Ray Romano Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Ray Romano’s Net Worth and Salary?

With a net worth of $200 million, Ray Romano is an American stand-up comedian who successfully transitioned into acting and writing. His signature role was in the acclaimed television sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond. This show garnered Romano significant fame due to his relatable comedic approach and portrayal of family dynamics, establishing it as one of the best-known sitcoms in history.

Romano’s entertainment career commenced with stand-up performances. He gained recognition after participating in the Johnnie Walker Comedy Search in 1990, where his talent caught the eye of talk show personality David Letterman. This eventually led to the creation of Everybody Loves Raymond, which ran from 1996 to 2005, featuring Romano as the central character Raymond Barone. His performance earned him an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.

Besides his television achievements, Romano has made notable contributions in film and voice acting. He lent his voice to Manny in the animated Ice Age series, showcasing his adaptability as an actor. He has appeared in films directed by prestigious filmmakers like Martin Scorsese in The Irishman, taking on dramatic roles in the series Parenthood and Vinyl.

Returning to stand-up comedy, Romano released his special Right Here, Around the Corner, on Netflix in 2019, marking his first stand-up special in 23 years. The special was well-received, highlighting Romano’s lasting appeal in the comedy scene.

Highest Paid Actor/Episode Salary

While Ray’s per-episode salary for the first four seasons of Everybody Loves Raymond remains unknown, starting from season five, he made $800,000 for each episode. This translates to approximately $19 million per season for seasons 5, 6, and 7, culminating in $57 million earned from just these seasons. Assuming he earned approximately $300,000 for the initial four seasons, that would add another $30 million to his total.

In the show’s final two seasons, Ray’s earnings reached an unprecedented $1.75 million per episode, positioning him as the highest-paid television actor at that time. This record was surpassed in 2019, when Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon earned $2 million each per episode of The Morning Show. However, when adjusted for inflation, Ray’s rate of $1.75 million equates to nearly $2.3 million per episode in today’s currency. Based on this adjustment, Ray Romano holds the title of the highest-paid actor in television history as of now.

Using the figure of $1.75 million, Ray collected $40 million from season 8 of his show, followed by $28 million from the shorter concluding season the next year. It’s crucial to note that these figures represent only his base acting and production salaries. Additionally, Ray has a stake in the backend points of the show, which has allowed him to garner tens of millions from syndication deals so far. He will continue to benefit from syndication revenues for numerous years ahead. By focusing solely on his production income:

$30 + $57 + $40 + $28 = $155 million in base salary (pre-tax) solely from Raymond.

Early Life

On December 21st, 1957, in Queens, New York, Raymond Albert Romano was born. He was raised in an Italian-American household with two brothers. The dynamics of his family life would later inspire many of his comedy skits and stand-up routines. His real-life experiences as a child and a father/husband also influenced the creation of Everybody Loves Raymond. After graduating from high school in 1975, in the same class as comedian Fran Drescher, Ray Romano went on to study accounting at Queens College in New York.

Standup Career

While juggling part-time jobs and studying accounting, Romano ventured into stand-up comedy. He found success in various NYC comedy clubs, leading him to pursue comedy full-time. By 1989, he was already winning citywide stand-up competitions and taking part in The Johnny Walker Comedy Search.

This marked the start of his stand-up career, with an appearance on MTV’s Half-Hour Comedy Hour in 1990, alongside regular slots on The Comedy Channel. His career took a significant leap in 1995 when he secured a recurring role on Comedy Central’s Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist, and he became a contestant on Star Search within the stand-up comedy category.

Everybody Loves Raymond

Ray’s significant breakthrough occurred when he featured on The Late Show with David Letterman. The host was so taken with Romano that he wanted the comedian to have his own sitcom.

This resulted in the creation of Everybody Loves Raymond, produced with the participation of David Letterman’s production company, which premiered in 1996. Over its run, Ray Romano earned an Emmy, and the show itself received two Emmy awards. It became one of the most-watched programs on television, concluding in 2005. In 2004, he was recognized as the highest-paid television actor in history.

Many characters in the show are closely modeled after real-life family members of Ray Romano, with several of his actual relatives, including his daughter, brother, and father, making appearances.

After Raymond

Post Everybody Loves Raymond, Romano appeared in movies like Grilled, Paddleton, and the 2019 film The Irishman. He also provided the voice for Manny the Mammoth in the Ice Age franchise, reprising this role for all four sequels. The Ice Age series has become one of the highest-grossing animated film franchises ever.

RomanoRay Romano has also enjoyed ongoing success in the television industry, featuring in programs such as Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, The Price Is Right, The Office, and The Middle. He has secured recurring roles in shows like Men of a Certain Age and Parenthood. In the year 2020, he took on a leading role in the Epix series Get Shorty. Furthermore, in 2022, he played the character Leo Russo in the movie Somewhere in Queens. Additionally, Romano starred in the series Made for Love (2021-2022) and Bupkis (2023).

Personal Life

Beyond his acting career, Ray Romano is passionate about poker and has participated in the World Series of Poker on numerous occasions. He is also a dedicated golfer, finishing fifth in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in 2012 alongside Steve Bowditch.

Romano met his spouse while both were employed at a bank and they tied the knot in 1987. Together, they have four children. In 2012, Romano shared the news that his wife had successfully overcome breast cancer.

Real Estate

Starting in the late 1990s, Ray acquired an extravagant 10,000-square-foot mansion situated on 1.25 acres in Encino, California, which is likely valued at over $10 million today considering comparable sales. This residence served as his main home during the production of his show since it was just a few minutes from the studio.

In 2004, he bought an oceanfront property on Malibu’s highly sought-after Broad Beach for $8.5 million. This property today is easily appraised at over $25 million. In August 2023, Ray listed this home for rent at a monthly rate of $175,000.

In 2017, he made a relatively modest purchase of $2.1 million for a house in Venice, California. In 2022, he put this property on the market for $2.5 million, and it was sold a few months later for $2.3 million.