How Trey Parker Achieved a Net Worth of $500 Million
Lately, it seems Trey Parker’s money has been the subject of a lot of news. With his recent choice to file for a divorce from wife Boogie Tillmon making headlines, it isn’t hard to see why people are suddenly very interested in what he makes. Perhaps no one is more interested than his wife. Though Parker had previously mentioned that the couple has a prenuptial agreement in place, it looks like his soon-to-be ex-wife wants a bigger piece of his pie than they’d agreed upon when the couple married in 2014. They share a daughter named Betty, and if the court grants Boogies request, they will continue to do so equally. What remains much less clear is whether the judge will award her any spousal support.
Net Worth $500 Million
Name Randolph Severn "Trey" Parker III
Age 50
Born Conifer, Colorado
Birth Date October 19, 1969
Source of Wealth Animator, Director, Producer, Screenwriter, Actor, Composer
Country United States
Who is Trey Parker?
If you don’t instantly recognize this name then you may not have grown up in the 90s, or the 2000s. Trey Parker is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music and University of Colorado Boulder. While working a part-time job at a Pizza Hut and going to University he met another now-famous name, Matt Stone and the two began to collaborate. They created a handful of short films and even starred together in a feature-length work known as Cannibal! The Musical. If you haven’t figured out who this duo is yet, they are the creators of South Park. For over 20 years the well-known characters, Cartman, Kenny and Kyle among a host of others, have been making their humorous, yet relevant, social observations and lowball jokes for the world to enjoy.
What Makes South Park So Special?
Very few shows manage to run for more than a decade. Dallas, The Young and the Restless, Pokemon and The Simpsons are among the notable exceptions. No one really expected a satirical and foul-mouthed cartoon show that looks like it is made from pieces of cut up construction paper would make that list, but South Park has certainly stood the test of time. Incidentally, the first episode of South Park was actually made of construction paper, though from that point on they moved to the computerized animation style and have used Maya. When it comes to making an actual fortune, most people assume it has to be built on property sales, producing high-end luxury items like cars or watches, or at least inventing some medical technology that saves lives. Sure, some actors and singers get famous too, but we seldom consider other creative ventures as serious income producers.
Whatever we may think, the business of making people laugh, and indeed the adult cartoon industry as a medium for doing so are hugely profitable businesses. South Park’s social commentary combined with incredibly childish humor like fart jokes turned out to be a potent and highly prized comedic combination that has netted Trey Parker and Matt Stone a sizable income.
Last season there were some humorous advertisements calling for the end of South Park. These were produced as a funny and attention-grabbing advertisement for the next season and no actual cancellation has been mentioned. Fans were a bit worried, but it was without merit. The show will continue to make new episodes for 2019. The pair say they will continue to air the show until Comedy Central kicks them off the air, so there may be many years of South Park still to come. Certainly, the creators of the show know how to keep an audience intrigued.
Other Works
Trey Parker has made more than one musical. Another of his most well-known works is the Tony Award-winning “Book of Mormon,” which he co-wrote and co-directed with Matt Stone. Parker has numerous other writing and producing credits, many of which are predictably humorous and most of which include his long term partner Stone. The pair has film and TV credits aplenty behind their names and have created such gems as Team America World Police in addition to their most well-known venture.
Final Thoughts
So how did Trey Parker achieve a net worth of over $500 Million? Well, basically he’s funny and knows how to make people laugh. In addition to his twisted sense of humor, he has some excellent educational experience to back up his ideas and he knows how to pick a business partner. Together with Matt Stone, he has created an empire out of gross humor and unfair amounts of talent applied in just the right way to last.