Wendy Williams Net Worth In 2024? How She Built Her Wealth

Wendy Williams is an American television host, businesswoman, media personality and author who has built an impressive career over the past three decades. She hosted the popular daytime talk show “The Wendy Williams Show” from 2008 to 2022 and was one of the highest-paid hosts on TV during her peak, earning around $10 million per year. In this article we talk about Wendy Williams Net Worth In 2024.

However, in a 2024 Lifetime documentary, Wendy made a shocking claim: “I have no money.” This statement has caused much confusion and speculation given her past high earnings. So what happened to Wendy Williams’ fortune and how much is she actually worth today?

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Wendy Williams was born on July 18, 1964 in Asbury Park, New Jersey. She started her career in radio in the 1980s, standing out for her direct style and ability to frankly discuss personal topics on air. Her radio show was eventually syndicated across the country and her honesty about subjects like plastic surgery and addiction helped grow her popularity.

In 2008, she transitioned to TV with her own talk show. “The Wendy Williams Show” featured celebrity news and interviews mixed with Wendy’s outspoken opinions. It became an immediate hit, getting picked up for broadcast nationwide and internationally. Wendy also expanded into other areas like film cameos, reality TV production, books, fashion lines with HSN and QVC and even a comedy tour.

At Her Peak, Wendy Williams Earned Around $10 Million Per Year

During its peak years, “The Wendy Williams Show” commanded high advertising rates thanks to its loyal viewership. As the host and executive producer, Wendy earned an annual salary of approximately $10 million.

Given that she filmed around 180 episodes per year, that breaks down to over $55,000 per episode. Wendy was regularly listed as one of the highest-paid TV hosts during this period.

In addition to her TV income, Wendy likely earned millions more from her various side projects like books, fashion lines and speaking engagements.

So What Happened to Wendy’s Money?

In 2022, Wendy’s health and finances unraveled. She took a leave of absence from her show to deal with ongoing medical problems related to Graves’ disease. Around the same time, Wells Fargo froze her bank accounts out of concern that she was being “financially exploited.”

Wendy filed a lawsuit to regain access, but the bank still refuses to release the funds. In 2022, a New York judge declared Wendy an “incapacitated person” and placed her assets under the control of a financial guardian.

So while Wendy likely still has millions in the bank, she no longer has access to that money. This explains her confusing statement that she has “no money.” Her guardian now oversees her finances instead.

Wendy Was Also Hit With a $568k IRS Tax Lien in 2024

In January 2024, Wendy was hit with a $568,451 IRS lien against her NYC condo over unpaid 2019 and 2021 taxes. This suggests she may have had issues paying taxes even before the guardianship.

Between the court-ordered guardianship and IRS lien, Wendy’s finances are clearly in disarray today. But she did earn and likely still retains millions from her years of TV success.

A Look at Wendy’s Real Estate Holdings

At the peak of her career in the 2010s, Wendy purchased several luxury homes, including a $2.1 million 6,000 sq ft house in New Jersey. She sold that home in 2020 for $1.475 million.

In 2021, amid her divorce from manager-husband Kevin Hunter, Wendy bought a $4.5 million NYC condo.  Wendy’s homes provide further evidence that she earned substantial wealth, even if she cannot currently access it.

What Is Wendy Williams’ Net Worth Today?

Estimating Wendy Williams’ current net worth involves some guesswork. Between her peak annual salary of $10 million and numerous income streams, her net worth was likely over $20 million at her career height around 2015-2020.

However, between the guardianship freezing her assets, potential mismanagement and the recent IRS lien, her net worth has certainly taken a hit.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Wendy Williams’ net worth today to be around $5 million. But if legal challenges persist, or if her health continues to decline, her finances could suffer further.

The Wendy Williams Story Remains Unfolding

Wendy Williams’ stunning rise to fame as a media personality unfortunately coincided with deteriorating health and personal issues that put her finances at risk later on. Her heartbreaking statement that she has “no money” stems more from losing control of her assets than actually losing the money altogether.

Still, with so much uncertainty around her health and finances, the next chapters of Wendy’s story remain unpredictable. Her journey highlights how even wealthy celebrities can lose access to their money when circumstances take a turn. I sincerely hope you find this “Wendy Williams Net Worth In 2024? How She Built Her Wealth” article helpful.