Jim Carrey Net Worth (Money & Salary)
to various reports, Jim Carrey’s dream of financial success became a reality when he secured a massive deal for his role in “The Cable Guy.” His salary for this movie marked a significant milestone in his career, as it made him the highest-paid actor at that time. Following the success of this film, Carrey continued to negotiate impressive salaries for his projects, further solidifying his position in Hollywood. He frequently commanded upwards of $20 million per film, and his ventures into other areas, such as producing and voice acting, only contributed to his wealth. His career took on a whole new dimension as he ventured into more dramatic roles, showcasing his versatility and broadening his audience base.
Personal Life
Throughout his illustrious career, Jim Carrey has experienced both remarkable triumphs and personal challenges. He was previously married twice, first to Melissa Womer and later to Lauren Holly. His relationships have frequently been a topic of public interest and scrutiny. Beyond the glitzy Hollywood lifestyle, Carrey has been open about his struggles with mental health, discussing his battles with depression and the importance of authenticity in his life. His commitment to his craft and his willingness to be vulnerable have resonated with many fans, making him not just a comedic icon but also a relatable figure in the entertainment industry.
In recent years, Carrey has also focused on his passions outside of acting, including painting and philanthropy, reinforcing his belief in exploring all facets of his creativity.
According to legend, in 1985, a deeply depressed and financially struggling Jim Carrey drove his worn-out Toyota Camry into the Hollywood Hills. While looking over Los Angeles, Jim wrote himself a check for $10 million “for acting services rendered,” dating it for ten years in the future, and kept it in his wallet. Spoiler alert: he achieved his dream within that decade. After his father’s passing in 1994, Jim placed the check in his father’s casket.
Success
Jim Carrey’s rise to fame began in 1990 with the Wayans brothers’ sketch comedy show “In Living Color.” During his time on the show, he captivated audiences with characters such as the clumsy and masochistic Fire Marshal Bill. He remained a part of In Living Color until its end in 1995, but just before its cancellation, his feature film debut, “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective,” premiered in theaters. This movie became an instant hit, making him a household name almost overnight. That same year, he starred in both “The Mask” and “Dumb and Dumber,” which were also major box-office successes. For his next film, “The Cable Guy,” Jim earned a record-breaking $20 million in salary.
Among Carrey’s other significant comedic films are “Liar, Liar,” “Bruce Almighty,” “Me, Myself, and Irene,” and “Yes Man.” He has also performed in various dramas and dramedies, including “The Truman Show,” “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” “The Majestic,” “Man on the Moon,” and the thriller “The Number 23.” Recently, Jim Carrey took on the role of Dr. Robotnik in “Sonic the Hedgehog” (2020) and “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” (2022). The latter delivered Carrey the best opening weekend of his career with an impressive $72 million US box office debut.
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Salary Highlights
Jim’s initial significant paycheck was from In Living Color, where he made $25,000 per episode, totaling approximately $3.2 million from the show’s 127 episodes. This amount is roughly equivalent to $6 million today.
In 1994, Jim received $350,000 for his role in the first Ace Ventura movie. When the film grossed $100 million against its $15 million budget, he was soon compensated with $15 million for its sequel, released in 1996. For “The Mask,” Jim earned $540,000, which went on to accumulate $350 million in earnings. Additionally, he was paid $7 million for his part in “Dumb & Dumber.”
Notably, Jim became the first actor ever to surpass the coveted $20 million base salary threshold, which he achieved with 1996’s “The Cable Guy.” His $20 million salary constituted nearly half of the film’s total budget. For reference, earning $20 million in the mid-1990s is comparable to earning approximately $34 million per film today.
Jim subsequently earned a base salary of $20 million for several movies, including:
- The Cable Guy
- Batman Forever
- Liar Liar
- Me, Myself & Irene
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas
- Yes Man
For “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” Jim was also entitled to a share of merchandise sales. In the case of “Yes Man,” he obtained 36.2% of the profits, bringing his total earnings to $35 million, marking it as one of the 30 largest paychecks in film history.
From 1994 to 2008 alone, Jim earned a whopping $200 million from salaries.
He earned at least another $100 million over the subsequent decade, bringing his total film salary to likely more than $300 million to date.
(Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for AFI)
Personal Life
Jim Carrey’s marital history includes two marriages. From 1987 to 1995, he was married to Melissa Womer, with whom he shares a daughter named Jane Erin Carrey, who participated in American Idol in 2012. In 1996, he wed Lauren Holly, his co-star from Dumb & Dumber, but this marriage lasted less than a year. Between 2005 and 2010, he was in a relationship with model/actress Jenny McCarthy. Following that, Jim dated makeup artist Cathriona White from 2012 until her tragic death in 2015 from a drug overdose. In 2019, he briefly dated Ginger Gonzaga for under a year.
Awards
Throughout his career, Jim Carrey has received over 40 significant awards, among them a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, awarded for The Truman Show in 1999 and for Man on the Moon in 2000. Additionally, he earned a Grammy Award nomination in 2006 for Best Spoken Word Album for Children. In 2013, he was honored with the Gelett Burgess Children’s Book Award for his children’s story, “How Roland Rolls.”
Brentwood Estate
Jim possesses several homes across the United States, with his main residence being a grand compound in Brentwood, Los Angeles. He acquired the first property of this compound in 1994 for $3.8 million, which is approximately equivalent to $6.6 million today. The following year, in 2000, he purchased the adjacent one-acre lot for $1.7 million. Presently, the compound boasts a significant guest house, a swimming pool, and a tennis court, all secured by around 300 feet of fencing and hedges encompassing a two-acre area that includes 13,000 square feet of living space. He put his Brentwood estate on the market in February 2023 for an asking price of $28.9 million.
Other Properties:
In 2002, Jim acquired a beach house in Malibu for $9.75 million. He later listed this residence for $18 million in 2011 but ultimately sold it to a buyer in 2013 for $13.4 million.
Additionally, he owns an apartment located in New York City.