Keenan Ivory Wayans Net Worth and His Television Career Highlights

Have you ever wondered how much the highest-profile producers in the world are worth? These stars have a tremendous net worth, which includes salaries and business deals. Discover Keenen Ivory Wayans net worth and the aspects that contributed to their extraordinary wealth.

Keenen Ivory Wayans is a producer, comedian, director, actor, and writer from the United States. As a part of the Wayans family of artists, Keenen Ivory Wayans generally features his family members in his movies. Keenen Ivory Wayans made many of his family members' successful motion movies and developed together the sketch comedy program "In Living Colour" as an executive producer.

Keenen Ivory Wayans Net Worth

The net worth of Keenen Ivory Wayans is projected to be $65 million. The report revealed that he is the richest among his brothers. His wealth has been collected through his outstanding and successful career in movies and television, both in front of and behind the camera.

He invested $2.6 million in 2007 in a property in Tarzana, California, that was selling for $3.2 million in 2020. His enormous wealth has mainly come from writing, acting, producing, and directing, in addition to his real estate properties.

Early Life

On June 8, 1958, a successful producer and actor, Keenen Ivory Desuma Wayans Sr., was born in Harlem, New York. His father, Howell Stouten Wayans, was a manager in the store, and his mother, Elvira Alethia, was a housewife and social worker.

Keenen has a total of nine siblings. He moved to Tuskegee University on an engineering scholarship after taking the degree of graduation from Seward Park High School. But to focus on comedy, he left college one semester before he was set to graduate.

Early Career

Wayans first met actor/director Robert Townsend while appearing at New York's The Improv comedy club. Wayans gained knowledge about the comedy industry from Townsend, and when Keenen shifted to California in 1980, they bought a car together to Los Angeles. Later, the two would work again, even co-writing and performing together in the 1987 film "Hollywood Shuffle."

 Wayans also performed in television programs such as "For Love and Honour" (1983) and "Cheers" (1982) throughout this early stage of his career. The recognition of "Hollywood Shuffle" supported Keenen in achieving financing for "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka," a 1988 film in which he performed and directed.

Keenen Ivory Wayans Movies and TV Shows

Wayans also directed the first two movies in the highly successful 'Scary Movie' franchise, which were written by his brothers Marlon and Shawn, who also acted in the flicks. The most successful family television and movie projects include "Hollywood Shuffle," "White Chicks," "Blankman," "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka," "A Low Down Dirty Shame," "Dance Flick," "Mo Money," "My Wife and Kids," and "Little Man," to mention a few. Keenen wrote, produced, directed, or appeared in these movies and television shows.

From 1997 to 1998, he was the executive producer and host of the talk show The Keenan Ivory Wayans Show. From 2014 to 2015, he appeared as a judge on the reality TV show Last Comic Standing. Wayans achieved a Primetime Emmy Award for "In Living Colour" in 1991 and was selected for six further Primetime Emmys for that particular series.

Additionally, the show earned him a PGA Award for Most Promising Producer in TV and a NAACP Image Award selection for Amazing Performance in an Educational/Informative Youth or Children's Series/Special. For the movie White Chicks, he obtained two BET Comedy Awards in 2004: Excellent Writing and Excellent Directing.

"In Living Color"

Fox Broadcasting Company contracted Wayans and provided him with his show as his recognition and fame enhanced. A comedy show equivalent to "Saturday Night Live" with a cast of people of color and more innovative, irreverent comedy was what he hoped to build. Therefore, Wayans made "In Living Colour," a sketch comedy show that appeared on the Fox Network between 1990 and 1994.

This show is known for starting the careers of actors like David Alan Grier, Kim Coles, Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx, Alexandra Wentworth, and most of his family members, such as Damon Wayans, Kim Coles, Kim Wayans, and Marlon Wayans. Jennifer Lopez established her career as a "Fly Girl" dancer on the program as well. Damon Wayans and Keenan Ivory Wayans are the most successful members of their family.

Personal Life

On June 16, 2001, Keenan married Daphne Polk, and they had five kids. However, the couple divorced in late 2006 despite breaking up in 2004. Brittany Daniel and Keenen Ivory Wayans have also been reportedly dating each other.

Read Next: Jerry Bruckheimer Net Worth as Hollywood’s Prolific Producer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How old is Keenen Ivory Wayans?

On June 8, 1958, Keenen was born. He is 66 years old as of February 2025.

Q. What is Keenen Ivory Wayans doing now?

Keenen Ivory Wayans is spending a great time with his family and serving on entertainment projects right now, including producing, writing, and acting.

Q. What is the name of the Keenen Ivory Wayans show which is most famous?

“In Living Color” is the Keenan's most famous and successful show.