Chevy Chase Net Worth

What Is Chevy Chase's Net Worth?

Chevy Chase is an American writer, comedian, film and television actor who has a net worth of $50 million. Chevy Chase rose to fame in the 1970s as a key member of the original cast of "Saturday Night Live" ("SNL"). His unique brand of humor, marked by physical comedy and a deadpan delivery, has made him a notable figure in American entertainment.

Chase's career took off with "SNL," where he was one of the show's first breakout stars. His recurring role on the "Weekend Update" segment, with his catchphrase "I'm Chevy Chase, and you're not," became iconic. His tenure on "SNL" was brief but impactful, setting the tone for the show's approach to comedy and helping to propel it to national acclaim. For his work on "SNL," Chase won three Primetime Emmy Awards, establishing himself as a talented comedian and writer.

Following his success on "SNL," Chevy transitioned to film, where he continued to build his reputation as a comedic actor. He starred in a series of successful comedies in the 1980s, including "Caddyshack" (1980), "National Lampoon's Vacation" (1983), and its sequels, in which he played the bumbling but lovable Clark Griswold, a role that became one of his most recognized. His performance in "Fletch" (1985) and its sequel showcased his ability to carry a film as the leading man, blending physical comedy with a sharp wit.

In addition to his film work, Chase returned to television at various points in his career. He had a notable role on the comedy series "Community," on which he played Pierce Hawthorne. His time on "Community" introduced him to a new generation of fans and demonstrated his enduring appeal as a comedic actor.

Throughout his career, Chevy Chase has been recognized for his contributions to comedy, receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Despite facing personal and professional challenges, including controversies and publicized disputes, Chase's impact on comedy and his influence on the genre's development in American television and film remain significant.

Early Life

Cornelius Crane Chase was born on October 8, 1943, in New York City. He is better known by the name Chevy Chase. He is the son of Edward Tinsley "Ned" Chase and Cathalene Parker. His mother was a concert pianist and librettist who was adopted as a child by her stepfather, Cornelius Vanderbilt Crane. Chevy's paternal grandfather was Edward Leigh Chase, an artist and illustrator, and his great-uncle, Frank Swift Chase, was a painter and teacher. Chevy's maternal grandmother, Cathalene, performed at Carnegie Hall as an opera singer.

Chase's parents divorced when he was four years old. His mother remarried twice, and his father remarried into the Folgers coffee family. Chevy graduated from the Stockbridge School in 1962 and continued his education at Haverford College for one semester. He then transferred to Bard College, graduating in 1967 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Before achieving fame, Chase worked a series of jobs, including cab driver, truck driver, construction worker, waiter, fruit picker, audio engineer, wine salesman, and theater usher.

Early Comedy Roots and National Lampoon

Chevy Chase's professional comedy career took shape in the late 1960s, when he co-founded the underground comedy ensemble Channel One in 1967. Around the same time, he supported himself through a variety of offbeat creative jobs, including writing humor pieces for publications such as "Mad" magazine. One of his earliest credited works was a one-page spoof of "Mission: Impossible," published in 1970.

By the early 1970s, Chase committed fully to comedy as a profession. In 1973, he became both a writer and performer on the syndicated radio program "The National Lampoon Radio Hour," a talent incubator that also featured John Belushi, Gilda Radner, and Bill Murray. The show's mix of sharp satire and character-driven humor helped establish Chase's dry, self-aware comic persona and positioned him for a major television breakthrough.

Saturday Night Live Breakthrough

In October 1975, Chevy Chase joined NBC's newly launched late-night sketch series "Saturday Night Live" as one of its original cast members, alongside Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, and Laraine Newman. Though Chase's tenure lasted only a little more than one season, his impact was immediate and enduring. He became the first anchor of the show's now-iconic "Weekend Update" segment, delivering mock newscasts built around pratfalls, sarcasm, and deliberate incompetence.

His recurring introduction—"I'm Chevy Chase, and you're not"—quickly became a national catchphrase and helped make him one of the show's earliest breakout stars. Chase also contributed as a writer and performer in sketches that leaned heavily on physical comedy and ironic detachment.

He departed "Saturday Night Live" in late 1976, midway through the second season, becoming the first major cast member to leave the show for a film career. Despite his early exit, Chase maintained a long relationship with the series, returning to host eight times through 1997 and appearing in multiple anniversary specials. In a 2015 "Rolling Stone" ranking of all "SNL" cast members to that point, Chase was placed tenth overall and described as possibly the most underappreciated performer in the show's history.

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Film Stardom and Box Office Peak

Following his departure from "Saturday Night Live," Chase transitioned rapidly into feature films. His early movie work included roles in "Tunnel Vision" (1976) and the hit comedy thriller "Foul Play" (1978), which helped establish him as a leading man. He followed that success with a string of high-profile releases, including "Oh! Heavenly Dog" (1980), "Seems Like Old Times" (1980), and the golf comedy "Caddyshack" (1980), which later became a cult classic.

Throughout the early and mid-1980s, Chase was one of Hollywood's most bankable comedy stars. He headlined or co-starred in films such as "Modern Problems" (1980), "National Lampoon's Vacation" (1983), "Fletch" (1985), "Spies Like Us" (1985), "National Lampoon's European Vacation" (1985), "Three Amigos" (1986), and "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" (1989).

At the height of his popularity in the late 1980s, Chase reportedly earned around $7 million per film, placing him among the highest-paid comedic actors of the era. Making $7 million in the 1980s is the same as making around $20 million today. His screen persona during this period was defined by arrogance played for laughs, physical mishaps, and a smug charm that audiences strongly associated with his brand of humor.

Career Decline and Box Office Struggles

The momentum of Chase's film career slowed significantly in the early 1990s. A run of consecutive commercial disappointments—including "Nothing but Trouble" (1991), "Memoirs of an Invisible Man" (1992), and "Cops & Robbersons" (1994)—marked a turning point. Collectively, those three films earned only about $34 million at the global box office.

Even the once-reliable "National Lampoon" franchise began to lose steam. After several years of dormancy, the series returned with "Vegas Vacation" in 1997, which ultimately became the final installment featuring Chase in a leading role. From that point forward, his appearances in theatrical films became more sporadic, with occasional roles such as the family comedy "Zoom" (2006).

Television Setbacks and Late-Career Resurgence

In September 1993, Chase attempted a return to television as the host of a Fox weeknight talk show, "The Chevy Chase Show." Despite heavy promotion and high expectations, the program struggled with format issues and low ratings and was canceled after just five weeks on the air.

Following that setback, Chase shifted primarily to guest and supporting television roles. He appeared on series such as "Law & Order," "Brothers & Sisters," "Chuck," and "Family Guy," maintaining visibility even as his film career slowed.

A significant late-career revival came in 2009 when Chase joined the ensemble cast of NBC's sitcom "Community." Playing the wealthy, out-of-touch Pierce Hawthorne, Chase became part of a cast that included Joel McHale, Alison Brie, Gillian Jacobs, Yvette Nicole Brown, Danny Pudi, and Donald Glover. His performance earned renewed critical attention, though his tenure ended in 2012 after four seasons.

After leaving "Community," Chase continued to work intermittently in film and voice roles, including appearances in "Hot Tub Time Machine" (2010), the Netflix comedy "The Last Laugh" (2019), "The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee," "Panda vs. Aliens," and the 2023 horror-comedy "Zombie Town."

Awards and Career Recognition

Chevy Chase has received multiple major honors for his contributions to comedy. He won Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy, Variety, or Music Series for "Saturday Night Live" in 1976 and for "The Paul Simon Special" in 1978. In 1979, he earned Golden Globe nominations for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical and Best Motion Picture Acting Debut – Male for "Foul Play."

In recognition of his impact on entertainment, Chase received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1993, located at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard. He was also awarded a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in 1998. Additional honors include being named Hasty Pudding Man of the Year in 1993 and receiving the Harvard Lampoon Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996.

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Notable Salaries

At the height of his career in the 1980s, Chevy earned $7 million per movie. That's the same as earning $20 million per movie today. He earned at least $7 million for "Fletch" and "Fletch Lives."

Chevy earned $6 million for 1989's "Christmas Vacation." That's the same as $12.5 million in today's dollars. He earned another $6 million for 1992's "Memoirs of an Invisible Man." He earned $4 million for "Cops and Robbersons," $2 million for "Man of the House," and $4 million for "Vegas Vacation."

• "Fletch": $7 million
• "Fletch Lives": $7 million
• "Christmas Vacation": $6 million
• "Memoirs of an Invisible Man": $6 million
• "Cops and Robbersons": $4 million
• "Man of the House": $2 million
• "Vegas Vacation": $4 million

Total from these films alone: $36 million

Personal Life

Chase was married to Susan Hewitt from February 1973 to February 1976. He was then married to Jacqueline Carlin from December 1976 to November 1980. He married his third wife, Jayni Luke, in June 1982. The couple has three daughters together. Chevy also has a son named Bryan Perkins with an unidentified woman.

Chase was admitted to the Betty Ford Clinic in 1986 for a prescription painkiller addiction. In 2016, he received treatment at the Hazelden Clinic for alcoholism.

Real Estate

From 1990 to 2005, Chevy and Jayni lived in LA's Pacific Palisades neighborhood in a home that sat on five acres. Located in a guarded, gated community, Chase spent $1.2 million on improvements and renovations on the property. They listed it for sale in 1994 for $3 million but did not find a buyer until 2005, when they sold it for an undisclosed amount. Today the couple primarily lives in upstate New York.

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