How Marlon Wayans Achieved A Net Worth of $40 Million?

Everybody knows who the Wayans brothers are…or most do. It would be few and far between that someone would actually be able to say they had never heard of the famous siblings, as they have spent decades entertaining the masses and bringing them to near hysterics with their television and film ventures. Marlon, being the youngest of ten, was never deterred by any supposed shadow his siblings may have been casting. Instead, he formed his own entertainment standard and lived up to it as any Wayans would have been expected to by an adoring public. Aside from having nearly fifty credits in television and film to his name, he has managed to amass quite a fortune for himself as an actor…in the neighborhood of $40 million big ones. How did he do it? Just show business, or something more? Let’s take a closer look at Marlon Wayans the man, his career, and his known interests and investments, thereby getting some kind of clue about how a kid from the projects managed to set himself and his family up for the rest of their lives.

A Bit of Background

He was born Marlon Lamont Wayans on July 23, 1972 to Howard and Elvira Wayans in New York City. Raised in a home by those devout in the Jehovah’s Witness faith, his years spent in the projects with his nine siblings were definitely not as bad as they could have been. He attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Art & the Performing Arts (recognized well thanks to the film ‘Fame’), and he subsequently studied at Washington D.C.’s Howard University; he chose to drop out after two years.

Obviously, his education led to him having a career in show business, but it is likely also contributed to the fact that it seemed to be the family destiny. Most all of his brothers and sisters are also in the business, seemingly groomed for such. His first role was in the film ‘I’m Gonna Get You, Sucka’ (1988), where he made an appearance as a pedestrian in the tongue-in-cheek satire alongside other family members. From there he seemed to take off on there own; He starred with his kin on ‘In Living Color’ in ’92 and ’93, and after that he was on ‘The Wayans Bros.’ with real-life brother Shawn. Next, he was considered for a role in ‘Batman Returns’, which fell through but was followed up by a role opposite Billy Dee Williams in ‘Batman Forever’. The part was filmed, but the role ended up being recast; Marlon was compensated for his work in the movie.

Wayans then went on to wear a production hat, producing the first two films in the ‘Scary Movie’ franchise, which was hugely popular, even going to far as to become a cult classic film series. There have also been the massive hits, ‘Little Man’ and ‘White Chicks’. These things were just the beginning, as would be proven out in the years to come. As time passed, he would test his acting legs more and more. He would take on the role of Tyrone Love in ‘Requiem for a Dream’, a fairly intense drama, and next he would star as the character Snails in ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ (both a far cry from the comedy style the actor was used to). For fun he produced ‘Thugaboo’, a Nickelodeon cartoon show, and he and brother Shawn hosted the MTV Music Awards in 2000. Oh, and let’s not forget the NBC sitcom ‘Marlon’, which is now also available on Netflix. I guess the way to put it a simply as possible is to say that Marlon has stayed very busy since his career began…but is that the only reason he was able to reach a $40 million net worth?

Many, Many Eggs in a Basket

When looking at how Wayans achieved such a high dollar value, one must always first consider the number of sequential wise decisions one has made. And in the case of Marlon Wayans there have obviously been many (career-wise, anyway). We all have problems in our personal lives, but that really doesn’t apply here, does it?

The main thing we notice in the public patterns of Marlon’s life is that he keeps busy. From the time he was young and just starting out to now, 2020, he has managed to always have some project in the works or working. The great thing about the work done by performers is that they are continually getting paid, even when they’re not working…and that pays off. But there are ‘side gigs’ too. Marlon sold a home in Sherman Oaks, California in 2016, but he didn’t really make any profit from the sale. So, what else contributes to those high numbers? Maybe it’s nothing more than blessings and good karma…

Charitable Interests

One thing about Marlon Wayans is he’s a giver…his financial gain may be nothing more than the love returning to him that he has given out. Check it out; Marlon is known to contribute to the following charitable organizations:

• The Vine Group
• Ante Up for Africa
• Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America
• Milk + Bookies
• Chrysalis
• Los Angeles Police Memorial Foundation
• Get Schooled Foundation
• Keep A Child Alive

Obviously, there are many causes that touch Wayans’ heart, and he has the means, and the desire, to step up and give. If you reap what you sow, and we believe we do, it is highly likely that his life being blessed is because he blesses others. Oh, yes, and let’s not forget that a good upbringing helps.

There It Is…

So, the answer to the question as to how Marlon Wayans achieved a net worth of $40 million is multi-faceted…in fact, there are really a number of answers. No one ever knows all the things one may do to earn money, or how many irons they actually have in the fire. What we do know is that Wayans is living a fairly transparent life, with no real scandal or negativity involved…just human stuff. For all intents and purposes, we can safely say he achieved this number through hard work and the proper application of knowledge, which we call wisdom; we are also sure his family and friends have given him the guidance he has needed over the years to form a solid financial foundation. He deserves it…we will all likely be enjoying his professional contributions for years to come.