What is Dan Cortese's Net Worth and Salary?
Dan Cortese, an American actor, director, and spokesperson, boasts a net worth of $2.5 million. He is best known for his roles as Perry Rollins in the NBC sitcom "Veronica's Closet" and as the host of MTV Sports in the 1990s.
Early Life and Education
Dan Cortese was born on September 14, 1967, in Sewickley, Pennsylvania. Of Sicilian descent, he earned a B.A. in Broadcasting from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a walk-on backup quarterback for the UNC football team.
Career Beginnings
Dan began his career as a production intern for MTV in Los Angeles. He conceptualized MTV Sports and pitched it to MTV executives, who initially deemed him "too ethnic" for on-camera roles. Despite their reservations, his audition stood out due to his authentic, off-the-cuff style, securing him the hosting role. Cortese hosted MTV Sports for six seasons from 1992 to 1997 and also hosted the network's popular "MTV Rock N' Jock" games.
MTV Salary
Initially earning $300 a week as a Production Assistant, Cortese's salary for the first season of MTV Sports was $400 per episode, totaling $8,000 for the season. Despite financial struggles, he managed to negotiate an additional $300 per production week from the second season onward.
(Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)
Breakthrough and Acting Career
The success of MTV Sports brought significant opportunities for Dan. One of his notable achievements was being the official spokesman for Burger King's "Your Way, Right Away" campaign, appearing in 90 commercials in the 1990s.
In 1994, Cortese played the memorable role of "Tony" in a classic episode of "Seinfeld," leading to the popularization of phrases like "MIMBO" and "Step Off!" He also appeared as Jess Hanson in an episode of "Melrose Place" in 1995 and had a recurring role on "Veronica's Closet" from 1997 to 2000. Dan hosted the reality sports TV show "My Dad Is Better Than Your Dad," starred alongside Lisa Leslie in "Superstars," and played a famous Italian soccer player with Emily Osment in the 2008 film "Soccer Mom." He also co-hosted "Crash Course" and hosted VH1's "Money Hungry."
Personal Life and Real Estate
Dan was married to real estate agent Dee Dee Hemby from 1994 to 2012, and they had two children. In 1996, they purchased a vacant lot in Malibu, California, for $265,000 and built an ornate 5-bedroom mansion. They listed the house for $3.25 million in 2011, eventually selling it for $2.6 million in 2012. The property later sold again for $3.5 million.
