20 Richest SNL Cast Members of All Time, Ranked By Net Worth

It pays to be funny.

Author:
Levi Leidy
Nov 18, 2023

Saturday Night Live is not only one of the longest-running TV shows still around, but it’s produced some of the most famous comedians and actors of the last five decades. It’s a proven formula: Talented actor + a season or so on SNL = more success in film and television.

While SNL cast members don’t make chump change, their salaries are paltry in comparison to what they can make when they reach even greater heights of fame. Here are the 20 richest SNL cast members, some of whom you may not even remember were on the show, ranked by their reported net worth.

20 Richest SNL Cast Members of All Time

20. Chevy Chase: $50 million

Chevy Chase Saturday Night Live — Chevy Chase as an 'SNL' cast member in 1975.
IMAGO / Album

Chevy Chase was a part of the original Saturday Night Live cast back in 1975. Although he was there for the start of Weekend Update and so much more, he only lasted until halfway through the second season before leaving to pursue a career in film. He later returned to host the show, but was reportedly banned in 1997 for allegedly being abusive to some of the cast members. (That said, he's made cameos in the years since.)

19. Christopher Guest: $60 million

Christopher Guest and Jamie Lee Curtis — IMAGO / YAY Images

Christopher Guest was on Season 10 of SNL from 1984-85. However, he’s best known for starring in and later directing a series of famous “mockumentaries,” such as the 2000 cult favorite Best in Show. He’s also married to actress Jamie Lee Curtis.

18. Billy Crystal: $60 million

Billy Crystal was another one-season cast member, in 1985. He made a pretty big splash, though, with his parody of Fernando Lamas as a talk show host. Crystal obviously went on to an uber-successful film career, starring in movies like Throw Momma from the Train (1987), When Harry Met Sally… (1989) and City Slickers (1991).

17. Chris Rock: $60 million

Chris Rock was an SNL cast member from 1990-93, performing alongside fellow greats such as Chris Farley, Adam Sandler and David Spade. After his three-year stint, he focused more on his standup career and made some of the most successful standup specials of all time. He’s also acted in movies and hosted the Academy Awards twice.

16. David Spade: $70 million

David Spade was a writer and cast member on SNL from 1990-96. After his success there, he went on to star in seven seasons of the show Just Shoot Me! (1997-2003) and Rules of Engagement (2007-2013). He’s also lent his voice to many animated films and acted in others, such as Tommy Boy (1995) and Joe Dirt (2001).

15. Tracy Morgan: $70 million

Tracy Morgan graced the SNL cast from 1996-2003. His time there overlapped with comedian and actress Tina Fey’s, which worked out for him when Fey cast him as a parody of himself in her show 30 Rock, for which he earned an Emmy nomination.

14. Jimmy Fallon: $70 million

Jimmy Fallon featured on SNL from 1998-2004, acting as co-host of Weekend Update. Afterward, he starred in a couple movies—Taxi (2004) and Fever Pitch (2005)—before finding his ultimate success (at least so far) as a late-night talk show host.

13. Tina Fey: $75 million

Tina Fey was a cast member and head writer on SNL from 2000-06, but started writing for the show in 1997. Aside from her incredible run as a cast member, her later return to portray vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in 2008 is what cemented Fey as an SNL legend.

In 2004, Fey famously wrote and starred in the comedy Mean Girls and then created the hit show 30 Rock (2006-2013). She’s acted in and worked on various other shows and movies and even wrote a memoir.

12. Harry Shearer: $85 million

Harry Shearer had two short stints on SNL, from 1979-80 and 1984-85. He unfortunately didn’t get along with show creator Lorne Michaels, but found success elsewhere as the co-creator and co-star of This Is Spinal Tap (1984). Fans may also know him as the voice actor for Mr. Burns and Ned Flanders in The Simpsons.

11. Dennis Miller: $100 million

Dennis Miller, who was on SNL from 1985-91, is remembered as a long-running host of the segment Weekend Update. After his departure, he wrote and hosted the HBO late-night talk show Dennis Miller Live (1994-2002), which earned five Emmy Awards.

10. Will Ferrell: $160 million

Will Ferrell appeared on SNL as a regular from 1995-2002 and is one of the most iconic cast members of all time. After leaving the show, he starred in a string of supremely popular 2000s comedies including Elf (2003), Anchorman (2004), Talladega Nights (2006) and Step Brothers (2008). He recently appeared in the hit 2023 film Barbie.

9. Bill Murray: $180 million

Bill Murray was a writer and cast member on SNL from 1977-80, winning an Emmy Award for his writing. Today, Murray is known for his roles in classic films like Caddyshack (1980), Stripes (1981) and Ghostbusters (1984).

8. Ben Stiller: $200 million

Ben Stiller’s time on SNL was so brief and unremarkable that he’s not even remembered for it. He appeared as a cast member from March to April of 1989, for four episodes, and quit because he wanted to make pre-taped short films rather than perform live sketches.

Clearly, Stiller’s career wasn’t hurt by this blip on his resumé. He went on to star in movies such as There’s Something About Mary (1998), Zoolander (2001), Tropic Thunder (2008) and many others. He's also an accomplished director, with his most recent project being Severance on Apple TV+.

7. Mike Myers: $200 million

Mike Myers was an SNL cast member from 1989-95. During this time he wrote and starred in the film comedy Wayne’s World (1992), as well as its sequel, but is best known for his portrayal of the titular character in the Austin Powers movies (and, of course, as Dr. Evil).

6. Eddie Murphy: $200 million

Looking back, it may be hard to believe that Eddie Murphy was only on SNL for four years, from 1980-84. He was 19 years old when he w