Are you a fan of Saturday Night Live? The long-running NBC comedy show has been a weekend staple since 1975, turning many once-amateur comedians into household names. Take, for example, Kate McKinnon.
Kate McKinnon joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in April 2012 and left the show in May 2022 after completing a decade of performances (Credit: NBC / WENN)
Kate McKinnon joined the Saturday Night Live cast as a featured player in 2012 and was promoted to a permanent position the following season. She continued to make late-night comedy fans laugh for a decade until she left the show in 2022, solidifying her place as one of SNL’s most memorable cast members.
How Kate McKinnon Shot to Stardom
Before Kate achieved what seemed like overnight success on SNL, she spent years honing her comedy skills.
Kate McKinnon exudes understated elegance in a classic black sleeveless dress at the Portlandia season premiere on December 10, 2012, at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City (Credit: Kyle Blair / WENN)
Born and raised in Long Island, New York, Kate majored in theater at Columbia University. After six years of working as a voiceover actress, performing at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, and working on Logo TV’s “The Big Gay Sketch Show,” she landed her role as an “SNL” cast member.
Kate McKinnon’s Success as A ‘Saturday Night Live’ Cast Member
Kate was an instant hit on “SNL.” She became well-known for impersonating politicians — such as Hillary Clinton, Rudy Giuliani, Anthony Fauci, and KellyAnne Conway — and celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres and Justin Bieber.
Kate McKinnon’s portrayal of Hillary Clinton on Saturday Night Live significantly boosted her fame, especially during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Her impersonation of Clinton, marked by its sharp humor and uncanny accuracy, became a fan favorite and a key part of SNL’s political satire.
Robert De Niro portrays Robert Mueller, and Kate McKinnon portrays Jeff Sessions during the 855th episode of “Saturday Night Live,” which aired Nov. 10, 2018 (Credit: WENN / NBC)
Her “Close Encounter” sketch performed with Ryan Gosling and Cecily Strong is frequently heralded as one of the best “SNL” sketches ever.
Outside of some incredibly hilarious comedy bits, “SNL” also gave Kate some close friendships with other female comedians such as Leslie Jones and Aidy Bryant.
Aidy Bryant and Kate McKinnon attend the 2014 Creative Arts Emmy Awards held on August 16, 2014, at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles (Credit: Apega / WENN)
In addition to fame and friendships, “SNL” gave Kate another thing: Money. Kate reportedly earned $25,000 per episode of “SNL.”
Kate McKinnon’s Net Worth as A Fully Established Comedian and Actress
But SNL wasn’t the only project contributing to Kate McKinnon’s net worth. The comedian has starred in several hit movies, including Ghostbusters, Office Christmas Party, and Finding Dory, further expanding her career beyond late-night television.
The American comedian also took on roles in The Bubble (2022), where she played a studio executive in a satire about a film production during the pandemic, and Barbie (2023), where she portrayed “Weird Barbie.”
Kate has also found success as a Verizon Wireless spokeswoman. Her net worth is estimated to be $9 million as of 2024.
Kate McKinnon wears a Versace floor-length dress and David Yurman jewelry to the Los Angeles premiere of “Ghostbusters” held on July 9, 2016, at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood (Credit: Nicky Nelson / WENN)
In April 2018, she was recognized as Comedy Star of the Year at the CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards.
Kate McKinnon wears a Narciso Rodriguez dress at the CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards held on April 26, 2018, at Caesars Palace’s Omnia Nightclub in Las Vegas (Credit: Judy Eddy / WENN)
To accept the award, Kate McKinnon wore a bold red Narciso Rodriguez dress featuring a sleek, form-fitting design that highlighted her figure. She paired the outfit with simple black strappy heels, keeping the look elegant and minimalistic.
Kate McKinnon’s elegant black studded sandals perfectly complement her size 8 feet (Credit: Judy Eddy / WENN)