I remember Marlon Wayans was in almost all the movies I watched as a child. I saw him in Scary Movies, Little Man, White Chicks, and many more.
His performance always left me in tears—from laughter! As I grew up, though, I saw less and less of him on TV.
This led me to wonder: What happened to him and how much is Marlon Wayans’ net worth now? With a career spanning decades, it made sense to discover it’s in the millions! Allow me to break it down for you.
Net Worth
Marlon Wayans managed to build an impressive net worth of $40 million from his multifaceted career as a comedian, actor, producer, writer, and director!
His comedic timing and amazing work with his brother set him up as a significant force in the industry.
His film credits include iconic titles like I’m Gonna Git You Sucka (1998), Scary Movie (2000), and White Chicks (2004), alongside television hits like In Living Color.
Early Life
Image source: Google
Marlon Wayans’ childhood is the kind of backstory that practically writes itself into a sitcom. It’s chaotic, colorful, and full of comedic potential!
Born on July 23, 1972, in NYC, Marlon grew up as the youngest of ten siblings in the Fulton Houses, a public housing project in Manhattan.
His mother, a homemaker and social worker, and father, a supermarket manager, managed to keep the Wayans team running smoothly while raising a family that would one day dominate the comedy world.
Marlon’s childhood wasn’t just a whirlwind of siblings and shared bedrooms; it also had a strong foundation in faith.
The Wayans family were devout Jehovah’s Witnesses, adding another layer of discipline and structure to an otherwise bustling household.
Showing early signs of artistic flair, Marlon attended the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art in New York City.
After graduating, he went to Howard University in Washington, D.C., but college life couldn’t hold his attention for long.
He left after two years, likely realizing he didn’t need a degree to perfect the art of making people laugh.
Image source: Instagram
Career
Marlon Wayans’ career has a little bit of everything—comedy, drama, and a touch of Hollywood intrigue!
He got his start early in the ‘90s on the iconic sketch comedy show In Living Colors, where he practiced his comedic skills along with his siblings.
By 1995, Marlon teamed up with his brother Shawn to star in the Wayans Bros., a WB sitcom that gave us some of the best laughs of the late ‘90s.
Now, for the juicy Hollywood trivia: Did you know that Marlon Wayans was considered for the role of Robin in Batman Returns (1992)? It’s true! Sadly, we didn’t get to him in that role.
He was later officially signed to don the cape and tights in the 1995 sequel, but, in a classic Hollywood plot twist, the director changed, and so did the cast.
While Chris O’Donnell landed the role, Marlon received a payout and hilariously still earns royalties for a performance that never happened.
Image source: Pinterest
Hitting Stardom
Marlon’s big break in film came with the Scary Movies series, where he and Shawn served as writers, producers, and co-starts.
These parody-heavy, box-office hits, released in 2000 and 2001, placed the Wayans in the hall of fame—at least for me!
Aside from Scary movies, Marlon showed serious acting chops in Requiem for a Dream (2000), where he proved he could handle drama just as well as comedy.
Since then, Marlon kept a rather low profile. He’s certainly not out of the industry, but more relaxed than his younger years.
Personal Life
Marlon had one long-term relationship that lasted around 20 with Angela Zackery, but they never tied the knot. Together, they have two children, Amai and Shawn.
He also shares another child with his former girlfriend Brittany Moreland.
Image source: Instagram
To Sum Up
Reading about Marlon Wayans’ net worth and how he built it showed me the power of comedic genius.
It’s not just about making people laugh—you can’t make $40 million out of that!—but about creating opportunities, taking risks, and being diverse.
Marlon Wayans didn’t stop at acting. He wrote, produced, and built an empire that spanned a decade.
You can see from his journey that comedy when paired with ambition and smart decisions, can be a serious business.
Featured image source: Pinterest
