What is Ricky Gervais’ net worth and salary?

Ricky Gervais, the British-born actor, comedian, writer, and filmmaker, has a net worth of $160 million. He is best known as the creator of the television series The Office, which started out as a limited-run British series in 2001 and was later adapted to an American version in 2005.

The American version of The Office aired 201 episodes over 9 seasons and is one of the most lucrative shows in syndication history, earning billions of dollars in royalties and fees. This has resulted in Gervais regularly earning tens of millions of dollars off the show when a deal is renewed or it is sold to a new platform.

Ricky Gervais Early Life

Ricky Dene Gervais was born on June 25th of 1961 in Reading, England. His father was a repatriated French-Canadian, and Ricky was raised as the youngest of four siblings.

After attending secondary school, Gervais studied philosophy at University College London, emerging with a degree. While at University, Gervais met Jane Fallon, with whom he has been in a relationship since 1982.

Ricky Gervais’ Career Path

After failing to become a pop star, Ricky Gervais found success in radio and eventually met Stephen Merchant, with whom he created The Office. Gervais wrote sketches for The Sketch Show and appeared as a controversial host on The 11 O’Clock Show. He also starred in Meet Ricky Gervais, which was not successful.

The Office: A Slow Start, but Eventually a Comedy Classic

In 1999, Stephen Merchant created a short film featuring the character of David Brent, which would later become Ricky Gervais’ role on The Office. BBC executives were impressed and requested a pilot script from Gervais and Merchant, leading to the show’s creation.

However, the show’s first run of six episodes failed to attract many viewers, but eventually gained popularity through word of mouth and DVD sales. The success led to a second season, cementing Gervais and Merchant’s reputation as comedic geniuses.

The Office’s success in Britain led to remakes in several other countries, with Gervais and Merchant acting as producers for the American version. Gervais credits the critical acclaim of The Office for his success in the American entertainment industry.

Ricky Gervais Earns Over $100 Million in Syndication Sales of “The Office”

Ricky Gervais and co-creator Stephen Merchant have earned millions through producer and creator credits of the original run of “The Office.” However, Gervais’ true windfall came from owning at least 10% of the show’s syndication equity points. He has easily earned north of $100 million before taxes through syndication sales.

In June 2019, Comcast’s NBC paid $500 million for the rights to show “The Office” beginning in 2021, which was previously airing on Viacom-owned networks like Comedy Central and was a longtime feature on Netflix.

Ricky Gervais’ TV Career

Ricky Gervais continued his success after The Office with TV series like Extras, featuring celebrity cameos, and his own show, The Ricky Gervais Show. He also created shows like Derek, Life’s Too Short, An Idiot Abroad, and After Life.

Ricky Gervais’ Stand-Up Career

Ricky Gervais has been a successful stand-up comedian since the 1990s. His career in stand-up gained momentum after the success of The Office. Over the years, he has toured extensively with his act, and his comedy specials have been broadcast on Netflix on multiple occasions.

Ricky Gervais’ Acting Career

Ricky Gervais has accepted roles in several high-profile films throughout his career. He voiced the character “Bugsy” in the animated film Valiant in 2005. One of his most famous roles was playing a museum director in 2006’s Night at the Museum, which he reprised in its sequels. He also appeared in Ghost Town, The Invention of Lying, and Special Correspondents in the following years.

Throughout his career, Ricky has won several awards, including seven BAFTA Awards, two Emmy Awards, a Screen Actors Guild award, and three Golden Globe Awards. He has hosted the Golden Globe Awards five times.

Ricky Gervais’ Netflix Deal

In 2018, Netflix paid Ricky Gervais $20 million for a standup special, in addition to the $20 million they reportedly paid for his special “Humanity.” Ricky earned $25 million from various endeavors between June 2017 and June 2018, which made him one of the world’s five highest-paid comedians.

Ricky Gervais’ Philanthropy and Beliefs

Ricky Gervais and his partner Jane Fallon have chosen not to marry or have children. Gervais is a renowned animal rights activist and has pledged to leave his entire fortune to animal rights charities. He is strongly opposed to hunting, poaching, and illegal animal trading. His actions and donations towards animal welfare have earned him numerous awards and recognition from groups such as PETA. Gervais is also a staunch atheist and supporter of same-sex marriage.

In 2006, the couple spent $6.5 million on a London home, which they sold in 2015 for $11.8 million. They then bought a new home in 2016 for a little under $16 million.

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