Why is Eric Idle the richest Python?

Eric Idle is an English actor, comedian, musician and writer. Idle is a former member of the British surreal comedy group Monty Python and the parody rock band The Rutles, and is the writer of the music and lyrics for the Broadway musical Spamalot (based on Monty Python and the Holy Grail).

Known for his elaborate wordplay and musical numbers, Idle performed many of Python’s songs, including “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” (from Life of Brian), and the “Galaxy Song” (from The Meaning of Life).

Idle’s initially successful solo career faltered in the 1990s with the failures of his 1993 film Splitting Heirs (which he wrote, produced, and starred in) and 1998’s An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn (in which he starred).

He revived his career by returning to the source of his worldwide fame, adapting Monty Python material for other media. Following the success of the musical Spamalot (which won the Tony Award for Best Musical), he also wrote Not the Messiah, an oratorio derived from the Life of Brian.

Why is Eric Idle the richest Python?

Thanks to his tenacity, persistent work, and constant creative output, Eric Idle now sits pretty with a total net worth of $60 Million.

And because the comedian continues to write and perform as he approaches his 80s, and because Spamalot continues to sell-out audiences, Idle’s worth is likely to continue to grow.

Along with the residuals of his acting roles and voice-over work, book sales, and his paydays from Disney and Broadway, Idle also enjoyed some healthy paydays thanks to some recent Monty Python reunion specials that the group was pushed into by member John Cleese (who needed the money to pay a crushingly high alimony payment).

But for 10 days of performing it is estimated that each cast member would be paid at least 2 million English pounds, which is about $3 million in US currency.