One of comedy’s most enduring stars, Eddie Murphy has been a mainstay in Hollywood for more than 40 years.
He made his debut in the early ’80s as a cast member and writer on Saturday Night Live, a show he went on to host twice. SNL launched Murphy’s career to new heights, allowing him to break into films and standalone comedy specials. He helmed some of the best comedic releases of the ’80s and ’90s, including the Beverly Hills Cop franchise and Coming to America. He also played Donkey in the Shrek films, a franchise that remains utterly beloved to this day.
Murphy defined comedy for a number of years, going on to become one of Hollywood’s most popular stars between the late ’90s and early 2010s. His voice helped a number of family-friendly films to reach new heights, elevating movies like Mulan and the aforementioned Shrek series to newfound heights.
His career highs have earned Murphy huge paychecks over the years. He’s appeared in more than 40 films during his career, each of which have earned him solid — and sometimes spectacular — paychecks.
Eddie Murphy’s net worth
During his initial run on SNL, Murphy earned $4,500 per episode. His salary rose immensely during his second season on the show, seeing his salary rise to $30,000. In the following years, he took on films like Beverly Hills Cop, which earned him $14 million, and eventually managed a whopping paycheck for The Nutty Professor 2, which earned him $60 million.
He’s earned a truly impressive $300 million over the course of his career in Hollywood, according to Celebrity Net Worth, and has spent a solid chunk of this on properties over the years. Murphy owns a $30 to $40 million home in Beverly Hills and an entire private island in the Bahamas, still managing to maintain an impressive net worth of $200 million.
Some of Murphy’s fortune went to his ex-wife, Nicole Mitchell, when the two divorced in 2006. He’s also likely spent a good chunk on his gaggle of children — of which he has 10 — and his various charitable efforts.
