Christopher Julius Rock III is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and filmmaker. Rock rose to prominence as a stand-up comedian who addressed race relations, human sexuality, and observational humor with his edgy humor and quick wit. In addition to his work in film, television, and the stage, for which he has received numerous honors, including three Grammy Awards for best comedy album, four Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Golden Globe Award nomination, he is also well-known for his contributions to the world of music. He was ranked fifth on Comedy Central’s list of the 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time. He was ranked fifth on Rolling Stone’s list of the 50 Greatest Stand-Up Comedians of All Time. (1)
Facts About Chris Rock
| Nationality | American |
| Estimate Net Worth | $60 million |
| Religion | NA |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
| Birthplace | Andrews, South Carolina |
| Birthday | February 7, 1965 |
Chris Rock’s Appearance (Height, Hair, Eyes & More)
| Height | 178 cm |
| Weight | 78 kg |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Body Type | Slim |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
Chris Rock’s Net Worth
Have you struck comic gold? Chris Rock’s net worth skyrocketed following his Netflix deal. The long-running comic released the first-ever live comedy special on the streaming platform, and his two specials grossed a lot of money. Rock’s net worth is estimated at around $60 million in 2023. (2)
Chris Rock’s Personal Life
On November 23, 1996, Chris Rock tied the knot with Malaak Compton. In 2002, the couple welcomed daughter Lola Simone, and in 2004, they welcomed daughter Zahra Savannah. The couple lived in Alpine, New Jersey, with their two daughters. Rock filed for divorce from Compton in 2014, admitting to infidelity and porn addiction. On August 22, 2016, their divorce was finalized.
Chris Rock’s Early Life
Rock grew up in the poor neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, New York. After dropping out of high school at 17 (he obtained a high school equivalency diploma). Rosalie (née Tingman) Rock was a teacher and social worker for the mentally handicapped; Julius Rock was a truck driver and newspaper carrier. Julius died in 1988 after ulcer surgery. (3)
Rock is the oldest of his parents, seven children (six boys and one girl), and he had an elder paternal half-brother, Charles Ledell Rock, who died of alcoholism in 2006. Rock’s younger siblings, Tony, Kenny, and Jordan, are also in the entertainment industry. Rock performed in small clubs in the New York area, where actor-comedian Eddie Murphy discovered him.
Chris Rock’s Education
Chris Rock graduated from James Madison High School in Brooklyn, New York. However, his parents dragged him out due to intense bullying at school. He afterward opted to drop out of high school entirely. He did, however, pass his GED exams.
Chris Rock’s Career
After failing high school, Rock began working at different minimum-pay restaurant jobs until beginning stand-up comedy in 1984 at New York City’s Catch a Rising Star comedy clubs. At 18, Rock was found by one of his comedic idols, Eddie Murphy, who befriended and mentored him. Murphy cast Rock in his debut film, “Beverly Hills Cop II” (1987), as a parking valet.
While Rock continued to do stand-up comedy, new film, and television, chances began to come his way. He had a tiny appearance on the television series “Miami Vice” before taking on the more severe role of Pookie, a drug-addicted informant, in Mario Van Peebles’ “New Jack City” (1991).
Saturday Night Live
In 1990, Rock followed Murphy’s lead and joined the cast of “Saturday Night Live,” where he found popularity with his creation of the Black power character Nat X. Rock was one of the “Bad Boys of SNL,” along with fellow comedians Chris Farley, David Spade, Rob Schneider, and Adam Sandler, with whom he would continue to work in the future.
Rock received less screen time than his fellow “Bad Boys” and was occasionally dissatisfied with the show, particularly when frequently requested to play parts that accentuated his race. Because of creative differences, he left “SNL” in 1993 to star in the competing sketch comedy series “In Living Color,” which was canceled one month after joining.
Stand-Up Specials and Breakthroughs
During his time on “Saturday Night Live,” Rock continued to do stand-up comedy. “Born Suspect,” his debut comedy CD, was published in 1991, followed by “Big A** Jokes,” his first HBO comedy special, in 1994. But his second HBO special, “Bring the Pain” (1996), truly defined Rock’s career.
“Bring the Pain” addressed many issues, including dating and marriage, the O.J. Simpson murder trial, and race relations in America. A particularly contentious scene in which Rock repeatedly used the N-word received significant notice. “Bring the Pain” garnered positive reviews and earned Rock his first two Emmy nominations. According to Variety, it was “one of the truly remarkable hours of comedy ever to air on television,” it catapulted Rock “from a respected but largely unmarketed stand-up to the front burner of comedy’s future.”
The exceptional aided Rock’s booming film and comedy careers, but he continued to do stand-up and release comedy CDs during this time. Rock went on to produce numerous more HBO comedy specials and receive Grammy nominations for his albums “Roll With the New” (1997), “Bigger and Blacker” (1999), and “Never Scared” (2004).
Movie Career
During the 1990s, Rock starred in a few modest film parts, including the Eddie Murphy comedy “Boomerang” (1992), the Steve Martin film “Sgt. Bilko” (1996), and the Chris Farley film “Beverly Hills Ninja” (1997). His breakout stand-up comedy specials, however, led to larger and more frequent film parts, including minor roles in “Lethal Weapon 4” (1998), “Dogma” (1999), and “Nurse Betty” (2000).
Television Career
Rock launched his late-night television show, “The Chris Rock Show,” in 1997, with guests including Johnnie Cochran, Arsenio Hall, Conan O’Brien, George Carlin, and Jesse Jackson. The series aired on HBO for five seasons. They received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program in 1999 and a CableACE Award for Best Entertainment Host for Rock.
In 2005, Rock released the sitcom “Everybody Hates Chris,” a parody of the perennially popular “Everybody Loves Raymond.” “Everybody Hates Chris,” set in the mid-1980s, was inspired by Rock’s teenage years growing up in New York City’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood.
Everyone despises Chris rapidly became UPN’s second-most-watched comedy and received critical acclaim. The American Film Institute named it one of the best ten television shows. It “provides a real look at growing up in America—a challenge that demands a discussion of race and class often absent from television today.” (4)
Chris Rock’s Controversy
The Slap
Chris Rock was part of one of the most iconic incidents in pop culture history in 2022 when actor Will Smith slapped him during the 94th Academy Awards ceremony. Rock was presenting the prize for Best Documentary Feature when he noticed Smith and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, in the audience and improvised a joke about Jada starring in a “G.I. Jane” sequel because of her shaved head.
The joke irritated Jada, who shaved her head due to alopecia areata. Smith walked onto the stage, smacked Rock across the face, then sat down and yelled at Rock after first laughing at the joke himself. Before completing his presentation, Rock appeared astonished, playfully dubbing it the “greatest night in television history.”
The incident, dubbed “The Slap” and “Slapgate,” overshadowed the rest of the ceremony, in which Smith later won Best Actor for his portrayal of “King Richard.” Smith resigned from the Academy when the Academy criticized his behavior and barred him from future ceremonies for ten years. Smith and Rock were hailed and criticized by many parties, with some blaming Rock for making fun of Jada Pinkett Smith’s medical condition.
Net Worth of Other Notable Comedians
Chelsea Peretti’s Net Worth
Chelsea Vanessa Peretti is a versatile American stand-up comedian, writer, and actress, best known for her iconic role as Gina Linetti in the popular TV show “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” Born on February 20, 1978, in Oakland, California, Peretti has a diverse background in comedy and writing, contributing to publications like The Village Voice and The Huffington Post, and even writing for the TV show “Parks and Recreation.” She’s also ventured into podcasting with “Call Chelsea Peretti” and had a Netflix stand-up special titled “Chelsea Peretti: One of the Greats.” In her personal life, she is married to comedian and filmmaker Jordan Peele, and they have a son named Beaumont Gino. With a career that spans various facets of entertainment and comedy, Chelsea Peretti’s net worth is estimated to be around $20 million as of July 2023.
Eric Andre’s Net Worth
Eric Samuel André, an American actor, comedian, television host, writer, and musician, is best known for creating, hosting, and co-writing the “Adult Swim” comedy series, “The Eric Andre Show.” Born in Boca Raton, Florida, to a diverse family background of Ashkenazi Jewish and Afro-Haitian descent, André initiated his comedy career in 2003 and has since become a recognizable figure in the entertainment industry. He has starred in various television series, such as “Man Seeking Woman” and has been involved in personal relationships that made headlines, notably with model and actress Emily Ratajkowski. Besides his on-screen accomplishments, André is also recognized for his musical alter ego, “Blarf.” With a dynamic career in stand-up, acting, and television hosting, Eric André’s net worth stands at an estimated $6 million as of 2023.
References
- Chris Rock, retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Rock
- Lea Veloso, Chris Rock’s Net Worth Makes Him Consistently One of The Top-Paid Comedians—How Much He Made From His Netflix Special, retrieved from https://stylecaster.com/entertainment/celebrity-news/1360630/chris-rock-net-worth/
- Chris Rock, retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Chris-Rock
- Biography.Com Editors and Colin McEvoy, Chris Rock, retrieved from https://www.biography.com/actors/chris-rock