What Is Karamo Brown's Net Worth and Salary?
Karamo Brown is an American television host, reality television personality, actor, producer, author, and activist with a net worth of $9 million. He is prominently known as a cast member of MTV's "The Real World: Philadelphia" (2004–2005) and the culture expert on Netflix's "Queer Eye" (2018–present). Additionally, Karamo has hosted and produced "Huffpost Live" (2015) and "Karamo: The Podcast" (2019–present), as well as produced the short film "Burden" (2019). His television appearances include "The Thing About Harry" (2020), "The DL Chronicles" (2007), "Lip Sync Battle" (2019), "Raven's Home" (2020), "Miracle Workers" (2021), "Dear White People" (2021), and Taylor Swift's music video "You Need to Calm Down" (2019). He also competed on "Dancing with the Stars" in 2019, finishing in eighth place. Furthermore, Brown published two books in 2019: his memoir "Karamo: My Story of Embracing Purpose, Healing, and Hope" and a children's book "I Am Perfectly Designed." Notably, "Ebony" magazine included him in its "Ebony Power 100 List" in 2020.
Early Life
Karamo Karega Brown was born on November 2, 1980, in Houston, Texas. He is of Cuban and Jamaican descent and was raised in Coral Springs, Florida, with three older sisters. Brown came out as gay at the age of 15 while attending Parkland's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, which, in 2018, tragically became the site of a mass shooting resulting in 17 fatalities. Inspired by the incident, Karamo became involved with the Never Again MSD movement, advocating for stricter gun control laws. He graduated from high school in 1999 and went on to attend Florida A&M University, majoring in general studies. In 2019, in collaboration with HomeGoods, he redesigned Gibbs Hall's student lounge at his alma mater. After college, Brown spent 10 years working in social services.
Career
Karamo's television career began in 2004 when he became the first openly gay black man cast on a reality show with MTV's "The Real World: Philadelphia." In 2005, he participated in "Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Inferno II" and guest-starred on "The DL Chronicles" in 2007. From 2013 to 2014, he appeared in the web series "Where the Bears Are," and in 2016, he hosted "Access Hollywood Live" and starred in "The Next 15" on TV One. Brown then hosted MTV's "Are You The One: Second Chances" in 2017 and starred in the TV documentary "The Real Princess Diaries: From Diana to Meghan" in 2018. He cemented his fame as the culture expert on Netflix's "Queer Eye" alongside Tan France, Antoni Porowski, Jonathan Van Ness, and Bobby Berk. The show was renewed for its seventh season in 2022, winning multiple Primetime Emmys and a GLAAD Media Award.
In 2019, Brown voiced a character on Netflix's "Big Mouth" and appeared in Taylor Swift's documentary "Miss Americana." He also co-founded the personal care brand MANTL, catering to bald individuals but suitable for all. In 2021, he guest-starred on TBS's "Miracle Workers" and won $125,000 for the Hollywood Food Coalition on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" After guest-hosting "Maury," it was announced in March 2022 that Brown would succeed Maury Povich as the host of a new talk show.
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Personal Life
In 2007, Karamo discovered he had a 10-year-old son named Jason, whom he subsequently gained custody of later that year. In 2010, he adopted Jason's half-brother, Chris. The family moved to Los Angeles in 2011. In May 2018, Brown proposed to director Ian Jordan; however, they split in mid-2020. During an appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," Karamo revealed that they had grown apart but remained friends.
Brown has actively worked with various organizations to support the LGBTQ community. In 2014, he collaborated with Janssen pharmaceutical company on the Positively Fearless campaign. In 2015, he co-founded 6in10.org, providing mental health support and education for the LGBTQ community. Karamo has volunteered at the Los Angeles LGBT Center and served as a health and wellness ambassador for the National Black Justice Coalition and the Centers for Disease Control. He also worked with the Obama administration on legislation and policies supporting LGBTQ youth and collaborated with the Obama Foundation and My Brother's Keeper Alliance.
Awards and Nominations
In 2018, Karamo received the Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award for his contributions to raising awareness and finding solutions for LGBTQ challenges. He and his "Queer Eye" castmates have earned Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program in 2020, 2021, and 2022, among numerous other accolades, including nominations for the Online Film & Television Association Award and Gold Derby Award.
Real Estate
In February 2022, Karamo invested $5.4 million in a 3,500-square-foot home in the Hollywood Hills. The luxurious abode features four bedrooms, five bathrooms, glass walls, a gourmet kitchen, and a wine-storage closet. The 0.4-acre property boasts a Baja-shelf pool and a patio with a built-in firepit and barbecue. Previously, Brown purchased a $1.2 million property in the Woodland Hills area of Los Angeles.
