Jerry Seinfeld's new Netflix comedy special debuts next month as part of a reported $100 million deal. Here are 6 comedians Netflix has paid huge amounts of money to.

April 12, 2020

comedians in cars getting coffee

Netflix announced on Friday that Jerry Seinfeld's next comedy special, "23 Hours to Kill," will debut globally on the platform on May 5.
It's part of a huge deal that Seinfeld struck with the streaming giant in 2017 that's worth an estimated $100 million, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Seinfeld isn't the only comedian that Netflix has paid huge amount of money to. They include Ellen DeGeneres, Dave Chappelle, and more.
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Netflix has established itself as the premier home for stand-up comedy over the past few years, and it has accomplished this by shelling out millions to some of the top names in the industry.

The streamer announced on Friday that Jerry Seinfeld's new comedy special, "23 Hours to Kill," will debut on the platform on May 5. It's part of a huge deal Seinfeld struck with Netflix in 2017 that's worth an estimated $100 million, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The deal includes the rights to Seinfeld's series "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" and two Netflix specials. The first special, "Jerry Before Seinfeld," debuted in 2017.

Seinfeld isn't the only comedian that Netflix has paid huge amounts of money to.

Ellen DeGeneres made $20 million to $25 million from her Netflix comedy special "Relatable," which debuted last December, Variety reported in December.

Seinfeld and DeGeneres follow stand-ups like Amy Schumer, Dave Chappelle, and Chris Rock in netting multimillion-dollar deals from the streaming service.

It should be noted that Netflix has also drawn criticism for under-paying some comics. Comedian Mo'Nique came into a pay dispute with the company in 2017 when they reportedly offered her $500,000 for a special. She sued Netflix last month alleging race and sex discrimination regarding the special.

John Lynch contributed to a previous version of this post.

Here are the six comedians Netflix has paid huge amounts of money:

Amy Schumer — $13 million

Netflix initially offered Amy Schumer $11 million in 2017 for her hourlong "The Leather Special," but Schumer was reportedly able to use Netflix's more lucrative deals with Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle as a bargaining chip to receive $13 million for the hour, according to Variety.

Ellen DeGeneres — $20 million to $25 million

DeGeneres made $20 million to $25 million for "Relatable," which debuted in December 2018, according to Variety. She's the first female comedian to earn that much for a stand-up special, according to Forbes.

Ricky Gervais — $40 million

Ricky Gervais reportedly told Chortle that he had gotten the highest payday ever for a UK stand-up special for his most recent Netflix special, "Humanity." Gervais told the outlet that his second special in the deal, which was extended in January 2019, would be worth the same.

Gervais then retweeted a Twitter user who wrote that Gervais had made $40 million from Netflix for the two specials, and referenced being paid $40 million by Netflix in a tweet of his own.

Gervais has also profited from previously released shows that Netflix acquired of his, including "Derek" and "An Idiot Abroad."

Chris Rock — $40 million

Chris Rock signed a two-special deal with Netflix in 2016 that was worth $40 million in total, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The first of his two specials, "Tamborine," debuted in February 2019.

Dave Chappelle — $60 million

Netflix paid Dave Chappelle $60 million in 2016 for a three-special deal, according to The New York Post. His first two Netflix specials were released in March 2017. He then surprise released two new specials, "Equanimity" and "The Bird Revelation," in 2018. It is unclear if he was paid more for the fourth special.

Jerry Seinfeld — $100 million

Jerry Seinfeld signed an estimated $100 million deal with Netflix in January 2017, The Hollywood Reporter said. The deal included the rights to his interview series "Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee," as well as two new stand-up specials. The first special, "Jerry Before Seinfeld," debuted in September 2017. The second, "23 Hours to Kill," debuts on May 5.