Fame & Fortune: Comedian Jeff Foxworthy
Doing what
he loves makes success even sweeter
| You might be
a redneck if you've ever spewed beer through your nose laughing at the good natured,
blue collar, Southern fried humor of funnyman Jeff Foxworthy.
The Atlanta native was working at IBM when a friend
dared him to try his hand at standup comedy. Foxworthy found plenty to joke about
in the country ways of his family and friends, and quickly rose to fame in the
early 1990s with his infectious "You might be a redneck ... " one-liners.
His 1995 album of the same name sold more than 4 million copies, placing it among
the largest-selling comedy albums of all time. His trademark
phrase has spawned a line of greeting cards and specialty products by American
Greetings, and has even found its way onto a line of Las Vegas slot machines. After
starring in his own self-titled network television show from 1995-1997, Foxworthy
returned to standup. In 2000, he teamed with Bill Engvall, Ron White and Larry
the Cable Guy for the Blue Collar Comedy tour, and went on to produce and star
in Blue Collar TV on the WB network. His latest book, "Foxworthy's
Redneck Dictionary: Words You Thought You Knew the Meaning of," provides
a pocket guide to the Southern dialect. A sample: Annuity ("I couldn't hear
him, but annuity was sayin'), onus ("We just work here. He don't onus"),
and Holland ("My favorite band is definitely Holland Oates"). Offstage,
Foxworthy has helped raise more than $4 million in four years as the honorary
chairman of the Duke Children's Classic celebrity golf tournament, which benefits
the Duke University Children's Hospital. Bankrate caught up
with the king of redneck comedy for a chat about life and money. Bankrate:
In terms of handling money, how could you tell that you might be a redneck? Jeff
Foxworthy: If half your investments are buried in a coffee can in your
backyard and the other half are in your mattress. Bankrate:
What kind of kid were you with regard to money? Responsible? Irresponsible? Comatose?
When you and your buddies went out, did you pay your share, pick up the check
or mooch off them? Foxworthy: I
didn't have much money as a kid. What extra I had went to comedy albums and baseball
cards. As far as my buddies were concerned, I paid my share, which was usually
$2 for gas! | 
