Overview

Marietta Sangai Sirleaf (born April 12, 1970), known professionally as Retta, is an American stand-up comedian, actress, and author. She is widely recognized for her role as Donna Meagle on NBC’s comedy ‘Parks and Recreation’ and as Ruby Hill on NBC’s ‘Good Girls’. Before finding success in entertainment, Retta graduated from Duke University with a degree in sociology and initially worked as a chemist. However, her passion for comedy led her to pursue stand-up, and she eventually moved to Los Angeles to dedicate herself to a career in comedy and acting. Retta began her professional stand-up career in 1996, and she gained popularity on the college comedy touring circuit. In addition to her television roles, Retta has appeared in several films and has hosted shows like ‘Ugliest House in America’. She is also the author of ‘So Close to Being the Sh*t, Y’all Don’t Even Know’, a collection of humorous essays.

What Is Retta’s Net Worth?

Retta, the American actress, stand-up comedian, and author, has accumulated a net worth of $3 million. This figure reflects her successful career in entertainment, spanning from stand-up comedy to prominent roles in television and film. Retta’s financial standing is primarily derived from her acting roles, stand-up performances, and literary work.

Retta’s Career Highlights and Earnings

Retta’s journey in the entertainment industry began in 1996 with her stand-up comedy career. She quickly gained traction and became a popular fixture on the college comedy touring circuit by 1998. While specific earnings from her early stand-up career are not publicly available, her consistent presence on the comedy circuit provided a foundation for her future success. In 2004, Retta showcased her comedic talents with her own “Comedy Central Presents” special. The financial details of this special are undisclosed, but it undoubtedly contributed to her growing profile and opened doors for more significant opportunities.

Her transition to acting saw her debut on the big screen in 2002 with “Slackers.” This marked the beginning of a prolific acting career with over 50 acting credits. Although the exact salaries for her early roles remain private, each appearance contributed to her increasing recognition and earning potential. A significant turning point in Retta’s career came in 2009 when she joined the cast of the NBC comedy “Parks and Recreation” as Donna Meagle. Initially a recurring character, she was promoted to a full-time cast member during season three. Over seven seasons, Retta appeared in 119 episodes. While the precise salary figures for each season are not publicly accessible, it’s plausible that she earned increasingly larger amount per episode as her role became more prominent.

Beyond “Parks and Recreation,” Retta has taken on various roles in film and television. Some of her notable film credits include “First Sunday” (2008), “Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life” (2016), and “Good Boys” (2019). “Good Boys” proved to be a box office success, grossing $111.2 million against a $20 million budget. Retta’s role in this film likely contributed to her income, although the exact amount she received is not public knowledge. She also had a significant role as Ruby Hill on NBC’s “Good Girls” (2018-2021). As one of the main cast members alongside Christina Hendricks and Mae Whitman, it can be inferred that she was paid a substantial amount for her work on the show. Again, the specific figures have not been disclosed.

Retta’s versatility extends to voice acting, where she has lent her voice to characters in “The Lego Ninjago Movie” (2017), “Pinky Malinky,” “Where’s Waldo?,” “Big Mouth,” and “DuckTales.” While the compensation for these voice acting roles is not available, they contribute to her overall income stream. Retta’s literary endeavor, “So Close to Being the Sh*t, Y’all Don’t Even Know” published in 2018, is another factor in her net worth. As a published author, she earns royalties from book sales. The exact amount of royalties earned has not been released.

Retta’s Assets and Investments

While detailed information about Retta’s specific assets and investments is not publicly available, it’s reasonable to assume that her net worth encompasses a variety of assets. These could include real estate holdings, stocks, bonds, and other investments. It’s also worth noting that Retta’s income from her various entertainment projects has likely been used to make strategic investments to grow her wealth. Without access to private financial records, it’s impossible to provide an exact breakdown of her assets and investments.

Retta’s Personal Life and Background

Born Marietta Sangai Sirleaf on April 12, 1970, in Newark, New Jersey, Retta’s personal life has influenced her career path. Her Liberian heritage, with her aunt Ellen Johnson Sirleaf serving as the president of Liberia from 2006 to 2018, provides an interesting background. She spent some of her childhood in Liberia before growing up in Cliffwood Beach and Edison, New Jersey. She attended Matawan Regional High School and then pursued pre-med studies at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, where she earned a sociology degree in 1992. After graduating from Duke, Retta worked as a chemist, showcasing her diverse skill set. During this time, she also pursued stand-up comedy at Raleigh’s Charlie Goodnights Comedy Club, demonstrating her passion for entertainment. She eventually moved to Los Angeles to pursue a comedy career full-time, marking a pivotal decision that would shape her future success.

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