Ray Romano Net Worth

What is Ray Romano's Net Worth and Salary?

Ray Romano is an American comedian, actor, writer, and producer who has a net worth of $200 million. Ray Romano began performing stand-up in New York's comedy clubs in the mid-1980s, gradually gaining attention through appearances on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" and "Late Show with David Letterman." His observational style and dry delivery resonated with audiences, and his regular guest spots on Letterman eventually led to his big break: the development of a sitcom built around his persona. That series became "Everybody Loves Raymond," which premiered in 1996 and quickly turned into one of the most acclaimed and highest-rated sitcoms of its era.

Running for nine seasons, "Everybody Loves Raymond" turned Romano into a household name and earned him an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. The show also gave him a rare level of creative influence. He served as both star and writer and eventually became one of television's highest-paid actors, earning reported salaries near $1.75 million per episode in the final seasons. The series' success led to international syndication and cemented its place as one of the defining family sitcoms of the 1990s and 2000s.

Ray voiced Manny the mammoth in the blockbuster "Ice Age" franchise, anchoring one of the most successful animated series in film history. He later explored more dramatic work, earning praise for roles in projects like "Parenthood," "The Big Sick," and Martin Scorsese's "The Irishman." Romano also co-created and starred in the TNT dramedy "Men of a Certain Age," which earned critical acclaim and a Peabody Award.

Romano has also returned to his roots in stand-up comedy with his special "Right Here, Around the Corner," released on Netflix in 2019. It was his first stand-up special in 23 years.

Highest Paid Actor & Everybody Loves Raymond Salary

Ray Romano's early-season salary for "Everybody Loves Raymond" has never been publicly disclosed, but his earnings became well documented once the show turned into a top-rated hit. Beginning in season five, Romano earned $800,000 per episode, which amounted to roughly $19 million per season. Over seasons five, six, and seven, that totaled about $57 million. If one assumes a conservative estimate of $300,000 per episode for the show's first four seasons, that would add roughly another $30 million to his early-series earnings.

For the final two seasons, Romano negotiated what was then a record-breaking paycheck of $1.75 million per episode, making him the highest-paid actor in television history at the time. His record was formally surpassed in 2019, when Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon each secured $2 million per episode for "The Morning Show." Adjusted for inflation, however, Romano's $1.75 million would be worth approximately $2.3 million today, which keeps him at the top of the all-time list on a real-dollar basis.

Using the $1.75 million figure, Romano earned about $40 million from season eight and another $28 million from the shorter ninth season. These totals reflect only his acting and production salaries. Romano also owns backend points on the show, generating tens of millions more through lucrative syndication deals, with additional earnings continuing as the show remains in worldwide reruns.

Purely from in-production salary, Romano earned approximately:

• $30 million (seasons 1–4 estimate)
• $57 million (seasons 5–7)
• $40 million (season 8)
• $28 million (season 9)
• = $155 million in base earnings before taxes, making him one of the highest-compensated actors in television history.

(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Early Life

Raymond Albert Romano was born on December 21, 1957, in Queens, New York. He grew up in an Italian-American household with two brothers, and his upbringing later became the foundation for much of his material as both a stand-up comedian and sitcom creator. Romano frequently drew from real family dynamics, neighborhood personalities, and the humor of everyday arguments, and these experiences eventually inspired the tone and structure of "Everybody Loves Raymond." Romano graduated from Hillcrest High School in 1975 in the same class as fellow comedian Fran Drescher. He went on to study accounting at Queens College while juggling part-time jobs, though comedy ultimately eclipsed any plans for a traditional career path.

Standup Career

While studying accounting and working as a bank clerk and delivery driver, Romano began trying his hand at stand-up in New York comedy clubs. His dry delivery and observational humor quickly caught on, and by the late 1980s he was performing regularly at clubs across the city. In 1989 he won several local stand-up competitions and appeared in the Johnny Walker Comedy Search, helping him gain early national visibility.

His first notable TV exposure came in 1990 on MTV's "Half-Hour Comedy Hour," followed by frequent appearances on The Comedy Channel. By 1995, his career accelerated significantly. He landed a recurring voice role on "Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist" on Comedy Central and appeared on "Star Search" in the stand-up category. These appearances helped showcase his persona to wider audiences and positioned him for the opportunity that would define his career.

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Everybody Loves Raymond

Romano's defining breakthrough came after a standout set on "The Late Show with David Letterman." Letterman was so taken with his tone and storytelling style that his production company, Worldwide Pants, moved to develop a sitcom centered entirely on Romano's comedic voice. The result was "Everybody Loves Raymond," which premiered on CBS in 1996.

The series starred Romano as Ray Barone, a sportswriter raising a family on Long Island while dealing with his overbearing parents and competitive brother, all of whom live directly across the street. The ensemble cast became central to the show's success: Patricia Heaton as Ray's wife Debra, Brad Garrett as his brother Robert, and Doris Roberts and Peter Boyle as his relentlessly intrusive parents, Marie and Frank. The chemistry among the cast, combined with the show's blend of family conflicts and relatable marital humor, helped it resonate with millions of viewers.

"Everybody Loves Raymond" ran for nine seasons and produced 210 episodes, becoming one of television's most consistently popular sitcoms. Critics praised its grounded writing and strong ensemble performances, and the show earned numerous awards. Romano won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, and the series itself won Emmys for Outstanding Comedy Series. By the mid-2000s it ranked among the most-watched comedies on television, and Romano became the highest-paid actor in TV history at the time.

Many characters were loosely based on Romano's real family members, and several relatives made guest appearances throughout the series, including his daughter, brother, and father. The show's long-term syndication success continues to add to its legacy and to Romano's earnings.

After "Raymond"

Following the end of the series in 2005, Romano transitioned into a mix of film, voice work, and more dramatic roles. He played a salesman in the comedy "Grilled," earned strong reviews for the indie drama "Paddleton," and appeared in Martin Scorsese's acclaimed 2019 crime epic "The Irishman." He also became the voice of Manny the mammoth in "Ice Age" and reprised the role in all four sequels, helping anchor one of the most successful animated film franchises of all time.

On television, Romano continued to work steadily. He appeared on shows such as "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," "The Price Is Right," "The Office," and "The Middle," and co-created and starred in the TNT dramedy "Men of a Certain Age," which won a Peabody Award. He later earned praise for roles on "Parenthood" and starred in the Epix series "Get Shorty." Additional work includes leading roles in "Somewhere in Queens" (2022), the HBO Max series "Made for Love" (2021–2022), and the Peacock comedy "Bupkis" (2023).

Personal Life

Outside of acting, Romano is an avid poker player who has competed in the World Series of Poker multiple times. He is also a dedicated golfer, finishing fifth in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in 2012 alongside professional golfer Steve Bowditch.

Romano met his future wife while they both worked at a bank, and they married in 1987. The couple has four children. In 2012, Romano shared that his wife had successfully recovered from breast cancer, and he has spoken publicly about the experience to raise awareness.

Real Estate

Since the late 1990s, Ray has owned a lavish 10,000-square-foot mansion on 1.25 acres in Encino, California, that is likely worth north of $10 million today based on comparable sales. This was his primary residence during the filming of his show since it was only a few minutes from the studio.

In 2004, he paid $8.5 million for an oceanfront home on Malibu's ultra-exclusive Broad Beach. This home today is easily worth north of $25 million. In August 2023, Ray made this home available to rent for a monthly price of $175,000.

In 2017, he paid a relatively modest $2.1 million for a home in Venice, California. He listed this property for $2.5 million in 2022, and it sold a few months later for $2.3 million.

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