Net Worth Ranker
What Is Andrew Dice Clay’s Net Worth?
Andrew Dice Clay, also known as “The Diceman,” has accumulated a net worth of $10 million throughout his career as a comedian and actor. His financial standing is a result of his work in stand-up comedy, film, television, and other ventures. Clay gained prominence in the 1980s for his controversial stand-up routines characterized by a confrontational style and explicit material. His persona, “The Diceman,” which included a tough-talking Brooklyn accent and leather-clad appearance, became a cultural phenomenon, attracting both acclaim and criticism.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Andrew Dice Clay was born Andrew Clay Silverstein on September 29, 1957, in Brooklyn, New York. Growing up in a Jewish household, he was raised by his mother, Jacqueline, and father, Fred, who worked as a real estate agent and boxer. Andrew began showcasing his talent for impressions at the age of five and started playing the drums at seven. As a teenager, he honed his skills at James Madison High School and played drums at weddings and bar mitzvahs in the Catskills. Post-high school, Andrew attended Kingsborough Community College but decided to leave to pursue stand-up comedy. In 1978, Clay auditioned at Pips Comedy Club and secured a headlining gig at the Sheepshead Bay venue the following week, adopting the stage name Andrew Clay. Initially, his act consisted primarily of impressions, but he later developed his character “The Diceman.” This character was inspired by Jerry Lewis’ Buddy Love from “The Nutty Professor” and John Travolta’s Danny Zuko from “Grease”. He performed at The Improv, Dangerfield’s, Catch a Rising Star, and other comedy clubs. By 1980, he had moved to Los Angeles.
Rise to Fame and Notoriety
Clay’s career began to take off in the 1980s, marked by a series of performances in comedy clubs and early television appearances. Mitzi Shore, owner of The Comedy Store, allowed Dice to perform late-night sets, boosting his visibility within the comedy scene. In 1982, he made his film debut in “Wacko,” a slasher film parody. In 1983, he added “Diceman” to his name, stopped doing impressions, and turned “The Diceman” into a fully-formed alter ego, debuting his new persona at The Comedy Store. He also landed guest roles on “M*A*S*H” (1982) and “Diff’rent Strokes” (1982–1983) and appeared in films like “Making the Grade” (1984) and “Pretty in Pink” (1986). From 1986 to 1988, he had a recurring role on NBC’s “Crime Story,” appearing in 13 episodes. In 1988, following a successful performance at a Big Brother Association event, 20th Century Fox offered him a movie deal. That same year, his appearance on HBO’s “Nothing Goes Right,” a stand-up comedy showcase hosted by Rodney Dangerfield, further increased his national exposure.
“Performance” magazine recognized Andrew’s comedic talent by naming him Comedy Act of the Year in 1989. He released his debut album, “Dice,” in March of that year, and the album achieved gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. In September 1989, he performed a three-minute set at the MTV Video Music Awards, which led to his being banned from the network. However, the ban was lifted in 2011. In March 1990, he released his second album, “The Day the Laughter Died,” which reached #39 on the “Billboard ” 200 chart. In 1990, Clay achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first comedian to sell out NYC’s Madison Square Garden for two consecutive nights. In May of the same year, he hosted “Saturday Night Live,” which resulted in cast member Nora Dunn and planned musical guest Sinead O’Connor refusing to appear on the show. Also in 1990, Andrew starred in the film “The Adventures of Ford Fairlane,” for which he received a Raspberry Award for Worst Actor.
Career Fluctuations and Resurgence
In 1991, Andrew Dice Clay established his own production company, Fleebin Dabble Productions. That same year, he released the stand-up concert film “Dice Rules,” which had a limited theatrical release because of its controversial content. By 1993, he had secured a deal with ABC, but the network ultimately decided against producing his proposed one-hour drama due to concerns about his controversial image. In July 1993, he released the pay-per-view special “No Apologies,” which garnered over 250,000 purchases. Following this, his 1994 special, “The Valentine’s Day Massacre,” was purchased by approximately 100,000 households. Clay’s HBO special, “Assume the Position,” was released in 1995. He then signed a development deal with producer Bruce Helford and CBS, leading to the sitcom “Bless This House,” which aired for 16 episodes. He began to shift away from the “Diceman” persona around this time, focusing more on family themes in his act. In 1998, Clay released “Filth,” a triple album, and made his first appearance on the “Opie and Anthony” radio show. In 2000, Clay returned to Madison Square Garden for another performance. That same year, he released the stand-up specials “I’m Over Here Now” and “Banned for Life,” as well as the album “Face Down, Ass Up.” In 2007, he starred in a VH1 reality series, “Dice: Undisputed.” He competed on “The Celebrity Apprentice 2” in 2009 but was fired in the first week. Clay’s career experienced a resurgence in the 2010s with appearances in TV shows and films, including guest roles on HBO’s “Entourage” and Fox’s “Raising Hope” in 2011. In 2012, he released a Showtime special titled “Indestructible”.
From 2013 to 2015, he co-hosted “Rollin’ with Dice and Wheels…The Podcast”. He also appeared in Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine” (2013). Clay released his book “The Filthy Truth” in 2014. In 2018, he played the father of Lady Gaga’s character, Ally, in the critically acclaimed film “A Star Is Born.” The same year, he started hosting the “I’m Ova Hea’ Now” podcast.
Personal Life and Real Estate
Andrew Dice Clay’s personal life has included multiple marriages. He married Kathy Swanson in 1984, and they divorced in 1986. In 1990, Kathy filed a breach of contract lawsuit against Clay, seeking $6 million and alleging that he had deceptively convinced her to hire their mutual attorney as her divorce lawyer. Andrew married Kathleen Monica in 1992, and they had two sons, Maxwell and Dillon, before divorcing in 2002. Max has followed in his father’s footsteps as a stand-up comic and has opened for him on tour. Clay was also married to Valerie Vasquez from 2010 to 2014, and he was engaged to comedian Eleanor Kerrigan, with whom he dated for eight years. In 2017, Dice had a stent placed in his heart after he checked into the hospital for exhaustion and dehydration, and doctors discovered a partially blocked artery.
In 2003, Clay purchased a house in Hollywood for $1.179 million. In 2006, he bought a 4,461-square-foot home in Las Vegas for $450,000. Additionally, he owned a 2,720-square-foot Hollywood home, which he sold for $1.399 million in 2010.
