Last Updated on February 21, 2024
Who is Carrot Top?
It’s not every day you come across a redhead with big curly hair, and Carrot Top may be the only one who pulls that off. Carrot Top is an American Stand-up Comedian, Actor, and Entrepreneur who is known for his curly red hair, self-deprecating humor, and witty use of props on stage.
His props include string telephones, paper cups, heels with training wheels, airline peanut bags with photos of missing luggage, and even his red hair. The red-haired entertainer has managed to sustain a career in comedy for three decades and counting, which is pretty impressive considering how short-lived careers in entertainment can be. Currently, he performs about three hundred shows in Las Vegas annually and has featured in several parodies, films, and television series.
Carrot Top worked as a courier at a Mortgage Company while doing recitals on small stages. In 1989, the millionaire comedian garnered a substantial audience which enabled him to commit to comedy full-time. His awards include a Golden Raspberry Award (1999) for his stellar performance in films and an American Comedy Award for the funniest Male Stand-up Comic (1994)
Maybe you’ve seen a Carrot Top show before; perhaps you’ve never even heard the name. This article covers everything about the red-haired comedian from his early life to his career growth and how he’s managed to acquire a whopping $75 million as his Net Worth.
Quick Facts
Full Name: | Scott G. Thompson |
Popular Name: | Carrot Top |
Gender: | Male |
Birth Date: | February 25, 1965 |
Age: | 57 years |
Parents: | Larry and Donda Thompson |
Siblings: | N/A |
Birth Place: | Rockledge, Florida |
Nationality: | American |
Ethnicity: | English, 1/16th German, remote Scottish |
Education: | Cocoa High School, Atlantic University |
Marital Status: | N/A |
Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
Wife/Spouse: | N/A |
Children: | N/A |
Dating: | Amanda Hogan |
Net Worth: | $75 million |
Source of Wealth: | Stand-up Comedy, Acting, Sponsorships |
Height: | 5ft10 (1.78m) |
Weight: | 79kg (174lbs) |
Early Life and Career Information
Scott Thompson was born in Rockledge, Florida, on February 25, 1965, to Larry and Donda Thompson. Young Scott had intended to become a scientist like his father, but fate had other plans for him. Raised in nearby Cocoa, Florida, Thompson received basic formal education at Cocoa High School.
He was quite the attention seeker in school, and his red curly hair didn’t help matters. He also played drums in the marching and concert band. The nickname “Carrot Top” was given to him by a local swimming coach in reference to his red hair. Thompson would later use the nickname as his stage name since his big red curly hair was his trademark as a comedian.
Thompson graduated High School in 1983 and proceeded to Atlantic University in Boca Raton, where he would obtain a degree in Marketing. While a freshman there, Thompson performed his first stand-up comedy routine.
After he received his degree, the actor and television personality worked as a courier at a Mortgage Company while doing comedy on the side. In 1992, his exceptional comedy routine had gained him enough recognition to earn him a spot as a guest on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. This encounter enabled him greater recognition and a broader fan base.
Carrot Top has appeared in numerous talk shows, films, and television series. These include Larry The Cable Guy’s Christmas Spectacular (2007), Gene Simmons Family Jewels (2006-12), Space Ghost Coast to Coast (1994-99), Criss Angel Mindfreak (2005-10), Scrubs (2002-10), George Lopez and Tugger: The Jeep 4×4 Who Wanted To Fly (2005). He got a job as an announcer for Cartoon Network from 1995 to 1999. In addition, he produced and starred in an early morning show called “Carrot Top’s AM Mayhem” from 1994 to 1996.
In 2002, he recorded a commentary track for Rules of Attraction. He also served as a spokesman in commercials for “1-800-CALL-ATT,” and then appeared in Reno 911 in the episode “Weigel’s Pregnant” as an angry version of himself who trashes his hotel room and steals a police car.
Carrot Top appeared briefly in Bad Girls Clubs (2008-09) and Holly’s World (2010-11). On January 16, 2010, Carrot Top appeared on Don’t Forget the Lyrics! He was also one of the roasters at the Comedy Central Roast of Flavor Flav and Gene Simmons roast.
He appeared in “Man Up,” an episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Family Guy, and Robot Chicken. Carrot Top featured in an episode of “Tosh.O,” receiving a full body massage from Daniel Tosh. He was the special guest performer in “Tosh.O’s” Selena Gomez‘s tribute of “Good for You.
Thompson played himself on the Bradley Cooper episode of “Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis” and appeared in artist Toby Keith’s music video for “Red Solo Cup.”
As of 2021, Carrot Top is a resident headliner at Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas and performs other comedy and television engagements when his show isn’t playing. The comedy icon also has an excellent social media presence and obtains income from sponsored posts on Instagram.
Life Lessons from Carrot Top
Stay Laser-focused on Your Passion
Some geniuses are indeed born, but it is also true that innate talent alone has never sustained anyone. Carrot Top knew from his childhood that he wanted to be involved in something that placed him at the center of attention.
He took a chance and tried his hands on comedy, and thirty years later today, he’s a comical legend and phenomenal television personality. The millionaire comedian once said of his craft, “I think the more you do this and the more comfortable you become on stage, you start speaking more and becoming more of a character in yourself.”
Do You!
Carrot Top’s father, Larry Thompson, was a NASA engineer who worked on critical missions like Gemini and Apollo. Larry Thompson had expected his son to follow in his footsteps as a scientist. Scott Thompson has also expressed that at some point, he too wanted to become a scientist so he could see smart like his father. In the end, Carrot Top followed his calling and has wound up as one of the most successful comedians of all time.