What Is David Spade's Net Worth and Salary?
David Spade is an American actor, comedian, and television personality who has a net worth of $70 million. David Spade has earned his net worth through his many movie and television roles and an impressive real estate portfolio.
David Spade is a multifaceted talent in the entertainment industry, with a career spanning stand-up comedy, television, and film. Recognized for his sharp wit and sarcastic humor, Spade initially gained fame in the early 1990s as a cast member on "Saturday Night Live" ("SNL"). During his time at "SNL," he became known for a variety of memorable sketches and characters, as well as his biting Hollywood Minute segments on the show's "Weekend Update."
Following his "SNL" tenure, Spade seamlessly transitioned to the world of sitcoms. He starred on the NBC show "Just Shoot Me!" playing the role of the sardonic Dennis Finch, a character that further cemented his reputation for playing sarcastic roles. The show was a significant hit and ran for seven seasons, earning David an Emmy nomination.On the big screen, Spade found success with a series of comedy films, often pairing with Chris Farley. The duo's chemistry was undeniable in movies like "Tommy Boy" and "Black Sheep." However, Spade's filmography is extensive and diverse, ranging from voice roles in animated features such as "The Emperor's New Groove" to starring roles in comedies like "Joe Dirt" and its sequel. In the subsequent years, Spade continued to be a staple in television comedy with roles in series like "8 Simple Rules" and "Rules of Engagement." He also ventured into the realm of late-night television with his Comedy Central show "Lights Out with David Spade."
In 2022, David and Dana Carvey began hosting a podcast called "Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade."
Early Life
David Spade was born David Wayne Spade on July 22, 1964, in Birmingham, Michigan. He is the son of Judith and Wayne Spade, and he has two brothers, Andy and Bryan. The family moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, when Spade was four years old, and his parents divorced soon after. The brothers were raised, in somewhat poverty, primarily by their mother. David graduated from Saguaro High School before attending Scottsdale Community College, followed by Arizona State University. A member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, he graduated in 1986 with a business degree. The university had a sketch comedy show called Farce Side Comedy Hour that Spade would regularly perform in. He also did stand-up throughout college at Greasy Tony's Pizza in Tempe, AZ.
His brother Andy Spade would eventually go on to co-found the enormously successful handbag company Kate Spade with his wife, Kate, who tragically took her own life in 2018.
(Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)
"Saturday Night Live"
Spade moved to Los Angeles and continued doing stand-up. He got his big break when fellow comedian Dennis Miller helped get David a job on "Saturday Night Live" in 1989. He started out as a writer, then made his way up to cast member. His notably sarcastic style of humor lent itself to many of his sketches becoming instant classics, especially when paired with fellow cast member and friend Chris Farley. The two had such excellent chemistry together in memorable recurring sketches like Gap Girls and Matt Foley that "SNL" producer Lorne Michaels got the idea to pair the two together on the big screen. And with that, Michaels dreamed up and produced "Tommy Boy" in 1995, with Farley playing the role of the lovable irresponsible goofball and Spade serving as the "straight man." In 1996, Spade and Farley teamed up again for "Black Sheep," with largely the same formula. The films were met with lukewarm critical reviews but became box office hits and cult classics among "SNL" fans. Farley's death from a drug overdose in 1997 was so devastating for the actor that he could not attend his funeral, sparking rumors that maybe there had been a feud between them. Spade has stated in multiple interviews that it was simply too much for him to handle emotionally to see his close friend "in a box."
Getty Images
Post-"SNL"
In 1997, David landed a role on the NBC office comedy "Just Shoot Me," which lasted until 2003. Around the same time, he was doing voice work for "Beavis and Butthead" and producing his own television series, "Sammy." In 2004, following the death of John Ritter, he joined the cast of "8 Simple Rules" for the show's final season. Beginning in 2005, he hosted Comedy Central's "The Showbiz Show With David Spade" for three seasons, in which he poked fun at Hollywood and celebrities in a throwback to his "Hollywood Minute" sketch on "Saturday Night Live."
His next big TV role was "Rules of Engagement," which lasted from 2007 to 2013.
Outside of television roles, David has had a brief but impressive film career. Along with "Black Sheep" and "Tommy Boy," he played the starring role in the comedy films "Joe Dirt" and "Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser", both of which he co-wrote with Fred Wolf. He played a starring role yet again in 2003's "Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star," also co-written with Wolf and produced by former fellow "Saturday Night Live" cast member Adam Sandler. Sandler also produced major box office hits, including 2010's "Grown Ups" and "Grown Ups 2" in 2013, which gave Spade a leading role.
Salary History
For the first several seasons of "Just Shoot Me!" David earned $150,000 per episode. Ahead of the fifth season, his salary was bumped to $300,000 per episode. That worked out to $6.6 million per season. In total, Spade earned around $30 million in base salary before royalties from this series.
At the peak of his time on "Rules of Engagement," David earned $150,000 per episode. That worked out to around $3.6 million per season.
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Accolades
David was nominated for three Emmy awards for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program during his time on "SNL." He was nominated for an Emmy and two Golden Globes for his work on "Just Shoot Me" as Dennis Finch. Spade received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in September 2003.
Personal Life
David is also well-known for dating many famous women, including Heather Locklear, Julie Bowen, Teri Hatcher, and Naya Rivera. He was at one point described as a "bachelor-era George Clooney of the comedy world" by E! News. He has a daughter, Harper, born in 2008, with former Playboy Playmate Jillian Grace. He has never been married.
Spade was attacked by his assistant when he was sleeping on November 29, 2000. David Warren "Skippy" Malloy attacked Spade with a stun gun after breaking into his home early in the morning. Spade managed to struggle free from Malloy and locked himself in a bathroom with a shotgun until the police came. Malloy pleaded guilty and avoided jail time. He received five years probation, mandatory counseling for drug and psychological problems, and an order to stay at least 100 yards from Spade. He was given 480 hours of community service.
Spade donated $100,000 to the Phoenix police department in December 2005. He donated $200,000 to Oklahoma tornado victims in May 2013. Other significant donations include $100,000 to the ALS ice bucket challenge in 2014, and another $100,000 to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, after his sister-in-law's tragic suicide.
David's home in Beverly Hills, CA, was burglarized in June 2017. Spade currently has residences in West Hollywood and Hollywood Hills.
Real Estate Assets
David Spade has owned a number of extremely impressive houses in Los Angeles over the years. In 2013, he sold a house in Malibu for $10.225 million. The buyer was Netflix content honcho Ted Sarandos.
In 2001, he paid $4 million for a home in the Trousdale Estates section of Beverly Hills. David listed this home for sale in January 2022 for $19.95 million. The property sold for $19.5 million in February 2022. Here's a video tour:
In April 2020, he paid $2.3 million for a somewhat modest home in West Hollywood, California. In October 2021, David paid $13.85 million for a brand-new home in the Hollywood Hills. And in December 2023, David paid $9 million for a home in Newport Beach, California.
