Quinta Brunson has quickly become one of the most recognizable and influential voices in television today. As a writer, actress, and comedian, she’s best known for creating and starring in the award-winning series Abbott Elementary, which has earned widespread acclaim and a loyal fanbase.
With her rapid rise in Hollywood, many fans are curious about Quinta Brunson’s net worth. Let’s take a closer look at how she’s built her career and the success that’s come with it.
What is Quinta Brunson’s Net Worth?
Quinta Brunson is an American actress, comedian, writer, and producer with an estimated net worth of $9 million, according to Parade. Her income comes from acting, producing, writing, and brand deals. Most of her earnings in recent years are tied to the success of Abbott Elementary, which she created and also stars in. She is also an executive producer on the show, which means she earns from multiple sources behind the scenes.
Before Abbott Elementary, Quinta worked on several projects that helped grow her name and income. She appeared in shows like A Black Lady Sketch Show and voiced characters in Magical Girl Friendship Squad. She also worked for BuzzFeed, where she created viral video content that helped her rise to fame.
Quinta Brunson’s Early Life, Education, and Comedy Beginnings
Quinta Brunson was born on December 21, 1989, and grew up in West Philadelphia. She went to Harrity Elementary School in Cobbs Creek. Her name means “fifth” in Spanish, as she is the youngest of five children. Her mother, Norma Jean, was a kindergarten teacher, and her father, Rick, managed parking lots. Brunson was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness but left the religion when she turned 21.
From a young age, Brunson loved comedy. She started getting into it at Charter High School for Architecture & Design in Philadelphia. She later took an improv class to improve her skills. Brunson attended Temple University but dropped out to move to Los Angeles and focus on her comedy career. In 2024, Temple University gave her an honorary degree in Fine Arts.
Quinta Brunson’s work in comedy includes shows like Abbott Elementary and movies like Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. She’s also part of a music album called The A.V. Club Presents: The Best of 2021.
Quinta Brunson’s Rise to Fame and Abbott Elementary Success
Quinta Brunson first became popular online in 2014 by posting funny videos on Instagram. One of her most famous series, Girl Who Has Never Been on a Nice Date, went viral and helped her build a big following. She later joined BuzzFeed as a video producer, where she made videos about issues young people face.
In 2016, Brunson created two web series with BuzzFeed Motion Pictures. One was a comedy called Broke for YouTube Red, where she wrote, produced, and acted. The other, Up for Adoption, was produced by Verizon’s go90 platform. Her role in Broke earned her a nomination for Best Acting in a Comedy at the 2017 Streamy Awards.
After leaving BuzzFeed in 2018, Brunson starred in a pilot for The End of the World as We Know It on the CW. The show wasn’t picked up, but she kept working on other projects. She also co-created and starred in Quinta vs. Everything, a series on Facebook Watch.
In 2019, she appeared in iZombie and voiced characters in Lazor Wulf. Brunson also worked on A Black Lady Sketch Show with Robin Thede and others, but left after the first season due to conflicts with her schedule.
In 2021, Quinta Brunson released her debut book She Memes Well. That same year, her show Abbott Elementary was picked up by ABC. It was highly praised and featured a strong cast, including Sheryl Lee Ralph and Lisa Ann Walter. Abbott Elementary was inspired by Brunson’s own middle school teacher, Ms. Abbott.
The show earned a 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and won several awards. In 2022, Brunson won an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, becoming the first Black woman to win that award solo.
In 2022, Quinta Brunson signed a multi-year deal with Warner Bros. Television, the studio behind Abbott Elementary. She also appeared in Party Down and hosted Saturday Night Live in 2023. That same year, she won another Emmy, this time for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for playing Janine Teagues on Abbott Elementary. She made history as the second Black actress to win this award.
Quinta Brunson’s Personal Life and Advocacy
Quinta Brunson is married to Kevin Jay Anik, who works in California’s legal-cannabis industry. They live in the San Fernando Valley. She shared a photo of her engagement ring in 2020, but she didn’t confirm their marriage until 2022 when she called Anik her husband during her Emmys speech.
On March 20, 2025, Brunson announced they were divorcing because of “irreconcilable differences.”
Brunson is part of the Writers Guild of America. At the 2023 Met Gala, she showed support for the writers’ strike that started the same night.
In October 2023, she signed an open letter by Artists4Ceasefire. The letter called for an end to Israel’s bombardment of Gaza.
Quinta Brunson’s Awards and Critical Acclaim
Quinta Brunson has received many awards for her work, especially for the show Abbott Elementary. She was nominated for Best Acting in a Comedy at the 2017 Streamy Awards for her role in Broke.
In 2022, she won several awards. At the AAFCA TV Honors, Abbott Elementary won Best TV Comedy, and Quinta won Breakout Star. The show also won Outstanding Comedy Series at the Black Reel Awards. Quinta herself won Best Actress and Best Writing for the Abbott Elementary pilot. The show also got a lot of praise at the Dorian TV Awards and the Gotham Awards.
In 2023, Quinta won Best Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globe Awards. Abbott Elementary also won Best Comedy Series at the Critics’ Choice Television Awards. She was nominated for several Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Lead Actress and Outstanding Comedy Series, and won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.
In 2024, Quinta was nominated for Best Actress in a Comedy Series at the Critics’ Choice Television Awards and the Golden Globe Awards. Abbott Elementary was also nominated for Best Comedy Series. She was again nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series at the Primetime Emmy Awards.
Her show has received many nominations for Best Writing, including for episodes like Development Day and Career Day. She also received recognition for her role in Saturday Night Live as a guest actress.
FAQs
How much is Quinta Brunson worth in 2025?
As of 2025, Quinta Brunson’s estimated net worth is around $7 million, earned through her work as a writer, actress, producer, and content creator.
What are the main sources of income for Quinta Brunson?
Quinta Brunson earns income from starring in and producing Abbott Elementary, brand deals, writing, public speaking, and earlier viral success as a digital content creator with BuzzFeed.
What is Quinta Brunson’s salary for Abbott Elementary?
While exact figures aren’t public, Quinta Brunson is estimated to earn six figures per episode as the creator, writer, producer, and lead actress of Abbott Elementary, one of ABC’s top shows.
Did Quinta Brunson win an Emmy Award?
Yes, Quinta Brunson made history by becoming the first Black woman to win the Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series in 2022 for Abbott Elementary.
How does Quinta Brunson’s net worth compare to other TV creators?
Quinta Brunson’s net worth is rapidly rising, and while it’s lower than longtime creators like Shonda Rhimes or Tina Fey, she is considered one of the most influential rising talents in TV comedy today.
