Net Worth Ranker
What Is Rachel Dratch’s Net Worth?
Rachel Dratch, a multifaceted American comedienne, actress, writer, and producer, has cultivated a substantial net worth estimated at $4 million. This financial standing reflects her diverse and enduring career in the entertainment industry, spanning television, film, and stage.
Career Highlights and Earnings
Dratch gained widespread recognition as a cast member on NBC’s iconic sketch comedy series “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) from 1999 to 2006. During her tenure on SNL, she portrayed memorable characters such as Debbie Downer, Denise the Boston teen, and Abe Scheinwald. Although specific salary details from her SNL years are not publicly available, being a cast member on such a prominent show undoubtedly contributed significantly to her income and net worth.
Beyond SNL, Rachel has accumulated over 100 acting credits across various platforms. Her film appearances include roles in “Click” (2006), “Spring Breakdown” (2009), “Sisters” (2015), and “Wine Country” (2019). In television, she is known for her roles in “The King of Queens” (2002–2004), “30 Rock” (2006–2012), and her own show, “Rachel Dratch’s Late Night Snack” (2016–2017). While exact earnings from these roles are not disclosed, they have contributed steadily to her overall financial success.
Rachel’s involvement in “Spring Breakdown” extends beyond acting, as she is credited as a writer and executive producer. This dual role suggests she likely received additional compensation in the form of royalties or backend profits, further augmenting her income. In June 2021, the announcement that Dratch and Ana Gasteyer would write, produce, and star in the film “A Clüsterfünke Christmas” suggests further opportunities for both upfront earnings and potential profit participation.
Dratch’s voice acting work in animated TV shows such as “Game Over” (2004), “Assy McGee” (2008), “Fish Hooks” (2010–2013), “The Awesomes” (2013–2014), and “Imaginary Mary” (2017) also generates income. Voice acting roles can be lucrative, especially for established comedic talents like Dratch.
Her stage performances in productions such as “Sylvia” (2010), “Love’s Labour’s Lost” (2013), “Tail! Spin!” (2014–2015), and “Privacy” (2016) also contributed to Rachel’s earnings, even though stage acting generally provides lower compensation than TV and film.
Literary Ventures and Other Projects
In 2012, Rachel Dratch published her memoir, “Girl Walks Into a Bar…: Comedy Calamities, Dating Disasters, and a Midlife Miracle.” The book’s success would have resulted in royalties and other earnings, adding another income stream to her overall net worth.
Real Estate Assets
Rachel Dratch has made strategic investments in real estate, contributing to her net worth. In October 2016, she sold her Manhattan apartment for $925,000. Prior to this, in the previous year, she acquired a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment in the same Gramercy Park building for $1.65 million. These real estate transactions demonstrate her ability to generate profits from property sales, reflecting savvy financial decisions.
Early Life and Education
Rachel Susan Dratch was born on February 22, 1966, in Lexington, Massachusetts. While her early life did not directly contribute to her net worth, the foundation she built through education and early career choices has been instrumental in her long-term success. Her mother, Elaine, worked as a transportation director, and her father, Paul, was a radiologist. Rachel’s upbringing in a Reform Judaism household, including her bat mitzvah and attendance at Hebrew school, provided a strong cultural and community background.
Rachel’s brother, Daniel, is a TV writer and producer with credits including “Monk” and “Anger Management,” further illustrating the family’s involvement in the entertainment industry. Dratch attended William Diamond Middle School and Lexington High School, where she participated in school plays. After graduating, she attended Dartmouth College, pursuing studies in drama and psychology. During her time at Dartmouth, she became involved with the improv comedy group Said and Done, which provided a platform for developing her comedic skills. In 1986, she also attended the National Theater Institute at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center for a semester. Rachel graduated from Dartmouth in 1988, setting the stage for her career in comedy and acting.
Early Career and The Second City
Following her graduation from Dartmouth, Dratch spent four years as a member of The Second City’s mainstage cast in Chicago. This experience proved crucial for honing her comedic skills and establishing her presence in the comedy scene. While specific salary figures from her time at The Second City are unavailable, this period was instrumental in building her reputation and preparing her for future opportunities.
During her time at The Second City, Rachel collaborated with Tina Fey to create the two-woman show “Dratch & Fey.” The show gained critical acclaim, with “Time Out New York” describing it as “the funniest thing to be found on any New York comedy stage” when performed at New York’s Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. This recognition significantly boosted her visibility and career prospects.
Saturday Night Live (SNL)
Rachel Dratch made her film and television debuts in 1999, coinciding with her joining the cast of “Saturday Night Live.” Between her seven seasons as a cast member and subsequent cameos over the years, Dratch appeared in over 140 episodes of the series. While precise details regarding her SNL salary remain undisclosed, it is plausible that her compensation increased over time, as is typical for long-term cast members on successful shows. Her presence on SNL elevated her profile nationally, opening doors to numerous other opportunities in film and television.
During her tenure on “SNL,” Rachel diversified her acting portfolio by appearing in various films, including “Martin & Orloff” (2002), “The Hebrew Hammer” (2003), “Down With Love” (2003), “Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star” (2003), “Looking for Kitty” (2004), and “Winter Passing” (2005). She also took on roles in television series such as “Third Watch” (2000), “Monk” (2004), and “Frasier.” Additionally, she had a recurring role as Denise Ruth Battaglia on “The King of Queens.” While exact earnings from these roles are not publicly known, they augmented her income during her time on “SNL”.
Post-SNL Career and Projects
In 2006, Dratch co-starred with Adam Sandler in the film “Click.” She was initially cast as Jenna on NBC’s “30 Rock” and appeared in the original pilot of the series. However, after the pilot was screened to test audiences, the role was recast with Jane Krakowski. Despite this initial setback, Rachel continued to be involved with “30 Rock,” playing various characters, such as Elizabeth Taylor and Barbara Walters, throughout the show’s seven-season run. While precise earnings from these roles are not disclosed, they contributed steadily to her overall financial success.
Dratch and Adam Sandler reunited in several subsequent projects, including “I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry” (2007), “Just Go with It” (2011), “That’s My Boy” (2012), and “The Week Of” (2018). These collaborations likely provided significant financial benefits, although specific figures are not publicly available. In 2009, she co-starred with Amy Poehler and Parker Posey in “Spring Breakdown” and appeared in other films such as “Love N’ Dancing,” “I Hate Valentine’s Day,” and “My Life in Ruins.” Her involvement in “Spring Breakdown” extended beyond acting, as she is credited as a writer and executive producer. This dual role suggests she likely received additional compensation in the form of royalties or backend profits, further augmenting her income.
In later years, Dratch appeared in the short film “Teacher of The Year” (2012) and the feature films “Syrup” (2013), “A Little Game” (2014), and “The Grief of Others” (2015). She also starred in the 2015 film “Sisters” alongside “SNL” alums Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Bobby Moynihan, and Chris Parnell. In 2019, she was directed by Poehler in “Wine Country,” which also starred Fey, Rudolph, Ana Gasteyer, Emily Spivey, and Paula Pell. Dratch hosted truTV’s “Rachel Dratch’s Late Night Snack” from 2016 to 2017, and she has guest-starred on numerous TV shows, including “The Middle” (2013–2014), “Broad City” (2014–2016), “Parks and Recreation” (2015), “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” (2015–2021), “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” (2017), “Portlandia” (2017), and “Shameless” (2019). In 2021, Rachel appeared in the “Mr. Mayor” pilot and the Hulu film “Plan B.” While compensation details for these roles are generally not public, these engagements added to her income and career trajectory.
Personal Life
In 2009, Rachel met John Wahl in a bar, and after six months of casually dating, she discovered that she was pregnant. While these personal details do not directly impact her net worth, they provide context about her life and career decisions. Wahl, a consultant in the natural food industry who lived in California, moved to New York, and the couple welcomed son Eli on August 24, 2010, a month before Dratch’s due date. At 43, Dratch embraced motherhood and navigated the challenges of balancing her career and personal life. She relied on her former “Saturday Night Live” castmates Amy Poehler and Tina Fey for parenting advice. These personal milestones underscore her ability to manage both her professional and personal responsibilities, further highlighting her resilience and adaptability in the entertainment industry.
Awards and Nominations
Rachel Dratch has received several awards and nominations throughout her career, acknowledging her talent and contributions to the entertainment industry. In 1997 and 1998, The Second City awarded her the Joseph Jefferson Award for Actress in a Revue for “Paradigm Lost” and “Promise Keepers, Losers Weepers.” These accolades recognized her comedic skills and established her reputation in the Chicago comedy scene. In 2004, she earned a Gold Derby Award nomination for Variety Performer for “Saturday Night Live,” underscoring her impact on the show. Additionally, she received a Teen Choice Award nomination for Choice Comedian in 2006. While these accolades did not directly affect her net worth, they contributed to her reputation and provided opportunities for more significant roles and projects.
