What Was Bernie Mac’s Net Worth When He Died?

At the time of his death in 2008, Bernie Mac, the beloved American comedian and actor, had a net worth of $10 million. Known for his distinctive style of comedy and his roles in both television and film, Bernie Mac left an indelible mark on the entertainment world.

Early Life

Born Bernard Jeffrey McCullough on October 5, 1957, in Chicago, Illinois, Bernie Mac grew up in a working-class neighborhood. He was raised by his mother, Mary McCullough, and his maternal grandparents. Bernie showed a flair for entertaining from an early age, often putting on shows for friends and neighbors. His teenage years were marked by tragedy when his mother passed away, prompting him to move to Florida. However, he returned to Chicago shortly after, where he completed his education at Chicago Vocational High School in 1975.

Comedy and Film Career

Before achieving fame, Bernie Mac held various jobs, including bus driver, cook, janitor, delivery man, and mover, while performing stand-up comedy on the weekends at local clubs like Chicago’s Cotton Club. His big break came in his early 30s when he won the Miller Lite Comedy Search. This success was followed by a breakthrough performance on HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam,” where Mac earned a reputation for his fearless comedy, particularly after calming a hostile audience that had unsettled fellow comedian Martin Lawrence.

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Mac’s stand-up success led to a prolific career in film and television. He appeared in a series of popular movies, including “Friday,” “BAP*S,” “Booty Call,” “Life,” “Ocean’s Eleven,” “Bad Santa,” “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle,” “Mr. 3000,” “Ocean’s Twelve,” and “Transformers.” He continued to captivate audiences with his roles in “The Players Club,” “Guess Who?” and his posthumous appearances in “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa,” “Soul Men,” and “Old Dogs.”

The Bernie Mac Show

Bernie Mac achieved further acclaim with his own television show, “The Bernie Mac Show,” which aired on Fox from 2001 to 2006. The show, where Mac played a fictionalized version of himself, received widespread critical praise, earning an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing and a Peabody Award for excellence in broadcasting. Mac’s performance on the show was highly lauded, earning him multiple Emmy, Golden Globe, and NAACP Image Award nominations and wins. “TV Guide” also named his character one of the “50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time.”

Personal Life

Bernie Mac married his high school sweetheart, Rhonda Gore, in 1977. The couple had one daughter, Ja’Niece Childress, born in 1978. They remained married until his death in 2008. Bernie was also an avid baseball fan, particularly of the Chicago White Sox, a passion he often incorporated into his comedy and television work.

Mac publicly battled sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease that affected his lungs. His condition led to complications from pneumonia, and he tragically passed away on August 9, 2008, at the age of 50. His death was met with an outpouring of grief from fans and the entertainment community, with a public funeral held at the House of Hope Church in Chicago, attended by nearly 7,000 people, including many celebrity friends.

Following his death, Bernie Mac was honored in various ways, including the dedication of “Bernie Mac Day” by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the renaming of the auditorium at his former high school. His widow, Rhonda, helped establish the Bernie Mac Foundation, which supports research into sarcoidosis, the disease that ultimately claimed his life.

Bernie Mac Net Worth 2008

Bernie Mac net worth was $10 million when he died.