Key Facts
- Full Name: Tiffany Sara Cornilia Haddish
- Born: December 3, 1979 in Los Angeles, CA (age 43)
- Known For: Stand-up Comedy, Girls Trip, Night School
- Net Worth: Estimated $6 million
Brief Profile
Tiffany Haddish is an award-winning comedian, actress, and author who has been making audiences laugh hysterically for over two decades. Born and raised in south central Los Angeles, her early life experiences shaped the fearless, humorous lens through which she views the world. After grinding on the comedy circuit for years, Haddish exploded onto the mainstream stage in 2017 with a breakout performance in Girls Trip.
Propelled by her contagious exuberance and raw comedic talents, Haddish has starred in numerous films and TV shows since her breakout. She’s also toured the world doing stand-up, published a best-selling book, and become one of the most in-demand talents in Hollywood.
Early Life Filled with Hardship and Laughter
Haddish was born in South Central Los Angeles to an Eritrean immigrant father and an African-American mother. Her father left the family when Tiffany was just 3 years old. Her mother suffered from mental illness and was absent for much of Haddish‘s childhood.
Haddish and her five siblings ended up in Foster care, and were frequently moved between homes and schools. She recounts painful memories of abuse and neglect from some foster families.
Comedy became her lifeline in the face of unrelenting adversity. Making others laugh gave Haddish a sense of purpose and joy. “I always wanted to make people laugh, so I would just start telling these stories,” she shared in an NPR interview. Even discussing painful subjects, “I try to find the humor in them so that I’m not crying.”
Haddish had difficulty learning to read and dropped out of school at 15. Despite the odds, her determination to succeed led her to graduate from high school and begin working a variety of jobs while pursuing comedy at night.
Breaking into Comedy and Early Work
In her twenties, Haddish began performing stand-up at comedy clubs around Los Angeles while working regular jobs to pay the bills. Her former husband William Stewart gave her the push to take comedy seriously and pursue it full-time.
Haddish soon became a regular on the LA comedy circuit, earning spots on bills with veteran black comedians like Kevin Hart and Mo’Nique. Her raw, ribald style earned her comparisons to Richard Pryor and other groundbreaking black comics.
Small television roles followed, including appearances on That’s So Raven, My Name Is Earl, @midnight, The Underground, and Chelsea Lately among others.
Haddish’s skills as a live comic led to her 2013 Showtime special Tiffany Haddish: Who Ready? From the Hood to Hollywood! That special caught the eye of producer Will Packer, who would think of Haddish a few years later for a breakout role.
Girls Trip Catapults Haddish to Fame
The role that propelled Tiffany to stardom was the outrageous, filter-less, hilarious character Dina in the 2017 ensemble comedy Girls Trip. Starring alongside Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, and Regina Hall, Haddish stole every scene as the crass but lovable member of the crew.
Girls Trip became the first film since Straight Outta Compton to attract such a high African-American female audience on opening weekend. It grossed over $140 million worldwide, making it one of the highest grossing comedies that year.
Haddish’s electric, award-worthy performance made her 2017’s breakout comedy star. As Variety put it, "Haddish explodes on the scene so memorably in Girls Trip that a star is born and a major career has launched."
Mainstream Success and Non-Stop Work
On the heels of her Girls Trip triumph, opportunities flooded in for Haddish. She hosted Saturday Night Live, becoming the first black female comic to do so. She co-hosted the BET Awards pre-show and MTV Movie & TV Awards.
In 2017, Haddish released her first Showtime stand-up special Tiffany Haddish: She Ready! From the Hood to Hollywood. It was massively successful, further cementing her status as a multi-talented star on the rise.
Major film roles quickly followed, including Tracy Morgan’s The Last O.G., the action comedy The Oath, and Nobody’s Fool with Tika Sumpter. Her biggest post-Girls Trip role came alongside Kevin Hart in 2018’s Night School, which earned over $100 million worldwide.
Haddish also published a memoir in 2017 called The Last Black Unicorn which made the New York Times bestseller list. She became the first black female comic to host the White House Correspondents Dinner in 2018.
In 2019, Haddish co-starred in the mafia film The Kitchen with Melissa McCarthy, and the comedy Like a Boss with Rose Byrne and Salma Hayek. She also began stretching her dramatic chops with roles in The Card Counter and HBO’s The Afterparty.
All the while, Haddish continues performing stand-up to sold-out crowds, proving she hasn’t forgotten where she came from. As a fan who’s seen her show, she leaves audiences in stitches with her bawdy brand of humor.
Fun Facts About the Hilarious Star
Part of what makes Haddish so lovable is her funny, filter-less personality. Here are some quirky facts fans will appreciate:
- She became known for wearing the same $4,000 Alexander McQueen gown to multiple events, getting her money‘s worth from the pricey purchase.
- Haddish loves cooking and hosting elaborate dinner parties – she even hired a full kitchen staff for her 40th birthday party.
- She starred in a Groupon Super Bowl ad in 2018 that catapulted the company‘s stock.
- Her dream role is to play a badass action hero or superhero in a major franchise film.
- Haddish didn’t learn to read until age 15; she’s now an avid reader and book lover.
- She’s a huge animal lover and advocates for dog adoption.
- She credits comedy with saving her life after her difficult childhood in foster care.
Net Worth and Income
According to reports, Tiffany Haddish has an estimated net worth of $6 million as of 2022. Here are the key sources contributing to her income:
- Movie salaries – Made $2-3 million upfront for Girls Trip. Now earns $5-8M per major movie role.
- Stand-up – Earns over $100k per show on tour. Her "She Ready" tour grossed $4M+ according to Pollstar.
- Book deal – Her NYT bestseller The Last Black Unicorn earned her a 7-figure advance.
- Endorsements – Multi-million dollar deals with Groupon, Lyft, Living Spaces, and more.
- TV hosting – Earns a minimum of $75k for guest gigs.
Haddish‘s fame and earning power continue to grow exponentially. But she remains grounded and grateful for every opportunity that comes her way.
Where to Keep Up with Tiffany
Be sure to follow Tiffany on social media and YouTube to see what she‘s up to next!
Facebook – Tiffany Haddish
Twitter – @TiffanyHaddish
Instagram – @tiffanyhaddish
YouTube – Tiffany Haddish
Tiffany Haddish embodies perseverance in the face of adversity. Her outlook proves you can overcome anything with a positive mindset and sense of humor. Haddish is sure to remain a hilarious and heartwarming force in Hollywood for years to come.