What is legendary comedian and actor Eddie Murphy actually worth? Is he a billionaire?
Unless you have been living under a rock for the past few decades (hey, it happens!), chances are that you know exactly who Eddie Murphy is. Whether you grew up listening to his voice in the Shrek films, watching him learn about American culture in Coming to America, or even know him back from his Saturday Night Live (SNL) days, we’re sure that his name is one most movie and TV fans recognize.
That being said, how much do you actually know about the man himself? Let’s take a closer look at who he is, the career that he has, and what exactly he is worth today.
Eddie Murphy net worth 2021: what’s the total?
No one is too sure quite how much Eddie Murphy is actually worth, but he’s said to have quite a bit in the bank.
No, he’s not a billionaire, but that doesn’t mean he has to scramble around for loose change. It is currently estimated that Murphy is worth $ 200 million – not bad at all!
He happens to be one of the highest-grossing actors ever! For decades, Eddie Murphy was one of the highest-paid actors in the world. That’s not surprising, given all of the massive TV and movie projects we just listed above. Being in so many big hits is almost guaranteed to net you a fortune.
As recently as 2019, Netflix paid Eddie Murphy $70 million to create a series of comedy specials. With his writing, producing, singing, acting, and comedic endeavors, it’s no wonder that Eddie Murphy is worth so much to the film industry!
He’s not stopping there, either. Coming 2 America was a recent, surprise streaming hit, with the star reprising his classic role as Prince (now King) Akeem.
How does Eddie Murphy earn that kind of cash?
Eddie Murphy’s net worth has escalated thanks to $20 million-a-movie deals, and even more money that’s likely earned from merchandising. Do you have any idea how prolific ‘Donkey’ branded toys were in the early 00s?
Despite the fact that Murphy may not be on our screens as much as he was in the 80s, 90s and 00s, that doesn’t mean he isn’t still making cash. As mentioned above, he has lots of projects in the pipeline.
What’s more, we are pretty sure he’s still cashing checks off of Donkey’s iconic monologues across the Shrek quadrilogy. With the franchise set to reboot in the near future, can we expect Murphy to return?
More about Murphy
To understand a bit more about how movie megastar Murphy has been able to stack up his famous fortune, let’s dive into some of his career highlights.
Murphy, born April 3rd, 1961, is a world-famous American actor, comedian, singer, writer, and producer – quite the resume. His initial claim to fame came back in the early eighties, when he first appeared as an SNL member between 1981 and 1984. Many believe Murphy to be one of the most iconic stars in the show’s history, and a glittering career beckoned from there on out.
However, when asked, the actor stated that the beginning of his career truly started in 1976, when he performed in a local youth center talent show. Little could he have known at the time that from performing in that talent show, then later in clubs, would lead him to perform in the country’s most famous comedy show, SNL.
Murphy also hit the big time with his hugely popular stand-up comedy specials, starting with delirious in 1983, and followed by Eddie Murphy Raw in 1987. The latter of which, many people believe to be his finest hour comedically.
He’s acted in movies as diverse as Trading Places with Dan Aykroyd, 48 Hrs, The Golden Child, Best Defense and – of course – the Beverly Hills Cop series.
It was in the 90s and 00s that Murphy started bolstering his movie portfolio and net worth even further with family films. Of course, he became iconic to a whole new generation of moviegoers as Donkey in the Shrek films, but he also voiced Mushu, the wise-cracking dragon in Disney’s Mulan, and had lead roles in The Haunted Mansion, The Nutty Professor, and Dr Dolittle.
In 2006, he won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of James ‘Thunder’ Early in the film Dreamgirls.
So – with all of this, adding on the fact that he’s had a few Billboard hits under his belt (Party All The Time from the 80s and Wazupwitu with Michael Jackson in the 90s), and it’s pretty clear as to why he’s worth so much.
What is your favorite Eddie Murphy film? What do you think about his contribution to American cinema and comedy? Has the comedy legend earned his fortune – and his place in the pantheon of entertainment greatness? Let us know down in the comments!
