Net Worth Ranker
What Is Doug Stanhope’s Net Worth?
Doug Stanhope, a multifaceted American entertainer recognized for his stand-up comedy, acting roles, writing contributions, production endeavors, and podcast hosting, has accumulated a net worth of approximately $1.5 million. This financial standing reflects his diverse career across various entertainment platforms.
Doug Stanhope’s Career Highlights
Stanhope’s journey in stand-up comedy commenced in the early 1990s. His appearances at numerous comedy festivals across the United States quickly propelled him into the limelight. This early success laid the groundwork for a prolific career marked by numerous achievements.
His discography includes several stand-up comedy albums, each contributing to his recognition and financial success: “The Great White Stanhope” (1998), “Sicko” (1999), “Something to Take the Edge Off” (2000), “Die Laughing” (2002), “Deadbeat Hero” (2004), and “No Place Like Home” (2016). Each release contributed to his growing fan base and financial stability.
Stanhope’s production credits include comedy specials such as “Doug Stanhope: No Refunds” (2007), “Doug Stanhope’s the Unbookables” (2012), and “Doug Stanhope: The Comedians’ Comedian’s Comedians” (2017). He also produced the TV series “Invasion of the Hidden Cameras” (2002). These projects showcased his talent behind the camera, adding another dimension to his career and income streams.
From 2003 to 2004, Stanhope co-hosted “The Man Show” with Joe Rogan, where he also contributed as a writer. This role exposed him to a broader audience and expanded his network within the entertainment industry, contributing to his career advancement.
As an actor, Stanhope has appeared in films such as “Memphis Bound… and Gagged” (2001) and “Punching Henry” (2016), as well as television series including “Rude Awakening” (2000–2001), “Louie” (2011), “Roseanne” (2018), and “Sick of It” (2020). These acting roles, though varied, added to his overall income and visibility in the entertainment world.
Stanhope is also an author, having published “Fun With Pedophiles: The Best of Baiting” (2006), “Digging Up Mother: A Love Story” (2016), “This Is Not Fame: A ‘From What I Re-Memoir'” (2017), and “No Encore for the Donkey” (2020). His written works demonstrate his creative versatility and contribute to his overall earnings.
Since 2013, Stanhope has hosted “The Doug Stanhope Podcast,” which has garnered a dedicated following and provides a consistent platform for his comedy and commentary. The podcast generates revenue through advertising, subscriptions, and merchandise, adding to his net worth.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Douglas Gene Stanhope was born on March 25, 1967, in Worcester, Massachusetts. His mother, Bonnie, worked as a waitress, and his father, Russ, headed the science department at Doug’s school. Stanhope’s upbringing, marked by his mother’s struggle with alcoholism and later sobriety, shaped his worldview and comedic perspective. He has an older brother named Jeff.
At the age of 12, a school psychiatrist suggested that Stanhope needed professional help due to his interest in sketching bloody limbs and adult cartoons. He dropped out of high school at 15 and worked as a telemarketer before pursuing comedy full-time. This early independence and determination fueled his career aspirations.
After leaving Worcester, Stanhope spent six months living in Los Angeles, followed by a few more moves before settling in Las Vegas. This period of exploration and relocation was crucial in shaping his early career as a comedian.
In 1990, at the age of 23, Stanhope started performing stand-up comedy with an open mic night at a bar in Las Vegas. He later moved to Phoenix, Arizona, and became the house MC at a comedy club. His time in Phoenix allowed him to hone his skills and develop his comedic style. He moved to West Hollywood in 1995 and regularly performed at The Comedy Store and the Hollywood Improv. These performances were pivotal in establishing his presence in the comedy scene.
After landing a development deal, Stanhope co-wrote a pilot with a writer who had worked on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” but it was not picked up. Despite this setback, he won the San Francisco International Comedy Competition in 1995, a significant achievement that boosted his confidence and career prospects. He released his first comedy album, “The Great White Stanhope,” three years later, marking a major milestone in his career.
In the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks, Stanhope’s controversial comments led to protests and confrontations at his shows. In 2001, Stanhope starred in his own “Comedy Central Presents” special, increasing his national exposure. The following year, he appeared on Fox’s “Invasion of the Hidden Cameras” and released the album “Die Laughing” and the DVD “Doug Stanhope: Word of Mouth.” These projects further cemented his reputation as a provocative and engaging comedian.
He hosted “The Man Show” with Joe Rogan during the show’s fifth and sixth seasons. In 2005, he got his own SIRIUS Satellite Radio show and appeared in “The Aristocrats.” These opportunities allowed him to reach a wider audience and diversify his income streams.
Stanhope formed the comedy group “The Unbookables” with touring comics such as Brendon Walsh and Andy Andrist, releasing the album “Morbid Obscenity” in 2006. That year, several of his dates at the Cat Laughs Comedy Festival in Ireland were cancelled due to a joke about Irish men committing pedophilia. Despite the controversy, his unique brand of comedy continued to attract attention.
In 2009, “The Guardian” ranked Stanhope’s live show in the top five in its “20 Best Live Shows of 2009” list. He also appeared in vignettes on the British show “Newswipe with Charlie Brooker” in 2010 and “Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe” in 2013. His international recognition boosted his reputation and broadened his fan base.
In 2010, he signed with Roadrunner Records to launch the comedy label Roadrunner Comedy, releasing the album “Oslo: Burning The Bridge To Nowhere” in 2011. Also in 2011, Stanhope performed at Litla-Hraun, the only maximum security prison in Iceland, and guest-starred on the FX series “Louie.” These unconventional performances and appearances underscored his willingness to push boundaries.
He released the comedy special and album “Before Turning the Gun on Himself” in 2012, followed by 2013’s “Beer Hall Putsch” and 2016’s “No Place Like Home.” All three albums reached #1 on the “Billboard” Comedy Albums chart. He followed the success of those albums with the digital releases “Popov Vodka Presents: An Evening with Doug Stanhope” in 2017 and “The Dying Of A Last Breed” in 2020. These achievements solidified his status as a top-selling comedian and boosted his net worth.
Around this time, he also appeared in the documentaries “Hope on Top: A Mitch Hedberg Oral History” (2020) and “Too Soon: Comedy After 9/11” (2021). These documentary appearances highlighted his influence on the comedy world and added to his legacy.
Personal Life and Ideologies
In 2002, Stanhope and his then-girlfriend, Renee Morrison, staged a Las Vegas marriage ceremony “mocking the institution of marriage.” They decided that abortion was the best choice for them, and Stanhope also underwent a vasectomy. Doug dated comedian Betsy Wise for 18 months, and he has been in a relationship with Amy “Bingo” Bingaman since 2005.
Stanhope has referred to himself as a drunk, and in a 2011 interview with “Such Small Portions,” he said that he hadn’t done a stand-up comedy show sober since 2003. This candidness about his personal life and habits has become a part of his comedic persona.
Stanhope was formerly a libertarian, but in 2017, he said that it was “just a phase [he] went through.” When asked about his political views in a 2012 interview with “The List,” Doug responded, “I’m kind of an anarchist, just in a quiet way.” In 2013, he spoke at a City Council Meeting in Bisbee, Arizona (where he has lived since 2005) to express support for civil unions between same-sex couples, stating, “I am not gay and I think marriage is stupid. I have no dog in this fight except human equality.” That year Stanhope also started a fundraiser for a family whose home was destroyed by a tornado in Moore, Oklahoma, and raised more than $125,000. These actions reflect his evolving political views and commitment to social causes.
Awards and Nominations
In 2012, Stanhope earned a Gold Derby Award nomination for Comedy Guest Actor for “Louie.” At the 2002 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, he won the Strathmore Press Award, voted on by 40 members of the British press. “Time Out New York” has honored Doug with the Best Comedy Performance award twice. These accolades recognize his talent and contributions to the comedy world.
