David Walliams Net Worth

What is David Walliams' Net Worth and Salary?

David Walliams is an English comedian, actor, author, and television personality who has a net worth of $25 million.

David Walliams first became one of the most recognizable figures in British comedy through his long-running creative partnership with Matt Lucas, most notably on the BBC sketch series "Little Britain" and "Come Fly With Me." Those shows made Walliams a household name in the UK and turned him into one of the BBC's most bankable comedy stars of the 2000s.

Over the next two decades, Walliams successfully reinvented himself multiple times. He became a prime-time television fixture as a judge on "Britain's Got Talent," where he earned a multimillion-pound salary and enjoyed enormous mainstream visibility. At the same time, he quietly built what would become the most lucrative chapter of his career: a children's publishing empire that produced dozens of best-selling books, sold tens of millions of copies worldwide, and generated hundreds of millions of dollars in retail revenue for publishers.

At his commercial peak, Walliams was one of the single most valuable authors in British publishing. His books dominated school book fairs, library systems, and Christmas bestseller lists, and were translated into dozens of languages. However, in recent years, his earnings trajectory has shifted dramatically. Television work slowed after controversies on "Britain's Got Talent," book sales declined from their highs, and in 2025 he was dropped by his longtime publisher, HarperCollins, following an internal investigation into allegations of inappropriate behavior. Together, these events marked a clear turning point in both his public standing and future earning power.

Britain's Got Talent Salary

David Walliams was one of the highest-paid judges on "Britain's Got Talent" during his decade-long run on the ITV competition series from 2012 to 2022. At his peak, his salary was approximately £1.8 million per season.

This figure became public in 2020 following a pay equity dispute involving his fellow judges Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon. At the time, Holden was reportedly earning around £700,000 per season, while Dixon earned roughly £400,000. After learning that Walliams was paid significantly more for performing the same role, both women demanded salary parity. Simon Cowell, who created the show and served as an executive producer, ultimately agreed to raise their pay to match Walliams' level.

When Walliams left the show in 2022 following controversy over off-camera remarks, he effectively walked away from one of his largest and most reliable annual income streams.

Early Life and Education

David Walliams was born David Williams on August 20, 1971, in London, England. His father, Peter Williams, worked as a London Transport engineer, and his mother, Kathleen, was a laboratory technician. He grew up alongside his sister Julie in the residential area of Nork in Banstead, Surrey.

Walliams attended Reigate Grammar School and Collingwood Boys' School before enrolling at the University of Bristol. He graduated in 1992 with a degree in drama, a background that would soon lead him into theater, sketch comedy, and eventually television.

Partnership with Matt Lucas

Walliams' career is inseparable from his creative partnership with Matt Lucas. The two first met in the early 1990s while performing with the National Youth Theatre. Their shared sensibility and taste for broad, character-driven comedy quickly led to professional collaboration.

Their first television project together was the sketch show "Mash and Peas," which aired from 1996 to 1997. This was followed by the BBC Two mockumentary "Sir Bernard's Stately Homes" in 1998 and the music-industry satire "Rock Profile" in 1999.

Their major breakthrough came in 2003 with the debut of "Little Britain." The show became a cultural phenomenon in the UK, running on the BBC until 2007 and spawning live tours, holiday specials, charity specials, and international adaptations. Walliams portrayed a range of exaggerated characters, including Emily Howard and Ray McCooney, many of which later became the subject of criticism for racial and social insensitivity.

In 2010, Walliams and Lucas reunited for "Come Fly With Me," a mockumentary-style comedy set in an airport. While hugely successful in ratings, the series would later be reevaluated and criticized for its use of stereotypes and racial caricatures.

(Photo by Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images)

Other Television Credits

Beyond his collaborations with Lucas, Walliams maintained a steady television presence throughout the 2000s and 2010s. His most commercially significant role outside of comedy was his decade-long stint as a judge on "Britain's Got Talent."

During that same period, he created and starred in the BBC One sitcom "Big School," appeared in the Agatha Christie adaptation "Partners in Crime," co-created and starred in the sketch show "Walliams & Friend," and headlined the Gold sitcom "Sandylands." He also starred in the BBC television film "Gangsta Granny," adapted from his own book.

Walliams made frequent appearances on British panel and variety shows, including "Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway," "A League of Their Own," and "The Nightly Show," reinforcing his status as a mainstream entertainment personality.

Film Career

David Walliams' film career has largely consisted of supporting and character roles. He made his film debut in the 1999 historical comedy "Plunkett & Macleane," which also starred Matt Lucas. He later appeared in films such as "Stardust," "Virgin Territory," and "Dinner for Schmucks."

In 2012, Walliams played Uncle Pumblechook in the adaptation of "Great Expectations," directed by Mike Newell. His additional film credits include "Pudsey the Dog: The Movie," "Missing Link," "Murder Mystery," and "Twist."

Children's Books and Publishing Empire

The most lucrative chapter of Walliams' career began in 2008 with the publication of his first children's novel, "The Boy in the Dress," illustrated by Quentin Blake. The book was an immediate commercial success and was later adapted into a BBC television film.

Walliams followed it with "Mr. Stink" and soon transitioned into a long-term collaboration with illustrator Tony Ross. Together, they produced a steady stream of best-selling titles, including "Billionaire Boy," "Gangsta Granny," "Ratburger," "Awful Auntie," "The World's Worst Children," "Slime," and "Megamonster."

By the late 2010s, Walliams had become one of the most commercially dominant children's authors in the UK. His books sold more than 60 million copies worldwide, were translated into over 50 languages, and were staples of school curricula and holiday bestseller lists. In 2019, it was estimated that Walliams and HarperCollins had sold more than £100 million worth of his books at retail, and industry publications reported that he accounted for approximately 44% of HarperCollins' UK children's sales in 2018.

As a top-tier author, Walliams likely earned royalties in the range of 10% to 15% of cover price, along with substantial advances and licensing income from adaptations and stage productions. At his peak, his annual publishing income likely exceeded his television salary.

Decline in Sales and Publisher Split

After years of dominance, Walliams' publishing fortunes began to soften. His books faced growing criticism for harmful stereotypes, prompting revisions and removals in later editions. Sales also began to decline, with industry reports indicating drops of more than 60% during certain recent periods.

In late 2025, Walliams was dropped by HarperCollins following an internal investigation into allegations that he had behaved inappropriately toward junior female employees. The publisher confirmed that it would no longer publish new titles by Walliams. One employee who raised concerns reportedly received a five-figure settlement and left the company.

While Walliams retains rights to his back catalog and continues to earn royalties on existing books, being cut off from new advances and releases represents a significant blow to his future earning potential, particularly in a market where new titles drive school and library adoption.

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Controversies

Walliams has faced controversy throughout much of his career. In the mid-2000s, he was criticized for sketches performed during the "Little Britain Live" tour, including a routine known as "Hide the Sausage," in which he played a fictional sex offender interacting with audience members.

In later years, he faced renewed backlash for racial caricatures in "Little Britain" and "Come Fly With Me," as well as for posting a Halloween photo dressed as Kim Jong-un. In 2022, leaked audio from "Britain's Got Talent" revealed Walliams making obscene remarks about contestants during auditions, which contributed to his departure from the show.

These controversies collectively reshaped public perception of Walliams and played a role in the contraction of both his television and publishing careers.

Personal Life and Charity

In 2009, Walliams dated 18-year-old model Lauren Budd. After they broke up, he dated Dutch model Lara Stone, whom he married in 2010. Together, they had a son named Alfred before divorcing in 2015. He was at one point romantically linked to Keeley Hazell, appearing with her on many red carpets around 2018.

Significantly involved in charity, Walliams has swum various major bodies of water, including the English Channel and the Strait of Gibraltar, to raise money for Sport Relief.

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