What is Mindy Kaling's Net Worth and Salary?
Mindy Kaling is an American actress, writer, and comedian who has a net worth of $45 million. Mindy Kaling first became widely known thanks to her role in "The Office." Not only did she act in the sitcom, she was also one of the show's writers.
After "The Office," Kaling ventured into creating her own space with "The Mindy Project," a show that she starred in, wrote, and produced. The series, which revolves around the personal and professional life of Dr. Mindy Lahiri, was praised for its unique take on the romantic comedy genre, offering a refreshing perspective by placing a South Asian woman at its center. Through the character of Mindy Lahiri, Kaling humorously explores themes of love, career aspirations, and cultural identity, offering viewers a relatable yet entertaining narrative.
Kaling's portfolio extends beyond television to include film and literature. She's written books that give readers a glance into her world, filled with humor, insights, and personal anecdotes, offering inspiration to a generation of young women and writers. Her film career has also seen her embracing various roles, from acting to producing, proving her diverse capabilities within the industry.
In recent years, Mindy has also made strides in advocating for diversity in Hollywood, ensuring representation both in front of and behind the camera in her projects.
Warner Brothers Deal
From her time on "The Office" until 2019, Mindy had exclusive holding deals at Universal. In 2019 she was lured to Warner Bros. with a six-year, $51 million contract.
Early Life
Mindy Kaling's real name is Vera Mindy Chokalingam. She was born on June 24th, 1979, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Raised alongside one sibling in a middle-class household by Indian-born parents, she adopted the first name of "Mindy" from birth. After graduating from a private school in 1997, she attended Dartmouth College and joined a student-organized comedy troupe. She eventually graduated from Dartmouth in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in playwriting.
Career
After college, Kaling moved to Brooklyn, New York, where she briefly worked as a production assistant. During this time, she also started doing stand-up comedy and developed the stage name "Kaling" after she noticed that people would frequently mispronounce her last name. Her big break came in 2002 when she starred in the off-Broadway production Matt & Ben, which critics calling the show a "surprise hit." Kaling also co-wrote the play.
When The Office was adapted from the British sitcom into an American version in 2004, Kaling was hired as a writer. She also appeared on the show as Kelly Kapoor. Kaling stayed with the show until the 9th season, and she eventually became an executive producer. She followed up with The Mindy Project, a comedy series that aired in 2012. After being picked up by Hulu after an initial cancelation by Fox, the show ultimately wrapped up in 2017.
Outside of these projects, Mindy Kaling has appeared on shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm, Saturday Night Live, and Champions. In terms of film, Kaling has booked roles in movies like 40-Year-Old Virgin, Night at the Museum, Wreck-It-Ralph, Inside Out, A Wrinkle In Time, and Ocean's 8.
Relationships
While working on The Office, Mindy Kaling started a relationship with B.J. Novak. They dated intermittently throughout several years, sometimes ironically reflecting the characters on The Office that the two actors played. In 2017, Kaling gave birth to her first child. Although she has never revealed the true identity of the father, she named B.J Novak as the child's godfather.
Awards And Honors
Mindy Kaling has won several awards over the course of her career, including a number of awards, including a Satellite Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Reader's Choice Award for her book Why Not Me? In addition, she has been nominated for numerous Emmys over the years. In 2012, Time magazine included Mindy Kaling in their list of 100 Most Influential People. In 2014, Glamour magazine named Kaling as one of their Women of the Year.
In August 2024, Mindy was chosen to be one of several key hosts at the Democratic National Convention.
Real Estate
In 2007, Mindy Kaling purchased a Spanish bungalow in Los Angeles for $1.575 million. The 2,674-square-foot home was later listed by Kaling in 2018 for $2.195 million before she lowered the price to $1.995 million and finally sold the property. In 2016, she had already moved on to another, larger Los Angeles home, which she purchased for $6.5 million. The 5,000-square-foot property features an expansive yard with a pool and pool house.
In 2017, Mindy paid around $3 million for a 2br, 2ba condo in NYC's SoHo neighborhood. She put this property on the market in September 2022 for $2.75 million. She eventually accepted $2.4 million.
In late 2018, a Malibu house that was once owned by Frank Sinatra was listed for $12.9 million. In 2020, Mindy Kaling bought the home for $9.55 million. The Sinatras purchased the home for $3 million in 1990. The extravagant 5,800-square-foot home features many amenities, including a pool, spa, and elevator.
In October 2023, Mindy paid $15 million for a home in Beverly Hills.