Kevin James Net Worth

What Is Kevin James' Net Worth and Salary?

Kevin James is an American comedian, actor, writer, and producer who has a net worth of $120 million.

Kevin James first gained national attention in the late 1990s as a stand-up comic, performing on late-night television and building a reputation for observational comedy rooted in working-class life, family dynamics, and everyday frustrations. That comedic sensibility became the foundation of his most successful work.

James's major breakthrough came with the CBS sitcom "The King of Queens," which premiered in 1998 and ran for nine seasons. Starring as Doug Heffernan, a delivery driver living in Queens, James anchored one of the most durable network comedies of its era. The show's success established him as a television star and made him a familiar face to millions of viewers, particularly through syndication. During this period, he also continued stand-up touring and began transitioning into feature films.

In the mid-2000s, James expanded into leading film roles, often playing affable, physically comedic protagonists. He starred in box office hits such as "Hitch," "Paul Blart: Mall Cop," and "Grown Ups," the latter becoming a long-running collaboration with Adam Sandler. While his films frequently received mixed critical responses, several were commercially successful, reinforcing his appeal to family audiences and mainstream comedy fans.

James returned to television in the late 2010s with "Kevin Can Wait," followed by a return to his sitcom roots in "The Crew," a Netflix comedy centered on a NASCAR garage team. He has also taken on occasional dramatic and villainous roles, most notably in "Becky," signaling a willingness to stretch beyond his established comedic persona.

Over more than two decades, Kevin James has built a career defined by consistency and accessibility rather than reinvention. His work reflects the enduring popularity of traditional sitcom comedy and broad theatrical humor, making him one of the most recognizable comic actors of his generation.

Salary

For the middle seasons of the show's run, Kevin's salary per episode on "The King of Queens" was $300,000. For the final seasons, he earned $500,000 per episode. That would equate to around $11 million per season. As an executive producer and owner of a percentage of the show's backend equity, Kevin has earned north of $50 million on syndication deals.

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Early Life

Kevin George Knipfing was born on April 26, 1965, in Mineola, New York. He was raised in Stony Brook on Long Island alongside his brother Gary Knipfing, who later adopted the stage name Gary Valentine, and their sister Leslie. Their mother, Janet, worked in an office setting, while their father, Joseph Valentine Knipfing Jr., owned an insurance agency.

Kevin attended Ward Melville High School, where he was a standout wrestler and developed the physical presence that would later become a key part of his comedic style. After graduating, he enrolled at the State University of New York at Cortland. While playing on the varsity football team, James suffered a serious back injury that ended his athletic career. The injury became a turning point, pushing him away from sports and toward comedy and performance.

Stand-Up Comedy And Career Beginnings

Kevin James made his stand-up comedy debut in 1989 at the East Side Comedy Club on Long Island. Early in his career, he was managed by comedian Richie Minervini, who helped him develop his act and secure exposure. James' stand-up focused on physical comedy, observational humor, and blue-collar frustrations, a style that resonated strongly with mainstream audiences.

As his popularity grew, James landed appearances on major late-night and daytime programs, including "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Late Show with David Letterman," "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," "Dennis Miller Live," "The Late Late Show," "The Rosie O'Donnell Show," "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," and "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee." These appearances established him as one of the most visible stand-up comics of the 1990s.

Early Television Work

James transitioned into television in the early 1990s, landing his first on-screen job in 1991 on "The New Candid Camera," where he performed hidden-camera pranks on unsuspecting participants. From 1994 to 1996, he served as the announcer for MTV's extreme sports game show "SandBlast," gaining further television experience and exposure.

After moving to Los Angeles, James befriended Ray Romano, a connection that proved pivotal. He guest-starred multiple times on Romano's CBS sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond," playing characters that showcased his natural chemistry with Romano and his ability to translate stand-up timing into scripted comedy.

The King of Queens

Those guest appearances on "Everybody Loves Raymond" led directly to the creation of Kevin James' own sitcom, "The King of Queens," which premiered on CBS in September 1998. James starred as Doug Heffernan, a working-class parcel delivery driver living in Queens with his sharp-tongued wife Carrie, played by Leah Remini, and his loud, eccentric father-in-law Arthur Spooner, portrayed by Jerry Stiller. The core trio was supported by a recurring ensemble that included Victor Williams, Patton Oswalt, and Gary Valentine.

The series ran for nine seasons and produced 207 episodes, concluding in May 2007. While the show was rarely positioned as a prestige comedy, it proved to be one of CBS's most reliable performers, particularly among middle-America and blue-collar audiences. Its humor leaned heavily on domestic conflict, class frustration, and physical comedy, all of which played directly to James' strengths.

As the show's popularity grew, so did James' compensation. By the later seasons, he was reportedly earning approximately $500,000 per episode, placing him among the highest-paid sitcom actors on television at the time. In addition to his acting salary, James also benefited from backend participation tied to the show's long-term performance.

"The King of Queens" became a major syndication success following its network run. The series entered off-network syndication shortly after its finale and has since aired continuously on cable and local stations in the United States and internationally. Syndication deals have generated hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue over time, with James reportedly earning tens of millions through residuals and profit participation. The show's enduring presence in reruns cemented James as a household name and provided long-term financial stability that later allowed him to transition more selectively into film and producing roles.

In 2006, James received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for the show's eighth season, a recognition that underscored the series' staying power even late in its run.

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Transition To Film Stardom

James made a brief film cameo in the 2004 comedy "50 First Dates" before making his starring film debut in the 2005 romantic comedy "Hitch." The film was a major box office success and helped reposition him as a viable leading man in theatrical comedies.

He followed with roles in "Grilled," "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry," "You Don't Mess with the Zohan," and "Paul Blart: Mall Cop." "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" proved to be a breakout hit, grossing $39 million in its opening weekend and ultimately generating $219 million from theatrical and home entertainment sales. James starred in, co-wrote, and produced the film, which later spawned the sequel "Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2" in 2015.

Ensemble Comedies And Producer Role

James became a frequent collaborator within Adam Sandler's comedy circle, appearing in ensemble hits such as "Grown Ups" and "Grown Ups 2." While these films were often critically panned, they performed strongly at the box office and reinforced James' appeal with family and mass-market audiences.

During this period, he increasingly took on producer and writer responsibilities, including work on "Zookeeper," "Here Comes the Boom," and "Pixels." His behind-the-scenes involvement reflected a shift from performer to creative stakeholder in his projects.

Voice Acting And Animation

Alongside live-action roles, James built a substantial voice acting résumé. He provided voice work for animated films, including "Monster House," "Barnyard," and the "Hotel Transylvania" franchise. His role as Dracula in the "Hotel Transylvania" films introduced him to a younger audience and became one of his most commercially successful voice performances.

Return To Television And Streaming Era

James returned to network television in 2016 with the CBS sitcom "Kevin Can Wait," which ran for two seasons before being canceled in 2018. He later starred in the Netflix comedy series "The Crew" in 2021, playing a NASCAR garage crew chief, reflecting his ongoing appeal to blue-collar comedy themes.

In recent years, James has diversified his roles, appearing in films such as "Becky," "Hubie Halloween," and portraying NFL coach Sean Payton in "Home Team." He is also attached to the action-comedy film "Guns Up."

Other Work

James has made frequent appearances in the NASCAR world as a promotional figure, serving as grand marshal at multiple major races while promoting his films. In 2009, he produced the Crackle web series "Dusty Peacock," which starred his brother Gary Valentine.

Personal Life

James married actress Steffiana de la Cruz in California on June 19, 2004. The couple first met in 2001 on a blind date. Together, they have four children.

Real Estate

In 2012, Kevin and Steffiana paid $18.5 million for a lavish oceanfront home in Delray Beach, Florida. A year later, they paid $4.25 million for the empty lot next door to create an absolutely ridiculous compound. Situated steps from the beach, the primary mansion alone features eight bedrooms and ten and a half bathrooms and sits on 1.85 acres of land. The compound sports a massive courtyard, floor-to-ceiling windows, a stunning stone verandah, multiple fireplaces, a pool room, a backyard pool, and a huge garage. They listed the nearly 3-acre property for sale in 2016 for $29 million without finding a taker. Kevin finally found a buyer in 2016, offloading the property to an LLC for an unrecorded but generally confirmed $27 million. Annual property taxes on the compound came to right around $500,000 when Kevin was the owner. Here is a video tour of Kevin James' former Florida mansion:

Kevin previously owned a couple of homes in Los Angeles, the most notable of which he sold in 2013 for $5.5 million.

In February 2020, Kevin and Steffiana paid $14 million for a new mansion in Delray Beach. The 18,906-square-foot home overlooks the Atlantic Ocean in the very coveted area of Delray Beach, just north of chic Boca Raton. The grounds of the estate are lushly landscaped. The property has a five-car garage attached to the main house. The home has an elevator, upgraded finishes, a recreational area, and a wine cellar. The patio features an outdoor kitchen with a built-in grill and a pool that is just a few steps away from the ocean. There is also a one-bedroom, one-bathroom guest house. He listed this property for sale in 2022 at nearly $20 million but had to settle for just $12.67 million in May 2023.

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