Conan O’Brien is a renowned American television host, comedian, writer, and producer with an impressive net worth of $200 million. He made his fortune through his late-night shows, which he hosted for nearly 30 years. From 1993 to 2010, he hosted a late-night show on NBC, followed by a decade-long tenure at TBS from 2010 to 2020. His annual salary at TBS was $12 million. Recently, Conan has achieved success in the podcasting world. In May 2022, he sold his podcasting network to SiriusXM for a hefty $150 million. In 2024, he began hosting the travel show Conan O’Brien Must Go on Max.
Conan O’Brien’s Early Years
Conan Christopher O’Brien was born on April 18, 1963, in Brookline, Massachusetts. His father was a physician and a Harvard Medical School professor, while his mother was a retired attorney and former partner at the law firm Ropes & Gray in Boston. He grew up with three brothers and two sisters. Conan attended Brookline High School, where he graduated as valedictorian in 1981. He then attended Harvard University, where he studied history and literature. During his time at Harvard, he was involved with the humor magazine Harvard Lampoon and graduated in 1985.
After completing his studies, O’Brien moved to Los Angeles. He initially joined the writing staff of HBO’s “Not Necessarily the News.” He also spent time performing with improvisational groups like The Groundlings. In January 1988, Conan joined the writing team for the iconic “Saturday Night Live” (“SNL”). He spent three years there and won an Emmy Award in 1989 for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy or Variety Series alongside his colleagues. Conan occasionally appeared in sketches, including a doorman role in a Tom Hanks sketch. He also co-wrote a pilot for “Lookwell,” which aired on NBC in 1991 but was not picked up. Afterward, Conan left SNL” in 1991.
Conan O’Brien’s Big Break: The Simpsons
Following his departure from “SNL,” Conan O’Brien received an offer to write for the animated series “The Simpsons.” He worked there from 1991 to 1993, contributing to some of the show’s most famous episodes, including “Marge vs. the Monorail” and “Homer Goes to College.” This was a significant career move for O’Brien, as “The Simpsons was already a popular show, and working on it gave Conan valuable experience in television writing and production.
The Launch of Late Night with Conan O’Brien
In 1993, David Letterman’s departure from Late Night” created an opportunity for a new host. Conan O’Brien was initially approached to produce the show, but he made it clear that he wanted to perform as well. After a test audition, O’Brien was selected as the new host of Late Night.” At that time, he was still under contract with “The Simpsons,” so NBC and O’Brien worked together to resolve the situation. “Late Night with Conan O’Brien premiered on September 13, 1993. Initially, the show faced criticism, with some even suggesting that NBC could cancel it. Things eventually turned around, and the show gained a steady following.
Also Read: Toby Keith Net Worth 2025: Country Music Legacy, Business Ventures, and Earnings
As the years passed, “Late Night” became more successful. Starting in 1996, O’Brien and his team received annual Emmy nominations for Best Writing in a Comedy or Variety Series, winning the award for the first time in 2007. Additionally, they won several Writers Guild Awards. By 2005, “Late Night” was consistently pulling in an average audience of 2.5 million viewers. The show ran for 15 years and ended in 2009 with its final episode on February 20, marking the end of O’Brien’s long stint as host.
The “Tonight Show” Debacle and NBC’s Conflict
In 2009, Conan O’Brien succeeded Jay Leno as host of The Tonight Show.” However, his tenure was brief, lasting just seven months. Both O’Brien and Leno faced poor ratings, which led to Leno returning to his late-night slot. This led to public tension between O’Brien and NBC, known as the “Tonight Show” conflict. Ultimately, O’Brien was paid a reported $32.5 million settlement to leave NBC, and the network also paid $12 million to cover his staff’s severance.
Conan O’Brien’s Break from Television
After his departure from NBC, O’Brien took a break from television and embarked on a 30-city live tour called “The Legally Prohibited From Being Funny on Television Tour” in 2010. It was during this time that he also announced his new show on TBS. “Conan” premiered on TBS on November 8, 2010, with O’Brien earning $10 million per year until June 2021. During his time at TBS, Conan achieved many remarkable milestones, including being the first American host to film in Cuba in over 50 years and visiting the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), where he briefly crossed into North Korea.
In 2001, O’Brien founded Conaco, a television production company. Through Conaco, he produced several shows, including “Andy Barker, P.I.” (2007) and “Outlaw” (2010). Following the issues with NBC, Conan launched Team Coco, a production company that played a pivotal role in the success of his TBS show. One important aspect of the deal with TBS was that Conan owned the rights to his show, allowing him to post clips on YouTube and keep the revenue generated from those clips. This arrangement proved financially successful.
Conan O’Brien Sells Team Coco to SiriusXM
In May 2022, Conan announced that he had sold his podcast network, Team Coco, to SiriusXM for $150 million. As part of the deal, Team Coco would continue creating content for SiriusXM’s Team Coco channel. In addition, O’Brien signed a 5-year talent contract with SiriusXM. Notably, the deal allowed SiriusXM to earn all revenue from Team Coco’s YouTube channel, but Conan retained ownership of the intellectual property.
Real Estate Ventures
While hosting Late Night,” Conan and his family lived in a 7-bedroom duplex apartment overlooking Central Park. They sold it in 2010 for $25 million, having listed it for $30 million. After moving to Los Angeles for The Tonight Show,” Conan purchased a home in Brentwood for $10.75 million but sold it in 2012 for $9.25 million, taking a $1.5 million loss. In 2011, Conan and Liza bought a $19.4 million mansion in Pacific Palisades, and they also purchased a neighboring property.
In 2015, Conan and Liza bought a beachfront home in Carpinteria, California, for $7.9 million. The property was located near other high-profile residents, such as Ellen DeGeneres and Steven Spielberg. In October 2022, Conan and Liza sold the home for $16.5 million, the same amount they listed it for earlier that year.
Also Read: Irv Gotti Net Worth 2025: Music Production, Murder Inc. Records, and Earnings
