What is Wendy William Net Worth
In 2022, matters took a more challenging turn when Wendy faced issues of financial guardianship, losing control over her assets and finances. Despite her vast earning potential, the phrase “no money” has loomed large, signaling a loss of control that contrasts sharply with her once-flourishing career. This period marks a shift from earning power to a focus on resilience and managing her personal health and mental health concerns, reflecting her ongoing influence and resilience in public discourse.
Wendy Williams’ Earnings Per Episode
Wendy Williams, once the vibrant host of “The Wendy Williams Show,” had earnings that matched her larger-than-life personality. At the height of her career, Wendy was making approximately $55,000 per episode, with around 180 episodes filmed annually. This rate translated to about $10 million per year, making her one of the most well-paid hosts in daytime television. Her show was not just a platform for celebrity gossip but a significant source of her income and financial stability.
However, a recent Lifetime documentary titled “I Have No Money” in February 2024 paints a contrasting picture of Wendy’s current financial situation. The documentary surfaces amidst Wendy’s public struggles with health issues, including a diagnosis of dementia which parallels the challenges faced by stars like Bruce Willis. Despite her previous earnings, Wendy’s finances took a hit when a New York judge declared her an incapacitated person under financial guardianship due to past addictions to alcohol and cocaine. This has severely limited her access to money, contrasting sharply with her once wealthy status and the $4.5 million condo she acquired in 2021.
Freeze on Wendy Williams’ Financial Accounts
In February 2022, Wells Fargo Advisors made a significant decision to freeze all bank accounts belonging to Wendy Williams. This action locked away millions of dollars which Wendy relied on to pay her employees and mortgage. The bank claimed this drastic step was necessary to prevent potential financial exploitation by those in Wendy’s inner circle. This injunction impacted both her personal and business accounts, including deferred compensation and investment accounts. The freeze was supposed to protect her financial assets, but it also raised questions about her ability to manage her finances competently.
Wells Fargo stood by its decision, citing the need to safeguard Wendy’s financial well-being amidst concerns that she was being financially exploited. The bank stated that the freeze would remain until the court decides on the best course of action to prevent irreparable financial harm. This dispute brought to light a conflict with her fired financial advisor, Lori Schiller, whom Wendy had trusted to manage her finances. Schiller’s dismissal and the subsequent freeze have sparked a broader debate about the preservation and privacy of financial decisions for public figures.
The court has been urged by Wells Fargo and Wendy’s legal counsel to quickly resolve this matter and release funds needed to pay her creditors and cover bills. Historically, Ms. Williams has regularly paid her accounts, and this freeze disrupts a 23-year career track record of financial independence and responsibility. Wendy’s situation highlights the complex interplay of celebrity, trust, and financial management in the public eye.
IRS Lien Against Wendy Williams
In January 2024, the IRS filed a lien against Wendy Williams for $568,451 in unpaid federal taxes spanning from 2019 to 2021. This financial setback targeted her New York City condo, which she had paid $4.5 million for in 2021. The lien complicates her financial landscape, connecting her most valuable asset to unresolved tax obligations, further complicating her already strained financial situation.
Real Estate
Wendy Williams and her ex-husband Kevin Hunter once shared a 6,000-square-foot home in Livingston, New Jersey, which they bought for $2.1 million in 2009. However, following significant changes in her personal and professional life, including firing Kevin from the show and cutting ties with her old management team, Wendy sold the house in August 2020 for $1.475 million. This sale occurred after she moved to New York following their separation on April 24, 2019. As part of rebuilding her life and securing her assets, Wendy hired a new team of financial advisors and a new manager.
In a bold move to establish her independence, Wendy then paid $3 million for a Manhattan penthouse in March 2023 and made a significant cross-country move to Los Angeles in July 2021. She also acquired a 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom, 2,400-square-foot condo at 50 West Street in New York City, known for its luxurious amenities like a 60-foot lap pool, sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi, and an Observatory on the 64th floor. This multi-level condo, with its 20-foot double-height living/dining room and custom cabinetry, reflects her desire for top-of-the-line living and marks a key asset in her real estate holdings.
Wendy Williams was born on July 18, 1964, in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and she was the second of three kids to Shirley and Thomas Williams. At the age of five, her family moved to Ocean Township, NJ, where she later graduated from Ocean Township High School. Wendy pursued higher education at Northeastern University from 1982 to 1986, earning a Bachelor of Science in communications. During her college years, she honed her broadcasting skills as a DJ at the college radio station, WRBB, setting the stage for her future career in media.
Radio Career
Wendy Williams began her radio journey as a substitute DJ in the Virgin Islands at WVIS before moving to New York City to work at WRKS, where she hosted afternoons. Her career took a significant turn when she took over the drive-time shift in Washington, DC at WOL. Wendy became one of the city’s most popular full-time DJs, but it was her move to NYC’s Hot 97 in 1994 that solidified her reputation in the urban station scene. Despite a format change that led to her being fired in 1998, her resilience shone through when she was hired at Philadelphia’s WUSL, where she truly hit her stride. It was also here that she met her eventual husband, Kevin Hunter.
Her move to Philadelphia marked the beginning of Wendy’s syndicated show that would eventually broadcast across the country. Known for her frank discussions about personal struggles, including miscarriages and former drug addiction, Wendy’s approach drew listeners closer, helping her popularity skyrocket the station from 14th to 2nd place in ratings by 2001. Returning to NYC to a full-time syndicated slot at WBLS, a wild interview with Whitney Houston catapulted her into greater fame. Wendy left her radio show in 2009 to focus on her television career and was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame, marking a stellar closure to her radio legacy.
The Windy Williams Show
Wendy Williams, the host of the popular syndicated television show, “The Wendy Williams Show,” first captured audiences during a six-week trial of her television talk show in 2008. Partnering with Debmar-Mercury, the show debuted in July 2008 and quickly received positive feedback. This initial success led Fox to sign a deal to broadcast the show nationally, and BET acquired the cable rights to broadcast it at night. By 2010, the show was airing internationally in 54 countries through BET International, marking its global appeal.
The show’s appeal was evident in its viewership, boasting an average of 2.4 million daily viewers. Over its run, it aired over 1,500 episodes across 13 seasons. In November 2015, during the sweeps, “The Wendy Williams Show” ranked No. 1 in its key demographic of women aged 25-54 in the U.S. However, in February 2019, Wendy was forced to take time off due to complications from Graves’ disease, and notable figures like Nick Cannon filled in as guest hosts. She returned on March 4, 2019, continuing to engage her audience with her charismatic presence.
Despite her health challenges, Wendy and her show were nominated for Daytime Emmy Awards in 2015 and 2016 as Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host, and in 2016, she was also nominated for a People’s Choice Award as Favorite Daytime TV Host. In 2021, she took an indefinite leave of absence due to various medical issues. In February 2023, Debmar-Mercury announced her successor for “The Wendy Williams Show,” with Sherri Shepherd set to begin filming as the new host.
Acting Career
Wendy Williams has made her mark as a talk show host and has a varied acting career across TV, films, and theater. Her appearances on popular television show like “Martin” and “One Life to Live”, and as a contestant on “Dancing with the Stars” in its 12th season, showcase her versatility. Wendy also acted in notable films such as “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man” and its sequels, and even had roles in “World War Z” and “Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates”. In 2014, she expanded into stand-up comedy, performing across the country.
In 2015, Wendy launched the “The Wendy Williams Sit Down Tour: Too Real for Standup”, a 12-city comedy tour highlighting her comedic style. That same year, she ventured into production, launching Wendy Williams Productions with her then-husband Kevin. This reality TV production company has produced numerous television shows, adding a significant dimension to her career in entertainment. Notably, she played a judge on “Drop Dead Diva” in 2011 and later produced the Discovery channel documentary series, “Death by Gossip with Wendy Williams”.
Her work in production also led to her hosting a Lifetime biopic. Wendy’s breadth in the entertainment industry is wide, from Broadway, where she joined the musical “Chicago” cast for a seven-week run in 2013, to creating and narrating compelling documentary series. This blend of roles across various facets of media highlights her dynamic presence and ability to engage with a diverse audience.
Books and Other Ventures
Wendy, authored, books, Wendy’s Got the Heat, The Wendy Williams Experience, Ask Wendy: Straight-Up Advice for All the Drama in Your Life, Drama Is Her Middle Name, Is the Bitch Dead, Or What?, Ritz Harper Goes to Hollywood, Hold Me in Contempt: A Romance, catchphrase, “How you doin’?”, partnered, Home Shopping Network, HSN, debuted, line, dresses, pants, sweaters, skirts, March 28, 2015, The Wendy Williams line, sold, exclusively, HSN, viewers, talk show, HSN, debut, line, network’s most-watched premiere, jewelry, sold, home shopping network, QVC, Adorn by Wendy Williams.
Divorce and Personal Challenges
Wendy Williams has faced numerous personal issues alongside her successful career, particularly marked by her health struggles with hyperthyroidism and Graves’ disease, a thyroid condition that led to thinning hair—a challenge she tackled publicly by wearing wigs. In 2019, she was also diagnosed with lymphedema, causing noticeable swelling in her ankles. Her health concerns compounded in early 2022 when Wells Fargo froze her bank accounts, leading to a court hearing to determine if she was incapacitated and needed guardianship.
Wendy’s personal life has also been tumultuous, particularly her marital history. She has been married twice; her first marriage ended in separation after just five months. Wendy then married Kevin Hunter on November 30, 1997, with whom she had a son, Kevin Jr., in 2000. Kevin, who was also her manager, was reportedly unfaithful, controlling, and physically abusive, with rumors of a mistress having a baby surfacing in the media. This personal turmoil led Wendy to spend time in a sober house due to her past cocaine addiction.
In April 2019, after over 22 years of marriage, Wendy filed for divorce from Kevin citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce proceedings included discussions about child support and the split of their assets, marking a significant turning point in her personal life and affecting her overall well-being. Wendy’s resilience in facing both her health issues and personal life challenges has been a testament to her strength and ability to navigate through life’s storms.