Seth MacFarlane may not be a household name as a comedian, but his creations have probably made their way into your house in one form or another. His creation, Family Guy, has spun off American Dad and The Cleveland Show and MacFarlane has expanded from cartoons into feature films like Ted and Ted 2 as well as a science show called Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey.
This broad range of shows where he is producer, writer, actor, and much more has given him creative freedom, but also an incredible net worth. CelebrityNetWorth.com estimates that he's worth $200 million, making him the 12th richest comedian behind Ellen DeGeneres. And the money isn't done piling up for this 41 year old.
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A rocky road to the top
MacFarlane's first big success was Family Guy, which debuted on Fox in 1999. Today, the show is a big hit but it was canceled just two years later after its debut because the network was disappointed with its ratings.
The setback was big for MacFarlane but it didn't last long. While it was off the air, Family Guy gained a cult following though DVD sales and by 2005 it was back on for good. It even got him a five-year $100 million deal with Fox (NASDAQ: FOX) in 2009 that would eventually lead to spinoffs The Cleveland Show and American Dad.
Recently, he's branched into non-animated roles like being an executive producer of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, writer-director of Ted and Ted 2, multiple roles in A Million Ways to Die in the West, and even a musical career.
It's estimated that on top of what he makes from Fox, MacFarlane earns another $20 million per year in DVD and merchandise income. With so many projects it's no wonder he's one of the wealthiest people in Hollywood today.
Seth MacFarlane's massive net worth
In total, MacFarlane is estimated to be worth $200 million and the money will keep flowing for many years to come. Family Guy and American Dad will be back for at least one more season and should both be hits for a long time in syndication and on streaming platforms.
MacFarlane has also shown interest in working on Broadway and could further expand his repertoire well beyond comedy as he did with Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey. It's been a rocky road to immense wealth, but Seth MacFarlane has built an empire through his animated comedy, not something many people can say they've done.
