Gabriel Iglesias, born on July 15, 1976, in San Diego, California, is a popular American stand-up comedian and actor, often known as “Fluffy.” He grew up in a single-parent household and developed a love for comedy early in life.
Iglesias gained fame through his clean, family-friendly humor and has produced numerous successful stand-up specials, including I’m Not Fat… I’m Fluffy. He starred in the Netflix series Mr. Iglesias, playing a high school teacher.
Iglesias has also voiced characters in animated films like Coco and performed sold-out shows worldwide, including a historic concert at Dodger Stadium in 2022.
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Gabriel Iglesias’s Early Life And Education
Gabriel Iglesias, also known as “Fluffy,” was born on July 15, 1976, in San Diego, California. He is an American comedian and actor of Mexican descent.
Gabriel was raised by his mother, Esther P. Mendez, who was a single parent. Growing up, Gabriel lived in several cities like Riverside, Corona, Santa Ana, Baldwin Park, and Compton.
Eventually, his family settled in Long Beach, California, where Gabriel spent most of his childhood. He lived in low-income housing, which brought many challenges, but it also influenced his sense of humor.
Gabriel is the youngest of six siblings. From a young age, Gabriel used humor to cope with the difficulties he faced in life, such as financial struggles.
This is why many people find his comedy relatable because it comes from real-life experiences. Gabriel attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School, and after graduating from high school, he took a job at a cell phone company.
However, In 1997, he made the brave decision to leave his job and pursue stand-up comedy full-time. Gabriel faced several hardships, including being evicted from his home.
But despite these challenges, he continued to work hard and eventually found success in the world of comedy. Now, at 48 years old, Gabriel Iglesias is a famous comedian loved by many for his relatable and funny stories.
Gabriel Iglesias’s Career
Gabriel Iglesias, born on July 15, 1976, started his comedy career after working at a cell phone company in Los Angeles.
In 2000, Iglesias got his first big break when he appeared on the Nickelodeon sketch comedy show All That. On this show, he performed alongside stars like Amanda Bynes and Nick Cannon, which helped him get noticed in the comedy world.
In 2006, he competed in the fourth season of Last Comic Standing. He made it to the final eight contestants but was disqualified because he broke the show’s rules by using a smuggled BlackBerry.
Iglesias’s career continued to grow when he started doing voice-overs. In 2007, he lent his voice to a Mexican family in an episode of Family Guy titled “Padre de Familia.”
That same year, he voiced characters on Disney’s The Emperor’s New School, which he has said is some of his favorite work. His stand-up comedy specials also became popular.
In 2007, he released Hot and Fluffy, and in 2009, he followed it up with I’m Not Fat… I’m Fluffy. Both specials were well-received and helped him gain a large fan base.
In 2011, Iglesias launched Gabriel Iglesias Presents Stand Up Revolution on Comedy Central. The show ran for three seasons until 2014.
In 2013, Iglesias released another special called Aloha Fluffy. This special was a huge success, with over 15 million viewers tuning in during its premiere.
He also expanded his voice-acting career by contributing to animated films like Planes (2013) and The Nut Job (2014). Iglesias also found success on television and in movies.
In 2014, he joined the cast of the ABC sitcom Cristela as Alberto, appearing in 13 episodes. From 2015 to 2017, he hosted Fluffy’s Food Adventures, a show that mixed his love of food with comedy.
In 2019, he starred in the Netflix series Mr. Iglesias, where he played a high school teacher. He was also the executive producer of the show, which ran for three seasons.
In addition to his television work, Iglesias appeared in movies like Magic Mike (2012) and its sequel Magic Mike XXL (2015).
He continued to do voice work in animated films such as Coco (2017), Smurfs: The Lost Village (2017), and Ferdinand (2017).
In 2022, Iglesias made a huge comeback after the COVID-19 pandemic by selling out Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. He performed in front of around 56,000 fans, making it one of the largest comedy shows ever.
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Gabriel Iglesias’s Wife
Gabriel Iglesias is not currently married. He was in a long-term relationship with Claudia Valdez, an American actress and producer, but they broke up in June 2020 after being together for almost 12 years.
They first met on the set of the movie Make A Wish in 2008 and started dating soon after. During their relationship, they lived together in Whittier, California.
Gabriel also adopted Claudia’s son, Frankie Iglesias, from a previous relationship. He treats Frankie as his son. Claudia Valdez was born in 1980 and has worked in the entertainment industry.
She appeared in movies like Monsters and Troy and also produced several Mexican films. Claudia has been a production coordinator for well-known projects like The Legend of Zorro and Jarhead.
Gabriel has been open about his struggles with depression and alcoholism, which he said affected his personal life and relationships. He admitted these challenges after their separation and expressed a desire to improve himself for the sake of his family.
Although many fans referred to Claudia as Gabriel’s wife, they were never married, and Gabriel has clarified this in interviews.
What Is Comedian Gabriel Iglesias Net Worth In 2024?
Gabriel Iglesias has an estimated net worth of $40 million as of 2024. He has earned his wealth through different sources, including successful stand-up comedy tours, acting roles, and big deals with platforms like Netflix.
Gabriel Iglesias, also known as “Fluffy,” is one of the highest-paid comedians in the industry. He makes around $20 million each year from his performances and projects.
Besides his stand-up shows, Iglesias also makes money from social media. On Instagram, he earns between $12,000 to $16,000 per sponsored post, and on TikTok, he makes between $18,000 to $22,000 per post.
Gabriel Iglesias also earns money from acting in movies like “Magic Mike” and “Coco.” He has his sitcom on Netflix called “Mr. Iglesias.”
Additionally, he makes money from selling merchandise and investing, including a collection of Volkswagen buses worth around $3 million.