Jeff Dunham Net Worth

Jeff Dunham Salary: According to Forbes, in 2009 Jeff Dunham earned $23 million and in 2010 he earned $20 million. Jeff Dunham is a well known ventriloquist and star of stand up comedy with a net worth of $45 million. Jeff Dunham has earned his net worth through his numerous performances on stage, television and in films. Dunham and his puppet, Debbie, appeared in the movie "Dinner for Shmucks" with Paul Rudd and Steve Carell. Dunham played the character role of Lewis. He has also played the role of The "Amazing Ken" with his little friend Jose Jalapeno on a stick, in the film Delta Farce, starring Larry the Cable Guy. Dunham has also given many stand up comedy performances on television shows such as The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and Comedy Central Presents, as well as performing at the comedy club, The Improv Chain. He has also appeared in television shows such as Blue Collar TV, Good Morning America, Hollywood Squares and others, including his own one hour specials, Jeff Dunham: Arguing With Myself,(2006) Jeff Dunham: Spark of Insanity (2007) and Jeff Dunham's Very Special Christmas Special (2008). His Christmas special brought in the highest ratings in the history of Comedy Central. In 2009, Dunham cut a deal with Comedy Central, giving him a chance to air his fourth special, do a tour of sixty cities, gain a partnership in consumer products, and an order for the Jeff Dunham Show television series, as well as DVD's. The Jeff Dunham Show only lasted for one season because of bad reviews and the fact that it cost too much to produce. But some wonder if it had to do with the critics disapproval of some of the material for his comedy routines and specials. Dunham also made appearances on several television sitcoms. On 3rd Rock, he played the character, Rick Wayne, a ventriloquist from Georgia with his puppet, Pumpkin, and in an episode of Sonny With a Chance, accompanied by his little buddy Walter. He and Walter played the part of two security guards. In 2008, "Don't Come Home For Christmas" was Dunham's first music album, with Brian Haner as his Guitar Guy. Along with your original Christmas tunes, Dunham has a different version of Jingle Bells, called Jingle Bombs, which is a song by Achmed, the dead terrorist. There's been a lot of controversy over Dunham's choice of comedic material, saying that many of his characters are racist, sexist and homophobic caricatures. He has also been criticized for making fun of television critics. According to Dunham, he is just doing what a comic is suppose to do, make people laugh. Jeff Dunham was born in Dallas, Texas in 1962, and was the only adopted child of a real estate appraiser and his wife. Dunham became interested in ventriloquism when his parents presented him with a Mortimer Snerd puppet for his 8th Christmas. He would practice in front of his mirror and learn the routines of the great Edgar Bergen, while studying his how to be a ventriloquist instruction book and listen to the Jimmy Nelson Instant Ventriloquism record. By the time Dunham reached sixth grade level, he had entered the competitions at the Vent Haven ConVENTion, and won so many of the competitions that others shied away from entering. Beside Edgar Bergen and Senor Wences, there is a section dedicated to Dunham at the Vent Haven Museum. Dunham and Walter Cummings wrote the book, Dear Walter, published in 2003, and his autobiography, All By My Selves: Walter, Peanut, Achmed and Me, was published in 2010. Dunham and his wife, Paige, separated in 2008 and have three daughters, Bree, Kenna and Ashlyn.