Forbes figures the 10 highest-paid comedians for June 2014-2015

For all of the talk about Amy Schumer this year, it’s worth noting that Schumer joked throughout this summer’s Oddball Festival about how little money she made off of her own blockbuster hit movie, Trainwreck.

And truth be told, Schumer — nor any woman — are to be found on the list Forbes compiled, figuring the highest-paid comedians for the year running June 1, 2014, through June 1, 2015.

Forbes didn’t have any paychecks or tax returns to reveal, so the magazine made its best calculations “based on data from Nielson (sic), IMDB and other sources, as well as on interviews with agents, managers, lawyers, industry insiders and the stars themselves. To make the cut, their primary source of income had to come from concert ticket sales, and the live comedy business is booming.” These estimate totals are before management/agent fees and taxes.

Also, they’re just Forbes best estimates.

The Forbes Highest-Paid Comedians of 2014-2015?

  1. Jerry Seinfeld, $36 million (Seinfeld rebroadcast deals, touring)
  2. Kevin Hart, $28.5 million (stand-up touring, movies)
  3. Terry Fator, $21.5 million (Las Vegas residency)
  4. Jeff Dunham, $19 million (touring, Las Vegas residency)
  5. Russell Peters, $19 million (touring, Last Comic Standing)
  6. Aziz Ansari, $9.5 million (Modern Romance book, touring, Parks and Rec)
  7. Louis C.K., $9 million (touring, Louie)
  8. Gabriel Iglesias, $8.5 million (touring, The Fluffy Movie, Magic Mike XXL)
  9. John Bishop, $8 million (BBC special, John Bishop’s Australia)
  10. Dave Chappelle, $7.5 million (touring)

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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