Revealed: Phyllis Diller's Total Wealth & Career Highlights Net Worth 2026: Career Earnings & Assets

As one of the most talked-about figures, Phyllis Diller has built a significant fortune. Our team analyzed the latest data to provide a clear picture of their income.

What was Phyllis Diller's Net Worth?

Phyllis Diller was an American stand-up comic, actress, and author who had a net worth of $18 million at the time of her death. As we detail at the end of this article, a large percentage of her net worth at the time of her death was the value of her mansion in LA's Brentwood neighborhood, located on infamous Rockingham Avenue. She died on August 20, 2012 at the age of 95. Phyllis Diller was known for her wild, eccentric stage manner and self-deprecating sense of humor. One of the first solo female comedians to become a household name, she appeared frequently on television, with credits including many game shows, variety shows, comedy and drama series, and her own short-lived sitcom. Diller also appeared in a number of films, including "Splendor in the Grass" and "Eight on the Lam," and lent her voice to such animated films as "Mad Monster Party?" and "A Bug's Life."

Early Life and Education

Phyllis Diller was born as Phyllis Driver on July 17, 1917 in Lima, Ohio as the only child of Perry and Frances. She was of Irish and German descent and was raised Methodist. Diller was educated at Central High School, where she discovered her gift for comedy. She went on to study piano for three years at Columbia College Chicago's Sherwood Music Conservatory. Eventually choosing not to follow a musical career path, Diller transferred to Bluffton College in Ohio. However, she didn't complete her degree.

Career Beginnings

In the early 50s, Diller moved to Alameda, California and landed a job at KROW radio in Oakland. She also filmed several 15-minute comedy segments for Bay Area television, and worked as a copywriter at KSFO radio in San Francisco. Encouraged by her husband, Diller eventually made her debut as a stand-up comic in 1955, holding her first professional show at the Purple Onion in San Francisco. Her show was a major success, resulting in an 89-week booking at the Purple Onion. Diller honed her act over the years, developing a distinctive stage persona characterized by self-deprecating humor,  outlandish fashion, and a cackling laugh.

Television Career

Diller made her first appearance on national television in a 1958 episode ofGroucho Marx'squiz show "You Bet Your Life." She went on to make appearances on "Tonight Starring Jack Paar" and "TheEd SullivanShow," launching her to national fame. Throughout the 60s and 70s, Diller was a regular on the popular game shows "Match Game," "Hollywood Squares," and "Tattletales." She also made frequent appearances on many variety shows, including "TheBob HopeShow," "TheAndy WilliamsShow," "TheDean MartinShow," "The Hollywood Palace," and "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In." From 1966 to 1967, Diller had her own sitcom, "The Pruitts of Southampton," which was eventually renamed "The Phyllis Diller Show."

Ultimately, Phyllis Diller's financial journey is a testament to their success.

Disclaimer: All net worth figures are estimates based on public data.