South Park creators achieve billionaire status
In a groundbreaking move, the creative powerhouses behind the iconic animated series, South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, have signed a new $1.5 billion deal with Paramount. This deal, set to last five years, positions them as the highest-paid TV showrunners in Hollywood and propels them into television's rare billionaire creative class.
The deal, which brings South Park to Paramount+ globally, will pay Parker and Stone approximately $250 million each annually for new episodes and exclusive streaming rights. This significant income, combined with their ongoing earnings from streaming, production deals, and the enduring value of their South Park franchise, has boosted their net worth to an estimated $1.2 billion each.
The pair's production studio, Park County, is entirely owned by Parker and Stone. They route all income from their TV show, movie projects, and stage productions of The Book of Mormon through Park County. In 2021, their overall production deal with Viacom was $935 million over six years.
Remarkably, a clause in their original 1997 contract grants them 50% of the $1.5 billion licensing fee, approximately $375 million each, significantly boosting their net worth to billionaire status. They also continue to own 50% of the South Park property, potentially generating even more revenue in the future.
Before this deal, Parker's net worth was estimated around $600 million, and Stone's around $1 billion, primarily from their long-running success with South Park, its streaming and syndication deals, and theatrical productions like The Book of Mormon.
The news of the deal has sparked some lighthearted speculation about potential political content in the rest of the South Park season, as depicted in the season premiere where Donald Trump is depicted in bed with Satan, and Jesus warns the show's young protagonists about the dangers of provoking Paramount.
In addition to the deal with Paramount, Park County secured an $800 million credit line from private equity giant The Carlyle Group in 2023. The FCC officially approved the Skydance acquisition, and Skydance and Paramount agreed to rework Park County's production deal in conjunction with the new streaming rights agreement.
Forbes estimates the enterprise value of Park County could reach up to $3 billion in a potential sale, netting Parker and Stone over $1 billion each. With the strategic moves and continued success of their productions, Trey Parker and Matt Stone are poised to maintain their place at the forefront of the entertainment industry.
| Creator | Previous Net Worth | Increase from $1.5B Deal | Estimated Net Worth Post-Deal | |-------------|--------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------------| | Trey Parker | ~$600 million | ~$600 million+ | ~$1.2 billion | | Matt Stone | ~$1 billion | ~$200 million+ | ~$1.2 billion |
These figures reflect their combined ongoing earnings from streaming, production deals, and the enduring value of their South Park franchise.
- The new $1.5 billion deal with Paramount not only elevates Trey Parker and Matt Stone to the highest-paid TV showrunners in Hollywood, but also boosts their net worth, making them billionaires in the pop-culture sphere.
- As celebrated figures in entertainment, Trey Parker and Matt Stone's ongoing earnings from streaming, production deals, and the enduring value of their South Park franchise have been significantly augmented by their deal with Paramount, placing them in the realm of celebrities who shape pop-culture narratives.
