Fame & Fortune: Dat Phan "Last Comic Standing" moves up, not out By Larry Getlen • Bankrate.com

Dat Phan recently won NBC's "Last Comic Standing" TV show, giving him a development deal with NBC and a half-hour special on Comedy Central. But while it's easy to be jealous of the comedian's recent good fortune, his life until now would generate little envy.

Phan was born in Vietnam in 1975, several months before his family escaped from Saigon as the city fell to the Communists. They came to America and got separated due to circumstance and infighting. Phan and his non-English speaking mother were homeless for several years, living off the local Vietnamese community and welfare.

While the family eventually reunited and got back on its feet, Phan fell in love with stand-up comedy. In the process, he wound up homeless yet again, often living in his car and washing himself in the bathrooms of the comedy clubs he performed at.

Phan auditioned for "Last Comic Standing" and made it to the final 10, living in a house with his fellow comics while both the comics and the TV audience voted on which contestant would challenge who and who would be voted off. Phan's earnest naiveté and, some say, derivative style incurred the wrath of his house mates, who turned on him with outward derision and cruel pranks. But Phan won out, defeating two of his house mates in head-to-head competitions and a third in a performance that was voted on by the viewing public.

Now, Phan finds his life turned upside down. He's headlining clubs around the country, and just completed his first film role, in "Cellular" with Kim Basinger and William H. Macy. Bankrate spoke to Dat Phan about the glory and security of being the Last Comic Standing.

Bankrate: How has winning "Last Comic Standing" changed your life?

Dat Phan: Before the show I had $35 in my pocket, which wasn't even my money. I owed people money. And, that's the cash I had on me. I don't think I had enough money in the bank to pull $20 out. I was living under my desk in West Hollywood, in a studio apartment I shared with a fellow comic. You know how some apartments are so small that you either have room for a desk or a bed? I chose the desk. My roommate had a futon. Also, before the contest, about six months before, I was living out of my car.

Bankrate: When you went to gigs, did people know that you were living out of your car?

Dat Phan: They knew. I would change my clothes at the gig and shave in the bathroom. I wouldn't shower for like seven days. My hair was matted down. I had a loaf of bread in the back. I would do gigs for $35, so I could eat and drive for another few days. I had creditors chasing after me. My car was on the verge of being repossessed and my phone was shut off. I had no money.

Bankrate: None of your fellow L.A. comics offered you a couch?

Dat Phan: They did, actually. I slept on couches. Many couches. I slept on floors. My roommate -- who I ended up living with later on -- I slept on the floor at his parent's house. I snuck in and out when they were asleep, so that I wouldn't be in his house all the time. That's pretty normal for comics in L.A., to be struggling like that. It's an expensive city to live in.

Bankrate: So now that you've won, now what?

Dat Phan: I'm not worried about money anymore. I'm saving up money for a house for my mom. It's taking me a long time, though. Houses are expensive in San Diego.

Bankrate: Where do you live now?

Dat Phan: I live in the same building as when I was living in a studio, but we moved to a one bedroom. Same roommate. I'm very loyal to friends who are loyal to me.

Bankrate: Two of you in a one-bedroom. How does that work?

Dat Phan: They sleep in the living room. I have two roommates, actually. They share the living room; I have the bedroom to myself. I pay half the rent; they pay a quarter of the rent each. We kind of stick to each other. Comics hang on to a life raft together, except for the ones that have families. We kind of help each other out, the other single comics.

Bankrate: Have you been able to save money since you won?

Dat Phan: A lot of it is going toward mom's house. I bought stuff that I need for business. I bought a laptop. I have a home video camera, that way I can record my stand-up act and work on making it better.

Bankrate: Has your attitude about money changed at all now that you have some?

Dat Phan: I learned that money's not happiness. The more famous I am and the more money I make, the closer I stay to my family and friends that I've known since junior high school. True happiness to me is the connection with fellow human beings I've known for a long time. Fame, to me, comes and goes. Money comes and goes. I'm thankful I have money. I'm trying to save up more. I would like more money. But it's not happiness. If you're a millionaire and hate your family, hate your friends and your life, then what is the point? You're just a person with a lot of money and power who is not happy.