Jimmy Kimmel, the legendary presenter of a late-night talk show, has been a fixture in the entertainment industry for decades. Kimmel’s voyage has been nothing short of inspiring, from his humble beginnings in comedy clubs to his emergence as a household name on late-night television. As fans and curious minds alike ponder the financial success Jimmy Kimmel has garnered over the course of his career, we delve into the specifics of his net worth.
Jimmy Kimmel’s Net Worth
The host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! earns a substantial salary for his duties. His annual salary is reportedly around $15 million, and his net worth is approximately $50 million.
With over fifteen years on the air and a large fan base that continues to grow each year, Jimmy Kimmel Live! shows no symptoms of disappearing in the near future. Regarding himself, Kimmel divides his time equally between his program and his family.
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Early Years
James Christian (“Jimmy”) Kimmel was born on November 13, 1967 in Brooklyn, New York. The eldest of three children, he resided in the Mill Basin neighborhood until his family moved to Las Vegas when he was nine years old. He attended Ed W. Clark High School, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas for one year, and Arizona State University for two years before receiving an honorary degree from UNLV.
Radio Career
Kimmel began working at a radio station while still in high school, influenced by David Letterman’s beginnings in radio. During college, he secured his first paying radio job as a morning co-host on The Me and Him Show on Seattle’s KZOK-FM.
He and his co-host Kent Voss were dismissed in 1990, primarily due to their costly on-air stunts. Kimmel decided to launch his own talk show in Palm Springs, California, and enlisted Carson Daly, a childhood acquaintance, as an intern. Jimmy was employed for five years as “Jimmy the Sports Guy” on the Kevin and Bean morning program at KROQ-FM in Los Angeles.
Comedy Central
Initially, Kimmel had no desire to engage in television. He was recruited to do his own on-air promotions after he began writing promotional material for Fox announcers. Kimmel was then offered a spot on Win Ben Stein’s Money on Comedy Central in 1997 as the “funny everyman” counterpart to Ben Stein.
The duo won the Emmy for Outstanding Game Show Host. While still working on Win Ben Stein’s Money in 1999, Kimmel co-hosted and co-produced The Man Show with Adam Carolla. The success of the program allowed Kimmel and Carolla to create the Comedy Central show Crank Yankers, with Kimmel voicing several of the characters.
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Television Host
Jimmy left The Man program permanently in 2003 and began hosting his own program, “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” which gradually gained popularity and success. Despite its moniker, the program is not broadcast live. Jimmy is well known for his eccentric, “weird” personality and interviewing technique. As with most talk show presenters, he has been involved in controversies and disputes. David Letterman and Howard Stern are his two greatest hosting influences.
Jimmy has also appeared on “Larry King Live” and “Live with Regis and Kelly” as a guest moderator. For the latter, he commuted daily between New York and Los Angeles for five consecutive days, surpassing the Guinness World Record for the greatest distance traveled in a single work week. In 2017, he hosted the Academy Awards, and in 2012 and 2016, he hosted the Primetime Emmy Awards. He hosted the American Music Awards for five consecutive years. In 2013, Kimmel was honored with a plaque on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6840 Hollywood Boulevard.
Personal Life
On Jimmy Kimmel Live, Kimmel’s relative Frank Potenza and cousin Sal Iacono frequently appear. Kimmel and Gina Maddy were married from 1988 to 2002. Their offspring are Katherine and Kevin. From 2002 to 2009, he was in a relationship with Sarah Silverman. In July 2013, he wed Molly McNearney, and the couple has two children, Jane and William John. Three days after birth, their son who was born with an uncommon congenital heart defect underwent successful surgery. When he returned to the program, Kimmel shared the terrifying incident with the audience.
Kimmel is a practicing Catholic and a Democratic party supporter. He has publicly disclosed that he suffers from narcolepsy.