Rodney Dangerfield Net Worth (Money & Salary)
Rodney Dangerfield Net Worth (Money & Salary)
June 9, 2025
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What Was Rodney Dangerfield’s Net Worth?
At the time of his passing in 2004, Rodney Dangerfield, a renowned American comedian and actor, had amassed a net worth of $20 million. Adjusted for inflation, that equates to approximately $30 million in today’s currency. Famous for his sharp one-liners and Borscht Belt routines, Dangerfield gained fame through his stand-up performances in the Catskills, becoming a staple guest on late-night talk shows throughout the 1960s and 1970s before establishing himself as a top performer in Las Vegas. He is also fondly remembered for his comedic catchphrase, “I don’t get no respect!,” and his prominent role in the 1980 film “Caddyshack,” a golf comedy.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born Jacob Rodney Cohen on November 22, 1921, in Babylon Village on Long Island, New York, Rodney Dangerfield was the son of Phillip Cohen, a vaudevillian, and Dorothy Teitelbaum, who hailed from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Both parents were Jewish. Dangerfield’s childhood was marked by conflict, largely due to his father’s frequent absences and his mother’s lack of affection. Following his father’s abandonment of the family, Dangerfield relocated with his mother and sister to Kew Gardens, Queens, where he graduated from Richmond Hill High School in 1939. At fifteen, he began writing for stand-up comedians while performing at a resort in Ellenville, New York. After he legally changed his name to Jack Roy, he faced nearly a decade of financial struggles, working various jobs as a singing waiter and an aluminum-siding salesman.
The early 1960s marked a turning point in Dangerfield’s career as he returned to the stage in the Catskill Mountains. Despite continual challenges in achieving success, he recognized the importance of crafting a distinct artistic persona to differentiate himself in the comedic arena. He chose the name Rodney Dangerfield, a nod to a character from a Jack Benny radio program from the 1940s, which had also been characterized by a lack of societal respect.
Comedy Triumphs
A pivotal moment in Dangerfield’s career occurred in 1967 when he was booked as a last-minute substitute on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” He quickly won over the audience, leading to his headlining performances in Las Vegas. His frequent appearances on “The Ed Sullivan Show” were complemented by regular slots on “The Dean Martin Show” and “The Tonight Show,” where he made over 70 appearances.
In 1969, Rodney, along with longtime friend Anthony Bevacqua, founded Dangerfield’s, a comedy club located in New York City. This venue became a stage for several HBO comedy specials featuring notable comics like Bob Saget, Jim Carrey, Jerry Seinfeld, Rita Rudner, and Sam Kinison. Rodney’s achievements included winning a Grammy for his 1980 comedy album “No Respect,” which solidified his success in the industry.
A Career on the Screen
Although Rodney had appeared in films like “The Projectionist” (1971), it was during the 1980s that his acting career truly took off with several successful comedies. The standout film was “Caddyshack,” where he portrayed an obnoxious property developer clashing with a strict judge. Thanks to the exceptional improvisational talents of Dangerfield and co-stars Bill Murray and Chevy Chase, this role exceeded initial expectations. Following this accomplishment, he secured leading roles in “Easy Money” (1983) and “Back to School” (1986), the former of which he co-wrote.
Later, he chose to break from his comedic persona after participating in an unsold TV pilot, taking on the role of an abusive father in the 1994 film “Natural Born Killers.” Rodney made several screen appearances, including guest spots on television programs like “The Simpsons” and “Home Improvement,” as well as roles in family films such as “Casper: A Spirited Beginning” and “Rusty: A Dog’s Tale.” Additionally, he portrayed Lucifer in the 2000 Adam Sandler comedy “Little Nicky.” One of Dangerfield’s last film performances was as God in “Angels with Angles,” which was released posthumously in 2005.
Frank Micelotta /Getty Images
Personal Life and Death
Rodney married Joyce Indig twice, first from 1951 to 1961 and again from 1963 to 1970. Together, they had two children, Brian Roy and Melanie Roy-Friedman.
In 1993, he tied the knot with Joan Child, and the couple stayed together until his passing.
Rodney died on October 5, 2004, three years following a mild heart attack that occurred during his stand-up performance on “The Tonight Show,” and nearly two months post heart valve replacement surgery. He was 82 years old. Dangerfield is interred at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, featuring an epitaph on his headstone that reads, in a characteristically self-deprecating manner, “There goes the neighborhood.”
Legacy and Honors
The influence of Dangerfield is extensive. In 2005, UCLA’s Division of Neurosurgery honored him with the naming of a suite of operating rooms and the first-ever Rodney Respect Award. The subsequent year, Comedy Central aired a special titled “Legends: Rodney Dangerfield,” celebrating his life with contributions from comedians like Chris Rock, Ray Romano, and Jerry Stiller.
Additionally, Rodney is recognized as the first celebrity to develop and personally manage a content-driven website, launching it in 1995. The site was relaunched by his widow in 2013 and has since received multiple nominations for Webby Awards, including one win. Further honors for his legacy consist of a posthumous honorary doctorate awarded by Manhattanville College in 2014 and the Rodney Dangerfield Institute of Comedy, which offers stand-up comedy classes at the Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy. His contributions have also been acknowledged by the Smithsonian Institution, which exhibited his iconic white shirts and red ties.
Real Estate
At the time of his passing, Rodney and Joan owned two properties in Los Angeles, including a condo on Wilshire Blvd. and a home in Little Holmby. Following his death, Joan sold these properties for $3.9 million and $2.7 million, respectively.
In May 2005, Joan utilized the proceeds from these sales to acquire a $6 million home in the Hollywood Hills, located on the celebrity-frequented Blue Jay Way. She listed this residence for sale in February 2023 at a price of $17.8 million.
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Data from the years 2023 and 2024 is presented, with forecasts extending into 2025 and 2026. Additionally, the forecast data is further extended through the years 2027 and 2028.
* This information was taken from various sources around the world, including these countries:
Australia, Canada, USA, UK, UAE, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, US, United Kingdom, United States of America, Malaysia, U.S., South Africa, New Zealand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates.
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan.
Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bouvet Island, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi.
Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling Islands), Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Croatia (Hrvatska), Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic.
Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, Metropolitan, French Guiana, French Polynesia, French Southern Territories.
Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Heard and McDonald Islands, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy.
Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg.
Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar.
Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand (NZ), Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway.
Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe.
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Helena, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Sudan, Suriname, Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria.
Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates (UAE), UK (United Kingdom), USA (United States of America, U.S.), US Minor Outlying Islands.
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City State (Holy See), Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands (British), Virgin Islands (US), Wallis and Futuna Islands, Western Sahara, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Rodney Dangerfield Net Worth (Money & Salary)
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