Jo Koy is a Filipino-American stand-up comedian and actor who was born Joseph Glenn Herbert on June 2, 1971. He has made a name for himself in the comedy industry. Koy has gained widespread recognition for his own brand of humor, which frequently draws from his Filipino ancestry and personal experiences.
Jo Koy’s enormous net worth as of the most recent estimations is a reflection of his successful career, which includes multiple stand-up specials, comedy CDs, and acting jobs. From his early days in comedy clubs to his rise to international celebrity, Koy’s ability to make people laugh has not only brought him joy but also left him with a considerable financial legacy.
Jo Koy Net Worth
Jo Koy’s estimated net worth ranges from $5 million to $15 million. He’s the first comic to have the stadium sold out. Early in the 1990s, Jo Koy started his career in Las Vegas by doing stand-up shows in neighborhood comedy clubs and gaining popularity.
He became well-known across the country in 2005 after making his debut on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” As a result, he made several appearances on “Chelsea Lately,” solidifying his reputation as a premier comic.
Koy frequently discusses his family, particularly his Filipino mother and growing up in a mixed-race home, in his open and incredibly relevant storytelling. Jo Koy has achieved critical and commercial success with his comedy specials.
The popular “Jo Koy: Live from Seattle” Netflix special from 2017 was followed by “Jo Koy: Comin’ In Hot” in 2019, “Jo Koy: In His Elements” in 2020, and “Live from the LA Forum” in 2022. His appeal has grown internationally as a result of these programs, particularly among Filipinos.
In addition to his stand-up specials, Koy is a well-known podcast host, co-hosting “The Koy Pond” with Jo Koy through Starburns Audio. In 2018, he was recognized at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal as the Stand-Up Comedian of the Year.
Jo Koy Biography
Jo Koy was born to a white American father who married a Filipina mother while serving in the US Air Force and stationed in the Philippines. Soon after he completed high school in Tacoma, his family relocated from Spanaway, Washington to Tacoma, Washington, and then to Las Vegas.
After attending Spanaway Lake High School for a while, he transferred to Foss High School in Tacoma. To be close to his elderly grandma, they relocated to Las Vegas. In order to focus on stand-up comedy, Jo Koy left the University of Nevada, Las Vegas after enrolling there.
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The moniker that Jo Koy’s family gave him as a child inspired his stage name. On September 22, 2019, during his stand-up routine in Phoenix, Arizona, it was revealed that, in 1989, he was discussing potential stage names with his cousin when his aunt called him to dinner, yelling, “Jo Ko, eat!” Jo Ko is Tagalog for “my Jo” (Ko means “my”). She may have said “Koy,” but he misheard and felt it was a good name. He has been using it ever since.
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Jo Koy’s Personal Life
Joseph Herbert Jr. was born in 2003 to Jo and his now ex-wife Angie King. In interviews, Koy has said that their ability to co-parent has not been impacted by the divorce; they have done it amicably and have remained close friends over the years.
Jo has talked about how close he is to his son. Koy has kept his personal life very secret since his divorce. In 2018, there were rumors that he was engaged to Amy Bray. More recently, he was connected to singer and actress Tia Carrere.
Koy and Chelsea Handler announced their romance on Instagram in September 2021. July 2022 saw the couple’s breakup. Jo Koy’s charitable contributions are well known. On August 4, 2009, he hosted his first charitable function under his own organization, The Jo Koy Foundation.
Koy and a number of unexpectedly funny guests performed stand-up comedy for charity at a show called “Hilarity for Charity.” The Jon Lovitz Comedy Club, located in the center of University City, California’s Citywalk, served as the venue for the event.
The Children’s Hospital of Orange County received all of the proceeds from the sale of the tickets. By participating in the Rise for a Comedy Festival in 2022, Koy and movie producer Dan Lin helped earn $75,000 for the nonprofit Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA).
How Jo Koy Made His Money?
Jo Koy began his career performing at local clubs and school talent competitions when he first discovered his affinity for comedy. Jo Koy’s trip down the comic boulevard wasn’t exactly a route lined with roses.
In 1994, he started his stand-up career in the neon-lit desert city of Las Vegas. He had to work hard and sacrifice his comfort for a chance at hearty laughs and stardom.
The little comedic clubs were Koy’s first jobs. Equipped with a communicative demeanor and a microphone, he garnered a reputation for his hilarious quips that would leave people in stitches. However, Jo Koy’s career really took off at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino.
Gaining notable positions on the critically renowned Catch a Rising Star program was the springboard into the future he had always imagined—one filled with humor and bright spots.
How Did Jo Koy Start His Standup Comedy Career?
He began stand-up in Las Vegas in the mid-1990s and gained attention when he appeared on “Catch a Rising Star” at the MGM Grand. This prompted his transfer to LA. After performing at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Jo rented the Huntridge Theater and sold comedy show tickets door-to-door.
He was invited to BET’s “Comic View”. He went on to win several comedy awards and act on high-profile tours and programs. He appeared in two “Comic View.” seasons. Over 100 episodes of “Chelsea Lately” featured him as a season-long roundtable guest.
Few comedians received a standing ovation after performing on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” like Koy. Koy frequently appears on “The Adam Carolla Show”. His podcast, “The Koy Pond”, is on PodcastOne. He appeared on Tru’s “World’s Dumbest” and “New Millenium.”
After receiving the Canadian Gemini Award at “Just for Laughs” in Montreal, Koy was invited again. On Carlos Mencia’s Punisher Tour, Koy performed stand-up to 10,000-person venues and stadiums nationwide.
Jo and comedian and TV broadcaster Michael Yo launched “The Michael Yo and Jo Koy Show.” on July 23, 2012. The comedian still travels the US and appears regularly on “The Adam Carolla Show.”
“Don’t Make Him Angry” and “Lights Out.” are Koy’s two most successful Comedy Central specials. He premiered his third Netflix Original comedy special “Jo Koy: Life from Seattle” worldwide on March 28, 2017.
Koy released “Joy Koy: Comin’ In Hot.” on Netflix in June 2019. Koy did two gigs at the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen, Colorado, for the Aspen Laugh Festival’s closing night in February 2019. Koy and Netflix published “Jo Koy: In His Elements.”
DJs and the B-Boys were Filipino-American comedians in the program. In 2022, Jo Koy published “Live from the LA Forum” and “Easter Sunday.” The Netflix animation “The Monkey King” will feature his voice in 2023.
