Key Takeaways:
– Larry David recently dismissed queries regarding his net worth on Chris Wallace’s show.
– Despite estimations putting his net worth at $400 million, David labeled such figures as ‘ridiculous.’
– Co-creator of Seinfeld, Jerry Seinfeld, is reported to have a net worth double that of David’s.
– David and Seinfeld have reportedly earned over $800 million from Seinfeld TV show royalties, DVD sales, and merchandise over the years.
In an interview that centered more on finances than television production, Larry David, one of Hollywood’s wealthiest producers, was pressurized by show host Chris Wallace to discuss his net worth. The ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ star, however, responded with a familiar acerbity, calling these queries ‘none of your f**king business.’
Debate Over David’s Wealth
The discussion occurred on ‘Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace,’ where Wallace questioned David about his wealth, indicating reports that place it around the half a billion-dollar mark. The number did not seem outlandish given that Jerry Seinfeld, David’s partner in creating the iconic ‘Seinfeld’ series, has reportedly attained billionaire status according to Bloomberg.
However, David appeared visibly irked by Wallace’s insistence and effectively shut down the conversation by branding the net worth estimations as ‘preposterous.’ Despite Wallace maintaining his questioning line, David recommended, in no uncertain terms, that the host ‘shut up.’
A Continuing Engagement Over Wealth
Wallace then attempted to bring down the figures, asking David if his net worth was anywhere around $100 million. David again responded candidly, urging Wallace to keep quiet. Such a confrontational exchange seems to have been a career-first for the observant Wallace.
Celebrity Net Worth, a website that studies the wealth of famous personalities, estimates Larry David’s net worth in 2024 at $400 million, a figure that has been consistent for several years. According to reports, both David and Seinfeld have collectively made in excess of $800 million from the ‘Seinfeld’ series through salaries, merchandise, DVD sales, and syndication deals.
The Show that Made the Millions
‘Seinfeld’ first went into syndication in 1998 under a deal that netted $1.7 billion in revenue, providing both David and Seinfeld with a $250 million pre-tax windfall. David further pocketed a total of $110 million from Hulu’s acquisition of Seinfeld’s streaming rights, with an additional $30 million packaged for both David and Seinfeld.
Furthermore, the sale of the sitcom to Netflix for $500 million in September 2019 saw each of the duo receive another $75 million. Seinfeld is said to have garnered more than $4 billion in syndication revenue over decades, with the comedian reportedly pulling in an annual average of $40-50 million from syndication alone.
David’s Stance on His Net Worth
Despite consistent speculation surrounding his wealth, David has remained adamant about dismissing such claims as baseless. Previously during a CBS interview, he admitted to earning a substantial amount of money from ‘Seinfeld.’ However, he also shared that his 2007 divorce from ex-wife, Laurie David, cost him roughly half of his fortune.
This was reiterated during a 2011 chat with Rolling Stone, where David stated that the reality of his wealth was far from speculative estimates, particularly considering that his ex-spouse received a sizable share of his assets during their divorce proceedings. Despite such realities, the public and media fascination with his earnings from Seinfeld, according to David, is absurd.
Without a doubt, Larry David’s income will continue to be a topic of discussion for many, while the TV producer himself seems content focusing on his comedic craft rather than financial rankings. His work on ‘Seinfeld’ and ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ continues to reach audiences globally, with both shows available for streaming on Netflix and Max.
