Ellen DeGeneres Net Worth: Host Gets 60% Of Profits From Show's Ads, Product Placements

Ellen DeGeneres’s net worth is estimated to be $490 million. This is how she built her massive fortune.

DeGeneres has dominated the talk show ratings in the past. Her bubbly and positive personality have rubbed off on her live audience and those watching at home. She started her show “Ellen” in 1994 and it lasted until 1998. In 2003, she launched her talk show “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and it has been on air since then.

The comedian started her career doing odd jobs. She worked in stand-up comedy bars on the side and got her big break in the 1980s after touring nationally. In 1984, DeGeneres was named the funniest person in America, per Celebrity Net Worth. Fast forward to 2003, the TV host lent her talent to the movie “Finding Nemo” and would later voice Dory in the movie “Finding Dory” in 2012.

DeGeneres came out as a lesbian in an episode of Oprah Winfrey’s show in 1997. According to Forbes, as a vocal supporter of the LGTBQ community, she has used her platform to help the Trevor Project, Human Rights Campaign and GLAAD, among others.

Aside from her career on TV, she also ventured behind the scenes and launched her own production company called A Very Good Production. Shows such as "Little Big Shots" can be credited under her name as producer. Eventually, she expanded her brand digitally after creating the Ellen Digital Ventures and later on signed a deal with Warner Bros. which focuses on social media programming.

While she makes her money off her career on TV, she also earns a decent living writing books and hosting awards shows such as the Oscars. According to Business Insider, DeGeneres gets a lion’s share of the pie from ads and product placements on her show.

With guests such as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, it is not surprising that a lot of brands want to be associated with DeGeneres. She has deals with CoverGirl, JCPenney, and American Express. With her massive earnings, the producer invested in several real estate assets. DeGeneres and her partner Portia de Rossi have made profits from buying and selling at least 20 luxury homes since 2003.

The highest paid TV host in 2017 likes to splurge on cars. She gifted de Rossi with a Land Rover and a Lamborghini. On the other hand, despite her massive fortune, DeGeneres is ready to lend a helping hand to those in need. She raised funds for the California wildfires and helped build a Louisiana middle school. Because of her efforts for animal rights, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016 from former President Barack Obama.