American comedian, television personality and actress Ellen Lee DeGeneres was born in Metairie, Louisiana, on 26 January 1958. She is best known from hosting her widely syndicated TV talk show – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” – since 2003, and previously for starring in the popular sitcom “Ellen” during the 1990s.
So just how rich is Ellen DeGeneres, as of early 2017? Authoritative sources estimate that Ellen’s net worth is almost $400 million, the main source being her talk show which is reputed to bring in $65 million yearly, contributing significantly to the $85 million dollars total she makes each year. Assets include her Californian estate valued at $30 million.
Ellen DeGeneres Net Worth $400 Million
When Ellen was thirteen years old her parents divorced and she went to Texas with her mother, where she attended Atlanta High School, but after matriculation enrolled at the University of New Orleans. However, in need of money Ellen took various jobs, working as a waitress and bartender, in a supermarket, performing clerical work and painting houses. In odd moments she would moonlight at clubs of comedy in New Orleans.
When Ellen DeGeneres was 20 years old, she started her professional career, travelling around the US and playing to audiences wherever she was welcome, eventually becoming MC at Clyde’s Comedy Club in New Orleans, so successfully that “Showtime” named Ellen as America’s Funniest Person in 1982. Later in the ‘80s she starred in the film “Coneheads”, and then in a series of films for the show called “Ellen’s Energy Adventure”. She began making appearances in “The Tonight Show”, impressing producers so that the situation comedy named “Ellen” was launched on ABC TV in 1994, and lasted for five seasons and 109 episodes in total. In February of 1997 the show’s ratings rose to the top, apparently because Ellen’s personage turned out to be homosexual, and shortly afterwards, Ellen appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and ‘outed’ herself, obviously to widespread approval from audiences. Her net worth was certainly boosted.
The next significant step in Ellen DeGeneres’ career was the creation of the daytime “Ellen DeGeneres Show”, which debuted in September 2003. This syndicated talk show scored very high ratings after only a few episodes, and was so successful that after its premier season it was rewarded as the Best Talk Show, and nominated for eleven Daytime Emmy Awards. This show still goes to air, projected to at least 2020, and has won over 40 Daytime Emmy Awards. Nowadays it is acknowledged to be the most watchable talk show on daytime television, averaging audiences of over four million daily.
Additionally, Ellen DeGeneres was a judge in a popular reality TV show “American Idol”, but only in the ninth season. She has also hosted the Academy Awards in 2007 and 2014, Grammy Awards in 1996 and ’97, and Emmy Awards in 2001 and 2005.
In her personal life, Ellen DeGeneres has been openly gay for many years, and since 2004 has been in a relationship with actress Portia De Rossi. When same-sex marriage was legalized in California, Ellen and Portia married in 2008 on Ellen’s California estate.. She was previously partners with Anne Heche from 1997 to 2000, and Alexandra Hedison from 2001 to 2004. Ellen is a strong advocate for LGBT rights, AIDS awareness, and animal rights – being a former vegan.
