Eddie Murphy Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is the net worth and salary of Eddie Murphy?

With a net worth of $200 million, Eddie Murphy stands out as an American actor, comedian, producer, and director. His films have collectively grossed nearly $7 billion globally, affirming his status as one of the highest-grossing actors in film history, ranking him as the sixth highest among American actors at the box office. During the late 80s, 90s, and 2000s, Murphy consistently ranked as one of the top-paid actors, often commanding $20 million per movie. Over his career, it is estimated that he has easily earned over $300 million in salaries and backend royalties. Notably, Netflix compensated Eddie with $70 million in 2019 for a series of comedy specials. When aggregating earnings from known deals, Eddie’s career earnings amount to at least $420 million.

Murphy rose to prominence in the early 1980s thanks to Saturday Night Live, which introduced him to a national audience and established him as a major star. He was responsible for creating memorable characters for the iconic sketch comedy series, such as Buckwheat, Mister Robinson, and Gumby.

His fascination with comedy ignited when he listened to one of Richard Pryor’s comedy albums as a teenager. Upon joining SNL in 1980, the show faced significant struggles following Lorne Michaels’s departure and the exit of original stars. Murphy is often credited with revitalizing the program.

From 1980 to 1984, he participated in 65 episodes of SNL and commenced his tenure at just 19 years old. His material often delicately addressed racial topics in bold ways, with classic sketches like “Mister Robinson’s Neighborhood” and “White Like Me.” This exposure catapulted him to superstardom. In a 2015 ranking of the top SNL cast members, he secured the second position, following John Belushi.

Murphy’s film career took off while he was still with SNL, starting with the 1982 release of 48 Hours. He went on to star in a string of blockbuster hits, including Trading Places, the Beverly Hills Cop series, Coming to America, Harlem Nights, and Another 48 Hrs. Although his box-office appeal saw a slight decline in the 1990s, he regained momentum with family-oriented films such as Mulan, the Shrek series, and the Nutty Professor films. In 2006, he received an Academy Award nomination and won a Golden Globe for his performance in Dreamgirls. In 2021, he made an appearance in the rebooted sequel, Coming 2 America.

Early Life

Eddie Murphy was born

Brooklyn, NY was home to Eddie Murphy, who was born on April 3, 1961. Raised in Bushwick, a Brooklyn neighborhood, he had a mother who worked as a telephone operator and a father who was a transit cop and an aspiring comedian. Sadly, Eddie lost his father when he was just eight years old. Following this tragedy, he and his older brother, Charlie Murphy, spent some time in foster care due to their mother’s temporary illness. Fortunately, their mother recovered and eventually remarried.

As a teenager, Eddie developed a strong passion for comedy after listening to a Richard Pryor comedy album, with Bill Cosby being a significant influence as well. At the young age of 19 in 1980, Eddie became part of the cast of Saturday Night Live. During this period, the show was facing severe challenges in ratings after losing its original cast members. Eddie’s presence became a major success, propelling the show to greater heights. He remained on SNL until 1984.

Film Career

While still part of SNL in 1982, Eddie made his debut in films with 48 Hrs. This was followed by a string of successful movies, including Trading Places, the Beverly Hills Cop series, Coming to America, Harlem Nights, and Another 48 Hrs. Although Murphy’s box-office appeal slightly declined in the 1990s, he experienced a resurgence with family-oriented films like Mulan, the Shrek series, Dreamgirls, and the Nutty Professor films.

In 2006, Eddie received an Academy Award nomination and won a Golden Globe for his performance in Dreamgirls. He has also produced several of his films, such as Vampire in Brooklyn, Life, and Harlem Nights, which he additionally directed. In 2017, it was announced that Eddie would reprise his role in the Beverly Hills Cop series with Beverly Hills Cop 4, aimed to be released in the future. In 2021, he starred in the sequel to Coming to America, titled Coming 2 America.

Personal Life

Eddie Murphy tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend Nicole Mitchell in 1993, but the couple divorced in 2006, with Eddie reportedly providing Nicole with a $15 million settlement. Between 2006 and 2007, Eddie dated Spice Girl Mel B, followed by a relationship with businesswoman Tracey Edmonds in 2008. Since 2012, he has been in a relationship with model Paige Butcher, and they got engaged in September 2018. From his various relationships, Eddie is a father to ten children.

Throughout his career, Murphy has made charitable contributions to various causes, supporting organizations like the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the Martin Luther King Jr. Center, and donating $100,000 to the Screen Actors Guild strike relief fund.

Eddie Murphy Salary Highlights

Back in 1981, Eddie Murphy earned only $4,500 per episode for Saturday Night Live, but this salary increased to $30,000 by the following year. For his role in 48 Hrs in 1982, he received $450,000. In 1990, he earned $7 million for the sequel entitled Another 48 Hrs. Notably, his first major payday came in 1984 when he made $1 million for the film Best Defense. Throughout the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s, Eddie’s earnings from films and backend points totaled at least $250 million, and his overall film earnings likely surpass $300 million.

Below is a brief overview of some significant salaries Eddie Murphy earned throughout his career:

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• In 1987, he earned $8 million for Beverly Hills Cop II, which approximately translates to about $18 million today when adjusted for inflation.
• The following year, he secured another $8 million for Coming to America.
• For Beverly Hills Cop III in 1994, he made $15 million, equating to around $25 million in current dollars.
• $16 million was his fee for The Nutty Professor (1996).
• He received $17.5 million for Doctor Dolittle (1998).
• For Nutty Professor II (2000), he earned $20 million.
• Additionally, from Nutty Professor II, he received 20% of the gross receipts, resulting in a total earnings of over $60 million from that film.
• For his role in Shrek (2001), he earned $3 million.
• He also earned $20 million from Doctor Dolittle 2 (2001).
• A $20 million paycheck was received for The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002).
• For Shrek 2 (2004), his payment was $10 million.
• $4 million was what he earned for Shrek Forever, with the potential of reaching as much as $12 million through backend points.
• In 2011, he received $7.5 million for Tower Heist.

Netflix Project

In July 2019, reports indicated that Eddie was in negotiations to earn $70 million for a series of comedy specials for Netflix. This amount is $10 million more than the $60 million that Dave Chappelle made for his three-special agreement, while Chris Rock netted $40 million for two specials.

Eddie Murphy Quote on Money

“Every bad decision I’ve made has been based on money. I grew up in the projects, and there you don’t turn down money. You take it because you never know when it’s all going to end. I made Beverly Hills Cop III because they offered me $15 million. That $15 millionwas worth having Roger Ebert’s thumb up my ass.“

Real Estate

Over the years, Eddie has possessed several remarkable mansions. During part of the 1990s, he resided in Granite Bay, California (near Sacramento), within a lavish custom-built estate located in a prestigious gated community. After selling the Granite Bay residence, he invested $10 million in a 3.7-acre undeveloped parcel in the highly exclusive Beverly Park neighborhood of Beverly Hills. Beverly Park is known as a gated community situated at the pinnacle of Beverly Hills’ priciest area and hosts celebrities like Mark Wahlberg, Denzel Washington, Rod Stewart, and Sylvester Stallone, along with various multi-billionaires.

After purchasing the plot for $10 million in 2001, Eddie allocated unknown millions towards building a brand new mansion spanning 40,000 square feet. This property consists of 32 rooms, including 9 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms. Furthermore, it offers a sizable swimming pool, a tennis court, a library, and a bowling alley. If placed on the market, the mansion would likely command upwards of $30-40 million. A prior Beverly Hills residence that Eddie owned in the 1980s was listed by a subsequent owner for $85 million in 2016.

In 2007, Eddie acquired a private island in the Bahamas called Rooster Cay for $15 million. He had previously owned another private island named Pearl Island.

After seven years on the market, Murphy sold his New Jersey residence in 2012 for $12 million after initially listing it for $30 million.