What Is Andy Richter’s Net Worth?
Andy Richter, a multifaceted American entertainer celebrated for his roles as an actor, writer, comedian, producer, and late-night talk show announcer/sidekick, has cultivated a net worth of $4 million. This financial standing is primarily attributed to his acting endeavors in both film and television, in addition to his voice work in animated productions. While Richter initially gained prominence as a talk show sidekick, he has since solidified his reputation as a sought-after comic actor, securing roles in numerous feature films and television series. His most notable work includes “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” (1993–2000), “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien” (2009–2010), and “Conan” (2010–present). Furthermore, he starred in the television series “Andy Richter Controls the Universe” (2002–2003), “Andy Barker, P.I.” (2007), and “Quintuplets” (2004–2005).
Richter’s on-screen debut occurred in the 1993 television film “The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom.” To date, he has accumulated over 120 acting credits, including appearances in films such as “Elf” (2003), “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” (2006), “Semi-Pro” (2008), and “Arrested Development” (2005-2006; 2013). He has also contributed his writing talents to “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien,” and “Conan,” and has served as a producer on “Andy Richter Controls the Universe,” “Andy Barker, P.I.,” and the 2016 television special “Andy Richter’s Home for the Holidays.” Richter has lent his voice to various animated projects, including the “Madagascar” film series (2005-2012), the spin-off television series “The Penguins of Madagascar” (2008–2015), and “All Hail King Julien” (2014–2017). Since 2019, he has hosted the podcast “The Three Questions with Andy Richter.” These diverse roles in acting, writing, production, and voice acting contribute to Andy Richter’s net worth.
Early Career and Rise to Fame
Born Paul Andrew Richter on October 28, 1966, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Andy Richter’s early life provided a foundation for his future success in entertainment. His mother, Glenda, worked as a kitchen cabinet designer, while his father, Laurence, taught Russian at Indiana University. Following his parents’ divorce when he was four years old, and his father later coming out as gay, Richter spent his formative years in Yorkville, Illinois, alongside his three siblings. He attended Yorkville High School, graduating in 1984. Subsequently, he pursued higher education at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign before transferring to Columbia College Chicago to study film.
Richter’s trajectory in the entertainment industry began after he left Columbia College in 1988. He secured a position as a production assistant on commercial shoots in Chicago, providing him with invaluable experience in the field. In 1989, he enrolled in classes at Improv Olympic, quickly becoming a “House Performer.” His involvement with the Annoyance Theatre led to a pivotal moment when their popular show, “The Real Live Brady Bunch,” relocated to New York City. Richter seized the opportunity to play Mike, stepping in for the original actor who had declined to participate in the NYC production. This role proved instrumental in connecting him with future collaborators.
Two of Richter’s co-stars from “The Real Live Brady Bunch,” Melanie Hutsell and Beth Cahill, were cast on “Saturday Night Live,” leading to his introduction to writer Robert Smigel. Smigel subsequently hired him to write for a new talk show, “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.” Just weeks before the show’s premiere, Richter was offered the role of O’Brien’s sidekick. He appeared in over 1,200 episodes before departing in 2000 to focus on his acting career, marking a significant shift in his professional trajectory. While on “Late Night,” Richter also took on roles in films like “Cabin Boy” (1994), “Good Money” (1996), and “The Thin Pink Line” (1998). He also made guest appearances on television shows such as “Mr. Show with Bob and David” (1995), “Upright Citizens Brigade” (1998), “LateLine” (1999), and “Strangers with Candy” (2000). This period of varied roles and experiences laid the groundwork for Andy Richter’s net worth and career trajectory.
Acting Roles, Production Work and Continued Success
Following his departure from “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” Andy Richter pursued acting opportunities in various films, including “Dr. T & the Women” (2000), “Dr. Dolittle 2” (2001), “Pootie Tang” (2001), and “Scary Movie 2” (2001). Subsequently, he embarked on producing and starring in the Fox series “Andy Richter Controls the Universe,” which aired 19 episodes over two seasons. In 2003, he co-starred with Will Ferrell in the commercially successful holiday film “Elf,” which grossed $223.3 million worldwide, providing a substantial boost to his visibility and earnings.
In 2004, Richter began portraying Bob Chase on Fox’s “Quintuplets,” further expanding his presence on television. He also played a set of quintuplets (including a fictionalized version of himself) on the critically-acclaimed Fox series “Arrested Development.” Richter lent his voice to the character of Mort in the 2005 film “Madagascar,” reprising the role in “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” (2008) and “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted” (2012), as well as related television series and specials. These voice acting roles have been a consistent source of income for Andy Richter, adding to his net worth. Richter guest-starred on “Will & Grace” (2006), “The New Adventures of Old Christine” (2006–2008), and “Monk” (2007–2008), and reunited with Will Ferrell in “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” (2006), “Blades of Glory” (2007), and “Semi-Pro” (2008). In 2007, he starred in the NBC series “Andy Barker P.I.,” which also featured Tony Hale of “Arrested Development” fame.
In 2009, Andy Richter returned to late-night television as the announcer and sidekick on “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien.” After Conan’s departure from NBC in January 2010, due to the network’s decision to move Jay Leno back to the 11:35 p.m. time slot, O’Brien, Richter, and other members of the show embarked on “The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour,” which was documented in the 2011 documentary “Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop.” Conan and Andy then moved to TBS for “Conan,” which premiered in November 2010 and switched to a half-hour format in January 2019. While working on “Conan,” Richter appeared in films such as “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” (2013), “Donald Trump’s The Art of the Deal: The Movie” (2016), and “Girlfriend’s Day” (2017), and guest-starred on shows like “Jon Benjamin Has a Van” (2011), “Hot in Cleveland” (2012), “Happy Endings” (2013), “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (2013), “Santa Clarita Diet” (2017–2018), and “Black-ish” (2019). He also hosted the 2017 ABC game show “Big Fan” and provided voice acting for animated series such as “Bob’s Burgers” (2015; 2018), “The Stinky & Dirty Show” (2016–2019), “Justice League Action” (2017), and “Big Hero 6: The Series” (2017–2019). Andy Richter’s net worth reflects this career’s longevity and diversification across roles.
Personal Life and Real Estate
Andy Richter’s personal life has seen significant milestones. He met actress Sarah Thyre while performing together in a Los Angeles production of “The Real Live Brady Bunch” in the early ’90s, and they married on March 18, 1994. The couple has two children: son William and daughter Mercy. In April 2019, Richter announced their separation after 27 years of marriage, and their divorce was finalized in August 2019.
In terms of real estate, Andy and Sarah purchased a home in Burbank, California, for $1.225 million in 2013. Following their divorce, Sarah received ownership of this property. In June 2023, she listed the home for sale with an asking price of $2 million. The increase in value of this real estate holding is an example of how Andy Richter’s net worth is impacted by assets beyond his entertainment career.