Wendy Williams Net Worth: Career, Personal Life, and All the Drama!
With a net worth of $20 million, Wendy Williams is a media personality who has made waves in television and radio. Since 2008, she’s been the face of “The Wendy Williams Show,” a nationally syndicated talk show that’s become a staple in daytime TV.
Wendy earns a hefty $10 million per year from her show, taping around 180 episodes each season. That’s about $55,000 per episode!
Born on July 18, 1964, in Asbury Park, New Jersey, Wendy is the second of three children. The family moved to Ocean Township, NJ, when she was just five. After graduating high school, Wendy attended Northeastern University, where she got her Bachelor of Science in Communications and worked as a DJ for the college station, WRBB. Her first professional gig was at WVIS in the Virgin Islands before she broke into the New York radio scene as a DJ at WRKS, where her popularity soared.
Wendy’s career took off when she joined Philadelphia’s WUSL station in 1998, where her open approach to discussing personal experiences like miscarriages, addiction, and plastic surgery earned her a devoted following. In 2001, she returned to New York for a syndicated show on WBLS, making headlines for her famously bold interview with Whitney Houston. She was later inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2009.
The Wendy Williams Show
Wendy is best known for her talk show, “The Wendy Williams Show.” Debmar-Mercury Corporation approached her in 2008 with a six-week trial, and it was a hit from the start. By 2010, her show was airing on BET and broadcast globally to 54 countries. Even today, the show reaches about 2.4 million viewers daily.
Over the years, Wendy has hosted more than 1,500 episodes, and her show continues to be one of the most popular among women aged 25-54. Despite her health struggles with Graves’ disease, which led to an extended break in 2019, she returned to the screen with the same energy her fans love.
In addition to hosting, Wendy has acted in films and TV shows like *Martin*, *One Life to Live*, *Dancing with the Stars*, and *Think Like a Man*. She even launched a stand-up comedy tour in 2015 called “The Wendy Williams Sit Down Tour: Too Real for Standup.” She also co-founded a production company, Wendy Williams Productions, with her husband Kevin in 2013.
Books and Business Ventures
Wendy has written several books, including *Wendy’s Got the Heat*, *The Wendy Williams Experience*, and *Hold Me in Contempt: A Romance*. Her catchphrase “How you doin’?” has become iconic. In 2015, she partnered with the Home Shopping Network (HSN) to launch a clothing line, which quickly became HSN’s most-watched premiere. She also launched a jewelry line, “Adorn by Wendy Williams,” available on QVC.
Personal Life and Divorce
Wendy has been open about her health struggles with hyperthyroidism and Graves’ disease. She’s also spoken publicly about her relationships. Wendy’s first marriage ended in divorce after five months. Her second marriage to Kevin Hunter lasted over two decades before they split in 2019 amid rumors of infidelity and abuse.
After their divorce, Wendy took steps to regain control, reportedly firing Kevin as her manager and hiring new financial advisors. Wendy sold their 6,000-square-foot home in New Jersey for $1.475 million in 2020, marking a fresh start after a turbulent time.
Wendy Williams is a powerhouse with a career that’s survived ups, downs, and drama. Her resilience has kept her on top as a true queen of talk shows and pop culture!