Colin Jost has been writing for Saturday Night Live since 2005 and co-anchoring the sketch comedy series’ Weekend Update segment alongside Michael Che since 2014, and he’s got the net worth (and confidence) to prove it. “My confidence throughout my life was always about being creative, feeling like I was funny or smart,” he told The New York Times in 2020, while promoting his memoir A Very Punchable Face. “I never feel confident about my physical appearance. There’s still that chubby kid inside of me.”
Still, he continued, “I’m not really ever looking for sympathy from anybody. If people hate me, I understand it. I also hate myself sometimes.”
Love him or hate him, Jost is an undeniable success. Keep reading to find out how he got his start and how much money he’s earned along the way.
How did Colin Jost get his start?
Born June 29, 1982 in Staten Island, New York, Jost was raised by his mother, Kerry Kelly, who was the Chief Medical Officer at the New York City Fire Department, and his father, Daniel A. Jost, a former teacher. After attending Manhattan’s Regis High School, which is known for its rigorous academic curriculum, he got accepted into Harvard University, where he became president of the revered Harvard Lampoon, a breeding ground for some of Hollywood’s most esteemed comedic writers.
Following his 2004 graduation, Jost briefly worked as a reporter and copy editor for the Staten Island Advance, then joined the writing staff on Nickelodeon’s Kappa Mikey during its brief time on the air.
Not long after, Jost submitted a writing packet to Saturday Night Live, where he was hired as a writer in 2005. However, it wasn’t until 2014, when he took over as co-anchor for Weekend Update following Seth Meyer’s departure from the show, that Jost really hit the big time and became a household name.
What is Colin Jost’s net worth?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Colin Jost’s net worth in 2024 is an estimated $10 million. He earned those millions through his success as a screenwriter, writer, author, actor and comedian. In addition to working in front of the camera and behind-the-scenes on Saturday Night Live, Jost works as a stand-up comedian and is the author of the 2020 book, A Very Punchable Face: A Memoir, which was a New York Times Bestseller.
Who is worth more, Colin Jost or wife Scarlett Johansson?
Colin Jost is married to Oscar-nominated actress Scarlett Johansson, whose current net worth is in the ballpark of $165 million (making her the much richer of the two). That Marvel money helps!
How much does Colin Jost make from SNL?
Colin Jost has not revealed how much he is paid for his work on Saturday Night Live, and coming up with a clear estimate is tricky. He spent his first few years at the show working solely as a writer, and according to Glassdoor, the estimated salary range for a writer on SNL today is $44,000 to $83,000.
But by 2014 he was a co-anchor on Weekend Update, putting him in front of the camera. First year cast members on SNL reportedly make $7,000 per episode for a roughly 21-episode season, and the most a cast member can make per episode is estimated to be $25,000 per episode, which is $525,000 per season. It has been reported that Jost has reached that $25,000 per episode tier.
How much did Colin Jost make for his book?
Colin Jost’s book, A Very Punchable Face: A Memoir, came out in July 2020 to a warm reception from both critics and audiences. The book even made the New York Times bestseller list. However, it is not known how much he was paid for his book deal. Payments for celebrity memoirs can range from five-figures to seven-figures (or even eight!) depending on the popularity of the person. Given Jost’s status, we’d estimate he received a deal in the six-figure range.
How much did Colin Jost pay for the Staten Island Ferry?
In 2022, Colin Jost teamed up with his former SNL cast-mate Pete Davidson and comedy club owner Paul Italia to purchase a decommissioned Staten Island Ferry for a reported $280,100. They planned to, at the time, turn the ship into “New York’s hottest club.”
The ferry, named the John F. Kennedy, was active from 1965 until August 2021. It is currently scheduled to undergo a $34 million renovation to turn the vessel into the home of several bars, restaurants and a hotel.
How much will Colin Jost make for hosting the 2024 White House Correspondents’ dinner?
Once a year, the White House Correspondents’ Association hosts a dinner to finance their work, which includes supporting the journalists who cover the President of the United States as well as the events and programs that educate the public about the First Amendment and a free press. (White house correspondents are the group of journalists, members and correspondents of the media who are typically assigned to the White House and to cover all news related to the president, White House news briefings and events.) It also helps fund scholarship programs for future journalists. Tickets are only sold to members of news organizations.
The White House Correspondents’ dinner has become a highly anticipated event that is hosted by one of the hottest comedians of the moment. The host typically kicks off the night with a roast centered around current events and the figures involved, even the ones in the room, especially the sitting president. Former hosts include: Roy Wood Jr., Trevor Noah, Bob Hope, Wanda Sykes, Cecily Strong, Michelle Wolf, Elayne Boosler (the only four women to serve as hosts!), Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert, Conan O’Brien, Hasan Minhaj and Larry Wilmore (to name a handful).
This year, the White House Correspondents’ dinner will be held on Saturday, April 27, and will be hosted by Colin Jost. As the White House Correspondents’ Association is a 501 nonprofit and the dinner is hosted to raise money, it is likely the host is not paid. However, it is considered a great honor to be asked to host this event.