Multitalented Wayne Brady has gone from childhood poverty to doling out cash and prizes as the host of Let’s Make a Deal for the past 15 years.
After growing up impoverished, Brady was a comedian on the ABC ensemble improv comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway from 1998 to 2003, followed by hosting gigs on The Wayne Brady Show and Don’t Forget the Lyrics! He’s been presiding over all the fun on Let’s Make a Deal since the game show previously hosted by Monty Hall was revived in 2009. Brady has also acted in musical theater, including a 2015 Broadway run in Kinky Boots.
As fearless in his personal life as his career, the comedian, actor, and singer, now 53, boldly came out as pansexual in 2023. Fans learned more about Brady, his ex-wife and daughter through the 2024 Freeform reality TV series Wayne Brady: The Family Remix.
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Brady’s figured out a lot about money through his long career journey. Read on to find out more about Brady’s net worth in 2025 and how he made it.
What was Wayne Brady’s childhood like?
Brady was born in Columbus, Georgia to West Indian parents on June 2, 1972. His dad was an Army drill sergeant and his mom was only 17, so he wound up moving to Orlando, Florida to live with his grandmother Valerie Petersen. Brady ends Let's Make a Deal episodes by saying, "I love you, Mom," as a message to the grandma who raised him.
As a boy, Brady was bullied for having a stutter, but found a home in Orlando community theater and comedy. After graduating from high school, when he was also in ROTC, Brady worked at Universal Studios Florida. There, he starred in a Beetlejuice-themed stage show. In 1996, he moved to Los Angeles and began his rise to fame. “From the time I could put a thought in my head, I knew I wanted to perform,” he told Orlando magazine.
Wayne Brady. (Photo by Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty Images)According to Celebrity Net Worth, Brady has a net worth of $12 million from all his ventures, including television hosting, acting, and comedy.
What has Wayne Brady said about past money struggles?
The star told Essence that his grandmother showed him the true meaning of generosity when he needed money to buy a tuxedo for a club singing gig but was “dead broke.” He called her and asked for $200. “The money was sent almost immediately,” he said. “I later found out that that was her last $200.” Brady noted to the publication, “I know the feeling of how a specific amount of money could change your life. That woman had nothing in the bank, but she banked on me.”
The star was married to first wife Diana Lasso from 1993 to 1995. He and second wife, dancer Mandie Taketa, were married from 1999 to 2008. Although they divorced, the marriage produced their beloved daughter Maile Masako, now 22. He also welcomed a son, Val, (named for Brady’s grandma) with an ex-girlfriend named Tina in 2024.
What was Brady’s mental health struggle?
Brady has been open about his battle with depression. At age 42, “I had a complete breakdown,” he told Entertainment Tonight. At ex-wife Mandie’s urging, he got help, managing depression with a combination of medication and therapy.
But Let's Make a Deal has helped him immeasurably. “It actually helps knowing that there's an audience that you can perform for, knowing that there's this great TV job that you have to show up for—that is enough to transform and pick you up,” he said.
Two years ago, Brady revealed to People, “I am pansexual,” meaning that he is attracted to people regardless of their sex or gender. He explained, “Bisexual — with an open mind!” Brady added, “to me, pan means being able to be attracted to anyone who identifies as gay, straight, bi, transsexual or non-binary. Being able to be attracted across the board. And, I think, at least for me for right now, that is the proper place.”
Related: Wayne Brady Almost Came Out as Pansexual on ‘DWTS’ — Here’s Why He Waited (Exclusive)
What awards has Brady won?
Wayne Brady has won five Emmy Awards, including both Daytime and Primetime Emmys, for his work on shows like Whose Line Is It Anyway? and Let's Make a Deal. He’s also a multiple Grammy Award nominee.
What does Wayne Brady spend money on?
The Deal host is a fan of buying electronics and traveling, especially to Hawaii. Generous Brady also funds his family and business partnerships.
Next: Wayne Brady on the Continued Relevance of Whose Line Is It Anyway?
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