Conan O'Brien: The Life, Career, And Net Worth Of A Comedy Legend

What Is Conan O'Brien's Net Worth and Salary?

Listen up, folks! Conan O'Brien, the king of late-night hilarity, is worth a staggering $200 million. This guy didn’t just stumble into success—he worked his way up over three decades in the entertainment industry. Starting back in 1993, he hosted a show on NBC, and then from 2010 to 2020, he rocked the world of late-night comedy on TBS. During his TBS years, he was pulling in an impressive annual salary of $12 million. Not too shabby, right?

Before he became the late-night icon we know today, Conan was a Harvard grad, where he served as president of the humor magazine, The Harvard Lampoon. His career took off when he started writing for HBO’s "Not Necessarily the News" and then joined the writing team of "Saturday Night Live" in 1988. His sharp wit earned him an Emmy Award, which caught the eye of producer Lorne Michaels.

Here’s the kicker: in 1993, Conan was chosen to replace David Letterman as the host of NBC’s "Late Night." Despite his lack of on-camera experience, he didn’t let that stop him. Sure, there were some rough patches early on, but Conan’s unique comedic voice, filled with self-deprecating humor and absurdist sketches, eventually won over audiences, especially the younger crowd.

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When his time at "The Tonight Show" turned controversial in 2009-2010, Conan bounced back stronger than ever. He moved to TBS, where he embraced digital media and built a global following through viral remote segments and international specials. In 2021, he stepped away from traditional late-night TV to focus on his wildly popular podcast, "Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend," and develop new content for HBO Max. Oh, and did I mention he sold his podcasting network to SiriusXM for $150 million in 2022? That’s right—he’s got the Midas touch!

Throughout his career, Conan has been a trailblazer, redefining late-night comedy with his smart, quirky approach. Whether championing alternative comedians or pioneering digital content strategies, he’s shown remarkable resilience and innovation, securing his place as one of television comedy’s most original voices.

Early Life

Let’s rewind to the beginning. Conan Christopher O’Brien was born on April 18, 1963, in Brookline, Massachusetts. His dad was a doctor and professor at Harvard Medical School, while his mom was an attorney who later retired from the Boston firm Ropes & Gray. Growing up with three brothers and two sisters, Conan wasn’t just a funny kid—he was also a smart one. He graduated as valedictorian from Brookline High School in 1981 and then headed to Harvard, where he studied History and Literature. While there, he honed his comedic skills by writing for the "Harvard Lampoon," setting the stage for his future in comedy.

Saturday Night Live

After his time at Harvard, Conan packed his bags and headed to Los Angeles. He joined the writing staff of HBO’s "Not Necessarily the News" and even performed with improvisational groups like the Groundlings in his spare time. In January 1988, he landed a gig as a writer for "Saturday Night Live" (SNL), where he spent three years crafting some of the show’s most memorable moments. In 1989, he and his fellow SNL writers took home an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy or Variety Series. Occasionally, he’d pop up in sketches, like his role as a doorman in a Tom Hanks sketch. During this time, he co-wrote the television pilot for "Lookwell" with Robert Smigel, starring Adam West, but NBC didn’t pick it up. After the pilot flopped and his engagement ended, Conan decided to leave SNL in 1991.

The Simpsons

Next stop? The animated world of "The Simpsons." Conan was offered a job as a writer and producer for the show, a position that many in the industry would kill for. From 1991 to 1993, he wrote some of the series’ most celebrated episodes, including "Marge vs. the Monorail" and "Homer Goes to College." These episodes are still beloved by fans and critics alike, showcasing Conan’s knack for clever, absurd humor.

Late Night

Fast forward to 1993. David Letterman was getting ready to leave "Late Night," and executive producer Lorne Michaels was on the hunt for a new host. Initially, Michaels wanted Conan to produce the show, but Conan’s agent made it clear: he wanted to be in front of the camera. A test audition was arranged, and Conan was chosen as the new host of "Late Night." There was just one problem—Conan still had a contract with Fox to work on "The Simpsons." NBC and Fox worked out a deal to free him, and the rest is history.

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When "Late Night with Conan O’Brien" premiered on September 13, 1993, it didn’t start off with a bang. Critics were unimpressed, and things got so bad that NBC even threatened to put him on a weekly contract. At one point, they had to fill empty seats in the audience with interns. But Conan didn’t give up. Slowly but surely, the show started gaining traction. By 1996, the writing team, including Conan himself, was nominated for the Emmy Award for Best Writing in a Comedy or Variety Series. They finally won the award in 2007, and they also took home the Writers Guild Award for Best Writing in a Comedy/Variety Series multiple times. By October 2005, the show was consistently attracting an average of 2.5 million viewers. "Late Night" aired its final episode on February 20, 2009, marking the end of Conan’s 15-year run.

Conan then took over "The Tonight Show" from Jay Leno, but it wasn’t meant to last. After just seven months, from 2009 to 2010, low ratings for both Conan and Jay Leno in his new prime-time slot led to Leno returning to the late-night slot. This created what became known as the "Tonight Show conflict," a messy situation that left many fans divided.

NBC Settlement

When Conan left NBC, he walked away with a reported $32.5 million settlement. NBC also agreed to pay $12 million to his staff, ensuring they were taken care of. After leaving NBC, Conan took a break from television and hit the road with his 30-city live tour, "The Legally Prohibited From Being Funny on Television Tour," in 2010. On the day his tour began, he announced his new show on TBS.

"Conan" premiered on TBS on November 8, 2010. For 11 years, he hosted the show at a salary of $10 million per year. During this time, Conan had some unforgettable moments, like being the first American TV personality to film in Cuba in over 50 years and filming at the DMZ in South Korea (and technically North Korea, because he stepped across the border).

Other Pursuits

In 2001, Conan founded the television production company Conaco, which first shared production credits for "Late Night." Through Conaco, he executive produced several shows and pilots, including "Andy Barker, P.I." (2007) and "Outlaw" (2010).

Team Coco

Following the drama with NBC, Conan launched a new production company called Team Coco. One of the big perks of his deal with TBS was that he and Team Coco owned the rights to his show. This meant they could post clips from the TBS show on platforms like YouTube and keep the revenue generated. Team Coco became a powerhouse, launching the podcast "Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend" in November 2018. This podcast has won awards like the iHeartRadio Podcast Award for Best Comedy Podcast and Best Ad Read. By mid-2022, the podcast network was generating 16 million downloads per month, with 10 million of those coming from the main "Friend" podcast.

SiriusXM Acquisition

In May 2022, Conan announced that he had sold Team Coco to SiriusXM for $150 million. Through this deal, Team Coco continues to create content for a channel on Sirius. Conan also signed a 5-year talent contract. Interestingly, while Sirius gets the revenue from Team Coco’s YouTube channel, Conan retains ownership of the actual intellectual property.

Personal Life

Conan met Elizabeth Ann "Liza" Powel in 2000. At the time, she was a senior copywriter at Foote, Cone & Belding. She even appeared in a skit involving her firm on "Late Night with Conan O’Brien." After dating for nearly 18 months, they tied the knot in Seattle in 2002. Together, they have two children: daughter Neve (born 2003) and son Beckett (born 2005).

Real Estate

While hosting "Late Night" in New York City, Conan and his family lived in a luxurious 7-bedroom duplex apartment overlooking Central Park. As they prepared to move to LA, they listed the fully furnished apartment for $30 million. It sold in July 2010 for $25 million to David Zaslav, who is now the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery.

In 2008, when Conan relocated to Los Angeles to take over "The Tonight Show," he bought a home in LA’s Brentwood neighborhood for $10.75 million. He sold the house in June 2012 for $9.25 million, taking a $1.5 million loss. In 2011, Conan and Liza splurged on a new mansion in nearby Pacific Palisades for $19.4 million. They also purchased the property next door, though it’s unclear if that’s included in the reported price.

In 2015, Conan paid $7.9 million for a beachfront home in Carpinteria, California, near Santa Barbara. The neighborhood boasts famous neighbors like Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, George Lucas, and Steven Spielberg. Conan and Liza sold their Carpinteria home in October 2022 for $16.5 million, marking a smart investment. They listed the home in July 2022 for $16.5 million and accepted an offer right around their asking price by October. Here’s a video tour of the home: