The late-night comedy sketch show Saturday Night Live (SNL) was the brainchild of comedian Lorne Michaels and made its TV debut on NBC all the way back in 1975.

Fast-forward almost fifty years and SNL is still going strong, with the wildly successful series launching the comedy careers of a host of global stars.

From new kid on the block Pete Davidson to comedy legends like Will Ferrell and Eddie Murphy, read on for a look at some of SNL’s most famous faces and discover who's richest today.

All dollar amounts in US dollars. 

First up is SNL’s latest breakout star, Pete Davidson. The actor and comedian joined the show in 2014 at just 20 years old, making him the fourth-youngest cast member of all time. He landed the coveted gig after meeting fellow SNL alum Bill Hader on the set of Judd Apatow's rom-com Trainwreck. Hader then recommended the "really funny" Davidson to Lorne Michaels. 

Before the comedy sketch show put him on the map, Davidson had already flexed his comedy chops with minor performances in the likes of MTV’s improv game show Nick Cannon Presents: Wild ‘N Out and the cop sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

Davidson, who left SNL in 2022, found the time to take on other projects while starring on the show. This includes the 2019 Mötley Crüe biopic The Dirt as well as the 2021 comic book blockbuster The Suicide Squad.

He also co-wrote and starred in the semi-autobiographical comedy-drama The King of Staten Island in 2020, loosely based on his younger life.

His career has continued to flourish since leaving SNL, and in 2023 he starred in two blockbuster movies: Transformers: Rise of the Beasts and Fast X.

Davidson’s net worth is currently estimated at a cool $8 million (£6.5m). 

Kate McKinnon made her SNL debut in 2012 and was the longest-running female cast member before departing the show in 2022. 

McKinnon's performances have garnered her two prestigious Emmy Awards, and she's particularly acclaimed for her hilarious portrayal of Hillary Clinton (pictured). Clinton is reportedly a fan and even went so far as to appear alongside McKinnon in one of the sketches herself, playing a bartender named Val. 

Comedian Kate got her big break on the LGBT-themed comedy show The Big Gay Sketch Show in 2007 before SNL skyrocketed her career.

McKinnon has also forged a successful Hollywood career outside of the show.

She starred in the all-female 2016 reboot of Ghostbusters alongside her SNL alums Kristen Wiig and Leslie Jones and has enjoyed roles in Office Christmas Party, The Spy Who Dumped Me, and Yesterday. She's also voiced characters in animated blockbusters such as Finding Dory and Ferdinand. 

Most recently, McKinnon appeared as "Weird Barbie" in the star-studded Barbie blockbuster. 

Her estimated total fortune is a neat $9 million (£7.4m).

Bill Hader joined SNL in 2005 and is famed for his impersonations of big names such as Al Pacino, Clint Eastwood, and Charlie Sheen. In 2012, he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his SNL work. This made him the first male cast member to receive the prestigious nod since Eddie Murphy back in the 1980s.

Prior to SNL, Hader aspired to be a filmmaker. However, despite working as a production assistant on movies such as James Dean and Spider-Man, he struggled to break into the industry. 

Hader left SNL in 2013, following an eight-season run. His post-SNL projects include starring roles in the rom-com Trainwreck and the 2019 horror hit It: Chapter Two, which was based on the spine-chilling Stephen King novel. 

He's also voiced characters in various animated movies, including Sausage Party, The Angry Birds Movie 2, and The Addams Family 2. 

Hader also starred in the award-winning dark comedy series Barry, which he co-created back in 2018.

His estimated net worth is $14 million (£11.5m). 

Famed for her entertaining "Gilly" and "Target Lady" sketches, Kristen Wiig made her SNL debut in 2005. Her seven-year stint on the show earned her a slew of Emmy nominations, including four back-to-back nods for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.

Before SNL cemented her status as one of the world's funniest women, she was a member of the Groundlings comedy troupe and had also appeared on the reality prank series The Joe Schmo Show.

While still on SNL, Wiig co-wrote and starred in the smash-hit comedy flick Bridesmaids in 2011. The award-winning movie took her acting career to the next level, and she's since racked up starring roles in the likes of Zoolander 2 and the Ghostbusters reboot.

The comedy queen also demonstrated her acting range with performances in the 2017 psychological horror Mother! as well as the 2020 superhero blockbuster Wonder Woman 1984.

It’s estimated that Wiig has $25 million (£20.5m) in the bank today.

Another SNL superstar with improv roots is Amy Poehler. She began her career in the early 1990s by touring with Chicago-based comedy troupes alongside her long-time friend – and future SNL co-star – Tina Fey.

Poehler made her SNL debut in 2001 and is best known for her original character sketches and hilarious impersonations of stars such as Martha Stewart, Britney Spears, and Pamela Anderson.

During her time on SNL, Poehler acted in various other high-profile comedy projects, including Mean Girls, Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, and Blades of Glory. And Poehler's career continued to flourish following her SNL departure too...

After leaving SNL in 2008, Poehler was cast in the lead role of NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation. The show ran from 2009-2015 and boasted an all-star ensemble cast that included Adam Scott, Aubrey Plaza, and Chris Pratt.

Poehler's vocal talents have also seen her land roles in a wide range of kids' movies, including Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, Free Birds, and Inside Out.

Her net worth is thought to be around $25 million (£20.5m). 

Andy Samberg rose to fame as part of comedy group The Lonely Island, which he formed in 2001 with Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone. The wacky trio is famed for their celeb-filled viral music videos, which include Motherlover and Jack Sparrow.

In 2005, Samberg, Schaffer, and Taccone were hired as SNL writers after catching the attention of Jimmy Fallon. The exuberant Samberg was also brought on board as a performer. 

Following a seven-season stint on the show, Samberg left SNL in 2012. Today, he’s most famous for producing and starring in the critically acclaimed cop sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which aired between 2013 and 2021. 

Samberg has also enjoyed a thriving film career. His credits include the 2013 comedy Grown Ups 2 and the sci-fi rom-com Palm Springs.

Furthermore, he's lined his pockets with voice roles in animated movies, including the Hotel Transylvania and Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs franchises. 

His estimated net worth is $25 million (£20.5m).

Chevy Chase was one of the original cast members and writers for SNL and joined the show for its launch in October 1975. He was the first anchor of the long-running Weekend Update segment and scored three Emmys for his writing and performances. 

Chase originally cut his teeth as a member of the underground comedy group Channel One, which he co-founded in 1967. His first big break came in 1973, when he became a writer and cast member of The National Lampoon Radio Hour, a syndicated radio series that also featured the likes of Bill Murray and John Belushi. 

Chase left SNL in 1976, though he has since returned as a guest star and host. He enjoyed a thriving movie career throughout the 1980s and starred in comedy classics such as Caddyshack and five National Lampoon's Vacation films.

In 2009, Chase landed a role in the NBC sitcom Community. The critically acclaimed series was considered by many to be a comeback for the comedian, who hadn’t starred in a hit film in decades, although he quit in 2012 after a feud with its creator Dan Harmon.

Chase's most recent project was a vocal role in the 2023 Christmas flick Glisten and the Merry Mission. The star is reportedly worth a juicy $50 million (£41m). 

Chris Rock started out as a stand-up comedian in New York City. While on the comedy circuit in the 1980s, he befriended his future SNL peer Eddie Murphy, who became a mentor to the rising star. In fact, Murphy even gave Rock a small role in his 1987 movie Beverly Hills Cop II.

Rock landed his SNL debut in 1990, joining around the same time as Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, and David Spade. This new generation of talent became known as the "Bad Boys of SNL" due to the wilder and more outlandish type of comedy they brought to the show.

Rock spent three years at SNL before leaving to pursue other projects. Between 1997 and 2000, he helmed the late-night talk show The Chris Rock Show, and he's also sold out countless stand-up shows, including numerous comedy specials filmed for Netflix. 

In addition to his comedy career, Rock is a successful movie star. He's starred in everything from rom-com blockbusters like What to Expect When You're Expecting to the horror Spiral: From the Book of Saw, which he starred in alongside Samuel L. Jackson in 2021.

Another career highlight is the sitcom Everybody Hates Chris, which was loosely based on Rock’s younger years. He exec-produced and narrated the hit show, which ran between 2005 and 2009. 

Rock’s most widely reported net worth is an impressive $60 million (£49.1m).

A young Jimmy Fallon had always dreamed of starring on SNL, and he moved to LA in the mid-90s to pursue his comedy career. In a bid to get a foot on the ladder, he performed live stand-up shows and also took classes with the Groundlings improv troupe.

Fallon eventually landed an SNL audition in 1997 but was unsuccessful. However, it was a case of second-time lucky for the budding comic: unfazed by the rejection, he auditioned again the following year and promptly won over Lorne Michaels with a series of spot-on impressions.

Fallon quickly became one of the stand-out stars of the show and impersonated everyone from Robert De Niro to Adam Sandler, and also co-hosted the Weekend Update segment with Tina Fey.

In 2004, Fallon quit SNL to focus on his movie career. Unfortunately, he suffered a string of box office flops, including the action-comedy Taxi and the rom-com Fever Pitch.

However, things took a more positive turn in 2009 when Fallon became the host of NBC’s Late Night franchise, taking over from Conan O'Brien. He left the show in 2014 to replace Jay Leno as host of the prestigious The Tonight Show, which he still helms today. 

Fallon is now one of the most famous talk show hosts in the world and is estimated to be worth a hefty $70 million (£57.3m).

Like her friend and SNL co-star Amy Poehler, Tina Fey got her start doing improv comedy with The Second City troupe.

She joined SNL as a writer in 1997 and was swiftly promoted to head writer just two years later, becoming the first ever woman to land the enviable position. 

By 2000, Fey was starring in sketches and co-hosting the Weekend Update segment, all while continuing to serve as head writer.

Fey left the show in 2006 to launch her satirical TV series, 30 Rock, which is loosely based on her experience as an SNL writer. The sitcom was a huge success and won a string of awards during its seven-year run, including the coveted Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series three years in a row.

When 30 Rock wrapped in 2013, Fey went on to co-create the Netflix comedy Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, which starred The Office alum Ellie Kemper and aired for four seasons between 2015 and 2019.

Fey’s career on the big screen is as impressive as it is diverse. She co-wrote and starred in the comedy classic Mean Girls, and has had leading roles in films such as rom-com Date Night and war-set comedy-drama Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.

Fey's estimated net worth is an epic $75 million (£61.4m). 

Will Ferrell joined SNL in 1995 and swiftly became a fan favourite thanks to his impressions of the likes of George W. Bush, Al Gore, and Neil Diamond. In fact, Ferrell, who left the show in 2002, was even voted the best SNL cast member of all time. 

Yet another star with improv roots, Ferrell also started out with the Groundlings. Alongside that, he had acted in commercials and played small roles in TV shows such as Grace Under Fire and Living Single before being cast in NBC's iconic sketch show. 

Now a comedy legend, Will Ferrell has starred in some of the world’s funniest flicks, with Elf, Anchorman: the Legend of Ron Burgundy, and Step Brothers just a few of the comedy classics under his belt.

Also a sought-after voice actor, he’s lent his vocal talents to numerous animated blockbusters, including Megamind and The Lego Movie.

Outside of acting roles, Ferrell's Gloria Sanchez Productions signed a deal with Netflix in 2020 to produce content for the streamer. As the Netflix contract is non-exclusive, the company, which Ferrell heads up alongside Jessica Elbaum, has also inked a production deal with Paramount.

All in all, Ferrell is reportedly worth a huge $160 million (£131m).

Like many other SNL graduates, Bill Murray started out on the improv comedy scene. His big break came in the form of the National Lampoon Radio Hour, and he joined SNL as a writer and performer in 1977 after the departure of Chevy Chase.

That very same year, Murray won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series, all thanks to his sketches for the show.

Murray would go on to become one of the world’s biggest movie stars following his three-year SNL stint. His acting portfolio is truly enviable, with Caddyshack, Groundhog Day, Lost in Translation, and, of course, the beloved Ghostbusters film franchise among some of his most famous flicks.

Now in his 70s, Murray shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon, having recently appeared in the 2023 Marvel blockbuster Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

Murray’s long and lucrative career is said to have earned him a net worth of $180 million (£147m).

Mike Myers joined the cast of SNL in 1989. He quickly gained fan-favourite status thanks to his wacky characters and quirky sketches, which included Wayne’s World and Sprockets. 

A former child star, Myers began appearing in TV commercials at just two years old, and at the age of 12 made a guest appearance on the TV sitcom King of Kensington. Like many of his peers, Myers was popular on the improv comedy scene before landing his much-coveted spot on SNL.

Myers left SNL in 1995 and is arguably most famous for the Austin Powers spy parody trilogy, in which he starred as the title character between 1997 and 2002. Myers even returned to SNL in 2014 for a surprise sketch featuring one of his other Austin Powers characters, the dastardly Dr. Evil. 

Other career highlights include voicing the main character in 2003’s The Cat in the Hat, which was based on the iconic Dr. Seuss book, as well as providing vocals for the grumpy yet lovable ogre Shrek in DreamWorks' megabucks movie franchise.

Myers' mammoth net worth is estimated to sit somewhere in the region of $200 million (£163.7m). 

Aspiring comedian Eddie Murphy was just 19 years old when he made his SNL debut in 1980. He quickly gained attention for his character sketches, which included playing an adult version of the Little Rascals character Buckwheat and a hilarious parody of children’s TV star Fred Rogers. 

Though nominated for several Emmys during his SNL tenure, Murphy didn’t actually bag the coveted award until 2020, when he returned to the show as host. He scooped the gong for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series, giving a heartfelt speech at the time that acknowledged that the longed-for win had been 40 years in the making.
 

Murphy left SNL in 1984 and went on to become a bona fide movie star. His string of comedy hits includes the Beverly Hills Cop film series, The Nutty Professor, and Dr. Dolittle, and he's also much-loved for voicing Donkey in the Shrek franchise alongside Mike Myers.

Far from "just" a funny guy, Murphy has also received an Oscar nod for his supporting role as soul singer James Early in Dreamgirls; he won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the 2006 film, which also starred Beyoncé and Jamie Foxx.

Swapping movies for music for a moment, Murphy has also released three studio albums and even released a single with Snoop Dogg in 2013 titled Red Light. 

The multitalented Murphy is reportedly worth an astonishing $200 million (£163.7m)

Adam Sandler made his movie debut in the 1989 comedy flick Going Overboard and went on to perform in comedy clubs before being discovered by comedian Dennis Miller. It was Miller who suggested Sandler could be a great for SNL to Lorne Michaels, and the rest was history.

Sandler was hired as a writer for the sketch show in 1990 and became a performer in 1991, rising to fame by performing witty original songs.

NBC ultimately fired Sandler following declining SNL ratings in 1995. However, that hasn't stopped him from going on to enjoy a phenomenal movie career, and he's starred in hit films including Happy Gilmore, The Waterboy, 50 First Dates, and Grown Ups. 

In 1999, Sandler founded production company Happy Madison Productions, which is behind films like the animated blockbuster Pixels and the Netflix hit Murder Mystery. Many of Sandler’s former SNL buddies have starred in Happy Madison flicks, including David Spade and Chris Rock.

Today, Sandler is reportedly worth an incredible $440 million (£360.1m), making him the wealthiest SNL alum by far.

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