Ricky Gervais' Net Worth: How He Built His $160 Million Fortune.

What is Ricky Gervais' net worth and salary?

Ricky Gervais is a British actor, comedian, writer, and filmmaker with a net worth of $160 million. He made most of his fortune as the creator of the TV series The Office, which kicked off as a limited British series in 2001. In 2005, it got an American makeover, running for 201 episodes across nine seasons.

The U.S. version of The Office has become one of the most profitable shows in syndication, raking in billions in royalties and fees. Because of this, Gervais keeps making tens of millions whenever the show gets renewed or sold to a new streaming service. On top of that, he also pulls in millions from his comedy tours and Netflix specials. Netflix has been known to shell out $20 million for just one of his standup specials, and his 2023 special "Armageddon" brought in over $30 million.

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Syndication Earnings

Gervais and his buddy Stephen Merchant raked in a ton of cash during The Office's original run, thanks to their roles as producers and creators. But the real jackpot for Ricky came from some seriously profitable syndication and licensing deals in the last few years. He holds at least 10% of the syndication equity points for The Office, meaning he pockets 10% of all the profits the show makes.

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So far, Ricky Gervais has easily made over $100 million before taxes from syndication sales.

In June 2019, Comcast's NBC shelled out $500 million for the rights to stream The Office starting in 2021. Before that, the show was airing on Viacom's networks like Comedy Central and had a long run on Netflix too.

Early Life

Ricky Dene Gervais was born on June 25, 1961, in Reading, England. His dad was a French-Canadian who returned to the UK, and Ricky grew up as the youngest of four kids. After finishing secondary school, he went on to study philosophy at University College London and graduated with a degree. During his time at university, he met Jane Fallon, and they've been together since 1982.

Early Career

After a failed attempt at becoming a pop star, Ricky Gervais started his entertainment career in radio. While acting as head of speech at XFM, he met with Stephen Merchant, who he later hired as an assistant. The two would later go on to create The Office. Ricky Gervais began his television career writing sketches for the British comedy show The Sketch Show, later appearing as an intentionally offensive and politically incorrect host on The 11 O'Clock Show. He also starred in a comedy show called Meet Ricky Gervais, although it wasn't very successful.

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Breakthrough With The Office

In 1999, Stephen Merchant whipped up a seven-minute short film as part of his film production studies. This short introduced David Brent, a character that Ricky Gervais would later play in The Office. The film caught the attention of some bigwigs at the BBC, who asked Gervais and Merchant for a pilot script. They delivered, and the BBC gave the show the thumbs up.

At first, The Office didn’t make much of a splash. It kicked off with just six episodes, and not many viewers tuned in. But as people started talking about it, DVD sales took off. Before long, it was clear that fans wanted more, and the BBC greenlit a second season, much to everyone’s delight.

By 2003, Gervais and Merchant were hailed as comedy geniuses thanks to the success of that second season. After The Office took off in the UK, it was adapted for American audiences, with Gervais and Merchant on board as producers. The show also got remade in several other countries, including Brazil, Sweden, and France. Gervais later mentioned that the acclaim he received for The Office helped him break into the American entertainment scene in the following years.

After The Office

Once The Office hit it big, Ricky Gervais jumped into a bunch of other TV projects. His first was Extras, where celebs played funny versions of themselves on made-up movie sets. In 2010, he launched his own show, The Ricky Gervais Show. He also helped create other series like Derek, Life's Too Short, An Idiot Abroad, and After Life. An Idiot Abroad was a reality show featuring Ricky's old radio producer, Karl Pilkington, who was humorously dubbed the "idiot" for his dislike of traveling beyond England.

Stand-Up Comedy

Ricky Gervais has been rocking the stand-up scene since the '90s. His comedy career really took off after The Office became a hit, and he's been touring with his act ever since. Netflix has aired his comedy specials multiple times, showcasing his unique style.

Film

Ricky Gervais has taken on several notable film roles throughout his career. In 2005, he lent his voice to "Bugsy" in the animated flick Valiant. One of his standout performances came in 2006's Night at the Museum, where he portrayed a museum director, a role he reprised in the sequels. Over the following years, Gervais appeared in films like Ghost Town, The Invention of Lying, and Special Correspondents. He also voiced a character in the 2022 animated movie Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank.

As of now, Ricky has snagged seven BAFTA Awards, two Emmy Awards, a Screen Actors Guild award, and three Golden Globe Awards, and he’s hosted the Golden Globes five times.

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Netflix

In 2018, Netflix reportedly shelled out $20 million for one of Ricky's standup specials. They had also bought his special "Humanity" for the same amount. Between June 2017 and June 2018, he raked in $25 million from various projects, making him one of the top five highest-paid comedians globally. He’s still dropping specials on the platform.

Personal Life & Real Estate

On the personal front, Ricky Gervais and his partner, Jane Fallon, have opted out of marriage and kids. He’s heavily involved in charity work, especially for animal rights. In 2015, it was reported that he planned to leave his entire fortune to animal rights organizations. He’s a strong opponent of hunting, poaching, and illegal animal trade. Thanks to his advocacy, he’s received multiple awards and recognition from groups like PETA. Additionally, Gervais identifies as a staunch atheist and supports same-sex marriage.

In 2006, the couple bought a London home for about $6.5 million, which they put on the market in 2015 for $11.8 million. In 2016, they moved into a new place for just under $16 million and also own a $3.75 million apartment in the Barbizon 63 building in Manhattan.

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Ricky Gervais' impressive net worth of $160 million is a testament to his talent, hard work, and versatility across multiple entertainment sectors. From creating the iconic "The Office" to delivering standout stand-up specials on Netflix, Gervais has carved a unique niche in comedy, television, and film.

His success continues to grow as he maintains a loyal fan base while exploring new creative ventures. Beyond his wealth, Gervais’ advocacy for animal rights and his commitment to charity reflect his deep sense of responsibility. With continued projects and groundbreaking content, his influence in the entertainment industry remains strong and inspiring.