Colin Jost, the comedian known for his sharp wit and deadpan delivery on Saturday Night Live, has amassed a respectable net worth estimated around $10 million according to Celebrity Net Worth.
His comedic talents have propelled him to success not just as a TV personality but also as a writer, actor and even a published author.
Jost’s primary source of income comes from his work on SNL.
Beyond his role as co-anchor of Weekend Update, he has also written for the show and even co-headlined alongside Michael Che for a period.
But SNL isn’t Jost’s only hustle. He continues to perform stand-up comedy shows, a lucrative income stream for successful comedians.
His comedic writing talents have also translated to film, where he’s received credits for movies like Trainwreck and How to Be Single.
Adding another string to his bow, Jost even ventured into the world of publishing with his 2020 memoir, A Very Punchable Face, which became a New York Times bestseller.
What is Colin Jost’s salary on SNL?
Jost’s exact salary on Saturday Night Live isn’t publicly known, but there are reliable estimates.
SNL cast member salaries vary depending on experience.
Newcomers typically start around $7,000 per episode, with bumps for each season they return.
Seasoned performers can reach the top tier, which is estimated to be around $25,000 per episode.
Jost’s path to this top level was a bit different. He started as a writer for SNL, then transitioned to co-anchoring Weekend Update alongside Michael Che.
While his writer salary would have been lower, Weekend Update puts him in a more prominent on-air role.
Reports suggest Jost has reached the top pay bracket of $25,000 per episode, which translates to roughly $525,000 for a full season.
It’s worth noting that SNL isn’t Jost’s only source of income.
He has other projects like stand-up comedy and potentially film appearances that contribute to his overall net worth.
How did Colin Jost get his Saturday Night Live gig?
Jost’s journey to becoming a mainstay on SNL wasn’t a straight shot to the head writer position he holds today.
Jost, a native of Staten Island, New York, always had an interest in comedy.
He started by writing for the Harvard Lampoon, the prestigious humor publication at Harvard University.
This early experience gave him a taste for the world of comedy writing and a platform to hone his skills.
After graduating from Harvard, Jost’s big break came in the form of an internship at SNL.
Internships at SNL are highly competitive and coveted, and Jost impressed during his time there.
His talent and work ethic were recognized by the show’s head writer, Lorne Michaels.
This internship turned into a writing staff position on the show in 2009, just a year after Jost graduated from college.
Jost’s quick wit and sharp comedic writing quickly made him a valuable asset to the SNL writing team.
He rose through the ranks over the years, eventually becoming co-head writer alongside fellow writer Che Michaels in 2017.
This prestigious position put Jost at the forefront of the show’s creative process, responsible for crafting hilarious sketches and Weekend Update segments.
Weekend Update opportunity
Jost’s path to becoming the anchor of Weekend Update on SNL wasn’t about landing the role outright.
It started with a strong foundation in writing.
After graduating from Harvard, Jost actually began his career not in comedy, but as a reporter and editor at the Staten Island Advance.
He then transitioned into the entertainment industry, working as a writer for a short-lived Nickelodeon show.
The key move came in 2005 when Jost submitted a writing packet to SNL.
His talent was recognized, and he was brought on board as a writer.
Jost’s skills impressed the show’s leadership, and he quickly rose through the ranks.
He became the show’s writing supervisor in 2009, a role he held until 2012.
His comedic sensibilities further flourished as he was then promoted to co-head writer alongside Rob Klein, a position he held from 2012 to 2015 and again from 2017 to 2022.
The opportunity for Weekend Update arose in 2013.
With Seth Meyers, the then co-anchor, departing to host his own late-night show, Lorne Michaels, SNL’s executive producer, approached Jost.
Leveraging Jost’s writing experience and comedic strengths, Michaels offered him the chance to take over the Weekend Update anchor desk.
Jost accepted, and his official debut came in March of 2014.
Interestingly, Jost’s success in the role has been historic.
He surpassed Meyers’ record for the longest-running anchor in Weekend Update history in October of 2021.
Real estate
Jost has been involved in a couple of noteworthy real estate transactions.
Previously, he owned a two-bedroom, two-bathroom duplex apartment in New York City’s trendy West Village.
He lived there for a decade before selling it in 2022 for $2.32 million.
The apartment boasted some unique features, like a clawfoot bathtub in one of the bedrooms.
While details about his current residence are private, it seems likely he sold the apartment due to his growing family with actress Scarlett Johansson.
Jost also owns a vacation property in Montauk, a popular Hamptons beach town.
This oceanfront property offers a luxurious summer escape, complete with four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and stunning ocean views.
The house itself is designed with a focus on light and openness, featuring white walls with pops of blue and multiple decks that blur the lines between the indoor and outdoor spaces.
In 2023, Jost rented out the property for a cool $65,000 a month, indicating its prime location and desirable amenities.
Personal life
Jost is married to actress Scarlett Johansson.
The couple met when Johansson hosted Saturday Night Live, the comedy show where Jost is a head writer and co-anchor of Weekend Update.
Their relationship began in 2017, and they were engaged two years later in 2019.
In October 2020, they tied the knot in a private ceremony at their home in New York.
Johansson already has a daughter, Rose Dorothy, from a previous marriage.
In August 2021, Johansson and Jost welcomed their first child together, a son they named Cosmo.
The couple has opted to keep their family life relatively private, but Jost has spoken fondly about fatherhood in interviews.
He enjoys sharing his love of swimming with his young son and finds Cosmo to be a bright and quick learner.
While they value their privacy, Johansson has hinted at a sweet connection between their children’s names, though she playfully downplays it as something most people miss.
Who is richer between Colin Jost and Scarlett Johansson?
Jost and Johansson are a powerful Hollywood couple, but their bank accounts tell a different story.
Johansson reigns supreme in the net worth department.
Celebrity Net Worth estimates her wealth to be around a whopping $165 million.
This massive sum isn’t surprising considering her long and successful career as a high-grossing actress.
She’s been a fixture on the A-list for over a decade and has starred in countless blockbuster films, particularly within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
These superhero movies have been a major driver of her financial success, with her films collectively raking in over $14.3 billion worldwide.
Jost, while certainly well-off himself, doesn’t quite match Johansson’s financial firepower.
His career as a comedian, writer and actor on Saturday Night Live has been lucrative, and Celebrity Net Worth places his net worth at $10million.
This is an impressive sum in its own right, and his income continues to grow.
However, compared to Johansson’s massive fortune, it’s clear she’s the wealthier half of the couple.