Ken Jeong is an American comedian, actor, and physician with a net worth of $14 million. He started his career in stand-up comedy while finishing his medical degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After moving to Los Angeles, Ken Jeong continued to pursue his passion for acting and comedy while practicing medicine.
Jeong’s breakout came in 2009 with his portrayal of the eccentric gangster Leslie Chow in the comedy “The Hangover,” a role he reprised in its sequels. He expanded his filmography with roles in “Knocked Up,” “Crazy Rich Asians,” and “Ride Along 2.” On TV, he’s best known for Ben Chang in “Community” and for creating, writing, and starring in “Dr. Ken” (2015-2017), drawing from his own experiences as a physician.
Alongside acting, Jeong remains active in stand-up comedy and has been a panelist on various TV shows. Since 2019, he’s been a permanent host on “The Masked Singer.” He also leverages his medical expertise to advocate for health issues and is a vocal supporter of the Asian-American community in entertainment.
Early Life
Kendrick Kang-Joh Jeong was born on July 13th, 1969, in Detroit, Michigan, to South Korean immigrant parents. He later moved with his family to North Carolina, where he spent much of his youth. During high school, Ken was active in activities like Quiz Bowl, played the violin in the school orchestra, and served on the student council.
While at Duke University, Ken explored acting through drama classes alongside his pre-med major, though he resisted switching to a drama major. After graduating from Duke in 1991, he continued taking theater classes while pursuing his M.D. at the UNC School of Medicine, which he completed in 1995.
Career
While he was still finishing up his M.D., Ken Jeong attended open mics and honed his comedic skills. Nonetheless, Jeong’s medical career remained a priority, and he even decided to complete his residency in New Orleans. Ken Jeong eventually cracked after he won the Big Easy Laff-Off in 1995, and NBC president Brandon Tartikoff successfully convinced the young doctor to move to Los Angeles.
By 1998, Ken Jeong was living a dual life. While spending his days practicing as a physician of internal medicine in Woodland Hills, Jeong attended comedy clubs at night and constantly built his reputation as a highly talented stand-up comedian. This resulted in appearances in TV shows such as The Office, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Entourage.
In 2002, Jeong made an appearance on Comedy Central’s Cosmic Groove. By 2006, his growing acting and stand-up opportunities led him to step away from his medical practice, although he maintained his medical license. The shift in focus resulted in his first major film role in Knocked Up in 2007.
His role in Knocked Up catapulted him into a series of film appearances, including Pineapple Express, Role Models, All About Steve, The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard, and Couples Retreat. He gained widespread acclaim for his portrayal of Mr. Chow in The Hangover, earning a reputation for “stealing the show.” This success led to roles in The Hangover Part II and The Hangover Part III, as well as appearances in Zookeeper, Pain & Gain, and Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon.
Jeong is also recognized for his role as Senor Chang in the TV series Community. In 2015, he wrote and starred in a pilot for a medical comedy titled Dr. Ken, which he executive produced. The show was picked up by ABC and aired from 2015 to 2017.
Ken Jeong is married to Tran Ho, a Vietnamese American. The couple has twin daughters and they live in Calabasas, California. His part in The Hangover Part III, earned Ken Jeong $5 million.
Real Estate
In 2016, reports surfaced that Ken Jeong acquired a Tudor-style estate in Calabasas, California, for $3.95 million. This property, constructed in 2006, boasts a temperature-controlled wine cellar capable of storing 3,000 bottles. Spanning 6,700 square feet, it includes a spacious formal dining room, a gym, and outdoor amenities like a large swimming pool, private balcony, and citrus tree-dotted lawns.
Additionally, in 2010, Ken Jeong purchased another property in Calabasas for $1.635 million. This Mediterranean-style residence offers 5,000 square feet of living space and features an interior courtyard. In 2017, Jeong sold this property for $2.4 million, marking a significant profit on his initial investment.