When it comes to reality television, there is one show that will forever stand out as being one of the wildest and most stupidly dangerous shows on television, MTV's Jackass. The show aired between the years 2000 to 2002 before the cast got their very own film in 2002. The franchise, which stars big names such as Johnny Knoxville and Steve-O, has since made several other films, including the latest release Jackass Forever.
Whether you were a fan of the cast's hilarious friendships, cringe-worthy stunts, or vomit-inducing scenes, there is no denying the shock value that Jackass presented to viewers. While things aren't as wild as they once were, the cast still does not hold back when it comes to their stunts. With a line of work requiring a tough stomach, mind, and body, fans continue to wonder which of the cast has raked in the most money.
Updated on March 22, 2022: Jackass Forever was released in theaters in early 2022, and it grossed $79.2 million off of a $10 million budget. It's safe to presume that all the cast members involved, especially star and producer Johnny Knoxville, earned quite a hefty salary for the film. All of the original cast returned for the film except for Ryan Dunn, who sadly passed away in 2011.
Jackass Forever also introduced several new cast members, who will perhaps continue to work on the franchise as the original members start to retire. Johnny Knoxville, the richest and most successful cast member from Jackass, has already announced that Jackass Forever was his last performance in the franchise.
The Richest 'Jackass' Cast Member Is Johnny Knoxville Himself
Jackass first began on MTV back in October 2000 and was written by none other than series star Johnny Knoxville. The show starred a number of familiar names such as Steve-O, Bam Margera, Jason Acuña, Chris Pontius, and the late Ryan Dunn. The first two seasons of the show were a hit, leading the cast to produce their very own film in 2002. While the show's insane stunts and dangerous scenes are what attract viewers to watch, it is the hilarious commentary that ensues that really has us all sticking around for good.
While the show was made up of an ensemble cast, there is one cast member who raked in the most from the show, and that is Johnny Knoxville himself. The actor not only created the show but got involved in some of the most pain-inducing stunts there is. The actor has managed to amass a net worth of $75 million, all thanks to the show and its 4 successful films, which include Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa and Jackass 3D.
While Johnny Knoxville clearly made the most, a large chunk of his salary came from being a creator of the show, rather than a series regular. Despite Knoxville being worth the most, the show paid quite well when it came to the others too. For instance, Steve-O, who has given fans some of the most iconic material from the franchise thus far, is sitting comfortably on his $2.5 million net worth.
Although this may sound like a good amount of money, reports claim that some cast members, including Steve-O, have only made $500 for stunts, which isn't up to par with the danger level that comes with some of these wild moments. Despite not making much from the show itself, the films and side-projects that came about from the show are where most of the cast made their money.