Jimmy Kimmels Salary: How Much Money ABC Pays Him

Jimmy Kimmel has been a fixture in late-night TV since Jimmy Kimmel Live! launched in 2003.But after his September 2025 comments about the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk sparked backlash, ABC briefly suspended the show.

Now, more than six months later, he angered First Lady Melania Trump.In his monologue last year, Kimmel accused “many in MAGA land” of trying to “capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirk” and suggested conservatives were “desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them” in order to score political points.

Authorities have identified 22-year-old Tyler Robinson as the suspect in Kirk’s killing.The fallout was immediate.

ABC first announced that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would be “pre-empted indefinitely,” and President Donald Trump praised the suspension on social media as “Great for America.” Days later, however, ABC clarified its decision.On September 22, a spokesperson for the network told multiple outlets, “Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country.

It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive.We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday.” In April 2026, Kimmel joked about the White House Correspondents’ Dinner two days before a shooting took place at the actual dinner in Washington, D.C.

Melania Trump then slammed the comedian for making a joke about her glowing like an “expectant widow.” Many are now wondering not just about the future of Jimmy Kimmel Live! but also about the host’s salary, net worth, and long-standing career with ABC.Learn more about his career below.

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