Phyllis Diller is unforgettable comedian who paved the way for all the women and changed the notion of comedy for everyone. Diller brought the comic stage presence, outlandish hairstyles, and the cutting edge humor meant for an audience that was dominated by men and appreciated any comedy coming from women. But apart from her professional achievements, people are interested in her riches.
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How much was the wealth of Phyllis Diller at the time of her death? The matters did not stop there; people remained curious asking themselves how she got her wealth.
Here, and in the following chapters of this blog, we flag a view of the financial yield of Phyllis Diller including her net worth, sources of income, and the influence she bore in the field of comedy.
Phyllis Diller Net Worth: A Glimpse Of Her Fortune
Though she never quite became a mainstream star, Phyllis Diller earned a reported $15 million Net Worth, during the last few years of her life before her death in 2012.
This massive amount has been earned to her many years in the realm of entertaining people, becoming the queen of different areas such as stand-up comedy, TV shows, and movies. However, what provided this wealth? Let me enlarge it a bit.
The career that Phyllis Diller was most income generating was that of a comedian and actress. Through proper management, hard work, and versatility, the amount of wealth owned by Phyllis Diller was collected.
The primary sources of her income | Phyllis Diller Career
Stand-Up Comedy: Even though Diller was own her acting and hosting TV series, stand-up comedy was her claim to fame. She started performing comedy in the 1950s when few women were involved in stand-up comedy. Her respective style and the talent to capture the enthusiasts made her a distinguished personality and the lady regularly toured across the country to give her best performances in clubs as well as theaters.
Television Appearances: Diller was often called to appear on television shows in the course of her career. She performed on many programmes including The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show, and Laugh-In. These appearances apart from popularizing her further helped her earn more than when she was just an ordinary actress.
Film Roles: In movies also, Diller continued acting with most of her characters approximating the comedian form from her shows. Some of her popular movies are : Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number! and Mad Monster Party? Her contribution in films also only helped entrench her as one of comedy queens and contributed to her wealth.
Voice Work: Diller was a marvelous writer and she wrote several books one of which was an autobiography. Also, she had a unique voice which landed her more roles in voice overs in animated movies/series. These proved as sources of her diversified income earned from the various ventures.
Art and Real Estate Investments: Diller was also a painter of some repute; her paintings sold for a lot of money. In addition, she was a financially shrewd woman in terms of investment, especially in real estate business whereby she had invested in properties which had boosts their value in the market.
The Legacy of Phyllis Diller
Phyllis Diller’s record financial achievements are one of the best indicators of her talent and entrepreneurship. However, measured in dollars and cents which is such a masculine way of looking at things, it does not reflect her real contribution to the world and specifically to the future generations of women stand-up comedians.
Diller was breaking the mold, and proving that women were just as capable of being as hilarious and as wealthy as men.
Many stand up comedians are still following her today’s template and this is evident in their work. Sassy and bold, Diller never shied away from the humorous side, and could always make light of situations, as well as herself. And although she is no longer alive, she has left a tremendous legacy—and a lot of money as well.
Frequently asked questions
Was Phyllis Diller a self-made millionaire?
Yes, Phyllis Diller was a ‘self-made millionaire’. She decided to start her career at a relatively mature age, at 37, and rose to the top of her game solely by dint of her head, heart, and hard work in the business that was no home to women, let alone women of color, who wanted to perform comedy.
Did Phyllis Diller invest in real estate?
Absolutely. Another area in which Diller’s abilities had revealed themselves was in her intelligent investments, one of these being in the real estate sphere. She had many houses; one of the largest was a grand mansion house in Brentwood, California which was part of the size of her assets.
Where Does Phyllis Diller Stand in Comparison with Other Comedians in Terms of Her Net Worth?
Although $15 million is not as much money as some of today’s more popular comedians make, for her that was quite a lot of money. Nevertheless, Diller was among the most financially successful comedians of her time especially doing comedies when women were few and had things hard in this field.
Conclusion
Whether Phyllis Diller was doing stand-up comedy when she was young, was appearing in television shows or even after becoming an iconic figure, Diller made it quite clear that humor and work can open the doors to success and money.
Her story is a good testimony to the fact that it is never too late to begin anew career and to make a lot of money in the process while enjoying oneself in the process.
Also Read, Chris Santos, Shawn Kemp, and Aabha Bakaya.
