Making money in the entertainment business can come in a number of ways, but only the top names around can really cash in. It can take years to work your way up to these checks, but the grind is worth it when you finally get there. Comedians are notorious for making little money early on, but names like Joe Rogan are able to make bank down the line.
Dave Chappelle is one of the greatest comics in history who can also lay claim to having one of the funniest shows that most have ever seen. Dave has had an interesting career in the business, and in recent years, he has made a sizable comeback and has even turned heads with the money he has been pulling down.
Let’s take a look at how Dave Chappelle secured a $60 million Netflix deal!
Chappelle Became A Star And Stepped Away From The Limelight
Stand-up comedy is a tough business, but making some headway as a featured performer can open up some incredible opportunities in projects that can do wonders for exposure. Back in the day, Dave Chappelle was a blossoming comedy star who was landing roles on the big and small screen that boosted his mainstream appeal.
Earlier on, Chappelle was getting smaller roles in projects like Robin Hood: Men in Tights, The Nutty Professor, Con Air, and Blue Streak, and it was apparent that it would only be a matter of time before he was going to get a starring vehicle. Sure, Half Baked didn’t pan out, but Chappelle simply had too much potential to ignore.
In 2003, Chappelle’s Show made its debut on the small screen, and this would be the project that would make Dave a household name. The show was a massive hit that was filled with memorable skits and quotable lines. It seemed like everyone was tuning into the show, and just when it seemed like things couldn’t be better, Dave walked away from it all in one of the most shocking moves of all time.
While he did release Dave Chappelle’s Block Party two years after Chappelle’s Show came to an end, it wasn’t quite the same. People couldn’t understand why Dave decided to hang it up, and what came next would be a huge reason why Chappelle would land a massive contract.
It Had Been More Than A Decade Since His Last Special
Absence is said to make the heart grow fonder, and this seems to apply to Dave Chappelle and how things played out for him after he decided to tone things down and live a simpler live. Simply put, people missed seeing Dave on stage and on the small screen and they would be guaranteed to tune in upon his return.
Not only had Chappelle taken an extended break from the small screen and regular comedy shows, but it had gotten to the point where the performer had gone over a decade without releasing a proper comedy special. This was a huge blow to the fans, who were now listening to his old stuff and trying to find another comic who could come anywhere close to being as talented as Chappelle.
Eventually, Dave started performing on stage once again, and a considerable amount of buzz began about his return. Thanks to creating a successful career beforehand and by going a long time without a new special, Dave Chappelle created the perfect recipe to cash in and receive a monster check from Netflix.
It Surpassed Chris Rock’s $40 Million Netflix Deal
In 2016, it was reported that Dave Chappelle would be landing a whopping $60 million from Netflix, surpassing the staggering $40 million that Chris Rock had pulled down for his deal with the streaming platform.
The $60 million deal with Netflix was predicated on Dave Chappelle delivering three different stand-up comedy specials. This was music to the ears of his fans, who had waited years for the comedian to drop some new material. Naturally, once the specials dropped, people simply could not stop talking about the good and the bad that Chappelle brought to the stage.
Since making his comedy return, Chappelle has been willing to take part in other projects, keeping his name in the spotlight for some time now. Chappelle has appeared in projects like Chi-Raq, A Star Is Born, and he has even hosted Saturday Night Live several times in recent years. Staying seemingly busier than ever, we can only imagine how much money Chappelle will continue to bring in.
Dave Chappelle’s meteoric rise and subsequent absence built up a desire from the fans that Netflix was willing to pay a premium for.