Comedian, writer, producer, actress and television host, Kathy Griffin is one of the most diverse and outspoken entertainment icons in the world. Her observational comedic style and satirical antics have earned her an immense following throughout her controversial career. While her edginess has been to her detriment at times, her fearlessness to address any subject matter has garnered her a notorious reputation. Given her constant media exposure, the question becomes how much is the veteran performer actually worth?
Kathy Griffin Net Worth as of 2017: $20 Million
How did the controversial comedian garner this type of wealth? And how has her versatile career lent itself to these impressive earnings? Let’s find out.
1980-2000
WASHINGTON – MARCH 18: Kathy Griffin speaks during “A Call To Action In D.C.” rally at the Freedom Plaza on March 18, 2010 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images)
Griffin began her career as a comedian in Los Angeles with the improv comedy troupe The Groundlings. Even then, Griffin was energetic and tenacious as she often went to see the The Groundlings perform before joining the troupe and eventually met with former member Phil Hartman. From there, Griffin developed her own comedic style and became apart of the alternative comedy scene in Los Angles.
In the 1990’s, Griffin began taking up minor roles in various film productions. From being a reporter on the TV program The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to playing the role of a pedestrian in 1994 film Pulp Fiction, Griffin displayed her versatility as a confident performer.
In 1996, Griffin garnered more a prominent acting role in the NBC sitcom Suddenly Susan, starring alongside Brooke Shields’. This role came about after Griffin starred in her first comedy special on HBO.
2000’s-Present
UNIVERSAL CITY, CA – MAY 12: Comedian Kathy Griffin arrives at The Cable Show 2010 “An Evening With NBC Universal” on May 12, 2010 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Once Griffin established herself as a exuberant comedic icon, the number of controversies began to mount, which resulted in her becoming a more aggressive presence in the media.
From May 2007-September 2007, Griffin co-hosted The View as a replacement for former co-host Rosie O’Donnell. Ultimately, Whoopi Goldberg was selected as the permanent replacement as Griffin was eventually banned by the program for undisclosed reasons. While she was supposedly unbanned in August of 2009, she was ultimately re-banned due to an argument she had with View co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck.
On September 8, 2007, Kathy Griffin received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program for her show Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D-List. Immediately after winning the award, Griffin gave what many considered a very controversial acceptance speech. Essentially, Griffin made an attempt at being satirical with regards to the numerous celebrities who thank Jesus nonsensically for their achievements. It did not take long for the Catholic League to condemn the comments and former Fox News commentator Bill O’Reilly called Griffin a “pinhead” for her remark.
Still, despite these controversies, Griffin’s comedic and acting career continued to enhance her popularity. In 2011, she appeared in an episode of the hit show Glee and in 2012 Bravo gave Griffin her own comedic talk show titled Kathy. The show had moderate success and lasted for two seasons before being canceled in 2013.
To date, Griffin has continued to release comedic albums while remaining in the controversial limelight. Recently, Griffin participated in a photo shoot in which she can clearly can be seen holding up a bloody head resembling Donald Trump. While Griffin has since apologized for the incident, she was still subject to the understandable scrutiny of both the media and viewing public.
At the end of the day, whether you love or hate her, Griffin has remained true to her identity and rarely makes apologies for her wildly controversial antics. Her over the top comedic style has garnered her a passionate and loyal fan base while simultaneously creating a prominent following of those that despise everything she stands for. Although she may be overzealous, she has utilized her personality and brand effectively to garner an impressive amount of wealth.
