Roseanne Barr

Roseanne Barr has built a successful career in comedy and television, earning significant wealth along the way. Starting as a stand-up comic in Colorado in the 1970s, she rose to fame with her iconic sitcom Roseanne, which aired from 1988 to 1997 and returned briefly in 2018. The show became a major source of her income, along with appearances in various films and TV shows where she often portrayed her bold, outspoken personality.So, how did Roseanne Barr make her fortune as a stand-up comic and TV star? Let us explore how she became one of the top-earning entertainers.

What Is Roseanne Barr’s Net Worth?

As of January 2025, Roseanne Barr’s net worth is estimated to be $70 million.

Roseanne Barr has earned her wealth through her work as an actress, comedian, TV personality, and author. While her exact earnings are not publicly available, it is clear that much of her wealth comes from her acting roles, including her appearances in films like She-Devil, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, and Home on the Range, where she also did voice work.

A major part of her income came from her hit sitcom Roseanne, which aired from 1988 to 1997. Barr earned substantial paychecks for starring in the show, as well as for her roles as an executive producer and writer. According to Slate.com, Barr earned nearly $40 million for the last two seasons of Roseanne, which includes $21 million for the last season in 1997. That made her the second highest-paid woman in entertainment behind Oprah Winfrey at the time.

According to Variety, Roseanne became the No. 1 syndicated show in 1993, earning $1 million per episode in syndication. This amount was shared among the cast, including Barr. With 222 episodes airing over nine seasons, the show has continued to generate royalty income for years. Given how long it has been since then, the total earnings from syndication have likely grown significantly.

By 1997, Roseanne Barr's net worth was $40 million, according to Slate.com. After Roseanne ended, her career had its ups and downs. While she stayed well-known, her other projects, like the short-lived The Roseanne Show and reality TV appearances, didn't bring in as much money as the sitcom. In 2011, during a legal dispute, her ex-husband Ben Thomas said her net worth was $42 million, according to TMZ.

Her return to television in 2018 with the Roseanne reboot added to her fortune. According to Variety, Barr earned $250,000 per episode for Season 10 of Roseanne. With nine episodes in the season, she made a total of $2.25 million.

The show was initially set to continue with Season 11, which was supposed to have 13 episodes. However, after Barr posted a controversial tweet, the reboot was canceled, costing her an additional $3.25 million in potential earnings. She also gave up her share of ownership in the reboot, which likely cost her over $100 million in future profits.

Additionally, Barr has earned money as an author, releasing books such as Stand Up!, Roseanne, My Life as a Woman, My Lives, and Roseannearchy: Dispatches from the Nut Farm. From 2014 to 2015, Barr appeared as a judge on Last Comic Standing, further boosting her income.

What is Roseanne Barr’s Claim to Fame?

Roseanne Barr’s journey to fame and fortune is filled with key moments that made her a household name. Let’s take a closer look at her path to success:

• Breakthrough: Barr began her career with stand-up comedy in Colorado before performing at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles. Her big break came in 1985 with a successful appearance on The Tonight Show, which paved the way for her rise to stardom.
• Family conflicts: Barr's sister, Geraldine, managed Barr's career early on but had a falling out with Barr's second husband, Tom Arnold. This led Barr to fire Geraldine, who then filed a $70.3 million lawsuit in December 1991, claiming Barr had promised her half of the earnings from Roseanne. Geraldine argued that she helped create the "domestic goddess" character and had played multiple roles, including writer and confidante. However, the lawsuit was dismissed because the statute of limitations had passed.
• Roseanne: Roseanne was a popular sitcom that aired on ABC for nine seasons from 1988 to 1997, with a nine-episode revival in 2018. The show followed the Conners, a working-class family led by Roseanne Conner, a witty and sarcastic matriarch played by Roseanne Barr. The series debuted on October 18, 1988, and was an instant hit, with 21.4 million households tuning in for the premiere, making it the highest-rated debut that season. Barr’s performance earned her several awards, including an Emmy, a Golden Globe, a Kids' Choice Award, and three American Comedy Awards. 
• Roseanne Reboot and Controversy: In 2018, Barr returned to her iconic role in a nine-episode reboot of Roseanne, which picked up 20 years after the original series ended. The reboot was a big hit, and ABC renewed it for another season. However, Barr caused controversy when she posted a racist tweet about Valerie Jarrett, a former adviser to President Barack Obama. After apologizing, Barr’s tweet led to the cancellation of the show. ABC later reworked the show without Barr and renamed it The Conners, which aired later that year. Barr and producer Tom Werner agreed to give up her producer's stake, and The Conners continued without her.
• Hitler photoshoot: In July 2009, Barr sparked backlash when she posed as Adolf Hitler for a satirical photoshoot in Heeb magazine. The theme, which she suggested, featured Barr with a Hitler mustache and swastika armband, holding burnt gingerbread cookies. Barr, who is Jewish, said she was mocking Hitler, not his victims. Critics, including Bill O'Reilly and Mario Lopez, condemned her for making light of the Holocaust. The controversy resurfaced in 2018 when her show revival brought attention to the photos again.
• 2012 presidential campaign: In 2011, Roseanne Barr announced her presidential candidacy for the 2012 election on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, running under the "Green Tea Party" ticket, focusing on issues like economics, health, and meditation. She filed with the Federal Election Commission as a Green Party candidate and ran in their primaries but lost to Jill Stein. Barr then secured the presidential nomination of the Peace and Freedom Party, with activist Cindy Sheehan as her running mate. However, Sheehan left the campaign due to disagreements with Barr. Barr appeared on ballots in California, Colorado, and Florida, ultimately receiving 67,326 votes, placing sixth in the race.
• Zimmerman tweet: In 2014, the parents of George Zimmerman, who shot Trayvon Martin, sued Barr for tweeting their personal information in 2012, claiming she intended to incite violence. In August 2015, Barr won the case when the court ruled in her favor.
• Parkland shooting tweet: In March 2018, Barr tweeted a false conspiracy theory about David Hogg, a survivor of the Parkland school shooting. The tweet falsely accused Hogg of giving a Nazi salute at a rally. Barr later deleted the tweet.
• Theo Von podcast: In 2023, Roseanne Barr appeared on Theo Von's podcast, where she discussed former President Donald Trump's claims of election fraud and made controversial remarks about the Holocaust. She initially appeared to deny the Holocaust, which sparked outrage. However, she later clarified that her comments were meant to be sarcastic, pointing out the context was lost in edited videos shared online. Barr, who is Jewish, explained that she had lost her family in the Holocaust. The segment was criticized by many, including the Anti-Defamation League, and was removed from YouTube for violating hate speech policies.
• Daddy’s Home: In January 2025, Roseanne Barr appeared in a pro-Donald Trump rap music video titled "Daddy's Home," where she teamed up with Canadian rapper Tom MacDonald. The video gained attention for its unconventional presentation, with Barr sporting blonde box braids, gold chains, and sunglasses while delivering lines about her experience with cancellation. She even took a jab at Eminem in the video, saying, "Screw Eminem! I'm Roseanne!" The video has sparked significant online reactions, with many viewers describing it as "nightmare fuel" due to its striking and unexpected style.

What businesses does Roseanne Barr own or is a part of?

Roseanne Barr has been involved in a few business ventures beyond her entertainment career. Let us take a closer look at them:

• Macadamia Nut Farm: Roseanne owned and operated a nearly 50-acre macadamia nut farm in Hawaii, which was also featured in her reality show Roseanne's Nuts. She purchased the 46-acre farm in 2007 for about $1.78 million. Located in the Honokaa/Hamakua region, known for its lush landscapes and rich agriculture, the property was named Hidden Hamakua Farm. It includes over 5,000 macadamia nut trees and became a central part of her life as she embraced sustainable farming after stepping away from mainstream entertainment.
• Medical Marijuana Venture: In 2016, Roseanne Barr entered the medical marijuana industry by partnering with a Santa Ana dispensary called Roseanne's Joint. The dispensary planned to offer products grown on her Hawaii farm, including marijuana-infused treats like chocolate-covered macadamia nuts.

What Brands Does Roseanne Barr Endorse?

The star of Roseanne has participated in a few notable brand endorsements throughout her career. Here’s a look at them:

• Snickers: In 2011, Roseanne Barr starred in a Snickers Super Bowl commercial with comedian Richard Lewis. As part of the popular "You're Not You When You're Hungry" campaign, the ad humorously depicted Barr and Lewis as grumpy characters who transform after eating a Snickers bar. The commercial was widely praised and became one of the standout ads of the year.
• Pizza Hut: In 1986, Roseanne Barr starred in a Pizza Hut commercial. In the ad, she played a busy mom talking about how hard it is to keep her family fed. She highlighted how Pizza Hut’s pan pizza was a quick and easy way to satisfy everyone's hunger.

How does Roseanne Barr spend her millions?

The majority of Barr’s earnings go into her investment in real estate. Thus, revealing her fondness for a comfortable and luxurious lifestyle. Let's take a look at her assets:

Roseanne Barr’s Real Estate Portfolio 

Like many celebrities, Roseanne Barr has a taste for luxurious and well-located properties. Let us take a look at her notable properties:

• Macadamia Nut Farm: In 2007, Roseanne Barr bought a 46-acre ranch-style property called Hidden Hamakua Farm on the Big Island of Hawaii for $1.78 million, without seeing it in person. The 2,212-square-foot home is located in Honokaa/Hamakua. She moved there full-time in 2010 after leaving Los Angeles. The farm became the setting for her 2011 reality TV show, Roseanne’s Nuts. Barr's property features 2,000 macadamia nut trees, an organic garden, and a beehive. She shared the home with her longtime partner, Johnny Argent, and her son, Jake Pentland. She continues to own the macadamia nut farm.
• Kamuela Home: In November 2010, Barr bought a 1-acre property in Kamuela for $900,000. The property, located about 20 miles east of her nut farm, includes a five-bedroom house built in 1968, near the Kohakohau stream. She purchased it through her “Big Buck Trust.”
• Playa del Rey Residences: In 2005, the actress purchased a four-bedroom, 4,746-square-foot home in Playa del Rey, Los Angeles, for $2.11 million. This property is located in the upscale beach community of Playa del Rey. In 2007, just two years after buying the larger Playa del Rey home, Barr purchased a smaller three-bedroom, 2,600-square-foot house in the same area for $1.65 million. Located on the west side of Los Angeles, Playa del Rey offers a quiet, suburban atmosphere with a quick commute to Hollywood.
• El Segundo Homes: In 2003, Barr bought a four-bedroom, four-bathroom, 4,500-square-foot hacienda-style home in El Segundo for $1.17 million. The location was convenient, as she also owned a studio on Main Street called Full Moon and High Tide Productions, managed by her son Jake Pentland. In March 2022, after nearly 20 years of ownership, Barr sold the property for $3.1 million. In 2005, Barr bought a second property in El Segundo, just down the street from her first one. The home, built in 1963, has three bedrooms, and four bathrooms, and spans over 3,000 square feet. She purchased it for $1.63 million.
• Lake Arrowhead Ranch: In 1999, Roseanne Barr purchased an 11-acre ranch in Lake Arrowhead, California, where she lived with her then-husband, Ben Thomas, and their son, Buck. The property featured a 6,800-square-foot main house with five bedrooms, a two-story bunkhouse, and a one-bedroom guesthouse with a kitchen. Following her divorce, Barr sold the ranch, along with another nearby property, in November 2005 for $2.8 million.

Barr also owned homes in Beverly Hills and Rolling Hills, which she later sold.

Vehicles Owned By Roseanne Barr Over The Years

Roseanne Barr's car collection isn't as well-known as her extensive real estate portfolio, which has garnered more attention over the years.

What Are Roseanne Barr Charitable Contributions?

The 72-year-old actress and comedian has supported numerous charitable causes over the years. Some of her contributions include:

• Roseanne Barr Foundation: Roseanne Barr established the Roseanne Barr Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on helping vulnerable communities. The foundation has supported disaster-affected regions, including aiding Gulf Coast recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina. In collaboration with ACORN, it helped create a building materials co-op in New Orleans to assist with rebuilding efforts.
• ACORN Support: Barr has supported ACORN, an organization focused on better housing, education, and health care. She has donated performance proceeds to ACORN’s Hurricane Recovery and Rebuilding Fund and urged her fans to contribute.

While Roseanne Barr has supported numerous causes such as animal welfare, child welfare, civil rights, mental health awareness, and more, not much is widely known about the extent of her involvement in these efforts.

What’s Next For Roseanne Barr?

Currently, there is no information available about Roseanne Barr's specific plans or activities in 2025, apart from her recent collaboration on the pro-Trump rap song "Daddy's Home" with Tom MacDonald. However, considering her history of reinvention and controversy, people will likely be watching what she does next. Whether she takes on new projects, continues with her political commentary, or works on more collaborations, Roseanne is known for surprising her fans and critics.