Van Lathan is a media personality who rose to fame in 2018 after he confronted rapper Kanye West on TMZ Live over his controversial comments about slavery. Since then, Lathan has left TMZ and pursued his own projects, such as hosting podcasts, producing films, and writing a book. But how much is Van Lathan worth, and what are the sources of his income? Here is a breakdown of his career and earnings.
Early Career at TMZ
Lathan started his career as a tour guide for The TMZ Tour, a segment of the adventure documentary television series Extreme in 2012. He later became a co-host and senior producer of TMZ Live, a live version of the TMZ news program. According to Glassdoor, the average salary of a TMZ producer is $69,000 per year, so Lathan likely earned a similar amount during his time at TMZ.
The Red Pill Podcast
In 2018, Lathan launched his own weekly podcast called Van Lathan’s The Red Pill, where he interviewed celebrities, entrepreneurs, activists, and other influential people on topics such as news, politics, pop culture, and sports. The podcast drew in more than 50,000 listeners per episode, making it one of the most popular podcasts in the US. According to Influencer Marketing Hub, the average cost per mille (CPM) for podcast advertising is $18, which means that Lathan could have earned around $900 per episode from ads alone. Assuming that he released one episode per week for two years, his total earnings from the podcast could have been around $93,600.
The Ringer Podcast Network
In April 2020, Lathan joined The Ringer, a sports and pop culture podcast network founded by Bill Simmons. He co-hosted two podcasts on the network: The Wire: Way Down in the Hole with Jemelle Hill, where they discussed every episode of the HBO drama series The Wire; and Higher Learning with Rachel Lindsay, where they talked about current events, politics, entertainment, and social issues. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Simmons sold The Ringer to Spotify for $250 million in 2020, so Lathan probably received a generous salary for his work on the network. However, the exact amount is not publicly disclosed.
Film Production
Lathan is also an executive producer of several films, including Uppity: The Willy T. Ribbs Story (2020), a documentary about the first Black driver to race in the Indianapolis 500; and Two Distant Strangers (2020), a short film about a Black man who relives the same day where he is killed by a white police officer. The latter film won an Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film in 2021, which boosted Lathan’s reputation and net worth in the film industry. According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary of an executive producer in the US is $82,107 per year, but this can vary depending on the budget and success of the film.
Book Deal
Lathan is also an author of a book titled Fat, Crazy, and Tired: Tales from the Trenches of Transformation, which is expected to be published on January 18, 2022. The book chronicles Lathan’s journey of losing over 100 pounds and transforming his physical and mental health. According to Publisher’s Weekly, the average advance for a nonfiction book by a first-time author is $10,000, but Lathan could have negotiated a higher amount given his fame and fan base.
Van Lathan Net Worth Estimate
Based on the above sources of income, we can estimate that Van Lathan’s net worth is around $1.5 million as of 2021. This figure does not include his expenses, taxes, investments, or other assets that he may have. Lathan has not confirmed or denied this estimate publicly, so it should be taken with a grain of salt. However, it is clear that Lathan has built a successful career as a podcaster, producer, and author after leaving TMZ. He has also used his platform to raise awareness and speak out on social justice issues that affect the Black community. He is an example of someone who turned a viral moment into a lasting impact.