The Ellen DeGeneres Show has been around for a minute. Until recently, Ellen DeGeneres was the face of daytime TV, and her brand was associated with kindness, owing to her signature phrase: "Be kind to one another.” Well, it turned out that kindness was not so much a part of Ellen’s behind-the-scenes work environment, as it was what the audience could see. Former employees came out guns ablaze, with claims of racism and intimidation. "That ‘be kind’ bull**** only happens when the cameras are on. It’s all for the show,” a former employee told BuzzFeed news.
In May 2021, Ellen revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that the 19th season of The Ellen DeGeneres Show will be her last. The show’s end hasn’t been attributed to the toxic work environment, but to Ellen’s own ‘need to be challenged'. In light of negative publicity, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show’s sign-off, what does this mean for Ellen’s personal net worth? Let’s find out:
10 Income From 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show'
According to research firm Kantar, the previous season’s advertising revenue from its premier in September through January stood at $131 million. The show is estimated, prior to the allegations, to have steadily brought in $35 million annually for its distributor, Warner Media. Ellen’s deal gives her more than half of the show’s profits, according to Forbes. A drop in ad revenue, as cited by Kantar, means an automatic drop in Ellen’s personal net worth.
9 A Decline In 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show 'Viewership
In March of 2021, The New York Times reported that Ellen lost one million viewers, following controversies surrounding her show. The decline saw the show record a 43% drop more than its competitors. According to the New York Times, it was no longer playing in the same Arena with Dr. Phil, and Live: With Kelly and Ryan. The show currently averages 1.5 million views, as opposed to its previous 2.6 million views. The show’s decline in viewership means a drop in advertising revenue.
8 Being One Of The Highest-Earning Entertainers
In 2018, Ellen DeGeneres was Estimated to have earned a record $87.5 million, making her the 15th highest earning entertainer that year. In October of 2020, Forbes placed Ellen’s net worth at $370 million, a number that shot up from 2019’s $330 million. She was the 12th highest-earning celebrity that year, and position 59 on the list of self-made American women. If trends are anything to go by, then this year should see that number go up. Will it? Let’s see her options:
7 A Massive Social Media Following
In 2015, Ellen was declared one of the most powerful people in the world, with 76 million followers on Twitter and 55.8 million followers on Instagram. The numbers collectively made her the seventh most followed tweep, and the 28th most followed person on Instagram. In spite of controversies surrounding her show, those numbers have risen wholesomely into the hundreds of millions. To put it into perspective, Ellen has amassed a global following such that, without the show, she has enough numbers to make a living as an influential figure, based on social media alone.
6 Producing Other Shows
Not all of Ellen’s work is on camera. She may be the face of her show but behind the scenes, she knows how to get herself busy. According to Forbes, Ellen makes eight figures every year, producing shows such as Ellen’s Game of Games, Ellen’s Next Great Designer, The Masked Dancer, and Little Big Shots. Ellen’s work as a producer doesn’t necessarily require her to be the face of the show.
5 A Stand-Up Comeback?
It’s not easy to forget where it all started for Ellen; Stand-Up. Perhaps the end of the show is her cue to go back to where it all began. In 2018, she was the first female comedian to command a $20 million cheque from Netflix for the special Ellen DeGeneres: Relatable. We highly doubt whether she’d command the same figure, given the controversies, but it’s worth the try. She still has the numbers, maybe not on her show, but she’s doing just fine as far as social media is concerned.
4 Business Ventures Outside Of Showbiz
In 2019, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi invested in Miyoko’s. The couple was thrilled by the investment since the brand was an integral part of their day-to-day lives. They went from being customers to investors, and called the company 'special.' Similarly, through a partnership with Walmart, Ellen released ED by Ellen and EV1. The products have since been included at Macy’s, Bed, Bath & Beyond, PetSmart, and Nordstrom. The numbers may fluctuate, but they're still a worthy source of income.
3 Royalties; Every Creative’s Holy Grail
The beauty of being creative is that, even when one has since stopped doing the work, the cheques just won’t stop rolling. Ask the cast of Friends. Ellen is not exempted from this rule. Should she decide to do nothing for the next year or so, she’d still be able to make a solid living. Ellen has authored books that continue to be sold all year round. With royalties from sales, it’s clear that her pockets will never run dry.
2 Investment In Real Estate
Although Ellen DeGeneres has stated in the past that her purpose for buying real estate is not to flip properties, she might as well consider it if everything else does not work. Ellen has bought and sold homes in the past that include The Brody House in Holmby Hills, Skouras Residence in Beverly Hills, and a beach house in Malibu. In 2019, Ellen purchased Adam Levine’s Beverly Hills mansion for a reported 42.5 million.
1 A Solid Money-Making Network
With all the years Ellen has amassed in the entertainment industry, it’s highly unlikely that she’ll be starving any time soon. There’s something that has to be said about someone’s network being their net worth. Ellen sure has that money-making network that includes high-profile executives, celebrities, and big-time politicians. She will continue to get work based on those relationships alone, either behind the scenes or in front of the camera.