Byron Allen Net Worth

Byron Allen Folks, better known as Byron Allen, was born on April 22, 1961. He was born in Detroit, Michigan, but Allen grew up in Los Angeles. He became interested in show business when his mother, Carolyn Folks, worked as a publicist at NBC Studios in Burbank. Little did he know that one day, he would become one of the most prominent players in the entertainment industry.

By age 14, Bryon Allen had written his first stand-up routine and performed in Los Angeles comedy clubs on amateur nights. Comedian Jimmie Walker, known for his star role in Good Times, saw young Byron Allen and invited him to join his comedy writing team alongside two other young comedians Jay Leno and David Letterman!

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Appearance

In the 70s, appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson could make or break a young comedian’s career. Byron knew this first hand as he would often hang around The Tonight Show set, sitting a Johnny Carson’s desk before the show started and thinking how wonderful it was to be able to make people laugh. Byron Allen got that big break when he made his television debut as the youngest standup comedian to appear on the show at the tender age of 18.

Real People

One of Byron’s first real gigs was on Real People. Real People is considered one of the first reality shows, as it follows the lives of real people instead of celebrities. The show began in 1979, and Byron Allen joined the cast in 1980.

Real People ran five seasons, ending in 1984, but it helped Byron Allen learn all he could about directing, producing, and marketing.

The Byron Allen Show

In 1989, Byron Allen took on late-night television as the talk show host of The Byron Allen Show. Despite pulling in guests like Whoopi Goldberg, Joan Rivers, George Carlin, and Patti LaBelle, the show ended after one season.

Kickin’ It with Byron Allen

In 1992, Byron hosted the show Kickin’ It with Byron Allen, which ran for 21 seasons. At the same time, Byron Allen started directing shows such as the TV series documentaries The American Athlete and Global Business People.

Entertainment Studios

In 1993, Byron Allen founded Entertainment Studios (known initially as CF Entertainment). The business started slowly by producing and distributing TV shows, such as Comedy Jam, America’s Court with Judge Ross, and Mr. Box Office.

But the entertainment company soon began purchasing networks and television channels and grew into a billion-dollar business. The company owns the 24-hour HD cable networks Pets.TV, Cars.TV, Automotive.TV, and Comedy.TV. It owns Justice Central, The Weather Channel, Weatherscan, and Local Now.

In 2016, Entertainment Studios began distributing films. Some of the films distributed by the company include Chappaquiddick and Arctic Dogs. Byron Allen has stated that the company is chasing movies other studios don’t want – those that can open at 1,500 to 4,000 screens and bring in “crumbs and make a good gourmet meal.”

Allen Media Group is the branch of the company Entertainment Studios that owns television stations. The company bought its series of stations from Bayou City Broadcasting for $165 million. This included stations in Indiana and Louisiana.

Allen Media Group is a global leader in producing and distributing first-run syndicated programming. In 2021, the group purchased Gray Television (10 stations) for $380 million. Today, Allen Media Group owns stations in Alabama, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Minnesota, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon, and Wisconsin.

Entertainment Studios joined with Sinclair Broadcast Group to purchase Fox Sports Networks, which was rebranded as Bally Sports. Byron Allen is reportedly one of the groups trying to purchase the Denver Broncos.

The Hollywood Reporter announced the company bought the Black News Channel in July 2022 for $11 million. Entertainment Studios is one of the largest independent production companies on earth.

What is Byron Allen’s Net Worth?

Byron Allen’s net worth has substantially grown since his days at Los Angeles comedy clubs. But that net worth growth comes from hard work and savvy business decisions. Byron Allen still makes guest appearances on television in shows like the documentary series Entertainers with Byron Allen, Extra, Celebrity Page, and Funny You Should Ask.

While Bryon Allen’s net worth is $450 million, he is estimated to earn $100 million a year, increasing his net worth by $7.5 million each month.

The odd thing is Byron Allen gives away his shows for free. If that’s the case, how does he make money? He does it by having the right to sell 10% of the show’s advertising time. Entertainment Studios charges less for advertising time, which is attractive to advertisers. Since Allen holds 100% of Entertainment Studios, all that advertising money increases the Bryon Allen net worth.

In 2020, Byron Allen’s net worth increased when he won a lawsuit against Comcast, stating the company wouldn’t show his stations due to racism. The exact amount of the settlement of Allen’s suit is unknown.

In March 2022, Bryon Allen and his wife Jennifer Lucas purchased two homes next to each other in Beverly Hills for $32 million.

Who is Byron Allen?

Byron Allen was born in Detroit, Michigan, but he and his mother. Carolyn Folks left Detroit after the racial tensions and unrest due to the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. He attended Fairfax High School and the University of Southern California.

Byron Allen’s Personal Life

Byron Allen married his wife, fellow TV producer Jennifer Lucas, in 2007. The couple has three children: Chloe, Olivia, and Lucas.

Fun Facts About Byron Allen

• Byron Allen received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2021.
• Allen has been named to the Bloomberg 50 in 2018 as someone noteworthy in business and entertainment.
• Byron Allen received the National Association of Television Program Executives’ Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Awards in 2019.
• In 2018, Allen was named one of Goldman Sachs Builders’ 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs.

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