10 British Comedy Icons Ranked By Net Worth
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Who is the richest living British comedy icon? One might think that it would be John Cleese or Eric Idle, or anyone of the other living members of Monty Python, as they are some of the most iconic of British comedy icons. But the truth is they are far from the richest.
Other British comedy legends, from Mitchell and Webb to Ricky Gervais, have accumulated similar amounts, if not more, than the patron saints of British humour that are Monty Python. But just who is the wealthiest?
10 David Mitchell - $2 Million
David Mitchell is one half of the comedy duo Mitchell and Webb. The pair has had a few successful comedy shows, including the sketch series That Mitchell and Webb Look and Peep Show, a raunchy comedy about two friends who are more like burdens to each other than they are pals. The pair also did a film, Magicians, which came out in 2007. Mitchell is work approximately 2 million English Pounds, which is close to 2.25 million in USD.
9 Robert Webb - $4 million
Somehow, Robert Webb has accumulated a slightly larger amount of money than his pal Mitchell. The pair have been working together since the 1990s. Other shows to their name include That Mitchell and Webb Situation, Back, Confetti, and Bruiser which also starred Martin Freeman.
8 John Cleese - $20 Million
Cleese became a comedy legend thanks to his work with Monty Python and his sitcom Fawlty Towers, which is widely considered to be one of the greatest sitcoms ever made. Cleese has also done several films, including the classic comedy A Fish Called Wanda, and he played Q in the Pierce Brosnan James Bond films. Cleese's net worth took a major hit in the late '00s and early 2010s when he went through a messy divorce and was ordered to pay his ex-wife several million dollars.
7 Simon Pegg - $25 Million
Pegg is responsible for great comedies like Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. But in addition to his comedies, he has also acted in several box office hits, he was Scotty the Engineer in the J.J. Abrams reboot of Star Trek. He also authored the films Run Fatboy Run, which was directed by David Schwimmer from Friends and the third Abrams Star Trek film, Star Trek Beyond. His collaborator and frequent co-star Nick Frost is worth $16 Million.
6 Steve Coogan - $25 Million
Coogan is tied with Pegg at $25 Million thanks to his several shows and films. Among his most famous bits is his character the insufferable Alan Partridge. His film Hamlet 2 became a cult classic in America. Coogan can also be seen in Hot Fuzz, The Other Guys, Tropic Thunder, and Despicable Me 3.
5 Stephen Fry - $40 Million
Fry rose to fame as half of the comedy duo Fry and Laurie. The pair gave the world several sketches on shows like Saturday Live and A Bit of Fry and Laurie. They also starred in Wooster and Jeeves, the televised adaptations of the stories of P.G. Wodehouse. Fry is also an accomplished author and is notoriously intelligent. He has an IQ of 152.
4 Hugh Laurie - $45 Million
Who was the other half of Fry and Laurie? It was none other than Doctor House himself Hugh Laurie. While American audiences know him more for that classic medical drama, he was already famous to British audiences for years as a comedian. Fun fact about Fry and Laurie, the pair rose to fame along with Oscar winner Emma Thompson.
3 Eric Idle - $70 Million
Like John Cleese, Eric Idle is a graduate of the school of Monty Python. After the comedy troupe branched out into their solo ventures, Idle began writing and acting. He has authored several books and been in films like the Shrek movies and Casper, but it was his work on Broadway that made him the most financially successful. Idle turned the Monty Python film Monty Python and the Holy Grail into the musical Spamalot. The show has been a notorious success and has utilized the talents of stars like Tim Curry, David Hyde Pierce, and Hank Azaria.
2 Ricky Gervais - $140 Million
Gervais' raunchy comedy and his lack of concern for offending people has made him both a popular comic and a very controversial person. In any case, he is the author of the show that would go on to inspire the American version of The Office which is now one of the most iconic shows on television. His other works include The Invention of Lying, Extras, and Derek.
1 Rowan Atkinson - $150 Million
Atkinson has everyone on the list beat with a massive $150 million. Atkinson is famous for his goofy Mr. Bean character, the Johnny English films, but his most popular role is probably his historical satire Blackadder. Atkinson uses his wealth for activism and philahthropy, but he also uses a big chunk of change to fuel his car collection.
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