Fox News’ Steve Doocy recently had the opportunity to sit down with comedian Matt Rife during a stop on his latest tour. The discussion centered around Rife’s rising comedy career, attributed significantly to viral TikTok clips.
Rife explained how social media has revolutionized the path for comedians entering the entertainment industry. By posting crowd work clips on TikTok, he achieved success that years of navigating Hollywood’s traditional stand-up circuit did not provide.
During an interview at the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion, Rife shared the trajectory of his career. Originally from Ohio, he moved to Los Angeles intending to become a regular at renowned comedy clubs like the Laugh Factory and the Comedy Store. The goal was to be noticed by talent scouts, perform late-night sets, and possibly secure TV appearances or sitcom roles.
That’s why I moved to LA.
After his initial success on MTV’s “Wild ‘N Out” waned, Rife found himself struggling once more. He described his financial situation in Los Angeles as being “very low income” by local standards, earning between $40-60 thousand annually, according to the Los Angeles County Development Authority.
However, Rife’s fortunes changed after discovering TikTok. Although reluctant at first due to his dislike for the platform, he amassed over 20.3 million followers, which played a critical role in his current net worth of $40-50 million.
Rife’s newfound success opened doors to further opportunities, including a starring role alongside Owen Wilson in “Rolling Loud: The Movie,” set to release on October 2.
Rife expressed admiration for Wilson, describing him as a comedic genius and phenomenal actor. He felt fortunate to learn and work alongside Wilson at this stage in his career.
Max Bacall, an associate editor for Fox News Digital, covers media, culture, and comedy.