Comedian Katt Williams has been on several talk shows, “Club Shay Shay” featuring Shannon Sharpe and “Willie D Live,” since the year began.
His 2-hour and 46 minute conversation with Sharpe garnered almost 41 million views in less than a week. His sit down with Willie D from the Geto Boys had almost 3 million views in less than 24 hours.
On both shows, the funnyman shared that he was very rich and that his wealth has trickled down to a couple of generations of new comics coming up in the game.
Passing It On
Williams has been known to hand over thousands of dollars to other comedians after viewing them doing standup. Comedian Deon Cole said in a video posted before the “Club Shay Shay” interview that this happened to him and he received $2500 in cash from the Ohio native on top of his performance fee from the club.
While his generosity is heralded amongst his peers and those who look up to him, his exact net worth has been shrouded by his vague comments and tight-knit circle.
So What’s His Net Worth?
Celebrity Net Worth states his net worth is between $2 million and $5 million, despite him suggesting that it is more.
He has also openly disputed the notable source’s figures, saying that he made more in one of his Netflix specials than what was reported on CNW. He also claimed that even when he does perform in small towns, he commands $100K to step on the stage, and pays a 10 percent tithe in the “rinky dink town” as a way to give back.
According to Williams, he commands from Netflix $10 million per special, which could be accurate because he usually pays for the production fees upfront and those fees may then pay the crew, cast, and other expenses.
The father of six has made the majority of his money from his stand-up comedy career, his comedy specials, and his Emmy-award-winning acting career.
Williams became popular in the late 1990s, getting his first breakout gigs on BET’s “Comic View,” IMDB shows.
Comedy specials like 2006’s “Katt Williams Live: Let a Playa Play” and HBO’s “The Pimp Chronicles, Pt. 1” opened the door for him to become a household name. He followed that with “American Hustle” in 2007 and “It’s Pimpin’ Pimpin” in 2008.
As a result, he got more gigs and launched a comedy tour that was named by Billboard the Best Comedy Tour of 2008.
More comedy specials, which he says are his bread and butter, followed. In 2012, his third special with HBO, “Kattpacalypse” was released to rave reviews. His fourth and final HBO comedy special “Katt Williams: Priceless: Afterlife” was directed by Spike Lee.
By 2018, he secured his deal with Netflix, yielding “Great America” and then “World War III” in 2022.
According to Entertainment Weekly, his “Great America” special is one of the Top 10 Best Comedy Specials on the streaming service of all time.
His comedic genius helped put Nick Cannon’s MTV improv show “Wild ‘N Out” on the map, as he was a bridge between hip-hop and the comedy world, based on his following gained from being in the hip-hop cult film “Friday After Next” with Ice Cube.
Other movies he appeared in are “Ganked” (2005), “Norbit” (2007), “The Perfect Holiday” (2007), “Internet Dating” (2008), “Lonely Street” (2008) and “First Sunday” (2008). Since, he has appeared in movies such as “Scary Movie 5” (2013), “Father Figures” (2017), “2 Minutes of Fame” (2020), “The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2” (2021), and “For the Love of Money” (2021).
While he appeared in a few episodes of “My Wife and Kids,” Damon Wayan’s sitcom, it was his role on the show “Atlanta” that earned him a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series in 2018.
During his “Club Shay Shay” interview, he said that he could have made more money in film and television but he “turned down $50 million four times” for roles that went against his morals.
His morals and generosity have not shielded him from being exploited.
In a 2019 interview with Jemele Hill on her “Jemele Hill is Unbothered” podcast, he claimed that he lost $59 million in a federal embezzlement scheme initiated by people once on his payroll.
“In my search for who was the enemy that was causing all these things to repeatedly happen to me over and over again when they shouldn’t, we uncovered that it was actually my people that was involved,” he said. “We didn’t really know that until the Department of Justice started indicting these people for the embezzlement of $59 million from Katt Williams.”
The “Club Shay Shay” proved to be a great form of marketing.
It was the kick-off for his 2024 “Dark Matter” tour which he said he would make into a special for Netflix.
The tickets for this 40-date tour went from $59 to $215, an approximate quadruple increase in a few days, according to SeatGeek.
While people might not know exactly how much he makes, it is clear, that the money is coming in.
Am I the only one SICK of seeing the name “Katt Williams” and his self-serving, bitter diatribes everywhere I look these days?
We get it . . . you played the “integrity card” – such as it is, and – surprise, surprise – now you’re so jealous of the big names it’s making you look like an envious 16 year old girl.
Just a suggestion . . . You know what the best revenge is . . . do hop to I[
Lmao. When you google Nicole Duncan-Smith net worth nothing pops up! Stay in your lane Nikki!
Yes David you’re the only one who is tired.
Katt Williams already has fortune and fame, to think he is bitter is to buy into the narrative driven by the very people he has spoken out against. He supports other comedians, you can find plenty of stories about his generosity and encouragement of relatively unknown comedians as well as those he has taken on tour. Saying he is just bitter and self-serving doesn’t address if what he said was true or not, let’s attack the man and not his words because that is easier to assail.
All I know is I am getting married to jatt Williams very soon bcyz he has a heart of gold! I love him and i am in love with him! I will see you soon honey!
Love you Katt for speaking your truth Sugar T From Texas 💕💯
A lot of people have made it in the business and not had to drag other peoples name in the mud to do it. It’s a matter of personal integrity.
Yall keep miss his POINT. So I’m let that sink in.
And Not one said he lied.
I’ve always believed that we are so brainwashed that when anyone speaks out against the status quo we shoot the messenger. We want to be comfortably stupid and believe Hollyweird is some dreamland and all the stars are people of integrity. I personally believe 99.9999% of what Katt Williams said was true. I think he is a genuinely FUNNY and GENEROUS man who was sick and tired of being lied on and told his truth. He had no way of knowing that interview would BLOW UP and BREAK THE INTERNET. I imagine his comedy shows are SELLING OUT all over the country. Maybe that was always the plan, he does have a 160 IQ. Also, a LOT of what he said was co-signed by other celebrities, including Ice Cube. Add to that, the fact that people he spoke about never called him a liar, not one of them. Some responded with lukewarm gibberish, but NOT ONE called him a liar point blank period, not one. The fact that he was speaking truth about some of the beloved celebrities made some label him bitter and jealous. Fact, I never thought Steve Harvey, Cedric or Kevin Hart were funny. None of the three were ever in my top three, but Katt Williams was, always. Katt said he had receipts. I believe him because proof has been ALL OVER the internet, cosigning pretty much everything he said. The internet cannot be defeated. That’s it, that’s the post.
Katt is the New king of comedy hand’s down keep being real Champ.
Just today( 01-30-24), I was introduced to Katt Williams.
Speak Your Truth! You appear to be Highly Favored and truly Blessed.
As You rise like the Phoenix don’t loose sight of WHO has Your Back.
Psalm 91!
I agree with all the positive comments about Katt Williams. He is a true genius, who also speaks truth to power. As you can see, haters will hate. No one is saying he is not truthful. Only I hit dog will holler. We love you Katt.
Katt Williams is a bitter broke little man by Hollywood standards. It’s unfortunate how he has to belittle his own people to boost himself up. He did a lot of personal attacks on other comedians, he said that Steve Harvey looked like Mr. POTATO MAN, I KNOW THAT IS TRUE BUT HE DIDN’T HAVE TO SAY THAT. HOWEVER STEVE HARVEY LOOKS HIS ASS IS RICH. KATT WILLIAMS LOOKS LIKE A BROKE ASS LEPRECHAUN.
They say what they want to about Katt Williams he speaking the truth and real comedy fans know that. If you’re a true comedy fan you know who sold their soul and who still really out here supporting other comedians. Katt Williams came out his pocket when promoters didn’t want to pay opening acts. The stories speak for themselves and they speak volumes about the person he is!