Jerry Seinfeld’s wealth is no laughing matter.
Jerry had to go through a mindset shift to go from broke, struggling comedian to becoming the world’s wealthiest actor. Sitting atop the list of world’s wealthiest actors, Jerry Seinfeld’s net worth is estimated at $950 million.
Just to put that in perspective, Tom Cruise sits at number three in the world among actors with a net worth of $570 million. Poor Johnny Depp clocks in at number five with a measly $400 million.
This video is a bit dated (from back in the day when Jerry Seinfeld’s net worth was only $860 million), but we thought you might like it anyway. It reveals the timeless lesson Jerry learned – and that you can use, too.
How Jerry Seinfeld Amassed A Reported $950 Million Fortune
So, how did Jerry Seinfeld’s net worth reach such dizzying heights?
Some recent, lucrative Netflix deals have paid him some good money. But really, it’s due to the long history of syndication checks he’s received for the famous TV series that’s still paying him to this day.
It wasn’t always that way for Jerry. In fact, he shared a story in his 2002 documentary, Comedian, that I will never forget.
In his 2002 documentary, Jerry tells a story of when he was a broke, struggling comedian in the 1970s. He was dabbling in stand-up here and there a couple of days a week. He was getting the odd gig and actually being paid in food—not in money—for these gigs.
Everything changed for him on a warm, sunny afternoon in New York City when he saw some construction workers finishing up their lunch break, picking themselves up, and trudging back to work.
And, at that moment, Jerry said to himself, “If those construction workers can dedicate themselves with that level of commitment to their jobs, and I’m just working at this comedy thing one, two days a week, how can I ever expect to make it?”
From that day forward, he worked on his comedy every day whether he felt like it or not, whether he was in the mood for it or not, whether he had the energy for it or not. He stuck to a commitment and a routine of sitting down, writing jokes, working on his material, every single day.
Now, there are some people who will just say, “Well, Jerry was just talented. You know the path to success was just laid out for him. He was just gifted as a comedian.”
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Jerry’s Hustle and Commitment to Comedy
Jerry fostered and developed his talent from persistence, hustle, and grind over many years, day in, day out. And, that’s really the message for you here today that I want to deliver.
You’ve got goals, you’ve got things you want to achieve. How devoted are you to it, truly?
How much are you giving your goals? Are you just dabbling on the sidelines, or are you all in, committed to working at it, day in and day out, whether you feel like it or not?
Because really what separates the winners from the losers is tenacity.
It’s the discipline and mental toughness to be able to push through when you don’t feel like it, to be able to push through when you’re tired, and when you’re experiencing adversity and setbacks.
Really, it’s not when everything’s running smoothly. It’s not when all lights are green and you’re feeling positive and motivated. Anyone can act when they’re in that state.
But when you’re not motivated, when you’re down and out, and when your friends are going to Happy Hour at 5 pm…
It’s in those moments that define success or failure.
How Seinfeld Learned To Push Through Struggle And Achieve Success
See, we often hear that success is stepping out of your comfort zone. Really, it’s during very rare moments that we are required to step out with some courageous act of bravery. Sometimes that’s required, but the majority of the times is the day-to-day mental battles we go through in our minds.
It’s developing that mental toughness, that fortitude to push through and persevere when times get tough.
Take a Lesson from Seinfeld
Don’t wait until you feel motivated. Don’t wait until you feel inspired. Action is the catalyst for motivation and inspiration.
Waiting to feel motivated? That’s a loser’s game.
If you can develop that fortitude and that tenacity and that mental toughness to act in the face of not feeling like it, the motivation that you seek will be generated. The inspiration you seek will come forth.
If you embody this principle, and if you truly take this to heart and embody this principle, you’ll be unstoppable.
To Get Results, Get To Work
What can stop you if you can act in the face of discomfort? So, stop waiting. You know what you’ve got to do. Pick yourself up and get to work.
Just like those construction workers. Just like Jerry Seinfeld did to amass $950 million.
The Takeaway
So, one reason so many people love reading articles about Jerry Seinfeld’s net worth – or other people who’ve created massive, life-altering wealth – is curiosity. We want to know how’d they get so rich? What are they doing with all that money? What’s their life like? It’s almost as if there’s this invisible wall we want to peer over, to see how “the other half” lives. It’s as if the ultra-rich have secrets most people don’t know. They DO! And that’s good news, actually, because we can all learn them. Once we begin learning what they know, we can do what they did, and create the kind of life most people only wish they had. If you’ve got that same curiosity about “the other half” you should check this out.
