Adam Sandler's Net Worth Is Higher Than You Think
For many millennials, Adam Sandler is a ubiquitous presence on screen. The funny man has been in the industry for decades, with acting credits in movies like "Big Daddy," "Grown Ups," "Just Go With It," and "Uncut Gems." No stranger to the small screen, either, Sandler was on "Saturday Night Live" from 1990 to 1995, before he was apparently fired without much of an explanation. However, he didn't seem to be too discouraged by his termination, as his career was on the rise with films like "Billy Madison" and "Happy Gilmore," the latter of which celebrated its 25th anniversary in February 2021.
Since Sandler's career took off in the late '90s, he has made millions of dollars through his films and deals with Netflix, as reported by AP News. Business Insider called Netflix's move to bring Sandler on "smart," noting that audiences are drawn to his movies no matter what. With his box office and streaming scores, Sandler is showing no signs of slowing down and is on his way to becoming even richer. Scroll down to find out what the "Hotel Mystery" star is worth.
Adam Sandler is one of Hollywood's richest actors
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Adam Sandler is estimated to have a net worth of $420 million. That's a lot of money, even by Hollywood standards. According to Forbes, the star has been one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood for years. In 2019, streaming giant Netflix paid Sandler "$31 million ... as part of his four-film, $250 million deal signed in 2014," Forbes reported. The outlet added that Netflix was willing to extend their partnership because of how streamable Sandler is; he was streamed over 2 billion hours in 2019. While Sandler's streaming numbers are impressive, the "Uncut Gems" star also gets money from producing through his Happy Madison Productions company. In 2014, Business Insider noted that company — which has produced dozens of films with actors like David Spade, Kevin James, and Chris Rock — has made over $3.9 billion.
For Sandler, his money-making ability is a reminder of his roots. In a 2020 interview with "60 Minutes," Sandler revealed he performed at the Comic Strip Club in New York City over 500 times when he was in college. When asked if he remembered how much he made, Sandler said, "I think it was ten bucks a night, ten bucks. That was good. Didn't care." Though Sandler didn't care how much he made then, we're sure that he's happy with his bank account now.
He landed a role on The Cosby Show while attending NYU
Adam Sandler began his journey to success at New York University, where he sharpened his acting skills and eventually graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, per Marie Claire. According to the comedian's IMDb biography, club and university performances helped him practice his craft. Unfortunately, one of Sandler's professors wasn't sure all of his hard work would pay off. During a Variety "Actors on Actors" interview, Brad Pitt recalled the time his professor spoke with Sandler about his future. "He took you out for a beer, you guys went to a bar, and he kindly said to you, 'Think about something else. Listen, you got heart, but you don't have it. ... Choose another path,'" Pitt told Sandler.
The aspiring star proved this professor wrong and eventually earned the role of Theo Huxtable's friend, Smitty, on "The Cosby Show." Although Smitty was only featured in a few episodes, Sandler likely walked away with a decent earning compared to his previous gigs. After all, "The Cosby Show" series finale alone brought in 44.4 million viewers, per Forbes. Sandler also received valuable advice from Bill Cosby himself. "He told me that you should try to keep it clean when you do your act, and think about if it's necessary to use that curse or not," the actor said in an interview with NBC News.
SNL was the comedian's big break
"Saturday Night Live" marked the start of Adam Sandler's career in comedy. He began writing for the show in 1990 and was quickly promoted to cast member. The young star soon became one of the most beloved comedians on the show. Sandler's original songs, like "The Hanukkah Song" and "Thanksgiving Song," set him apart. Despite being a fan favorite, Adam Sandler was fired from "Saturday Night Live" in 1995. The details behind Sandler's departure remained a mystery until he sat down with The Daily Beast to explain why he and his fellow cast member, Chris Farley, were let go. "Yes, we were [fired]," Sandler admitted in the interview. "We kind of quit at the same time as being fired. It was the end of the run for us. The fact that me and him got fired? Who knows. We were on it for a few years, had our run, and everything happens for a reason."
Sandler returned to the "Saturday Night Live" stage once again in 2019, and he did not pass up the opportunity to boast about the successful career he built after being let go. He supplemented his monologue with an original song that included the lyrics: "NBC said that I was done. Then I made over $4 billion at the box office, so I guess you could say I won." It may be safe to say that the "Blended" star's "SNL" firing didn't halt his journey to wealth.
The Grown Ups star's movies made billions
Adam Sandler has earned much of his wealth through his long acting career. According to Celebrity Net Worth, he makes an incredible $20 million per movie. He's been featured in over 47 films, which has culminated in over $2.4 billion at the box office worldwide, per Worthly. The 1999 comedy, "Big Daddy," which starred Sandler and Dylan and Cole Sprouse, was one of his most successful films and brought in $234,801,895 worldwide, per Box Office Mojo. "Grown Ups" and "Grown Ups 2" were also notable accomplishments in Sandler's career. The first film brought in $271,430,189 worldwide, and its highly anticipated sequel was similarly successful, with global earnings of $246,984,278.
Although Sandler is most widely known for his roles in adult comedies, his highest-earning film was actually a children's film. His role as Dracula in the "Hotel Transylvania" franchise put a significant chunk of change into his pockets. According to Box Office Mojo, the first film brought in $358,375,603 worldwide. Although the franchise likely made Sandler millions, he left his role after the third movie. When asked about Sandler's absence, co-director Derek Drymon revealed to Radio Times: "The fact that [Sandler] turns into a human [in the new film] was a good opportunity to do things a little differently. He could be a little different than he was in the movies, and it would be natural," (via Newsweek). With Sandler preoccupied with his new Netflix deal, Dracula is now voiced by Brian Hull.
Adam Sandler has a successful production company
Adam Sandler made a smart move early on in his career when he created his production company, Happy Madison. The company allowed the actor to have creative control of his projects and delve into TV production. As many Sandler fans know, Happy Madison is behind films like "The Benchwarmers" and "Jack and Jill," and has also produced TV shows. ABC's long-running sitcom, "The Goldbergs," is produced by Happy Madison. The show takes place in the '80s and follows the lives of a quirky suburban family in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. "The Goldbergs" has done fairly well since its 2013 debut, bringing in 4.1 million viewers during its Season 8 premiere. "Rules of Engagement" had a bit of a shorter run, as the CBS sitcom only aired from 2007 to 2013. The show was canceled after seven seasons because its ratings couldn't keep up with production costs, per Entertainment Weekly.
Sandler expanded his business endeavors further in 2020 when he signed his second movie deal with Netflix. As previously mentioned, the "Anger Management" star had signed an agreement with the streaming giant to make four films for $250 million in 2014. The star's 2020 partnership extends that deal for four more films, although neither party has disclosed how much money Sandler is receiving. According to AP News, Netflix said that Sandler's "Murder Mystery" was one of their most popular films in 2019. The movie's success may have motivated the company to continue working with the star.
The Uncut Gems star owns multi-million dollar mansions
With a net worth of $420 million, Adam Sandler has plenty to invest in gorgeous properties. His primary residence is a stunning Los Angeles mansion — and of course, the millionaire comedian purchased the house next door as well. Sandler first bought the property for $12 million in 2004, and it is now worth a whopping $28 million, per Velvet Ropes. Back in 2001, the star purchased a three-bedroom Malibu mansion for $3.1 million. The beachfront property is complete with an entertainment patio and a skylight.
Like many celebrities, Sandler has opted to share his wealth with his loved ones. The "Uncut Gems" actor purchased a $640,000 home in Boca Raton, Florida for his mother in 1999. The property was valued at $1.25 million in 2021, per Velvet Ropes. According to RealEstateAgent.com, this location is known as the "Beverly Hills of Florida" and is home to many lavish properties. It has been rumored that Sandler also purchased an additional vacation home for himself in the same area, as reported by Velvet Ropes.
He has an impressive car collection
Adam Sandler's car collection makes his Cadillac obsession apparent. In fact, the star owns three of them. Unlike some of his peers, Sandler doesn't seem to be too fond of outrageously expensive sports cars. Still, his taste in vehicles is a little more luxurious than his taste in fashion. Sandler has been photographed in a sleek, black Cadillac DTS. The car is practical enough that the comedian could drive his kids around it. It is also not too much of a splurge price-wise, considering Sandler's not-so-modest net worth. The comedian also owns a black Cadillac CTS. This luxury vehicle is also the perfect balance of flashy and practical.
Like many celebrities, Sandler has been seen riding around in a Cadillac Escalade. With seven seats, the SUV has enough room for the star's entire entourage. As you may have guessed, the star opted for a jet-black model. This might be one of Sandler's favorites, because he featured the vehicle in his film, "Jack and Jill." This was likely a product placement, but Sandler seems to be such a fan of Cadillacs that we can't help but wonder if he offered to advertise the car for free.