Jimmy Kimmel is an American television host, comedian, writer, and producer known for his wit, humor, and charismatic on-screen presence. Kimmel rose to prominence as the host of the late-night talk show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” which has been a staple of late-night television since its debut in 2003. With a decades-long career, Kimmel has earned a reputation for his sharp and satirical commentary on current events, celebrity interviews, and comedic sketches.
Content of This Article
- Jimmy Kimmel’s Appearance
- Facts About Jimmy Kimmel
- Early Life
- Jimmy Kimmel’s Wife and Family
- Jimmy Kimmel’s Career
- Jimmy Kimmel’s Controversy
- Jimmy Kimmel’s Real Estate
Jimmy Kimmel’s Appearance (Height, Hair, Eyes & More)
| Height | 6 ft
1.83 m |
| Weight | 182 pounds
82 kg |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Body Type | Average |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
Facts About Jimmy Kimmel
| Nationality | American |
| Estimated Net Worth | $50 million |
| Religion | Catholic |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
| Birthplace | Brooklyn, New York |
| Birthday | November 13, 1967 |
Jimmy Kimmel’s Net Worth
As of 2023, Jimmy Kimmel’s net worth is approximately $50 million. Kimmel is best known for hosting the late-night comedy talk show “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” He makes $15 million yearly for this gig and has been hosting the show since 2003. Before that, he co-hosted “The Man Show” and served as a sidekick on “Win Ben Stein’s Money.” His journey in the entertainment world began in radio.
Early Life
James Christian Kimmel was born in Brooklyn, New York, on November 13, 1967. He grew up in the Mill Basin neighborhood. He is the oldest of three children born to Joan (Iacono) and James John Kimmel. His father held jobs at American Express and was an executive at IBM. Kimmel grew up in a Catholic household and even served as an altar boy during his childhood.
His mother’s family hails from Ischia, Naples, with roots that trace back to their migration to the United States after the 1883 earthquake. On his father’s side, two of his great-great-grandparents came to the United States as German immigrants. Interestingly, his family name was once “Kümmel,” which means “caraway” in German, though this changed several generations ago. When Kimmel was still relatively young, his family moved to Las Vegas.
Education
Jimmy Kimmel completed his high school education at Ed W. Clark High School. He then spent a year at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, before transferring to Arizona State University. In 2013, he was awarded an honorary degree from UNLV.
Jimmy Kimmel’s Wife and Family
Jimmy Kimmel tied the knot with Gina Maddy in 1988, but they divorced in 2002. They had a daughter named Katherine in 1991 and a son named Kevin in 1993. After the divorce, he was in a relationship with comedian Sarah Silverman from 2002 until March 2009.
In October 2009, Kimmel began dating Molly McNearney, who happens to be the co-head writer for “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” They engaged in August 2012 and tied the knot in July 2013. Their first child, Jane, was born in July 2014. Later, they welcomed their second child, William “Billy” John, on April 21, 2017.
Billy was born with a rare congenital heart defect known as tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) with pulmonary atresia, initially identified when he appeared purplish just three hours after birth.
Jimmy Kimmel’s Career
Radio Work
Jimmy Kimmel’s journey in radio was inspired by David Letterman, who also started in radio. During high school, Kimmel began working in radio and hosted a Sunday night interview show on UNLV’s college station, KUNV.
While he was at Arizona State University, Kimmel gained popularity by calling into the KZZP-FM afternoon show hosted by Mike Elliott and Kent Voss in Phoenix, Arizona.
In 1989, Kimmel landed his first paid job as the co-host of the morning drive show, “The Me and Him Show,” alongside Kent Voss at KZOK-FM in Seattle, Washington. During their time on air, they performed various stunts, some of which resulted in an $8,000 loss in advertising revenue for ten months.
In 1990, Kimmel and Voss faced job losses, first at KZOK and then a year later at WRBQ-FM in Tampa. Kimmel later took the helm of his show at KCMJ in Palm Springs, California. During this time, he brought on Carson Daly, a family friend from childhood, as his intern.
Following a brief morning stint at KRQQ in Tucson, Arizona, Kimmel found a home at KROQ-FM in Los Angeles. He spent five years as “Jimmy The Sports Guy” on the Kevin and Bean morning show.
Win Ben Stein’s Money
At first, Jimmy Kimmel wasn’t keen on pursuing a television career. He started by writing for Fox announcers and creating promotional content. However, he soon found himself in front of the camera, doing on-air promotions.
He turned down multiple TV show offers from producer Michael Davies because the projects didn’t interest him. That changed when he was presented with the opportunity to be the humorous counterpart to Ben Stein on the game show “Win Ben Stein’s Money,” which premiered on Comedy Central in 1997.
Kimmel’s quick wit and relatable personality contrasted Stein’s monotone voice and pretentious demeanor. Their dynamic earned them an Emmy award for Best Game Show Host.
In 1999, Kimmel took on the roles of co-host and co-producer for Comedy Central’s show “The Man Show.” He departed from “Win Ben Stein’s Money” in 2001, and comedian Nancy Pimental filled his spot. Eventually, Kimmel’s cousin Sal Iacono stepped in as her replacement.
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
In January 2003, Jimmy Kimmel permanently departed from “The Man Show” to become the host of his very own late-night talk show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” which aired on ABC. In the April 2007 issue of Stuffmagazine.com, Kimmel was humorously dubbed the “biggest badass on TV,” an honor he accepted with a pinch of humor, admitting it might have been a mistake.
Despite its name, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” hasn’t been truly “live” since 2004. This change occurred when censors had difficulty properly bleeping out a series of expletives from actor Thomas Jane during a live broadcast.
Other Works
Back in the spring of 1996, Jimmy Kimmel was featured as “Jimmy the Fox Guy” in promos on the Fox Network. He also had a gig as the on-air football predictor for “Fox NFL Sunday,” lasting four years.
Furthermore, Kimmel made numerous guest appearances on various talk shows, including “Live with Regis and Kelly,” “The Howard Stern Show,” “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” and “The Late Show with David Letterman.” Notably, he visited “The Late Show” five times, with his most recent appearance in 2010.
In August 2006, ABC announced that Kimmel would be the host of their new game show, “Set for Life.” The show made its debut on July 20, 2007. On April 6, 2007, Kimmel temporarily stepped in for Larry King as the host of “Larry King Live.”
On July 11, 2007, Kimmel co-hosted the 2007 “ESPY Awards” alongside basketball player LeBron James. The event was televised on ESPN on July 15, 2007. Additionally, Kimmel hosted the American Music Awards on ABC five times, in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2008.
Kimmel hosted the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 23, 2012, and the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 18, 2016. In June 2020, it was confirmed that he would be back to host the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards, which took place on September 20, 2020.
In July 2019, Kimmel published his debut book, “The Serious Goose.” This is an interactive children’s picture book with illustrations drawn by Kimmel himself. The book engages young readers in the delightful challenge of making the serious goose crack a smile.
Starting on August 30, 2023, Kimmel joined forces with fellow comedians Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert, and John Oliver to host the comedy podcast “Strike Force Five.” They launched this podcast to support their staff members facing unemployment due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike.
Jimmy Kimmel’s Controversy
In October 2013, during a “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” segment called “Kids Table,” five- and six-year-olds were featured discussing topics like the U.S. government shutdown and the country’s debts. In an unexpected turn, one of the children suggested a drastic solution to U.S. debt by saying, “killing all the people in China.” Jimmy Kimmel responded to acknowledge the idea as “interesting humorously” and playfully followed up by asking, “Should we allow the Chinese to live?”
The incident sparked online discussions and protests, including from Mainland China. On October 25, ABC apologized to the 80-20 Initiative, a pan-Asian-American political organization. In their letter, ABC expressed regret for the segment, affirming that they never intended to broadcast anything that would upset the Chinese community, Asian community, individuals of Chinese descent, or any community in general.
On October 28, more than a hundred people gathered in San Francisco to protest the show and call for a more comprehensive apology, along with Kimmel’s dismissal. During the same broadcast, Kimmel addressed the controversy and apologized. Despite these apologies from both ABC and Kimmel, protests persisted.
A White House petition was initiated and garnered over 100,000 signatures, obliging the White House to respond. Additionally, the Congressional Asian-Pacific American Caucus condemned the incident and requested a formal apology from ABC.
Jimmy Kimmel’s Real Estate
Jimmy Kimmel owns several homes in the Los Angeles area. In 2004, he purchased a house just one block from the Hermosa Beach, California beach, for $2.175 million. Then, in 2014, he acquired a second Hermosa Beach property for $2.25 million, which he later transferred to his wife’s sister.
In 2018, Kimmel invested $8.2 million in yet another Hermosa property. The current house on this lot is relatively small, covering 2,200 square feet. However, there are plans for a future home on the property that could span a whopping 20,000 square feet.
Apart from his properties in Hermosa Beach, Kimmel also possesses a residence worth $7.1 million, consisting of two parcels in the Hollywood Hills above the famous Chateau Marmont. Additionally, in 2020, Kimmel partnered with angler Oliver White to purchase a fishing lodge named the South Fork Lodge in Idaho.
Net Worth of Other Notable TV Hosts
Jay Leno’s Net worth
Jay Leno, an iconic figure in American entertainment, is best known for his long-standing role as the host of NBC’s “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” Born in New Rochelle, New York, in 1950, Leno’s comedic journey began early, culminating in a significant presence on television and in films. His career highs, including his leadership on “The Tonight Show”, were occasionally punctuated with controversies, such as the 2010 “Tonight Show” conflict. Outside of the spotlight, Leno is an ardent car enthusiast, owning a vast collection worth tens of millions. His personal life is marked by his enduring marriage to Mavis Leno since 1980 and his recent unfortunate accidents. In addition to his comedic pursuits and personal endeavors, Jay Leno’s net worth is estimated to be a staggering $600 million as of 2023.
Kelly Ripa’s Net Worth
Kelly Ripa, renowned American television host, actress, and producer, captured the hearts of viewers with her dynamic presence on the hit morning talk show “Live! with Regis and Kelly,” co-hosted alongside Regis Philbin. Born on October 2, 1970, in Berlin, New Jersey, Ripa’s journey into the limelight began with her role as Hayley Vaughn on the soap opera “All My Children,” where she met her husband, Mark Consuelos. Their on-screen chemistry translated into real life, leading to marriage and three children. Her commitment to “Live!” evolved over the years, from co-hosting with Philbin to other variations like “Live! with Kelly and Michael” and “Live with Kelly and Ryan.” Alongside her successful career, she’s also made substantial real estate investments with her husband, including residences in New York City, Colorado, and the Hamptons. As of 2023, Kelly Ripa’s net worth stands at an impressive $120 million.