What is Sacha Baron Cohen's Net Worth and Salary?
Sacha Baron Cohen is an English actor, writer, and comedian with a net worth of $80 million. Prior to their divorce in late 2023, Sacha Baron Cohen and his longtime wife Isla Fisher had a combined net worth of $160 million.
Sacha is renowned for portraying iconic comic characters like Ali G, Brüno Gehard, and Borat Sagdiyev. He rose to fame with "Da Ali G Show" (2000-2004), showcasing his improvisational skills and fearless comedy. He later brought these characters to the big screen in films such as "Borat" (2006), "Brüno" (2009), and "The Dictator" (2012), earning critical acclaim and box office success.
Recently, Baron Cohen has taken on dramatic roles, including his portrayal of Abbie Hoffman in "The Trial of the Chicago 7" (2020), earning Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations. He is also a producer and writer, known for creating shows like "Who Is America?" (2018), which showcased his talent for political satire. Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards for his comedy, including MTV Movie Awards and a Golden Globe. He has also been nominated for several Emmys and an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Early Life
Sacha Baron Cohen was born Sacha Noam Baron Cohen on November 13, 1971, in London, England. His mother, Daniella, was a photographer, and his father, Gerald, ran a clothing store. Sacha grew up in a Jewish household with older brothers Erran and Amnon. He attended The Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School and studied history at Christ's College, Cambridge, graduating with upper-second-class honours in 1993.
He began acting during his university years, performing in stage productions with the Cambridge University Amateur Dramatic Club and the Habonim Dror Jewish theatre. After leaving Cambridge, Baron Cohen worked as a fashion model before hosting shows on Channel 4's "Pump TV" (1995-1996) and Granada Talk TV's "F2F" (1996). He also trained as a clown at the École Philippe Gaulier in Paris.
Career
Baron Cohen gained attention on Channel 4's "The 11 O'Clock Show" in 1998 as the character Ali G. This role earned him a Best Newcomer award at the British Comedy Awards in 1999. In 2000, "Da Ali G Show" premiered, introducing characters like Borat and Brüno, who became fan favorites. The show spawned three films: "Ali G Indahouse" (2002), "Borat" (2006), and "Brüno" (2009). "Borat" won several awards and grossed $262 million worldwide. Sacha also appeared as Ali G in Madonna's 2006 music video for "Music."
Baron Cohen's filmography includes "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" (2006), "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (2007), "The Dictator" (2012), and "Les Misérables" (2012). He voiced King Julien XIII in the "Madagascar" franchise and had a cameo in "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues," reuniting with "Talladega Nights" co-star Will Ferrell.
In 2010, Baron Cohen was set to play Freddie Mercury in "Bohemian Rhapsody," but left the project in 2013 due to creative differences with Queen's surviving members. His replacement, Rami Malek, won an Oscar for the role in 2019.
Sacha has been compared to improvisational legends like Groucho Marx, Charlie Chaplin, Larry David, Ricky Gervais, and Chris Lilley.
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Lawsuits
In 2006, Baron Cohen faced several lawsuits from people who appeared in his films. University of South Carolina students and an etiquette tutor sued over their portrayals in "Borat," but their cases were dismissed. In 2009, a charity worker who claimed injury from his actions in "Brüno" had her lawsuit dismissed when evidence proved the allegations false. In 2010, a Palestinian grocer sued for defamation over his portrayal in "Brüno," but the case settled out of court in 2012. In 2018, Roy Moore sued Baron Cohen for $95 million after an appearance on "Who Is America?" The case involved a mock interview where Baron Cohen used a "pedophile detector" that beeped near Moore, referencing allegations against him.
Personal Life
Sacha married actress Isla Fisher on March 15, 2010, in Paris after a six-year engagement. Isla converted to Judaism before the wedding, and they had an intimate Jewish ceremony with just six guests. In April 2024, Sacha and Isla announced they had filed for divorce in late 2023.
The couple is passionate about charity work, and in December 2015, they donated £335,000 ($500,000) to both Save the Children and the International Rescue Committee.
Awards and Honors
Sacha has won numerous awards, including two BAFTA Awards for "Da Ali G Show" and MTV Movie Awards for his roles in "Borat" and "Talladega Nights." "Borat" also earned him a Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. He received the Peter Sellers Award for Comedy twice and was honored with the Anti-Defamation League's International Leadership Award in 2019 for his commitment to exposing racism and bigotry through satire.
Real Estate
In 2005, Sacha bought a 2,800-square-foot home in the Hollywood Hills for $2.45 million, which he sold to a Seattle-based church for $2.5 million in 2016. In 2010, Baron Cohen and Fisher purchased a Beverly Hills estate for $14 million.
