, she was named Showtime’s Funniest Person In America.

Her big debut came in 1986, though, when she was able to obtain a gig performing on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, where she became the first female comedian to be invited to chat with Johnny Carson onscreen following her set. This move led to a variety of opportunities in television and boosted her comedy career even further. She began to make regular appearances on popular shows like The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Good Morning, America, and even The Oprah Winfrey Show.

In 1994, Ellen’s work led her to her own self-titled sitcom, Ellen. In February 1997, Ellen came out as a lesbian on Oprah’s talk show, and in April of that same year, her character on the show revealed her homosexuality to a therapist (played by Oprah). Although this episode, “The Puppy Episode,” held the highest ratings, it was also the most controversial, causing ratings to fall when the show came back for a fifth season due to an ABC affiliate being uncomfortable with the openly-gay character. Regardless of the support that did exist and the revolutionary move in the history of television, Ellen was cancelled in 1998.

As Degeneres returned to stand-up comedy, she took a break from television and spent some time in film. But, in 2003, she finally returned to TV with her daytime talk show, The Ellen Degeneres Show, which has won many awards including 11 Daytime Emmy Awards during its first season.

Now known as one of America’s most well-known TV idols, Ellen’s career does not just include prime-time TV. She has also lent her voice as Dory in Pixar’s Finding Nemo, hosted many award ceremonies like the Emmy Awards, is a commercial spokesman for companies like CoverGirl and J.C. Penny, spent some time as a judge on American Idol, and is the author of several books. Additionally, she spends some time behind the scenes producing multiple television shows such as her own HGTV reality competition show, Ellen’s Design Challenge. This does not include all her philanthropy work, including her status as an Animal Rights Activist.

Ellen Degeneres’ Net Worth

Ellen’s annual salary is $75 million from television, according to Forbes’ 2015 Celebrity 100 list, but with all of her work and achievements, her current net worth stands at $345 million, making her one of the best paid TV personalities.

Ellen shows no signs of stopping with more shows on the rise under her production along with a clothing line called ED by Ellen released in the summer of 2015.

Most of her net worth can be attributed to her talk show, which has had more than four million views since 2013, but her clothing line, spokesman roles and production company all add to her net worth as well. ED generates roughly $30 million while her YouTube channel, EllenTube, brings in $15 million. There is also $75 million that comes in from the advertising campaigns, $9 million from her 15% share in the Halo natural pet food company and $4 million from acting not to mention $3 million from TV appearances.

With her show showing continued success, her continued endorsements and work (not to mention once again lending her voice as Dory in the 2016 film Finding Dory, we anticipate Ellen’s net worth to actually rise in the coming year.

Finally, if you are interested in getting to know more about Ellen’s career and how she thinks, consider picking up a copy of Seriously…I’m Kidding. Its a fun story life of a kind woman who declined to be in American Idol because she didn’t want to be a meanie. Its hilarious; lively; and sweetly poignant.

Photo: Flickr: ronpaulrevolt2008