Late-night comedy sketch show Saturday Night Live (SNL) was the brainchild of comedian Lorne Michaels and made its TV debut on NBC all the way back in 1975.

Fast-forward almost five decades and SNL is still going strong. Throughout its mammoth run, it's scooped up a record-breaking 92 Emmy Awards – not to mention 296 nominations! While the show itself has been unbelievably successful over the years, it’s also launched the comedy careers of its cast members, with many now global stars.

From new kid on the block Pete Davidson to comedy legends like Will Ferrell and Eddie Murphy, read on to take a look at some of SNL’s most famous faces and discover who is the wealthiest today. All dollar values in US dollars.

First up is SNL’s latest breakout star, Pete Davidson. The actor and comedian joined the show in 2014 at just 20 years old, making him the fourth-youngest cast member of all time. He landed the coveted gig after meeting fellow SNL alum Bill Hader on the set of Judd Apatow's rom-com Trainwreck. Hader then recommended the "really funny" Davidson to Lorne Michaels. 

Before the comedy sketch show put him on the map, Davidson had already flexed his comedy chops with minor performances in the likes of MTV’s improv game show Nick Cannon Presents: Wild ‘N Out and the cop sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

Although Davidson is still on SNL, he’s found time to further boost his fame and fortune by taking on other projects, such as the 2019 Mötley Crüe biopic The Dirt, as well as the 2021 comic book blockbuster The Suicide Squad. He also co-wrote and starred in the semi-autobiographical comedy-drama The King of Staten Island in 2020, which was loosely based on his younger life.

Outside of his Hollywood career, Davidson has started to dabble with entrepreneurship. The NYC native bought a decommissioned Staten Island ferry with SNL co-star Colin Jost earlier this year, with plans to transform it into a floating comedy club. Davidson, Jost, and their business partner Paul Italia bought the boat at auction for just over $280,000. 

Davidson’s wealth is currently estimated at between $6 million and $8 million. 

Kate McKinnon made her SNL debut in 2012 and is the longest-running female cast member.

McKinnon's performances on the show have garnered her two prestigious Emmy Awards and she's particularly acclaimed for her hilarious portrayal of Hillary Clinton (pictured). Clinton is reportedly a fan and even went so far as to appear alongside McKinnon in one of the sketches herself, playing a bartender named Val. 

Comedian Kate got her big break on the LGBT-themed comedy show The Big Gay Sketch Show in 2007 before SNL skyrocketed her career.

While she’s still SNL’s leading lady, McKinnon has also forged a successful Hollywood career outside of the show.

She starred in the all-female 2016 reboot of Ghostbusters alongside her SNL alums Kristen Wiig and Leslie Jones, and has enjoyed roles in Office Christmas Party, The Spy Who Dumped Me, and Yesterday. She's also voiced characters in animated blockbusters such as Finding Dory and Ferdinand. 

As well as propelling her to international stardom, her acting has also won her a variety of accolades. She won two Women Film Critics Circle awards for her role in Ghostbusters, and also received a SAG Awards nomination for her part in Bombshell.

McKinnon has a reported fortune of $9 million.

Bill Hader joined SNL in 2005 and is particularly famed for his impersonations of big names such as Al Pacino, Clint Eastwood, and Charlie Sheen. In 2012, he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his SNL work. This made him the first male cast member to receive the prestigious nod since Eddie Murphy back in the 1980s.

Prior to SNL, Hader aspired to be a filmmaker. However, despite working as a production assistant on movies such as James Dean and Spider-Man, he struggled to break into the industry.

Along with a few friends, he launched improv comedy group Animals from the Future in 2003, which gave him a creative outlet for his talents. Performing with the group eventually landed him the opportunity he was waiting for: after seeing one of his shows, Will & Grace star Megan Mullally recommended him to Michaels, who offered him the career-making SNL gig.

Hader left SNL in 2013 following an eight-season run. His post-SNL projects include starring roles in rom-com Trainwreck and the 2019 horror hit It: Chapter Two, which was based on the spine-chilling Stephen King novel. Hader has also voiced characters in various animated movies, including Sausage Party, The Angry Birds Movie 2, and The Addams Family 2. 

In 2018, Hader co-created and starred in the dark HBO comedy series Barry. The critically acclaimed show has received six Emmy awards to date, including two gongs for Hader as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.

Hader’s estimated wealth sits at a cool $12 million.

Famed for her entertaining "Gilly" and "Target Lady" sketches, Kristen Wiig made her SNL debut in 2005. Her seven-year stint on the show earned her a slew of Emmy nominations, including four back-to-back nods for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.

Before SNL cemented her status as one of the world's funniest women, she was a member of the Groundlings comedy troupe and had also appeared on the reality prank series The Joe Schmo Show.

While still on SNL, Wiig co-wrote and starred in the smash-hit comedy flick Bridesmaids in 2011. The award-winning movie took her acting career to the next level, and she's since racked up starring-role credits in the likes of Zoolander 2 and the Ghostbusters reboot.

The comedy queen has also demonstrated her acting range with performances in 2017 psychological horror Mother! as well as the 2020 superhero blockbuster Wonder Woman 1984.

It’s estimated that Wiig has $16 million in the bank, though some sources suggest her net worth is actually closer to $25 million. 

Another SNL superstar with improv roots is Amy Poehler. She began her career in the early 1990s by touring with Chicago-based comedy troupes alongside her long-time friend – and future SNL co-star – Tina Fey.

Poehler made her SNL debut in 2001 and is best known for her original character sketches and hilarious impersonations of stars such as Martha Stewart, Britney Spears, and Pamela Anderson.

During her time on SNL, Poehler acted in various other high-profile comedy projects, including Mean Girls, Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, and Blades of Glory. And Poehler's career continued to flourish following her SNL departure too...

After leaving SNL in 2008, Poehler was cast in the lead role of NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation. The show ran from 2009-2015 and boasted an all-star ensemble cast that included Adam Scott, Aubrey Plaza, and Chris Pratt.

Poehler's vocal talents have also seen her land roles in a wide range of kids' movies, including Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, Free Birds, and Inside Out.

Her net worth is thought to be around $18 million but, as with Wiig, some sources claim it’s actually closer to $25 million.

Andy Samberg rose to fame as part of comedy group The Lonely Island, which he formed in 2001 with Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone. The wacky trio are famed for their celeb-filled viral music videos, which include I Just Had Sex, Motherlover, and Jack Sparrow.

In 2005, Samberg, Schaffer, and Taccone were hired as SNL writers after catching the attention of Jimmy Fallon. The exuberant Samberg was also brought on board as a performer. 

Following a seven-season stint on the show, Samberg left SNL in 2012. Today, he’s most famous for producing and starring in the critically-acclaimed cop sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which aired between 2013 and 2021. He bagged a Golden Globe for his leading role as Jake Peralta in 2014, as well as the Comedy Actor – TV gong at the American Comedy Awards in the same year.

Samberg has also enjoyed a thriving film career. His credits include the 2013 comedy Grown Ups 2, as well as the 2020 sci-fi rom-com Palm Springs. He's had roles in several animated movies, lending his vocals to the Hotel Transylvania franchise, as well as the Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs films.

His fortune is said to be worth somewhere between $20 million and $25 million. 

Like her friend and SNL co-star Amy Poehler, Tina Fey got her start doing improv comedy with The Second City troupe.

She joined SNL as a writer in 1997 and was swiftly promoted to head writer just two years later, becoming the first ever woman to land the enviable position. 

By 2000, Fey was starring in sketches and co-hosting the Weekend Update segment, all while continuing to serve as head writer.

Fey left the show in 2006 to launch her satirical TV series, 30 Rock, which is loosely based on her experience as a SNL writer. The sitcom was a huge success and won a string of awards during its seven-year run, including the coveted Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series three years in a row.

When 30 Rock wrapped in 2013, Fey went on to co-create the Netflix comedy Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, which starred The Office alum Ellie Kemper and aired for four seasons between 2015 and 2019.

Fey’s career on the big screen is as impressive as it is diverse. She co-wrote and starred in the comedy classic Mean Girls, and has had leading roles in films such as rom-com Date Night and war-set comedy-drama Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.

Estimates of her fortune vary, with sources placing it anywhere between $45 million and $75 million. 

Chevy Chase was one of the original cast members and writers for SNL, and joined the show for its launch in October 1975. He was the first anchor of the long-running Weekend Update segment and scored three Emmys for his writing and performances

Chase originally cut his teeth as a member of the underground comedy group Channel One, which he co-founded in 1967. His first big break came in 1973, when he became a writer and cast member of The National Lampoon Radio Hour, a syndicated radio series that also featured the likes of Bill Murray and John Belushi. 

Chase left SNL in 1976, though he has since returned as a guest star and host. He enjoyed a thriving movie career throughout the 1980s and starred in comedy classics such as Caddyshack and five National Lampoon's Vacation films.

In 2009, Chase landed a role in the NBC sitcom Community. The critically-acclaimed series was considered by many to be a comeback for the comedian, who hadn’t starred in a hit film in decades, although he quit in 2012 after a feud with its creator Dan Harmon.

Chase's most recent project was a vocal role in the direct-to-DVD animated film Panda vs. Aliens. While has career has slowed down in recent years, he's still reportedly worth a massive $50 million. 

A young Jimmy Fallon had always dreamed of starring on SNL, and so he moved to LA in the mid-90s to pursue his comedy career. In a bid to get a foot on the ladder, he performed live stand-up shows and also took classes with the Groundlings improv troupe.

Fallon eventually landed an SNL audition in 1997 but was unsuccessful. However, it was a case of second-time lucky for the budding comic: unfazed by the rejection, he auditioned again the following year and promptly won over Lorne Michaels with a series of impeccable impressions.

Fallon quickly became one of the stand-out stars of the show and impersonated everyone from Robert De Niro to Adam Sandler, and also co-hosted the Weekend Update segment with Tina Fey.

In 2004, Fallon quit SNL to focus on his movie career. Unfortunately he suffered a string of box office flops, including the action-comedy Taxi and rom-com Fever Pitch. Fallon has since called this troubled time a "lost period", admitting to Vanity Fair in 2014 that his career confusion was resulting in him "probably drinking more than I should have been drinking... I was like: 'I can't figure out what I want to do'". 

However, things took a more positive turn in 2009 when Fallon became the host of NBC’s Late Night franchise, taking over from Conan O'Brien. He left the show in 2014 to replace Jay Leno as host of the prestigious The Tonight Show, which he still helms today for a reported $16 million a year.

Fallon is now one of the most famous talk show hosts in the world and is estimated to be worth a hefty $60 million. 

Chris Rock started out as a stand-up comedian in New York City. While on the comedy circuit in the 1980s, he befriended his future SNL peer Eddie Murphy, who became a mentor to the rising star. In fact, Murphy even gave Rock a small role in his 1987 movie Beverly Hills Cop II.

Rock landed his SNL debut in 1990, joining around the same time as Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, and David Spade. This new generation of talent became known as the "Bad Boys of SNL" due to the wilder and more outlandish type of comedy they brought to the show.
 

Rock spent three years at SNL before leaving to pursue other projects. Between 1997 and 2000, he helmed the late-night talk show The Chris Rock Show, and he's also sold out countless stand-up shows, including a 2018 exclusive for Netflix.

In addition to his comedy career, Rock is a successful movie star. He's starred in everything from rom-com blockbusters like What to Expect When You're Expecting to the grisly horror Spiral: From the Book of Saw, which he starred in alongside Samuel L. Jackson in 2021.

Another career highlight is the sitcom Everybody Hates Chris, which was loosely based on Rock’s younger years. He exec-produced and narrated the hit show, which ran between 2005 and 2009. 

Rock’s most widely reported net worth is an impressive $60 million, although some sources suggest he could have as much as $100 million in the bank.

Like many other SNL graduates, Bill Murray started out on the improv comedy scene. His big break came in the form of the National Lampoon Radio Hour, and he joined SNL as a writer and performer in 1977 after the departure of Chevy Chase.

That very same year, Murray won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series, all thanks to his sketches for the show.

Murray would go on to become one of the world’s biggest movie stars following his three-year SNL stint. His acting portfolio is truly enviable, with Caddyshack, Groundhog Day, Lost in Translation and, of course, the beloved Ghostbusters film franchise among some of his most famous flicks.

Now in his 70s, Murray shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. He currently has three films in post-production, including the hotly-anticipated Marvel blockbuster Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and he’s also busy filming comedy-drama Being Mortal alongside Seth Rogen.

Murray’s long and lucrative career is said to have banked him a whopping $120 million, with some sources suggesting his fortune is actually closer to $180 million.

Will Ferrell joined SNL in 1995 and swiftly became a fan favorite thanks to his impressions of the likes of George W. Bush, Al Gore, and Neil Diamond, to name just a few. In fact, Ferrell, who left the show in 2002, was even voted the best SNL cast member of all time. 

Yet another star with improv roots, Ferrell also started out with the Groundlings. Alongside that, he had acted in commercials and played small roles in TV shows such as Grace Under Fire and Living Single before being cast in NBC's iconic sketch show. 

Now a comedy legend, Will Ferrell has starred in some of the world’s funniest flicks, with Elf, Anchorman: the Legend of Ron Burgundy, and Step Brothers just a few of the comedy classics under his belt. Also a sought-after voice actor, he’s lent his vocal talents to numerous animated blockbusters, including Megamind and The Lego Movie.

Outside of acting roles, Ferrell's Gloria Sanchez Productions signed a deal with Netflix in 2020 to produce content for the streamer. As the Netflix contract is non-exclusive, the company, which Ferrell heads up alongside Jessica Elbaum, has also inked a production deal with Paramount.

All in all, Ferrell is reportedly worth a huge $160 million.

Mike Myers joined the cast of SNL in 1989. He quickly gained fan-favorite status thanks to his wacky characters and quirky sketches, which included Wayne’s World and Sprockets. 

A former child star, Myers began appearing in TV commercials at just two years old, and at the age of 12 made a guest appearance on the TV sitcom King of Kensington. Like many of his peers, Myers was popular on the improv comedy scene before landing his much-coveted spot on SNL.

Myers left SNL in 1995 and is arguably most famous for the Austin Powers spy parody trilogy, in which he starred as the title character between 1997 and 2002. Myers even returned to SNL in 2014 for a surprise sketch featuring one of his other Austin Powers characters, the dastardly Dr. Evil. 

Other career highlights include voicing the main character in 2003’s The Cat in the Hat, which was based on the iconic Dr. Seuss book, as well as providing vocals for the grumpy yet lovable ogre Shrek in DreamWorks' megabucks movie franchise.

Myers' mammoth net worth is estimated to sit somewhere between $175 million and $200 million. 

Aspiring comedian Eddie Murphy was just 19 years old when he made his SNL debut in 1980. He quickly gained attention for his character sketches, which included playing an adult version of the Little Rascals character Buckwheat and a hilarious parody of children’s TV star Fred Rogers. 

Though nominated for several Emmys during his SNL tenure, Murphy didn’t actually bag the coveted award until 2020, when he returned to the show as host. He scooped the gong for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series, giving a heartfelt speech at the time that acknowledged that the longed-for win had been 40 years in the making.
 

Murphy left SNL in 1984 and went on to become a bona fide movie star. His string of comedy hits includes the Beverly Hills Cop film series, The Nutty Professor, and Dr. Dolittle, and he's also much-loved for voicing Donkey in the Shrek franchise alongside Mike Myers.

Far from "just" a funny guy, Murphy has also received an Oscar nod for his supporting role as soul singer James Early in Dreamgirls; he won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the 2006 film, which also starred Beyoncé and Jamie Foxx.

Swapping movies for music for a moment, Murphy has also released three studio albums and most recently released a single with Snoop Dogg in 2013 titled Red Light. 

The multitalented Murphy is reportedly worth an astonishing $200 million. 

Adam Sandler made his movie debut in the 1989 comedy flick Going Overboard and went on to perform in comedy clubs before being discovered by comedian Dennis Miller. It was Miller who suggested Sandler could be a great for SNL to Lorne Michaels, and the rest was history.

Sandler was hired as a writer for the sketch show in 1990 and became a performer in 1991, rising to fame by performing witty original songs.

NBC ultimately fired Sandler following declining SNL ratings in 1995. However, that hasn't stopped him from going on to enjoy a phenomenal movie career, and he's starred in hit films including Happy Gilmore, The Waterboy, 50 First Dates, and Grown Ups. 

In 1999, Sandler founded production company Happy Madison Productions, which is behind films like the animated blockbuster Pixels and the Netflix hit Murder Mystery. Many of Sandler’s former SNL buddies have starred in Happy Madison flicks, including David Spade and Chris Rock.

Today, Sandler is reportedly worth an incredible $420 million, making him the wealthiest SNL alum by far.

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