Jimmy Kimmel’s net worth is estimated at $50 million in 2026, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The estimate comes as Kimmel continues his long-running career at ABC, where he hosts and executive-produces Jimmy Kimmel Live! and also hosts Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. Celebrity Net Worth lists his annual salary at approximately $16 million, a figure broadly consistent with Forbes’ 2025 estimate of $16 million in television earnings.
Kimmel’s current ABC deal runs through May 2027, following a one-year extension signed in December 2025. In September 2026, ABC was also reported to be in discussions with Kimmel about the show’s future beyond that contract, while the network said reports that the program was definitely ending were inaccurate or speculative.
Introduction
Jimmy Kimmel’s career has stretched from local radio to one of the longest-running late-night television programs in the United States, and that long career has translated into substantial earnings.
As of September 2026, Jimmy Kimmel’s net worth is estimated at $50 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The same source estimates his annual salary at around $16 million. Forbes separately estimated Kimmel’s television earnings at $16 million for 2025. Because Kimmel’s complete personal finances, investments, assets and liabilities are not publicly disclosed, the $50 million figure should be treated as an estimate rather than an independently audited net-worth statement.
The latest development surrounding Kimmel’s career is his contract situation with ABC. In December 2025, ABC confirmed that Kimmel signed a one-year extension keeping Jimmy Kimmel Live! on the network through May 2027. In September 2026, reports emerged about discussions concerning the program’s future after that deal expires, but ABC said reports that the show was definitely ending were inaccurate and speculative.
That makes Kimmel’s current financial picture especially interesting: his wealth has been built over decades through television hosting, producing, comedy, radio, entertainment projects and major awards-show assignments.
What Happened With Jimmy Kimmel’s Net Worth?
There has not been a newly announced personal financial disclosure from Kimmel establishing a specific net-worth figure.
Instead, the $50 million figure is a third-party estimate published by Celebrity Net Worth. Its page, updated September 9, 2026, lists Kimmel’s estimated net worth at $50 million and his salary at $16 million per year.
The figure should therefore be understood as an estimate of his accumulated wealth rather than a confirmed amount sitting in a bank account.
Net worth is calculated differently from annual income. A person’s wealth can include assets such as property, investments and business interests, while debts and other liabilities reduce the total.
Kimmel’s decades-long entertainment career makes the calculation particularly difficult because his income has come from multiple sources.
Key financial details
- Estimated net worth: $50 million
- Estimated annual salary: $16 million
- Main long-term television role: Host and executive producer of Jimmy Kimmel Live!
- Current ABC contract: Through May 2027
- Additional ABC role: Host and executive producer of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
- Career: Radio, television, comedy, writing and producing
- Academy Awards hosted: Four times
- Television career: More than three decades
The $16 million annual figure has additional support from Forbes, which estimated Kimmel’s television earnings at $16 million in 2025.
Jimmy Kimmel’s Salary in 2026
Celebrity Net Worth currently lists Kimmel’s annual salary at approximately $16 million. Forbes also estimated his 2025 television earnings at $16 million.
However, it is important not to automatically assume that every dollar of the $16 million represents Kimmel’s personal take-home pay.
Public estimates of celebrity salaries can represent compensation connected with television work and may not provide a complete breakdown of taxes, production arrangements, business expenses or other deductions.
Kimmel’s relationship with ABC also extends beyond simply appearing in front of the camera.
ABC identifies him as the host and executive producer of both Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
That combination of hosting and producing gives Kimmel multiple professional roles within television.
Jimmy Kimmel’s ABC Contract Through 2027
One of the most important recent developments for Kimmel’s career came in December 2025.
ABC reported that Kimmel agreed to a one-year contract extension that would keep him at the network through at least May 2027.
His previous agreement had been scheduled to expire in 2026. The new deal extended his tenure for another television season.
The financial terms of the one-year extension were not publicly disclosed.
That means there is no reliable public figure for exactly how much Kimmel’s new contract pays him.
What happens after May 2027?
This became a significant question in September 2026.
TheWrap reported on September 11 that ABC and Kimmel had entered discussions concerning the future of Jimmy Kimmel Live! beyond the 2026–27 television season.
Earlier reports suggested the show might end when Kimmel’s current contract expires. However, ABC rejected that characterization.
ABC told media outlets that reports about the show’s future were inaccurate or speculative.
Therefore, there is currently no confirmed announcement that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will end in May 2027.
That distinction is important when discussing Kimmel’s future earnings. His contract is confirmed through May 2027, but what happens after that remains unsettled publicly.
How Jimmy Kimmel Built His Wealth
Kimmel’s financial success did not come from one television contract.
His career developed gradually across radio, comedy, television hosting, production and major live events.
1. Radio career
Kimmel began his professional career in radio.
According to ABC’s biography, he spent about 12 years working in local radio, with stops in cities including Las Vegas, Phoenix, Seattle, Tampa, Palm Springs, Tucson and Los Angeles.
His radio experience became the foundation for his later television career.
In Los Angeles, he became known as “Jimmy the Sports Guy” on KROQ’s Kevin & Bean morning show. His work also brought him into contact with Adam Carolla, who would later become an important collaborator.
2. Win Ben Stein’s Money
Kimmel’s major television breakthrough came with Comedy Central’s Win Ben Stein’s Money.
He became the show’s co-host in 1997 and won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Game Show Host in 1999. ABC’s biography notes that this was an important step in his transition from radio personality to national television figure.
The program gave Kimmel greater visibility and established him as a television personality rather than only a radio comedian.
3. The Man Show
Kimmel then became widely known as the co-host and co-creator of Comedy Central’s The Man Show with Adam Carolla.
The program ran from 1999 and became one of the projects that helped establish Kimmel’s reputation in television comedy.
His work on the show also opened the door to more opportunities as a writer, producer and television personality.
4. Producing television shows
Kimmel’s income and professional profile expanded through production.
ABC credits him with co-creating and executive-producing projects including Crank Yankers and The Andy Milonakis Show.
He later became involved with additional television projects through his production company, Kimmelot.
This part of his career is important when considering his net worth because his business activities have not been limited to appearing on television.
Jimmy Kimmel Live! Became His Biggest Career Platform
The biggest development in Kimmel’s career came in 2003, when Jimmy Kimmel Live! premiered on ABC.
The Television Academy identifies the show’s premiere date as January 26, 2003 and lists Kimmel as its host and executive producer.
More than two decades later, the program remains on ABC.
ABC’s current show page lists Jimmy Kimmel Live! as a weeknight program airing at 11:35 p.m. Eastern/10:35 p.m. Central and continuing to feature celebrity, athlete, comedian and musical guests.
The longevity of the program has been a major factor in Kimmel’s career and earning power.
Instead of relying on short-term acting roles or individual comedy specials, Kimmel has had a recurring position at a major U.S. television network for more than 20 years.
Kimmel’s Other Television Work
Jimmy Kimmel Live! is not his only source of television income.
ABC also lists Kimmel as the host and executive producer of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?.
The program returned in a celebrity-focused format, with contestants playing for charitable causes.
ABC also says Kimmel has served as host and executive producer of Live in Front of a Studio Audience, which recreated classic television programs.
His broader television portfolio means his professional income is not dependent on a single late-night show.
Jimmy Kimmel’s Oscars and Emmy Hosting Career
Kimmel has also generated additional career value through major awards-show hosting.
The Academy confirmed that he hosted the Oscars for the fourth time in 2024. His previous Oscar hosting assignments came in 2017, 2018 and 2023.
He has also hosted the Primetime Emmy Awards multiple times.
The Television Academy lists Kimmel as a five-time Emmy winner and records his work as host and executive producer on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?.
These high-profile events have strengthened his position as one of American television’s most recognizable hosts.
What ABC and Other Organizations Have Said
ABC has continued to present Kimmel as an active part of its television lineup.
The network’s official biography describes him as America’s longest-running late-night talk-show host and identifies him as host and executive producer of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?.
In December 2025, ABC News reported that Kimmel’s contract had been extended through May 2027.
More recently, ABC pushed back against reports that Jimmy Kimmel Live! was definitely going to end after the current contract.
TheWrap reported that ABC described reports about the show’s future as speculative, while The Global News report quoted an ABC Entertainment spokesperson saying the reports were inaccurate.
As a result, the confirmed position as of September 2026 is straightforward: Kimmel’s current agreement runs through May 2027, and there is no confirmed announcement that the show will end then.
Why Jimmy Kimmel’s Net Worth Matters
Kimmel’s estimated $50 million fortune illustrates how a long-running television career can generate wealth through multiple professional channels.
His career has included:
- Radio hosting
- Comedy
- Television hosting
- Television production
- Writing
- Executive producing
- Awards-show hosting
- Game-show hosting
- Voice acting
- Entertainment production
The length of his ABC career is especially important.
Jimmy Kimmel Live! has been on television since 2003, giving Kimmel more than two decades of continuous exposure and employment at a major broadcast network.
His current salary estimate of $16 million also shows how valuable established television hosts can remain despite the changing late-night television business. Forbes included Kimmel among the highest-paid television hosts in its 2025 estimates.
The Difference Between Jimmy Kimmel’s Salary and Net Worth
These two figures are often confused.
Salary refers to compensation earned over a specific period, such as a year.
Net worth represents the value of assets minus liabilities.
For example, if someone earns $16 million in a year, that does not mean their net worth automatically increases by $16 million. Taxes, expenses, investments, property purchases, debts and other financial factors affect the final calculation.
Therefore, Kimmel’s reported $16 million annual salary and estimated $50 million net worth describe two different aspects of his finances.
Is Jimmy Kimmel’s $50 Million Net Worth Confirmed?
No.
The $50 million figure is a third-party estimate from Celebrity Net Worth.
There is no public personal financial statement from Kimmel confirming that he has exactly $50 million in net assets.
That is why the most accurate wording is:
Jimmy Kimmel’s net worth is estimated at $50 million in 2026.
It would be misleading to describe the amount as an audited or officially confirmed personal fortune.
The same caution applies to his $16 million salary estimate. Forbes independently reported a $16 million television-earnings estimate for 2025, but the detailed terms of Kimmel’s current ABC extension have not been publicly disclosed.
What Happens Next for Jimmy Kimmel?
The immediate confirmed timeline is that Jimmy Kimmel Live! remains under Kimmel’s current ABC arrangement through May 2027.
The longer-term situation remains under discussion.
In September 2026, TheWrap reported that Kimmel and Disney executives were discussing renewal possibilities beyond the 2026–27 season.
At the same time, ABC rejected reports that the show was definitely ending, describing such reports as inaccurate or speculative.
Therefore, there is currently no confirmed public decision about Kimmel’s employment at ABC beyond May 2027.
For his net worth, the continuation or conclusion of the program could be financially significant because Jimmy Kimmel Live! has been the central platform of his television career for more than two decades.
FAQs
What is Jimmy Kimmel’s net worth in 2026?
Jimmy Kimmel’s net worth is estimated at $50 million by Celebrity Net Worth as of September 2026. This is a third-party estimate, not an audited figure released by Kimmel.
How much does Jimmy Kimmel make per year?
Celebrity Net Worth estimates Jimmy Kimmel’s annual salary at approximately $16 million. Forbes also estimated his television earnings at $16 million for 2025.
How much is Jimmy Kimmel’s ABC contract worth?
The financial terms of Kimmel’s latest one-year extension were not publicly disclosed. ABC confirmed that the agreement keeps him with the network through May 2027.
Is Jimmy Kimmel Live! ending in 2027?
There is no confirmed announcement that the show will end in 2027. ABC has described reports that the program is definitely ending as inaccurate or speculative, while Kimmel and Disney have reportedly been discussing the show’s future beyond the current contract.
How long has Jimmy Kimmel hosted Jimmy Kimmel Live!?
Kimmel has hosted Jimmy Kimmel Live! since its premiere on January 26, 2003. He is also the show’s executive producer.
What other shows has Jimmy Kimmel hosted?
Beyond Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Kimmel has hosted or been involved with programs including Win Ben Stein’s Money, The Man Show and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. ABC also credits him with producing several television projects.
How many times has Jimmy Kimmel hosted the Oscars?
Kimmel has hosted the Academy Awards four times: in 2017, 2018, 2023 and 2024. The Academy confirmed his fourth hosting assignment in 2023.
What is Jimmy Kimmel’s main source of income?
His television career is the primary publicly reported source of his current earnings. This includes Jimmy Kimmel Live! and his work on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. Celebrity Net Worth estimates his annual television salary at about $16 million.