Colin Jost occupies one of the most unusual and enviable positions in American entertainment: he is simultaneously a head writer and on-air performer at Saturday Night Live, married to one of Hollywood’s biggest global stars, the author of a bestselling memoir, and somehow remains one of the least ostentatious figures in his own proximity. That combination of genuine achievement and low-key demeanor is itself a kind of brand.
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Quick Facts
| Full Name | Colin Kelly Jost |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | June 29, 1982 |
| Age | 43 years old |
| Height | 6’1″ (185 cm) |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Comedian, Writer, Actor |
| Net Worth | $16 Million (2026) |
| Spouse | Scarlett Johansson (married 2020) |
| Children | Cosmo (born 2021) |
| Known For | Weekend Update on SNL, A Very Punchable Face memoir |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Colin Jost’s net worth in 2026?
Colin Jost’s net worth is estimated at $16 million in 2026. His wealth comes from his long career at Saturday Night Live as both head writer and co-anchor of Weekend Update, his bestselling memoir A Very Punchable Face (2020), various film roles, stand-up comedy touring, and brand partnerships. Note that his wife Scarlett Johansson has her own entirely separate net worth estimated at over $165 million.
How much does Colin Jost make at SNL?
Colin Jost earns an estimated $25,000 per episode of Saturday Night Live as a cast member and Weekend Update anchor, translating to roughly $600,000 per season including all episodes and special broadcasts. As co-head writer, he receives additional compensation beyond his on-air talent salary. After 20-plus years with the show in various capacities, his cumulative SNL earnings likely exceed $8 million.
How did Colin Jost meet Scarlett Johansson?
Colin Jost first encountered Scarlett Johansson when she hosted Saturday Night Live in 2006, though he reportedly did not begin dating until 2017 when she hosted the show again. He became publicly linked in late 2017 and were frequently photographed together through 2018 and 2019. He became engaged in May 2019 and married in October 2020 in a private ceremony at his home. His son Cosmo Robert Jost was born in August 2021.
Did Colin Jost write a book?
Yes, Colin Jost published a memoir titled A Very Punchable Face in July 2020. The book was an immediate bestseller and received strong critical reviews. It covered his childhood growing up in Staten Island, his path through Regis High School and Harvard University, his road to SNL, and a series of comedic anecdotes and honest reflections on his career in comedy. The title refers to his own self-deprecating acknowledgment that his face has an unfortunate punchable quality that comedians and Twitter commenters have noted for years.
How long has Colin Jost been on SNL?
Colin Jost has been affiliated with Saturday Night Live since 2005, when he joined as a writer immediately after graduating from Harvard. He was promoted to co-head writer in 2012 and has been a Weekend Update co-anchor since 2014, making him one of the longest-serving members of the current SNL team with over 20 years of institutional history at the show.
Where did Colin Jost go to school?
Colin Jost attended Regis High School in Manhattan, a prestigious Jesuit institution that does not charge tuition and admits students entirely on merit. He then attended Harvard University, graduating in 2004. At Harvard, he served as president of the Harvard Lampoon, the humor publication that has launched the careers of an extraordinarily large proportion of America’s working comedy writers and performers.
What movies has Colin Jost been in?
Colin Jost has appeared in several films including Staten Island Summer (2015), for which he co-wrote the screenplay, How to Be Single (2016), and the hybrid live-action/animated Tom and Jerry (2021). He has also made cameo appearances in various projects and served as co-host of the Emmy Awards alongside Weekend Update partner Michael Che, expanding his public profile beyond SNL’s existing audience.
Is Colin Jost still on SNL in 2026?
Yes, Colin Jost continues to be a co-anchor of Weekend Update on Saturday Night Live as of 2026. He has discussed in interviews the idea that he will eventually leave the show, but has not announced any specific timeline. SNL remains the cornerstone of his public profile and the most consistent source of his professional income and public platform.
Net Worth Breakdown
| Income Source | Estimated Annual/Total | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SNL Salary (talent + writing) | $600K–800K/year | Annual (personal) | Per-episode fee plus head writer compensation |
| Book Royalties & Advance | $500K–800K total | One-time (personal) | A Very Punchable Face — bestseller advance plus ongoing |
| Film/TV Acting | $200K–400K/year | Annual (personal) | Outside project roles and hosting fees |
| Stand-Up & Appearances | $200K–400K/year | Annual (personal) | Live touring, speaking engagements, Emmy hosting |
| Estimated Total Net Worth | $16 Million (2026) | Total | |
Career Overview
Jost’s path to SNL ran directly through the Harvard Lampoon, where he served as president and developed the dry, observational wit that became his professional signature. He joined SNL’s writing staff in 2005 at the age of 23, immediately after graduation, and quickly established himself as one of the show’s most reliable and distinctive writers. His material showed an ability to find genuinely original angles on political and cultural material rather than defaulting to obvious takes.
His promotion to co-head writer came in 2012, a period when SNL was going through significant cast turnover and needed creative leadership to navigate a new era. Jost was given considerable latitude in shaping the show’s voice during this period, and the show’s critical reputation remained strong throughout his tenure. His move to Weekend Update as co-anchor in 2014, sharing the desk with Michael Che, gave him a regular on-air presence and transformed him from a behind-the-scenes figure to the public face most SNL viewers associate with political commentary.
Weekend Update under Jost and Che has been one of the show’s most consistent and praised segments, known for pointed political humor, genuine comedic chemistry between the two anchors, and a willingness to engage with genuinely difficult topical material. The pair also co-hosted the Emmy Awards on two occasions, demonstrating his ability to perform outside the SNL context for broader entertainment industry audiences.
Early Life
Jost grew up in Staten Island, New York — an unusual background for someone who would attend Harvard and become embedded in the Manhattan entertainment establishment — and has mined his outer-borough upbringing for comedy material, memoir content, and a consistent anti-pretension sensibility throughout his career. He attended Regis High School, a prestigious Jesuit school on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, on merit scholarship.
His father Daniel Jost is a retired school principal, and his mother Kerry Kelly served as the chief medical officer for the New York City Fire Department during and after the September 11, 2001 attacks — a position of enormous responsibility and public trust. His Staten Island roots make him something of a charming outlier in the Harvard-to-Manhattan comedy world, and his self-awareness about that class and geographic contrast is a recurring thread in his public persona.
Personal Life
Jost’s marriage to Scarlett Johansson in October 2020 was one of the more successfully private celebrity weddings in recent Hollywood memory — he kept it private until after the ceremony and released few details. The couple has been thoughtful about managing his family’s privacy despite both being prominent public figures with massive followings. His son Cosmo was born in August 2021, an announcement that Johansson made through her publicist rather than through social media, continuing the pattern of protecting his personal life. Jost maintains an apartment in New York and, famously, strong ties to Staten Island — symbolized by his 2021 purchase of the decommissioned Staten Island Ferry boat.
Little-Known Facts
- In 2021, Jost purchased a decommissioned Staten Island Ferry boat called the John F. Kennedy, reportedly with the idea of converting it for use as some kind of entertainment or event venue — a project that has become an ongoing reference point in discussions of his Staten Island identity.
- He has been a competitive tennis player since childhood and is by all accounts one of the genuinely more skilled celebrity tennis players in Los Angeles.
- His Weekend Update partnership with Michael Che is widely described as one of the most genuine on-air friendships in SNL history — their offscreen rapport directly informs the energy of their on-screen dynamic.
- Jost has maintained his connection to Staten Island through various real estate investments and community activities over the years, despite his Manhattan-based career.
- He is one of the few SNL members who has simultaneously held both the head writer title and a prominent on-air performing role for an extended period — the roles typically go to different people.
