Dave Chappelle is in hot water — but the renowned comedian seems to stay in hot water. This time, it’s for jokes made about transgender people and the disabled, among many others, in his new Netflix standup special, “The Dreamer.”
The comedian in “The Dreamer,” telling the audience, “If you guys came here to this Show tonight thinking I’m gonna make fun of those people again, I’m not (expletive) with those people anymore. It wasn’t worth the trouble. I ain’t saying (expletive) about trans people. Maybe three or four times, but that is it,” USA Today reported.
Considering Chappelle, 50, is constantly pushing the limits of humor, it’s interesting how he has amassed a net worth of an estimated $70 million.
Between June 2016 and June 2017, he reportedly earned $47 million and, between 2016 and 2018, Forbes reported that his Netflix contract brought him $82 million.
Here’s where the money is.
The Comedy Specials and Netflix
Chappelle’s foray into Netflix in 2017 with “The Age of Spin: Live at the Hollywood Palladium” marked the beginning of a lucrative partnership. He created five original Netflix standup specials, earning $82 million, according to Forbes. Chappelle’s multi-million-dollar Netflix deal inked in 2016 involves a hefty sum of $20 million per special produced for the streaming network.
There has nearly always been controversy surrounding his specials, including “The Closer” in 2021, which received backlash for his remarks about the LGBTQ+ community, and his current “The Dreamer.”
‘Chappelle’s Show’
His sketch comedy series on Comedy Central, “Chappelle’s Show,” was both a critical and commercial success. It initially aired from 2003 to 2006 and has since found a new life in syndication. Despite walking away from the show, he has had significant financial gains from it, especially after he secured the rights to the show in 2021, resulting in “millions of dollars” in royalties he has said, The New York Times reported.
He was offered a massive TV deal from Comedy Central after only two seasons, a reported $50 million for an additional two-year contract. But he abruptly left during production in 2005 as he was unhappy with the direction the show had taken and later said he felt pressured by network executives to change the tone of the comedic series.
When he ditched the show, Chappelle abruptly left the U.S. and headed to South Africa with many wondering what had happened and how could he walk away from $50 million.
While his abandoning the show canceled his contract with Comedy Central, the real payday was on the horizon. Chappelle’s retention of the intellectual property rights associated with “Chappelle’s Show” keeps him in control, because in 2021 the comedian revealed that Comedy Central gave his license back for the show and paid him millions of dollars.
Movie Money
The comic made his film debut in Mel Brooks’ “Robin Hood: Men in Tights” (1993). By 1994, he had become the youngest comedian to be featured on the HBO special “Comic Relief VI.” Chappelle’s involvement in cult classic films like 1998’s “Half Baked” was a major boost to his popularity — and earnings. Chappelle also appeared in “The Nutty Professor” in 1996, alongside Eddie Murphy, and in 1998 “Woo” and “You’ve Got Mail.” Chappelle filmed the immensely popular HBO comedy special “Killin’ Them Softly” in 2000, followed by the film “Undercover Brother” in 2002.
According to Box Office Mojo, his 2005 documentary “Dave Chappelle’s Block Party” grossed $11.7 million against a $3 million production budget. To date, the DVD has sold over 1.2 million copies, raking in $18.7 million.
Comedy Albums
Chappelle’s comedy albums have proved to be a lucrative avenue for income, with Grammy Awards for Best Comedy Album consecutive years from 2018 to 2020 and again in 2023. It is not known exactly how much he has made via his albums.
Other Income Streams
Chappelle’s income streams extends beyond the stage; he has contributed to the Oscars as a writer, potentially earning a six-figure income for his behind the scenes work, estimated Celebrity Net Worth.
What He Spends On
The comedian seems to favor expensive cars. Chappelle’s car collection is worth over $713,000, according to the U.S. Sun. One of his more extravagant rides has to be his Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe. According to HotCars, Chappelle’s Rolls-Royce is worth $492,000. Then there’s his Eighth Generation Ford F-150, valued at $14,000, as seen in his 2021 standup special promo for Netflix.
He also reportedly has a $76,000 Lexus LS460 and a $117,000 Porsche 911 Carrera S. His collection extends to two wheels with a $14,000 Ducati 848 Evo Superbike.
