As one of the most talked-about figures, Ellie Kemper has built a significant fortune. In this article, we dive deep into the assets and career highlights.
What is Ellie Kemper's Net Worth?
An audition for "Parks and Recreation" led co-creatorsGreg DanielsandMichael Schurto cast Ellie on their other series, "The Office." She began playing Erin Hannon during the show's fifth season and went on to appear in more than 100 episodes. She also appeared in "The Office" web series "Subtle Sexuality" (2009), "The Mentor" (2010), "The 3rd Floor" (2010), "The Podcast" (2011), and "The Girl Next Door" (2011). While appearing on "The Office," Kemper guest-starred on "NTSF:SD:SUV::" (2012) and "The Mindy Project" (2012–2013), and appeared in several films, including 2010's "Get Him to the Greek" and "Somewhere" and 2012's "21 Jump Street." She also co-starred withKristen Wiig,Maya Rudolph,Rose Byrne,Wendi McLendon-Covey, andMelissa McCarthyin the blockbuster comedy "Bridesmaids," which grossed $288.4 million at the box office and earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. Ellie had an uncredited role in theJason Bateman-Melissa McCarthy film "Identity Thief" (2013), and the following year, she appeared in the films "Laggies," "Sex Tape," and "They Came Together."
Ellie Kemper was born Elizabeth Claire Kemper on May 2, 1980, in Kansas City, Missouri. She grew up in St. Louis with mother Dotty, father David, and three siblings. David is a member of one of Missouri's wealthiest families and served as the CEO and chairman of Commerce Bancshares. Ellie's great-great-grandfather is railroad magnate and banker William Thornton Kemper Sr., and the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum in St. Louis is named after her grandmother. Kemper's younger sister Carrie is an Emmy-nominated TV writer and producer who has worked on "The Office" and "Silicon Valley." Ellie attended Conway Elementary School and John Burroughs School, where future "Mad Men" star (and "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" co-star)Jon Hammwas her acting teacher. After graduation, Ellie enrolled at Princeton University, and she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 2002. While attending Princeton, she joined the field hockey team as well as the school's improv group and touring musical-comedy troupe. Kemper also spent a year at Worcester College, Oxford, when she was studying toward a graduate degree in English Literature.
Kemper's career reached new heights when she landed the titular role in the Netflix series "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," created byTina Feyand Robert Carlock. Her performance as the eternally optimistic former cult member earned her critical acclaim and multiple Emmy nominations, establishing her as a leading comedic talent.
Beyond television, Kemper has appeared in several films including "Bridesmaids," "21 Jump Street," and "The Secret Life of Pets" franchise as a voice actor. She's also established herself as an author with her memoir "My Squirrel Days" and as a contributor to publications like The New Yorker.
Throughout her career, Kemper has been praised for her distinctive comedic timing, physical comedy skills, and ability to bring warmth and likability to eccentric characters. Her Princeton and Oxford education background has informed her intelligent approach to comedy, making her a unique voice in the entertainment industry.
Ellie earned her Screen Actors Guild card after appearing in a 2006 Kmart commercial that involved a tarantula crawling across her face. Kemper interned at "Late Night withConan O'Brien," as did her future "The Office" castmatesMindy Kaling,John Krasinski, andAngela Kinsey, and she appeared in sketches on the show in 2007 and 2008. Around that time, Ellie appeared in the TV movie "Redeeming Rainbow" (2007), the Comedy Central series "Important Things withDemetri Martin" (2009–2010), and the films "Cayman Went" (2009) and "Mystery Team" (2009). Kemper also worked with the People's Improv Theatre and Upright Citizens Brigade; at UCB, she performed with the improv teams fwand and Mailer Daemon, appeared in shows such as "Death and/or Despair" and "The Improvised Mystery," and put on the one-woman show "Dumb Girls," which she also wrote. Kemper auditioned for "Saturday Night Live" in 2008, and "Variety" named her one of "10 Comics To Watch" in 2009.
Ellie Kemper is an American actress, comedian, and writer who has a net worth of $12 million. Ellie Kemper rose to prominence as a comedic actress after getting her start in improv and sketch comedy. Her breakthrough came with her role as receptionist Kelly Erin Hannon on NBC's "The Office," where she joined the cast in 2009 and quickly became a fan favorite with her portrayal of the cheerful, naive character.
In 2015, Kemper began starring on "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," which was created by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock; the show consists of 51 episodes and the 2020 interactive special "Kimmy vs. the Reverend." In 2016, Kemper voiced Katie in "The Secret Life of Pets," and she reprised her role in the 2019 sequel; both films were hits, grossing $875.5 million and $434 million worldwide. Ellie guest-starred on "Julie's Greenroom" in 2017 and "At Home withAmy Sedaris" in 2018, and she played Gloria Stivic on 2019's "Live in Front of a Studio Audience:Norman Lear'sAll in the Family and The Jeffersons." In 2019, she was cast in the sixth film in the "Home Alone" franchise, and in 2020, she appeared in theDrew Barrymorefilm "The Stand In." In recent years, Kemper has done voice acting in numerous projects, including the films "Smurfs: The Lost Village" (2017) and "We Bare Bears: The Movie" (2020) and the TV series "WordGirl" (2015), "All Hail King Julien" (2016), and "The Simpsons" (2020).
Ultimately, Ellie Kemper's financial journey is a testament to their success.
Disclaimer: All net worth figures are estimates based on public data.