Jim Carrey Net Worth (Money & Salary)
to the details available, Jim Carrey’s financial success is often characterized by a series of remarkable moments. After achieving significant stardom, various roles allowed him to transform Hollywood comedy. His journey from stand-up performances to major film projects exemplifies his remarkable talent and transformative presence in the entertainment industry.
Career Highlights
Over the years, Carrey’s career has been marked by numerous achievements and milestones. He earned accolades for his ability to switch seamlessly between comedy and drama, demonstrating a range of skills that set him apart from his peers. Films like “The Truman Show” showcased his ability to take on more serious roles while still retaining his comedic roots. His participation in various projects established him as a versatile actor capable of taking on diverse characters.
Personal Life
Throughout his life, Jim Carrey’s personal experiences and relationships have significantly influenced his work. He has been candid about his struggles with depression and the challenges of fame. His relationships, including high-profile romances, have been well-documented, contributing to the public’s interest in his life beyond the screen.
Philanthropy
Apart from his entertainment career, Carrey is also known for his philanthropic efforts. He has supported various charities and causes, showcasing his commitment to giving back to the community. His contributions extend beyond financial support, as he often uses his platform to raise awareness on important issues.
According to legend, Jim Carrey, who was extremely broke and depressed in 1985, drove his battered Toyota Camry into the Hollywood Hills. While overlooking Los Angeles, he wrote himself a check for $10 million “for acting services rendered,” which he post-dated for ten years and kept in his wallet. Spoiler alert – within that decade, his dream was realized. After his father’s death in 1994, Jim placed the check into his father’s casket.
Success
The first taste of stardom for Carrey arrived in 1990 with the Wayans brothers’ sketch comedy show, “In Living Color.” It was on this show he captivated audiences with memorable characters, such as the accident-prone Fire Marshal Bill. Carrey remained part of In Living Color until its conclusion in 1995, just as his major movie debut, “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective,” was released in theaters. The film was a phenomenal success, making him widely recognized almost overnight. In the same year, he also starred in “The Mask” and “Dumb and Dumber,” both of which achieved box-office success. For his next project, “The Cable Guy,” he commanded a record salary of $20 million.
Among Carrey’s other significant comedic projects are “Liar, Liar,” “Bruce Almighty,” “Me, Myself, and Irene,” and “Yes Man.” He has also taken on roles in various dramas and dramedies such as “The Truman Show,” “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” “The Majestic,” “Man on the Moon,” and the thriller “The Number 23.” More recently, Carrey portrayed Dr. Robotnik in “Sonic the Hedgehog” (2020) and its sequel “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” (2022), with the latter achieving the best opening of his career at a $72 million US box office weekend.
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Salary Highlights
Carrey’s initial major paycheck originated from In Living Color, where he earned $25,000 per episode, totaling around $3.2 million from its 127 episodes. Adjusted for inflation, that amount equates to approximately $6 million today.
In 1994, for the first Ace Ventura film, Carrey was paid $350,000. Following the film’s impressive $100 million earnings from a $15 million budget, he was swiftly paid $15 million for the sequel, released in 1996. That same year, Carrey earned $540,000 for “The Mask,” which grossed $350 million, and he received $7 million for “Dumb & Dumber.”
With 1996’s “The Cable Guy,” Jim accomplished the historic feat of becoming the first actor to surpass the $20 million base salary mark, which constituted nearly half of the film’s total budget. To give you an idea, earning $20 million in the mid-’90s is roughly equivalent to earning about $34 million per film today.
Following that, Jim continued to earn a $20 million base salary for several movies, including:
- The Cable Guy
- Batman Forever
- Liar Liar
- Me, Myself & Irene
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas
- Yes Man
For “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” Carrey was also entitled to a portion of merchandise sales. In “Yes Man,” he secured 36.2% of the profits, culminating in a total payday of $35 million, which ranks among the 30 largest paychecks in film history.
Between 1994 and 2008, Jim amassed $200 million solely from his salaries.
And bonuses. Over the following decade, he accumulated at least another $100 million. As of now, his total earnings from film salary have likely surpassed $300 million.
(Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for AFI)
Personal Life
Having been married twice, Jim Carrey’s first marriage was with Melissa Womer from 1987 to 1995, with whom he shares a daughter named Jane Erin Carrey, who appeared on American Idol in 2012. In 1996, he wed his Dumb & Dumber co-star Lauren Holly, but the marriage ended in less than a year. Between 2005 and 2010, he was in a relationship with model/actress Jenny McCarthy. Jim was also involved with makeup artist Cathriona White from 2012 until her tragic passing from a drug overdose in 2015. In 2019, he briefly dated Ginger Gonzaga for less than a year.
Awards
Throughout his career, Jim has been the recipient of more than 40 major awards, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture for The Truman Show in 1999, as well as for Man on the Moon in 2000. Additionally, he was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2006 for Best Spoken Word Album for Children, and in 2013, he secured the Gelett Burgess Children’s Book Award for his children’s book, “How Roland Rolls.”
Brentwood Estate
Jim possesses several homes across the United States, with his primary residence being an expansive compound in Brentwood, Los Angeles. He acquired the initial property in 1994 for $3.8 million (equivalent to about $6.6 million today) and added an adjacent one-acre lot in 2000 for $1.7 million. The estate now features a substantial guest house, a swimming pool, and a tennis court. Enclosed by around 300 feet of fencing and hedges, the two-acre compound boasts 13,000 square feet of living space. In February 2023, Jim placed his Brentwood estate on the market for $28.9 million.
Other Properties:
In 2002, he purchased a beachfront mansion in Malibu for $9.75 million, which he listed for sale in 2011 at $18 million, ultimately selling it in 2013 for $13.4 million.
Additionally, Jim owns an apartment in New York City.
