Yakov Smirnoff Net Worth

Publish date: 2024-08-03

Yakov Smirnoff net worth is
$20 Million

Yakov Smirnoff Wiki Biography

Yakov Naumovich Pokhis was born on the 24th January 1951, in Odessa, (then) Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union, and is a Soviet-born American comedian, actor, writer, and painter – Yakov Smirnoff – probably still best known for his role as Nikolai Rostapovich in the sitcom called “What a Country” (1986-1987). Smirnoff has also played in such movies as “The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension” (1984), “Brewster’s Millions” (1985), and “The Money Pit” (1986). His career started in 1983.

Have you ever wondered how rich Yakov Smirnoff is, as of early 2017? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Smirnoff’s net worth is as high as $20 million, an amount earned through his acting career. In addition to working in both television and film, Smirnoff has also performed as a stand-up comedian, and is a painter, which has improved his wealth too.

Yakov Smirnoff Net Worth $20 Million

Yakov Smirnoff grew up in Odessa, where he worked as an art teacher and performed as a comedian on ships in the Black Sea. He came into contact with Americans who told him about the life in the US, so Smirnoff decided to leave the Soviet Union, and in 1977 Yakov and his parents moved to New York City.

The fact that he didn’t know a word of English didn’t discourage Smirnoff, so he started working as a bartender at Grossingers Hotel in the Catskill Mountains, and also spent time working as a busboy. Yakov began his stand-up comedy performances in the late ‘70s, when he chose to change his name to Smirnoff, after a famous Russian vodka brand. In the early ’80s, Smirnoff moved to Los Angeles to pursue his career, and was a roommate with fellow comedians Andrew Dice Clay and Thomas F. Wilson. He had gigs at the LA club called The Comedy Store, while in 1983 Yakov appeared in an episode of the Golden Globe Award-nominated TV series “Scarecrow and Mrs. King”.

In 1984, Smirnoff played in the Golden Globe Award-nominated movie “Moscow on the Hudson”, starring Robin WilliamsMaria Conchita Alonso and Cleavant Derricks, and then in “The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension” with Peter Weller, John Lithgow, and Ellen Barkin. From 1984 to 1990, Yakov appeared in five episodes of the Golden Globe Award-nominated “Night Court”, while in 1985 he had a role in the comedy called “Brewster’s Millions”, alongside Richard Pryor, John Candy, and Lonette McKee. Smirnoff continued with parts in “The Money Pit” (1986) with Tom Hanks, Shelley Long and Alexander Godunov, and in “Heartburn” (1986) starring Meryl Streep, Jack Nicholson, and Jeff Daniels. From 1986 to 1987, Yakov played in 26 episodes of “What a Country”, and ended the decade with a role in the comedy “Up Your Alley” (1989). His net worth was growing steadily.

In 1993, he appeared in an episode of the Primetime Emmy Award-nominated series called “Major Dad”, but then decided to take a break from acting on the screen and focus on his stand-up comedy performance in his own 2,000-seat theatre in Branson, Missouri, which he purchased in 1992.

In 2006, Smirnoff earned a master’s degree in positive psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, while most recently, he appeared in the series called “The Comeback Kids” (2014) and in the TV movie “Yakov Smirnoff’s Happily Ever Laughter: The Neuroscience of Romantic Relationships” (2016).

Regarding his personal life, Yakov Smirnoff was married to Linda Dreeszen from 1989 to 2001 and has two children with her. He became a US citizen in 1986, and currently lives in Branson, Missouri.


Full NameYakov Smirnoff
Net Worth$20 Million
Date Of BirthJanuary 24, 1951
Place Of BirthOdessa, Ukraine
ProfessionComedian
EducationUniversity of Pennsylvania
NationalityAmerican
SpouseLinda Dreeszen (m. 1989–2001)
ChildrenNatasha Pokhis, Alexander Pokhis
ParentsClara Smirnoff, Naum Pokhis
NicknamesYakov Naumovich Pokhis , Yakov Smirnov
Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/Yakov.Smirnoff.Comedian
Twitterhttps://twitter.com/yakov_smirnoff
IMDBhttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm0807025/
MoviesDouble Platinum, Up Your Alley, Heartburn, The Money Pit, Brewster's Millions, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, Moscow on the Hudson
TV ShowsNight Court, What a Country!
#Trademark
1Performs comedic routines with a heavy Russian accent. His trademark line is: "What a country!"
#Quote
1"I've gone from Red to Redneck" (On Owning and Operating an 800 seat Theater in Branson, Missouri).
2What a country!
3In Russia, if a male athlete loses, he becomes a female athlete.
#Fact
1In May 2006 he received a master's degree in positive psychology from the Penn College of Liberal and Professional Studies (Penn LPS).
2Is a professor at Missouri State University and Drury University where he teaches "The Business of Laughter.".
3Has two children: a daughter, Natasha, born in 1990, and a son, Alexander, born in 1992.
4Performs his own comedic variety show in Branson, Missouri. [June 2005]
5After the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade centers, he began working on a mural to commemorate the event. Just in time for the first anniversary of the event, the mural was printed on a huge banner, with the quote "The human spirit is not measured by the size of the act, but by the size of the heart." It was hung from a nearby building where it was clearly visible from Ground Zero for over a year. Yakov financed the banner with $100,000 of his own money, but kept his donation anonymous, for fear that people would see it as a joke because of his reputation as a comedian.
6He was an art professor at Odessa Pedagogical University in Ukraine before starting his comedy career in the United States, and he remains a talented artist.
7Lives and works in Branson, Missouri.
8Became a U.S. citizen on July 4, 1986.
9Former roommate of comedian Andrew Dice Clay.

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Yakov Smirnoff's Happily Ever Laughter : The Neuroscience of Romantic Relationships2016TV Movie
The Comeback Kids2014TV SeriesValdemar Steinberg
Major Dad1993TV SeriesMajor Sacha Sarotsky
Night Court1984-1990TV SeriesYakov Korolenko
Up Your Alley1989Russian Man
D.C. Follies1989TV Series
What a Country1986-1987TV SeriesNikolai Rostapovich / Nikolai Rostopovich
Heartburn1986Contractor Laszlo
The Money Pit1986Shatov
The Love Boat1986TV SeriesDmitri Kostov
It's a Living1985TV SeriesKGB Agent
Brewster's Millions1985Vladimir
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension1984National Security Advisor
Moscow on the Hudson1984Lev
Scarecrow and Mrs. King1983TV SeriesBela Pravik

Writer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Yakov Smirnoff's Happily Ever Laughter : The Neuroscience of Romantic Relationships2016TV Movie
As Long as We Both Shall Laugh2004TV Movie

Producer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Yakov Smirnoff's Happily Ever Laughter : The Neuroscience of Romantic Relationships2016TV Movie executive producer
As Long as We Both Shall Laugh2004TV Movie producer

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
WGN Morning News2016TV SeriesHimself
@midnight2016TV SeriesHimself
Home & Family2016TV SeriesHimself
Gotham Comedy Live2016TV Series documentaryHimself - Host
Pioneers of Television2014TV Mini-Series documentaryHimself
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson2014TV SeriesHimself
AXS Live2013TV SeriesHimself - Guest
Awful Nice2013Himself
The Mystery Hour2012TV SeriesHimself
Great American Road Trip2009TV SeriesHimself - Guest Judge
Cheap Seats: Without Ron Parker2005TV SeriesHimself
Hollywood Squares2004TV SeriesHimself - Panelist
As Long as We Both Shall Laugh2004TV MovieHimself
Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon2002TV SeriesHimself
King of the Hill2002TV SeriesHimself
E! True Hollywood Story2001TV Series documentaryHimself
The 16th Annual People's Choice Awards1990TV SpecialHimself - Introducing Speaker
The Geraldo Rivera Show1990TV SeriesHimself
Bob Hope's USO Road to the Berlin Wall and Moscow1990TV SpecialHimself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1987-1991TV SeriesHimself - Guest / Himself
George Burns - His Wit and Wisdom1989VideoHimself
The Arsenio Hall Show1989TV SeriesHimself
The New Hollywood Squares1987-1989TV SeriesHimself - Panelist
Live! Dick Clark Presents1988TV SeriesHimself
Hope News Network1988TV MovieHimself
Hour Magazine1988TV SeriesHimself
The 45th Annual Golden Globe Awards1988TV SpecialHimself - Presenter
We the People 200: The Constitutional Gala1987TV MovieHimself - Performer
The 9th Annual Young Comedians Special1984TV SpecialHimself
The Bob Monkhouse Show1983TV SeriesHimself

Known for movies


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