What Is Jeff Foxworthy’s Net Worth?
Jeff Foxworthy, the celebrated American stand-up comedian and television personality, boasts a substantial net worth of $100 million. His financial success stems from a multifaceted career encompassing stand-up comedy, television hosting, book sales, and touring, most notably as a member of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour alongside Bill Engvall, Larry the Cable Guy, and Ron White.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Jeffrey Marshall Foxworthy was born on September 6, 1958, in Atlanta, Georgia. His father, Jimmy Foxworthy, was an executive at IBM. Jeff graduated from Hapeville High School before enrolling at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. He discontinued his studies just shy of graduation. For five years, he worked at IBM in mainframe computer maintenance, following in his father’s footsteps. It was during this time that his coworkers encouraged him to participate in the Great Southeastern Laugh-off at the Punchline comedy club in Atlanta. Foxworthy entered the contest in 1984 and won, marking the beginning of his comedy career.
Rise to Fame and Comedy Albums
Foxworthy gained widespread recognition for his “You Might Be a Redneck If…” jokes, a phenomenon that took off in 1993. His 1993 comedy album, also titled “You Might Be a Redneck If…,” achieved top chart positions. Throughout his career, Foxworthy has released six comedy albums, becoming the best-selling comedy recording artist of all time. Notably, his 1995 album, “Games Rednecks Play,” received a Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Comedy Album in 1996.
Television Ventures
In 1995, “The Jeff Foxworthy Show” premiered on ABC. Despite its initial run, the show was canceled after one season. NBC later picked up the sitcom for an additional season before also canceling it. The series found renewed interest in reruns on CMT and Nick at Night in 2005 and 2006. In 1998, Foxworthy released the album “Totally Committed,” which coincided with an HBO stand-up special of the same name.
Blue Collar Comedy Tour
The early 2000s saw Jeff Foxworthy’s comedy reach new audiences through the Blue Collar Comedy Tour. Initially planned for only 20 shows, the tour’s immense popularity extended it to three years, featuring Foxworthy alongside Larry the Cable Guy, Bill Engvall, and Ron White. This collaboration significantly boosted his visibility and solidified his position in the comedy scene.
“Blue Collar TV” and Other Television Projects
In 2004, Jeff Foxworthy launched “Blue Collar TV” on the WB, serving as an executive producer alongside Larry the Cable Guy and Bill Engvall. Despite being canceled by the WB in the fall of 2005, CMT revived the show in 2006 for an additional season. In 2005, Foxworthy was the subject of a Comedy Central Roast, further cementing his status in the comedy world.
Foxworthy hosted the quiz show “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” for four seasons on Fox before it moved to Nickelodeon. He was eventually replaced by John Cena. Foxworthy also hosts and produces “The American Bible Challenge,” which premiered in 2012 and ran for three seasons. Additionally, he hosted “The American Baking Competition,” a food reality series that aired for one season in the summer of 2013, based on “The Great British Bake Off.”
In February 2019, NBC announced Jeff Foxworthy as a judge for the comedy competition series “Bring the Funny,” where contestants, ranging from solo comics to troupes, competed for a grand prize of $250,000. In the summer of 2020, Foxworthy launched the “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” podcast. In 2022, his Netflix special “Jeff Foxworthy: The Good Old Days” premiered, showcasing his enduring appeal.
Writing Career and Book Sales
Jeff Foxworthy has authored several books, starting with “You Might Be a Redneck If…” in 1989, followed by his autobiography, “No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problem!” in 1996. He also released “The Redneck Grill,” a cookbook, and “Redneck Extreme Mobile Home Makeover” in 2005, featuring some of his redneck jokes. Other publications include the three-book Jeff Foxworthy’s Redneck Dictionary series, published between 2005 and 2007. In February 2008, Foxworthy released his first children’s book, “Dirt On My Shirt,” followed by two more children’s books in 2009 and 2010. He co-authored “How to Really Stink at Golf” in 2008 and “How to Really Stink at Work, A Guide to Making Yourself Fire-Proof While Having the Most Fun Possible” in 2009, with Brian Hartt and illustrations by Layron DeJarnette. The sales figures for these books contribute to Jeff Foxworthy’s net worth. While specific sales numbers are not publicly available, the consistent release of books over the years indicates a steady income stream from his writing endeavors.
Personal Life and Family
Jeff Foxworthy met Pamela Gregg at the Punchline comedy club in Atlanta. They married on September 18, 1985, and have two daughters, Jordan and Julianne. Foxworthy’s comedy is heavily influenced by his upbringing. He has described his father as having a “classic redneck sense of humor.” His dad and his Uncle Jimmy even performed as a ventriloquist and his dummy. In his youth, Foxworthy broke his nose attempting to jump from a moving pickup truck into a bale of hay when he was 17.
In interviews, Foxworthy has stated that he developed his “You Might Be a Redneck If…” act in response to being labeled a redneck. In 2010, a false rumor circulated online that Foxworthy’s daughter Jordan had passed away. Jordan’s IMDB page shows her work as an assistant on the movie “Sully” in 2016 and her appearance in her father’s 2019 special, “Jeff Foxworthy: Stand Up Guy.” In 2019, Foxworthy joked that his daughter, Julianne, “traded her inheritance for her wedding.” Julianne married Brendan Corley in 2019. In 2020, Foxworthy shaved off his trademark mustache for the first time in 40 years, posting a photo on Instagram with the caption, “First time I’ve shaved my mustache in 40 years … clearly I’m bored in quarantine.” These personal details provide insight into the life and experiences that shape Jeff Foxworthy’s comedic persona and public image.
Real Estate Investments
Jeff Foxworthy and his family previously resided in a mansion in Alpharetta, Georgia, near Atlanta. The home was reportedly valued at slightly less than $2 million. In 2021, he listed this property for $2.99 million, and it was sold after six months on the market. The proceeds from this real estate transaction would have contributed to his overall net worth. The exact details of other real estate holdings are not publicly available, but real estate investments often form a significant part of high-net-worth individuals’ portfolios. While specific addresses and names of other properties are not disclosed, it’s reasonable to assume that Foxworthy has diversified his investments to include real estate, given his substantial net worth and long-standing career success.