Net Worth Ranker
What Is Mo’Nique’s Net Worth?
Mo’Nique, an accomplished American actress and comedienne, boasts a net worth of $6 million. This financial standing is built upon a diverse career encompassing television roles, stand-up comedy, film appearances, and hosting duties. Her journey, however, has not been without its challenges, including past IRS issues, which she appears to have resolved.
Mo’Nique’s Career and Income Streams
Mo’Nique’s career began to gain significant traction with her role as Nicole “Nikki” Parker on the television series “The Parkers” (1999–2004). This role, which originated on “Moesha,” provided a solid foundation for her subsequent ventures into stand-up comedy and hosting. She became a familiar face as the host of “Showtime at the Apollo” (2000-2006), a show she initially appeared on as a comedienne in 1994.
Her stand-up comedy appearances include performances on “Russell Simmons’ Def Comedy Jam” (1998) and “Thank God You’re Here” (2007). Furthermore, she hosted the BET Awards in 2003, 2004, and 2007, further solidifying her presence in the entertainment industry.
In addition to her television and comedy work, Mo’Nique has amassed over 30 acting credits, including roles in films such as “Phat Girlz” (2006), “Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins” (2008), and “Precious” (2009). Her role in “Precious” earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, a career highlight that significantly boosted her profile. She also hosted her own late-night talk show, “The Mo’Nique Show,” on BET from 2009 to 2011, adding another dimension to her career portfolio.
One significant contributor to Mo’Nique’s financial recovery was her residency at SLS Las Vegas, titled “Mo’Nique Does Vegas,” which commenced in 2019. This residency provided a consistent and potentially lucrative income stream that aided in resolving her past IRS issues.
Financial Challenges and Resolutions
In 2016, Mo’Nique faced significant financial challenges when the IRS reportedly placed a lien on her for unpaid taxes. The IRS alleged that she owed $200,000 for the year 2013 and $188,000 for 2014, totaling $389,000. The following year, in 2017, another lien was reportedly placed on her for $170,000, related to a 2015 bill. By September 2019, her tax debt, including interest and penalties, had reportedly ballooned to $620,000.
It appears that Mo’Nique has since resolved these tax debts. Her Las Vegas residency, which began in 2019, likely played a crucial role in her ability to clear these obligations.
“Precious” Salary and the Tyler Perry Dispute
Despite winning an Academy Award for her performance in “Precious,” Mo’Nique earned just $50,000 for the role. This relatively low salary became a point of contention when Mo’Nique publicly discussed a difficult situation involving the film’s producers, Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey, and the production company, Lionsgate.
Mo’Nique claimed that Tyler Perry asked her to do free promotion for the movie, promising that if she won an Academy Award, her next paycheck would be in the $6-8 million range. Mo’Nique reportedly declined to do free promotional work, stating that her $50,000 salary did not contractually obligate her to do any press, especially overseas.
She also claimed to have had a private conversation with Oprah Winfrey, in which Oprah allegedly supported her decision not to do free promotion. However, Mo’Nique alleged that Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey subsequently branded her as difficult to work with and refused to help her career moving forward. Mo’Nique has publicly stated that Tyler Perry’s actions after “Precious” cost her millions of dollars and temporarily derailed her career.
Mo’Nique claimed that at the time she filmed “Precious,” she was earning between $2 and $3 million per year. She also claimed that Tyler Perry’s false rumors cost her a dozen years of her ability to continue earning her previous income levels, implying a potential loss of $20-30 million.
“The Parkers” Salary and Royalties Dispute
In the final season of “The Parkers,” Mo’Nique and Countess Vaughn reportedly earned $55,000 per episode. With 22 episodes in that season, their earnings totaled $1.21 million for that season alone. In April 2023, Mo’Nique sued Paramount and CBS over allegedly unpaid royalties for “The Parkers.”
In her lawsuit, she claimed that the companies “artificially depressed [the show’s] profitability to retain millions that would otherwise be contractually due” to Mo’Nique and the show’s writers. “The Parkers” produced 111 episodes between 1999 and 2004, qualifying the series for syndication.
Mo’Nique has claimed that the show generated $800 million in syndication deals between 2004 and 2009 and millions more in the subsequent decade. In 2020, the show was sold to Netflix, generating even more revenue. She has estimated that “The Parkers” has generated $2 billion in revenue since going off the air, alleging that neither she nor her co-star, Countess Vaughn, have received any of these profits.
Mo’Nique has also claimed that the show cost a total of $60 million to produce during its entire run.
Netflix Lawsuit
In late 2019, Mo’Nique sued Netflix for gender and racial discrimination after the streaming service offered her $500,000 for a 2018 comedy special. In addition to the low offer, Netflix reportedly demanded to own 100% of the copyright and audio-only rights to the material.
In her complaint, she revealed that Amy Schumer was offered $11 million upfront and eventually earned $13 million for equivalent Netflix comedy specials. She also claimed that after complaining about the pay discrepancy, Netflix retaliated against her by walking away from the negotiations.
Mo’Nique accused Netflix of systematically underpaying black women, while white comedians and black male comedians like Chris Rock (who earned $40 million for a single special) and Dave Chappelle (who earned $60 million for a single special) were offered significantly more.
A federal judge eventually sided with Mo’Nique, agreeing that Netflix’s refusal to negotiate an opening offer, which was inconsistent with its normal business practices, constituted an “adverse employment action for purposes of a retaliation claim.” The matter was resolved “amicably,” according to her attorney, in mid-2022, though specific terms of the resolution were not disclosed.
Real Estate
For several years, Mo’Nique rented a 7,292-square-foot home in Roswell, Georgia, for $22,000 per month. In 2011, she was sued by her landlord, who claimed she broke the rental agreement and allegedly owed $370,000. Mo’Nique counter-sued, claiming that she wanted out of her lease because the home smelled like dog feces and urine and had an overflowing septic tank and a mold problem. The lawsuits were settled for an undisclosed sum in 2012. Monique appears to continue to be renting in Georgia, a different mansion in the town of Braselton.
