The 10 acts in Forbes annual list of the top-earning comedians collectively raked in $165 million between June 1, 2009, and June 1, 2010. To make the cut, the comics had to count stand-up as their primary income, thats why you dont see someone like Jerry Seinfeld or Tina Fey or Steve Carrell on this list. According to Forbes Seinfeld stacked about $75m over the last year from reruns of one of the greatest shows of all time, Seinfeld. Others like David Letterman, Jay Leno and Conan obviously made a lot of jack too, but they earn most of their money from Late Night Hosting gigs and producing.
Take a look at the list after the jump….
No. 1: Jeff Dunham
$22.5 million
Pollstar named the Texas-bred ventriloquist North America’s top touring comic for the second year in a row. This summer he was in Dinner for Schmucks.
No. 2: Dane Cook
$21 million
Cook continues to rake in bank on the road with his Isolated Incident Global Thermo Comedy Tour.
No. 3: Terry Fator
$20 million
Season-two winner of NBC’s America’s Got Talent. “The million-dollar voice” and “the human jukebox” last year started a five-year stint at Mirage Hotel in Vegas that he is reportedly making $100m
No. 4: Chelsea Handler
$19 million
The host of Chelsea Lately was on the road this year to promote her third book, Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang which debuted at No. 1 on The New York Times bestseller list. She has her own production company, Borderline Amazing Productions, and recently signed a $4 million contract for two books to be published next year.
No. 5: George Lopez
$18 million
No. 6: Larry the Cable Guy
$16.5 million
Up next, a History Channel show in which he will be “immersing himself in different lifestyles, jobs and hobbies.”
No. 7: Russell Peters
$15 million
The Indian-American comic relies on revenue from his global stand-up gigs, which regularly break ticket sales records. The Atlantic recently labeled him “one of the greatest comic phenomena of the Internet era.”
No. 8 (tie): Jeff Foxworthy
$11 million
Over the course of his career, the multiple Grammy Award nominee has published more than 26 books, sold 15 million-plus records (combined albums and singles) and released one of the top-selling greeting card lines in Wal-Mart’s corporate history.
No. 8 (tie): Howie Mandel
$11 million
Deal or No Deal
No. 10: Bill Engvall
$10.5 million
Ever since lining up with the Blue Collar Comedy brand, Engvall has been collecting on average about $100,000 per gig out on the road.
