Net Worth Ranker
What Is Rosie O’Donnell’s Net Worth?
Rosie O’Donnell, an American stand-up comedian, actress, author, and media personality, has accumulated a considerable fortune throughout her multifaceted career. Her net worth is estimated to be $80 million. This wealth is the result of her success in television, film, publishing, and other ventures.
Early Career and Rise to Prominence
Roseann O’Donnell was born on March 21, 1962, in Commack, Long Island, New York. She spent her formative years in Commack, attending Commack High School, where she was a popular figure, winning titles such as homecoming queen and senior class president. In 1980, after graduating from high school, she briefly attended Dickinson College before transferring to Boston University and eventually dropping out altogether to pursue her comedic career. From 1979 to 1984, O’Donnell honed her skills as a stand-up comedian, performing in clubs across the country. Her breakthrough moment came in 1984 when she appeared on “Star Search”.
After “Star Search,” Rosie began receiving opportunities to appear in television sitcoms. Her television debut was in 1986 as Nell Carter’s neighbor on “Gimme a Break!” and then joined VH1 in 1988 as one of their veejays, hosting the comedy showcase series “Stand-up Spotlight” for VH1 as well. Her 1992 sitcom “Stand By Your Man” on Fox Network did not fare well, but her movie career was beginning to take off. O’Donnell’s feature film debut came in 1992 when she appeared in “A League of Their Own” alongside stars like Tom Hanks, Madonna, and Geena Davis. Subsequently, Rosie secured roles in films like “Sleepless in Seattle” (1993), earning approximately $500,000 for her supporting role as Meg Ryan’s best friend. In 1994, she portrayed Betty Rubble in “The Flintstones.” In 1999, she voiced the character of Terk in Disney’s “Tarzan.” This role brought her an estimated $2 million.
“The Rosie O’Donnell Show” and Television Career
In 1996, O’Donnell launched her daytime talk show, “The Rosie O’Donnell Show,” with NBC Studios. The show aired from June 1996 to May 2002. The program, which was an instant hit, brought in an average of 6 million viewers daily during its peak years. Throughout its run, “The Rosie O’Donnell Show” won multiple Emmy Awards, solidifying O’Donnell’s status as a prominent figure in daytime television. Her annual salary for hosting the show was reported to be around $10 million, contributing significantly to her growing net worth. She left ABC in 2007 because she and the network failed to reach an agreement on a new contract. Subsequently, O’Donnell started a video blog on her website, Rosie.com, in March 2007, featuring her hair and make-up artist Helen Macaulay and her writer from “The Rosie O’Donnell Show,” Janette Barber. The video series was called “Jahero”, using the first two letters of each of their first names. Her daily two-hour radio show on Sirius XM Radio, “Rosie Radio,” premiered in November 2009 and ran until June 2011. On it, she discussed news and various current events.
In September 2006, O’Donnell joined “The View” as a co-host, replacing Meredith Vieira. Ratings increased by 27% during her first year. Despite the initial success, she left the show in 2007 after less than one season due to disagreements with the network regarding her contract. In 2011, O’Donnell started producing content for the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). “The Doc Club with Rosie O’Donnell” premiered in May 2011. Her own show on OWN, “The Rosie Show”, ran from October 2011 to March 2012. In the fall of 2014, O’Donnell returned to “The View”. She left the show in 2015, citing personal reasons, such as health problems. From 2013 to 2016, she appeared on a number of shows, including “Bomb Girls” (2013), “Smash” (2013), “Impractical Jokers” (2013), “The Fosters” (2014-2016), “Empire” (2015), “Mom” (2016), “Match Game” (2016), and “The $100,000 Pyramid” (2016). From November 2017 until March 2019, she was a member of the cast of the Showtime comedy “SMILF.” Her role in “SMILF” earned her approximately $50,000 per episode, adding to her income stream.
Other Ventures and Investments
O’Donnell has also ventured into publishing, children’s books, and the travel industry. In 2000, she partnered with the publishers of “McCall’s” magazine to revamp the publication into “Rosie’s McCall’s,” more commonly known as “Rosie.” She quit the venture in September 2002 after a dispute with publishers over editorial control, and the magazine folded in 2003. In 1997, she released “Kids are Punny: Jokes Sent by Kids to the Rosie O’Donnell Show.” In April 2002, she released “Find Me,” her first memoir, followed by “Celebrity Detox” in October 2007. In addition, she and her partner at the time, Kelli Carpenter, launched R Family Vacations, catering to LGBTQ families. The company generated over $20 million in revenue within its first few years, contributing to O’Donnell’s business ventures and overall wealth.
Real Estate Holdings and Transactions
Rosie O’Donnell has been actively involved in real estate transactions over the years, owning and selling numerous properties across the United States. In 1999, she purchased a home on Miami’s Star Island for $6.75 million. She later sold this property in 2003 for $16.5 million, realizing a substantial profit of $9.75 million. The buyers were Dr. David Frankel and his wife Linda, whose sister is Diane Sawyer. Linda died in 2023 and David died in 2024. Their estate put the home up for sale in October 2024 for $54 million.
In 2013, she acquired a home in Saddle River, New Jersey, for $6.375 million. She initially listed the property for sale in 2015 for $7 million but eventually sold it in April 2021 at a loss of $1 million. The final sale price was approximately $5.375 million.
In July 2015, O’Donnell purchased a home in West Palm Beach, Florida, for $5 million. She sold this property in January 2018 for roughly the same price as her initial purchase. In 2017, she invested $8 million in a triplex condo in New York City. She listed this property for sale in April 2024 for $7.5 million, indicating a potential loss of $500,000 if sold at the listed price.
O’Donnell also owns a 2.4-acre compound in Nyack, New York, comprising multiple lots and residences. In November 2017, she initially listed the entire property for sale for $11 million. She has since sold off portions of the property while retaining ownership of the majority of the compound. In December 2021, O’Donnell purchased a new mansion in Los Angeles, located in the Beverlywood neighborhood, for $4.6 million. The 4,100 square-foot mansion was listed for sale just months later for $4.9 million.
Personal Life and Public Persona
O’Donnell publicly came out as a lesbian in 2002 during an act at the Ovarian Cancer Research benefit at Caroline’s Comedy Club. She was married to Kelli Carpenter from 2004 to 2007, and they have four children together. She was then married to Michelle Rounds from 2012 to 2016, and they have one daughter together. Her openness about her personal life and her advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights have further solidified her public persona. Her net worth, estimated at $80 million, reflects her accomplishments in entertainment, media, and entrepreneurial ventures.
