Kevin Hart named world’s highest-paid comedian, Amy Schumer becomes first woman to crack list

LOS ANGELES — Kevin Hart has been crowned as the world’s highest-paid comedian by Forbes, ending Jerry Seinfeld’s nine-year reign.

According to Forbes’ list, Hart earned a whopping US$87.5 million (S$119 million) between June last year and June this year thanks to stadium tours, and both big- and small-screen appearances, pushing Seinfeld to second place with US$43.5 million.

Amy Schumer also made history as the first-ever woman to crack Forbes’ list, coming in at fourth with US$17 million.

While much of Schumer’s earnings came from her stand-up tour with Aziz Ansari, her award-winning Comedy Central show Inside Amy Schumer, US$8 million book deal for The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo, and commercial work helped her sandwich in-between ventriloquists Terry Fator in third with US$21 million and Jeff Dunham in fifth with US$13.5 million.

In the past year, Hart has starred in several comedies, including Central Intelligence and The Secret Life of Pets, and has done commercial work for H&M, Hyundai, and Foot Locker.

Hart’s earnings also placed him sixth on Forbes’ Celebrity 100 list. His Central Intelligence co-star Dwayne Johnson was named the world’s highest-paid actor, pulling in US$64 million this year, by Forbes last month.

Here are the 10 highest-earning comics:

1. Kevin Hart — US$87.5 million

2. Jerry Seinfeld — US$43.5 million

3. Terry Fator — US$21 million

4. Amy Schumer — US$17 million

5. Jeff Dunham — US$13.5 million

6. Dave Chappelle — US$13 million

7. Jim Gaffigan — US$12.5 million

8. Gabriel Iglesias — US$9.5 million

9. Russell Peters — US$9 million 1

0. John Bishop — US$7 million