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What is Bill Cosby’s net worth?
Bill Cosby, an American comedian, television star, and producer, is best known for creating and starring on “The Cosby Show.” As of this writing, his net worth is $400 million.
During the peak of the show, Cosby was the highest-paid television actor in the world, earning $4 million per episode. He also owned 20% of the show’s equity, which generated hundreds of millions in syndication royalties over the years. Cosby used his royalties to invest in real estate and art, which could be worth over $250 million combined.
However, his net worth may be impacted by his legal troubles. Cosby reportedly spent millions on legal defenses and could be liable for millions in future damages.
Early Life and Education
Bill Cosby was born on July 12, 1937 in Philadelphia. He attended Germantown High School but failed out of tenth grade. In 1956, Cosby left school at the age of 15 to join the Navy. Cosby did eventually earn his diploma and went on to earn a doctorate in Education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Cosby was class president at Mary Channing Wister Public School in Philadelphia where he was known for his reputation as the class clown. He worked in physical therapy with Navy and Marine Corps who had been injured during the Korean War. He also bar-tended at clubs and made big tips off those he made laugh. He then focused his efforts on the stage.
Bill Cosby’s Stand-Up and Comedy Albums
Bill Cosby began his stand-up career in clubs in Philadelphia and New York City in 1961 before touring around the country. He gained national exposure on The Tonight Show in 1963, leading to a series of successful comedy albums in the 1960s and winning seven Grammy Awards for Best Comedy Performance between 1965 and 1987. His debut LP, Bill Cosby Is a Very Funny Fellow…Right!, was released in 1964, and his album To Russell, My Brother, Whom I Slept With was named number one on Spin magazine’s list of the 40 Greatest Comedy Albums of All Time. Cosby’s stand-up success also led to television roles on The Dick Van Dyke Show and the action series I Spy, for which he won three consecutive Emmy Awards.
Bill Cosby’s Early Television Career
Before The Cosby Show, Bill Cosby pursued various television projects such as hosting and guest-hosting The Tonight Show and starring in The Bill Cosby Show, a ratings hit but only a modest critical success. Cosby created, hosted, and produced the successful animated Saturday morning cartoon, Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, based on his own childhood, from 1972-1979.
Bill Cosby’s Successful Sitcom: The Cosby Show
In the 1980s, Bill Cosby created and starred in the highly successful sitcom, The Cosby Show. He had significant creative control and was involved in every aspect of the production. The show’s plots were often based on Cosby’s real-life family experiences, and the main characters, Cliff and Clair Huxtable, were similar to Cosby and his wife, as they were college-educated and financially successful. The Cosby Show ran from 1984 to 1992 and remained at the top of the Nielsen ratings for five consecutive seasons, making it one of the most successful sitcoms of all time.
Bill Cosby’s Career Highlights
Bill Cosby’s second sitcom, Cosby, aired from 1996 to 2000. During this time, he also returned to his stand-up roots, hosting programs such as Kids Say the Darndest Things and several game shows. He became a popular spokesman, representing brands including Jell-O, Kodak, Ford, and Coca-Cola. In November 2013, he performed Far From Finished, his first stand-up special in over 30 years, on Comedy Central. He toured with the show and performed his last one in Atlanta, Georgia, in May 2015. Cosby’s last known stand-up performance was in Philadelphia on January 23, 2018.
Bill Cosby Cancels Comeback Plans
Following his release from prison in 2021, Bill Cosby had planned a potential comedy tour spanning the United States, Canada, and London. He had also been working on a five-part docuseries and a book about his legacy and time in prison. Cosby’s team had contacted numerous promoters and clubs in an attempt to make these plans a reality. However, in September of that same year, Cosby canceled these comeback plans for the time being.
Bill Cosby’s Personal Life
Bill Cosby has been married to his wife Camille since 1964 and together they have five children. Sadly, their son Ennis was murdered in an attempted robbery in January 1997 while changing a flat tire on the side of the interstate. Their daughter Ensa died of renal disease while awaiting a kidney transplant in February 2018. In 2016, Cosby’s attorneys revealed that he is now legally blind. The couple has three grandchildren and in 2021, they moved back to their home in Shelbourne, Massachusetts, leaving their home in Elkings, Pennsylvania behind.
Bill Cosby’s Sexual Assault Conviction and Release
In 2018, Bill Cosby was found guilty of three counts of aggravated sexual assault and sentenced to three to ten years in a Pennsylvania state prison. Cosby had been accused by numerous women of rape, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, and sexual battery. However, most of the alleged acts fell outside of statutes of limitations for legal proceedings. Cosby denied the allegations, claiming that all incidents were consensual.
The accusations against Cosby led to the severance of ties with the comedian by almost everyone associated with the Cosby brand. Reruns of The Cosby Show and other shows featuring Bill were also pulled from syndication. In 2015, Cosby was the subject of eight civil suits, which later rose to 33.
In December 2019, Cosby lost an appeal to overturn his conviction. However, in June 2021, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania vacated the conviction due to violations of Cosby’s 5th Amendment and 14th Amendment due process rights. Cosby was subsequently released from prison.
The legal issues surrounding the allegations against Bill Cosby have continued to follow him, and the controversy surrounding the case remains a topic of public discussion.
Bill Cosby’s Massive Net Worth
Bill Cosby was one of the highest-earning celebrities before he even created The Cosby Show. In 1968, he turned down a five-year $3.5 million contract to launch his own production company. He went on to create his own comedy albums and TV shows, including Fat Albert and The Bill Cosby Show.
The Cosby Show, which ran from 1984 to 1992, turned Bill into one of the wealthiest people in the entertainment industry. At the peak of the show, he was earning $4 million per episode. The show has generated over $1.5 billion from syndication, earning Bill at least $300 million as the owner of 20% of the show’s profits.
Bill has earned tens of millions more from endorsements, movie appearances, live comedy shows, and other TV series. His 2014 comedy tour grossed $11 million over 100 shows.
Bill Cosby’s Real Estate Portfolio Worth Over $100 Million
Bill Cosby’s real estate portfolio is worth over $100 million, with large properties in Pennsylvania and Beverly Hills. His Beverly Hills estate, with comparable recent sales, could be worth as much as $60 million, potentially closer to $80 million.
In 2018, Cosby was reported to be selling off tens of millions of dollars worth of real estate in Los Angeles following years of legal troubles. He listed two commercial properties in downtown Santa Monica for a combined $26 million.
Bill and Camille Cosby’s Art Collection
Bill and Camille Cosby’s art collection is considered to be the most significant in the hands of an African American family. The collection includes pieces by renowned artists such as Thomas Hart Benton, Rembrandt, Renoir, Picasso, and Matisse. Bill started acquiring pieces in the 1960s and today the collection is estimated to be worth over $150 million.
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