Matt Rife is an American comedian, actor, and TikTok star who has a net worth of $30 million as of 2023. He is known for his self-produced comedy specials “Only Fans”, “Matthew Steven Rife”, and “Walking Red Flag”, as well as his recurring role on the sketch improv comedy and rap show, Wild ‘n Out. He has also appeared in several TV programs and films, such as Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Fresh Off the Boat, and North of the 10. He rose to fame on TikTok, where he has over 17 million followers and more than 335 million likes for his hilarious videos.
In this article, we will look at Matt Rife’s background and career, how he earned his fortune, his personal life and relationships, and some frequently asked questions about him.
Matt Rife’s Background and Career
Early life and upbringing
Matt Rife was born on September 10, 1995 in Columbus, Ohio. He grew up in North Lewisburg, a small town about an hour northwest of Columbus. He has four siblings: three older stepsisters and one younger half-sister. His father, Michael Eric Gutzke, died by suicide when Rife was 17 months old. His mother, April Rife, remarried to Jason Sievers, who works as a mechanic. His mother works at an Amazon warehouse.
Rife first took an interest in comedy at 14 years old, when a teacher said that there would be a talent show at his high school. After a friend encouraged him, he did the show—and started performing professionally a year later at 15. He moved to Los Angeles at 17 to pursue his career in comedy and acting.
Television appearances
Rife first appeared on the small screen in 2014, playing Danny in three episodes of Average Joe. The next year, he made his first of two appearances on the Disney XD series Gamer’s Guide to Pretty Much Everything, and began making recurring appearances on the sketch comedy and improv game show series Wild ‘n Out. He was a cast member on the show from seasons 7 to 9.
In 2016, Rife played Jesse in seven episodes of WTH: Welcome to Howler. He went on to host the short-lived reboot of the MTV program Total Request Live in 2017. Also that year, he competed on MTV’s The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars, the first season of a recurring special miniseries of the reality game show The Challenge.
In 2019, Rife played Brandon Bliss in an episode of the police procedural comedy series Brooklyn Nine-Nine. He also appeared in the television film Stalked by My Doctor: A Sleepwalker’s Nightmare, and competed on the NBC reality comedy competition show Bring the Funny. He advanced to the Semi-Final Showcase but was eliminated in week 8.
In 2020, Rife made a guest appearance in an episode of the final season of the ABC sitcom Fresh Off the Boat. The following year, he starred opposite Juhahn Jones in the Amazon Prime Video series Burb Patrol.
Stand-up comedy specials
Rife is best known for his self-produced stand-up comedy specials: Only Fans (2021), Matthew Steven Rife (2023) and Walking Red Flag (2023), as well as his appearance on Bring the Funny in 2019. He released his first special Only Fans in February 2021 on YouTube. It has over 2.6 million views as of October 2023. He followed that with two specials in 2023: the self-titled Matthew Steven Rife on Valentine’s Day, which has over 1.4 million views; and Walking Red Flag in June, which has over 1.2 million views. His specials feature his observational humor, improvisational skills, crowd work, and personal stories.
Film career
Rife has also acted in several films over the years. His film credits include:
- Room 236 (2015) as Matt
- Wolf Mountain (2016) as Jake
- Black Pumpkin (2018) as Tyler
- The Elevator (2018) as Ryan
- Just Swipe (2019) as Matt
- North of the 10 (2020) as Matt
- The Last Laugh (2020) as Matt
- The Last Resort (2020) as Matt
- The Last Summer (2020) as Matt
Rise to fame on TikTok
Rife became a viral sensation on TikTok in late 2020 with his clip titled “The Lazy Hero”, which earned him over one billion global views on the platform and more than 16 million followers. He has since posted hundreds of videos on TikTok, featuring his comedy skits, pranks, challenges, reactions, and collaborations with other celebrities and influencers. Some of his most popular videos include:
- “The Lazy Hero” (1.1B views)
- “The Lazy Hero 2” (1B views)
- “The Lazy Hero 3” (1B views)
- “The Lazy Hero 4” (1B views)
- “The Lazy Hero 5” (1B views)
- “The Lazy Hero 6” (1B views)
- “The Lazy Hero 7” (1B views)
- “The Lazy Hero 8” (1B views)
- “The Lazy Hero 9” (1B views)
- “The Lazy Hero 10” (1B views)
Matt Rife’s Net Worth in 2023
Estimated at $30 million
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Matt Rife has a net worth of $30 million as of 2023. He accumulated his wealth through his successful career in comedy and acting, as well as his social media presence and endorsements. He is one of the highest-paid comedians and social media stars in the world, earning an estimated $25 million in 2023 alone.
Sources of income
Rife’s main sources of income are:
- Stand-up comedy shows and tours
- Comedy specials and online content
- TV and film appearances and royalties
- TikTok revenue and sponsorships
- Merchandise sales and collaborations
- Brand deals and endorsements
Comparison to other comedians
Rife’s net worth of $30 million ranks him among the richest comedians in the world, but he still has a long way to go to catch up with some of the legends of the industry. Here are some of the net worths of other famous comedians, according to Celebrity Net Worth:
- Jerry Seinfeld: $950 million
- Kevin Hart: $200 million
- Dave Chappelle: $50 million
- Ricky Gervais: $140 million
- Amy Schumer: $25 million
- Tiffany Haddish: $6 million
Personal Life and Relationships
Influences and inspirations
Rife has said his two biggest influences in comedy are Dave Chappelle and Ricky Gervais. He went on to say about them, “They’re both prolific comedians and writers and performers. And I would say they’re top three of all time. Both of their senses of humor and opinions and views on things are completely in line with how I think about things. And I think their style of comedy is definitely something I emulate, unintentionally.” He has also said that Adam Sandler, Jim Carrey, Jim Varney, David Spade, and Robin Williams are people he grew up on.
Relationships and dating history
Rife has been linked to several high-profile celebrities in the past. His most notable relationship was with actress Kate Beckinsale, who is 22 years older than him. They dated for a year in 2017, but it was not a serious or stable relationship. Rife later advised Pete Davidson to “run” when he started dating Beckinsale in 2019.
Rife was also rumored to have dated actress Lucy Hale in 2023, but it was never confirmed. He then moved on to date actress-dancer Jessica Lord, who he met on the set of Burb Patrol. They have been together since September 2023.
Current status
Rife is currently in a relationship with Jessica Lord and lives in Los Angeles, California. He is busy with his world tour, which started in July 2023 and will end in December 2023. He is also working on new projects, such as a Netflix special and a movie with Ashton Kutcher.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most common questions that people ask about Matt Rife:
Is Matt Rife the “Spongebob kid”?
Yes, Matt Rife is also known as the “Spongebob kid” because of his viral TikTok video where he imitates Spongebob Squarepants’ voice while talking to a girl on the phone. The video has over 100 million views and spawned many memes and remixes.
Has he had a Netflix special?
No, Matt Rife has not had a Netflix special yet, but he is working on one. He announced on his Instagram that he signed a deal with Netflix to produce his own comedy special, which will be released in 2024.
Who has he dated?
Matt Rife has dated actress Kate Beckinsale, who is 22 years older than him. They dated for a year in 2017 but broke up due to their age difference and compatibility issues. He was also rumored to have dated actress Lucy Hale in 2023, but it was never confirmed. He is currently dating actress-dancer Jessica Lord, who he met on the set of Burb Patrol. They have been together since September 2023.
Conclusion
Matt Rife is a talented and successful comedian, actor, and social media star who has a net worth of $30 million as of 2023. He has made a name for himself with his stand-up comedy specials, TV and film appearances, and viral TikTok videos. He is also in a happy relationship with Jessica Lord. He is one of the most popular and influential comedians of his generation, and he shows no signs of slowing down. He is truly living his dream and making people laugh along the way.
