What is Ken Jeong's Net Worth and Salary?
Ken Jeong is an American actor, comedian, and physician who has a net worth of $14 million. Ken Jeong began his career in stand-up comedy while completing his medical degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After moving to Los Angeles, Jeong continued to pursue his passion for acting and comedy while practicing medicine.
Jeong's breakout role came in 2009 when he played the eccentric gangster Leslie Chow in the hit comedy "The Hangover," a role he reprised in the film's sequels. He went on to star in numerous other films, including "Knocked Up," "Crazy Rich Asians," and "Ride Along 2." On television, Jeong is known for his roles as Ben Chang on the comedy series "Community" and as the lead in the sitcom "Dr. Ken," (2015-2017) which he also created, wrote, and produced. The show drew from his real-life experiences as a physician.
In addition to his acting career, Jeong has continued to perform stand-up comedy and has appeared as a panelist on various television shows. He has been a permanent host of "The Masked Singer" since its debut in 2019. He has also used his medical background to raise awareness about health issues and has been a vocal advocate for the Asian-American community in the entertainment industry.
Early Life
Kendrick Kang-Joh Jeong was born on July 13th, 1969, in Detroit, Michigan. Raised by parents who were South Korean immigrants, Ken soon moved with his family to North Carolina, where he spent most of his youth. During his high school years, Ken participated in the Quiz Bowl and played the violin in the school orchestra. He also served on the student council.
Ken Jeong had his first taste of acting while attending Duke University. He attended drama classes while pursuing a pre-med major and resisted the temptation to become a drama major. Although he took theater classes after graduating from Duke in 1991, he went on to obtain his M.D. at the UNC School of Medicine in 1995.
Career
While he was still finishing up his M.D., Ken Jeong attended open mics and honed his comedic skills. Nevertheless, Jeong's medical career remained a priority, and he completed his residency in New Orleans. Ken Jeong finally cracked after winning the Big Easy Laff-Off in 1995, and NBC president Brandon Tartikoff successfully convinced the young doctor to move to Los Angeles.
By 1998, Jeong was living a dual life. While spending his days practicing as a physician of internal medicine in Woodland Hills, Jeong attended comedy clubs by night and steadily built his reputation as an extremely talented stand-up comedian. This led to appearances in TV shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Office, and Entourage.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
In 2002, Jeong appeared in Comedy Central's Cosmic Groove. In 2006, Jeong finally gave up his practice after increased acting and stand-up opportunities, although he maintains his medical license. In 2007, his new, singular career focus led to his first film role in Knocked Up.
Knocked Up led to a slew of film roles in movies like Pineapple Express, Role Models, All About Steve, The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard, and Couples Retreat. He was widely credited with "stealing the show" in The Hangover as Mr. Chow. This unforgettable role led to appearances in The Hangover Part II and The Hangover Part III. Jeong also booked roles in Zookeeper, Pain & Gain, and Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon.
Ken Jeong is also well-known for his starring role in Community as Senor Chang. In 2015, he wrote a pilot for a new medical comedy, Dr. Ken. He would later star in the show and act as an executive producer. Dr. Ken was picked up by ABC and aired from 2015 to 2017.
Personal Life
Ken Jeong is married to Tran Ho, a Vietnamese American. They have twin daughters together and live in Calabasas, California.
Salary for The Hangover Part III
For his part in The Hangover Part III, Ken Jeong was paid a salary of $5 million.
Real Estate
In 2016, it was reported that Ken Jeong had purchased a property in Calabasas, California, for $3.95 million. The Tudor-style estate was built in 2006, and it features a temperature-controlled wine cellar capable of holding 3,000 bottles. The 6,700-square-foot property includes a large, formal dining room and a gym. Outside, there's a large swimming pool, a private balcony, and lawns peppered with citrus trees.
In 2010, Ken Jeong purchased a separate Calabas property for a cool $1.635 million. The Mediterranean property features 5,000 square feet of living space and an interior courtyard. In 2017, Ken Jeong sold the property for $2.4 million for a significant profit on his investment.
