How much is Karen Kilgariff Worth? Karen Kilgariff Net Worth in 2026

By the Alux Research Team. How we estimate net worth

Karen Kilgariff’s net worth is estimated at $20 million as of October 2026. She is an American comedian, writer and musician who co-hosts the true-crime comedy podcast My Favorite Murder and co-founded the Exactly Right network. The podcast’s advertising, live tours and distribution deals drive most of the wealth, backed by years of TV writing.

How much is Karen Kilgariff worth in 2026?

We estimate Karen Kilgariff at about $20 million. The anchors are company-level deals: a two-year Stitcher agreement reported at at least $10 million in 2019, and a distribution and ad-sales pact with Amazon’s Wondery reported at over $100 million for Exactly Right’s whole portfolio. Ad revenue for My Favorite Murder has been guessed at about $15 million a year, but that is revenue, not take-home. Sharing the show with a co-host, funding a network and paying taxes means her share is far lower. The result is a range of about $12 to $30 million.

Karen Kilgariff in 2026: what they have been working on

• January 2026: My Favorite Murder began appearing on Netflix under an exclusive video podcasting deal.
• 2025: the show won the iHeartRadio Best Overall Ensemble award.
• Ongoing: Exactly Right runs the flagship show and about ten others, including Jensen and Holes: The Murder Squad.
• Ongoing: live My Favorite Murder shows continue to tour in the United States and abroad.
• 2019 onward: the memoir Stay Sexy and Don’t Get Murdered, co-written with Georgia Hardstark, remains a steady seller.

How Karen Kilgariff makes money

• Podcast advertising: My Favorite Murder is among the most listened-to shows in its genre. One unverified estimate puts its annual ad revenue near $15 million.
• Distribution deals: a Stitcher deal reported at 10 million dollars or more, and a Wondery agreement reported at over 100 million dollars for the Exactly Right catalogue.
• Netflix: a video podcast deal from January 2026. Terms are not public.
• Live tours: ticketed shows across the United States and internationally.
• Exactly Right: equity in the network she co-founded in 2018 with Hardstark.
• Books: the 2019 memoir Stay Sexy and Don’t Get Murdered.
• Writing and TV: head writing roles on Ellen, The Rosie Show and The Pete Holmes Show, plus Baskets, and a role in Mr. Show.

What Karen Kilgariff teaches (and what to take from it)

Let a long apprenticeship pay off

Kilgariff did stand-up in the 1990s, sketch comedy in the early 2000s and writing for a major daytime show before her podcast hit in 2016. Skills compound. Choose one craft you have neglected and book three 30-minute sessions on it this week.

Be honest about what scares you

My Favorite Murder grew from two friends talking openly about a topic that unsettled them. People trust sincerity. Write down one thing you find hard or odd that you rarely talk about, and decide whether it could become a post, a talk or a project.

Build the company around the hit

Success with one show led to Exactly Right in 2018, which now produces ten other podcasts. Spread risk by turning one success into a platform. Ask what adjacent thing your best result could support, such as a team, a community or a second product.

Choose partners who complement you

Her partnership with Georgia Hardstark shows in everything they release. Name the person whose strengths fill your gaps and arrange one working session together this week.

Career timeline

1. May 11, 1970: born in Petaluma, California.
2. 1990s: starts stand-up comedy in Sacramento.
3. Early 2000s: joins the cast of Mr. Show.
4. 2003: Ellen DeGeneres hires her to write a comedy special, then as head writer for the talk show.
5. 2014: starts the podcast Do You Need A Ride?
6. 2016: launches My Favorite Murder with Georgia Hardstark.
7. 2018: co-founds the Exactly Right podcast network.
8. May 28, 2019: publishes Stay Sexy and Don’t Get Murdered.
9. 2025: wins the iHeartRadio Best Overall Ensemble award.
10. January 2026: My Favorite Murder arrives on Netflix as a video podcast.

Early life and background

Karen Kilgariff was born on May 11, 1970, in Petaluma, California. She began as a stand-up comedian in Sacramento in the 1990s, then moved into sketch comedy and writing. Her piano and songwriting skills show up in her live shows.

Karen Kilgariff net worth FAQ

What is Karen Kilgariff’s net worth?

Karen Kilgariff’s net worth is estimated at about $20 million in 2026, with a plausible range of $12 million to $30 million.

How does Karen Kilgariff make money?

She earns from podcast advertising, distribution deals, live shows, her stake in Exactly Right, books and TV writing.

How old is Karen Kilgariff?

Karen Kilgariff was born on May 11, 1970, so she is 56 years old.

What is Karen Kilgariff known for?

She is known for co-hosting My Favorite Murder with Georgia Hardstark and co-founding the Exactly Right network.

How much did Karen Kilgariff make from My Favorite Murder?

Her share has not been disclosed. Reported deals include at least $10 million from Stitcher in 2019 and over $100 million for the Exactly Right catalogue with Wondery.

How is Karen Kilgariff’s net worth estimated?

We split reported show and network deals between partners, subtract costs and taxes, and add TV writing income. It is an estimate.

Related profiles

• Ryan Reynolds net worth
• Jimmy Kimmel net worth
• Tyler Oakley net worth
• Nicolas Cage net worth
• Jeremy Clarkson net worth

How we estimate net worth

Our estimates are based on public reporting, company valuations, and deal and earnings figures all compiled in an internal valuation model. They are approximate, and figures change over time as new information emerges.

Last updated: October 2026.

Photo: Nrogner596 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped (source, license)