What Is Kathy Griffin’s Net Worth?
As of March 2025, Kathy Griffin, the American actress and comedian, boasts a net worth of $40 million. This substantial wealth is a result of her multifaceted career spanning over three decades, encompassing television roles, stand-up comedy, reality television, and literary endeavors. Griffin herself estimated her net worth to be around $32 million in late 2018, a figure that fluctuates depending on her real estate holdings.
Career Earnings and Milestones
Throughout her extensive career, Kathy Griffin estimates that she has earned over $75 million from her various projects. Her breakthrough roles on sitcoms like “Seinfeld” and “Suddenly Susan” laid the foundation for her success. However, it was her reality series, “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List,” which aired from 2005 to 2010 and won two Emmy Awards, that significantly boosted her profile and income.
Griffin’s career trajectory includes several notable milestones:
- Stand-up Comedy: Beginning in the alternative comedy scene in Los Angeles, she co-created “Hot Cup of Talk” with Janeane Garofalo, which later became an HBO special.
- Television Appearances: She secured guest roles on prominent shows like “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” and “Glee.”
- Hosting Roles: Kathy served as a host on “The View” in 2007 and hosted numerous Bravo specials. She co-hosted CNN’s New Year’s Eve broadcast with Anderson Cooper from 2007 to 2017.
- Literary Success: Her memoir, “Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin,” debuted at #1 on the “New York Times” Best Seller List in 2009.
- Comedy Albums: Griffin released multiple comedy albums, with her first six albums earning Grammy Award nominations. In 2014, she won a Grammy for Best Comedy Album.
- World Comedy Tour: In 2017, Griffin launched her “Laugh Your Head Off” world tour, which sold out shows across the UK, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Real Estate Holdings and Transactions
Kathy Griffin’s real estate ventures have played a significant role in her financial portfolio. In November 2018, she sold her five-bedroom property in the Hollywood Hills for $4.49 million. She had purchased the house a decade earlier for $2.85 million, resulting in a substantial profit.
From 2016 to 2020, Griffin’s primary residence was a 13,000 square foot mansion in Bel Air, which she acquired in 2016 for $10.85 million. Her neighbors included Kim Kardashian and Kanye West during that time. In September 2020, she listed the Bel Air mansion for sale at $16 million. In December 2020, she sold the home for $14 million to Lilly Ghalichi, known for her role on “Shahs of Sunset” and founder of “Lilly Lashes.”
Around the time of her Bel Air sale, Kathy purchased a newly constructed modern mansion in Malibu for $9 million. The property spans two acres.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Kathleen Mary Griffin was born on November 4, 1960, in Oak Park, Illinois. She is one of five children born to first-generation Irish-Americans Mary and John Patrick Griffin. During high school, Kathy found solace in musical theater, participating in productions of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” and “Fiddler on the Roof.” She decided to pursue acting professionally after appearing as an extra in a Chicago White Sox commercial, leading to her signing with multiple Chicago talent agencies.
In 1978, at the age of 18, Griffin moved to Los Angeles and studied drama at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. She became a member of the improvisational comedy troupe The Groundlings and began her career in stand-up comedy, becoming involved in the alternative comedy scene in Los Angeles.
Controversies and Challenges
Kathy Griffin’s career has been marked by several controversies that have impacted her professional life. Her controversial humor led to bans from appearing on shows like “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “The View.” After making a controversial acceptance speech at the 2007 Emmy Awards, she was fired from an appearance on Disney’s “Hannah Montana.”
In May 2017, Griffin posted a video of herself holding a mask resembling the severed head of President Donald Trump. The image sparked widespread outrage, leading to her being dropped as a spokesperson for Squatty Potty and facing federal investigation by the Justice Department. She was placed on the No Fly List and the Interpol and Five Eyes list, resulting in detentions at airports during her “Laugh Your Head Off” world tour.
Personal Life and Relationships
Kathy Griffin married Matt Moline in 2001, and the marriage ended in 2006. On an episode of “Larry King Live,” she accused Moline of stealing $72,000 from her.
In 2007, Griffin was romantically linked to Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. The relationship ended in June 2008. In 2011, Griffin announced her relationship with actor Isaiah Mustafa. She also revealed a four-year relationship with her tour manager, who had appeared on “My Life on the D List.”
From 2012 to 2018, Griffin was in a relationship with marketing executive Randy Bick. The couple reconciled in April 2019 and married in January 2020 in a ceremony officiated by comedian Lily Tomlin.