Late Night Legends Gather Before Stephen Colbert’s Final Show: Who’s the Richest Star Among Them? You’ll Be Surprised!
Stephen Colbert reunited with his fellow late-night giants Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, John Oliver, and Seth Meyers on Monday, sharing laughs and reminiscing as his final weeks on The Late Show draw near. The group, who previously teamed up for the limited-run Strike Force Five podcast during the 2023 WGA strike, came together once more to celebrate Colbert before his last episode airs on May 21.
While their camaraderie was on full display, one question lingered: who among these talk show titans truly sits on the throne of late-night wealth?:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(599x0:601x2)/The-Late-Show-with-Stephen-Colbert-and-guest-hosts-051126-8822f7f915614e18bf694d84ab12e79a.jpg)
Colbert, 62, has helmed The Late Show since 2015 after taking over from David Letterman, earning a reported net worth of $75 million thanks to multi-year contracts, book deals, Broadway performances, and voice work for animated shows like Monsters vs. Aliens and The Venture Bros. Post-retirement, he is set to co-write the upcoming Lord of the Rings adaptation with his son Peter McGee and screenwriter Philippa Boyens.
But it’s not Colbert who takes the top spot. John Oliver, the British comedian and Emmy-winning host of HBO’s Last Week Tonight, leads the pack with a net worth of $80 million. Oliver’s career began in the UK on radio and Mock the Week, before a breakthrough in the U.S. as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. His HBO show, launched in 2014, quickly became a sensation, blending investigative journalism with satire and racking up 30 Emmys from over 70 nominations.
Jimmy Fallon, 51, follows with $70 million, drawing from his early Saturday Night Live fame, films like Taxi and Fever Pitch, and hosting The Tonight Show since 2014. Fallon’s diversified work, including children’s books and musical collaborations, keeps him in the spotlight and steadily adds to his fortune.
Jimmy Kimmel, 58, comes in at $50 million, hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live! since 2003. A veteran of radio and Comedy Central, Kimmel’s career has included Emmy wins, controversies, and consistent relevance in entertainment.
Rounding out the group is Seth Meyers, 52, with a reported net worth of $25 million, thanks to his run on SNL, head writing for the show, and hosting NBC’s Late Night since 2014. Meyers has also penned stand-up specials and won a Writers Guild of America Award for his work.:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/The-Late-Show-with-Stephen-Colbert-Tom-Hanks-051326-1-7bce590c18914190b8b1704927501ec0.jpg)
Jon Stewart, who was absent from the reunion, would have taken the wealthiest title, boasting $120 million, with a legacy built through The Daily Show, books, film roles, and his production company Busboy Productions.
On Monday, the late-night hosts also teased a new Strike Force Five podcast episode, set to drop on Colbert’s 62nd birthday, with proceeds supporting the World Central Kitchen charity founded by Chef José Andrés.
As these late-night legends gathered to honor a career and legacy, the reunion showcased not only friendship and laughs but also the staggering success and influence these hosts have wielded over decades of television.