
What is Drew Carey’s Net Worth and Salary?
Drew Carey, the American actor, comedian and television host, has a net worth of $165 million. He is best known for his roles on “The Drew Carey Show” and as the host of “The Price is Right”.
During his tenure on The Drew Carey Show, he was one of the highest-paid entertainers globally, earning the inflation-adjusted equivalent of $1 million per episode.
Drew Carey’s Earnings as a TV Host
Drew Carey earns an impressive $12.5 million annually for hosting the show “Price”. This income makes him one of the top 20 highest-paid TV hosts across the world.
Early Life and Career
Drew Allison Carey was born on May 23, 1958 in Cleveland, Ohio. He was the youngest of three sons and his father passed away when he was eight years old. Carey graduated from James Ford Rhodes High School in 1975 where he played the trumpet in the marching band. He attended Kent State University but was expelled twice for poor academic performance and eventually left the college after three years. In 1980, Carey enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and served for six years as a field radio operator in Ohio.
Carey began his comedy career in 1985 after his friend David Lawrence suggested he borrow books from the library on how to write jokes. He became Master of Ceremonies at the Cleveland Comedy Club in 1986 after winning an open mic contest. Over the next few years, he performed at comedy clubs in Cleveland and Los Angeles.
Drew Carey’s Career
Drew Carey gained national recognition as a comedian after appearing on “Star Search” in 1988. He went on to appear on shows such as “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” and “Late Night with David Letterman.” Carey’s first stand-up comedy special, “Drew Carey: Human Cartoon,” won him a CableACE Award for Best Writing in 1994. This success helped him land supporting roles on television shows and films such as “Coneheads” and “The Good Life.”
In 1995, Carey developed the storyline for “The Drew Carey Show,” a sitcom that revolved around a fictionalized version of himself. The show enjoyed high ratings for its first few seasons, but was eventually cancelled due to declining ratings and increasing production costs. Carey also began hosting and participating in the improvisational comedy show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” in 1998. He later co-produced and starred in “Drew Carey’s Green Screen Show,” a spin-off of “Whose Line?” He continued to build off his “Whose Line?” success, hosting the primetime improv show “Drew Carey’s Improv-A-Ganza.”
Drew Carey’s Earnings Throughout His Career
At his peak, Drew Carey earned $45 million in 1998, equivalent to $70 million today. He made $750,000 per episode of “The Drew Carey Show” between 2001 and 2004, which is the same as earning $1 million per episode in today’s money. He filmed 79 episodes at that rate, totaling $59,250,000. Currently, he earns $12.5 million annually for hosting “The Price is Right,” making him one of the 20 highest-paid TV hosts worldwide.
Carey’s Game Show Hosting Career
In 2007, Carey began hosting game shows starting with the CBS pilot “Power of 10.” He was then offered the opportunity to replace Bob Barker as host of “The Price is Right” after taping the pilot episode of “Power of 10.” Carey’s first episode of “The Price is Right” aired in October 2007, and he celebrated his ten-year anniversary as host in 2017, becoming only the second host alongside Bob Barker to reach this milestone.
Drew Carey’s Early Career
Drew Carey began appearing in commercials in the late 1990s and had a two-year contract with A&W Food Services of Canada, which was cut short in November 1998 due to an episode of his show featuring McDonald’s. Carey sued the corporation for compensation. In 1999, Carey was featured in an attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios called “Sounds Dangerous!”
Carey also published his autobiography “Dirty Jokes and Beer: Stories of the Unrefined” in 1997.
Drew Carey’s Investment in Seattle Sounders F.C. Valued at $51 Million
Drew Carey, an early investor in the Seattle Sounders F.C. Major League Soccer team, owns a 7.5% stake in the team. In June 2022, a new investor purchased a 3 to 5% stake in the Sounders for $680 million, valuing Carey’s stake at $51 million. Carey’s investment in the Sounders was made around the team’s inception, but the amount he paid for his stake has not been disclosed.
Drew Carey’s Personal Life and Activism
Drew Carey was previously engaged to Nicole Jaracz from 2007 to 2012 and announced his engagement to sex therapist Amie Harwick in January 2018, but the couple ended their engagement later that year in November.
Carey’s impressive net worth is due to his many years in comedy as well as his success in television and game shows. He is also known for his activism towards the cause of public libraries, often donating time and money to keep them open and operational. Despite his interest in libraries, Carey is an outspoken member of the Libertarian party, advocating for limited government and lower taxes. Nevertheless, to most of the viewing public, Carey remains the lovable Drew with his trademark spectacles and slightly nervous onscreen persona.
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