Dave Chappelle’s wife Elaine Medonza Erfe: Bio, Wiki, Age, Kids, Family, & Details. Elaine Mendoza Erfe was born on 31 August 1974, in Brooklyn, New York City USA, and is best known for being the wife of comedian Dave Chappelle, considered as one of the best stand-up comics of all time. He’s gained a lot of recognition through films, and stand-up performances.
Life Before Chappelle
Elaine’s parents immigrated to the US from the Philippines before she was born, in hopes of building a better life for themselves and their child. Growing up, she developed a passion for working in the culinary field and wanted to be a chef. However, details about her childhood, her family, her education, and her career path before Chappelle have never been shared publicly. It is known that she continued to hone her craft in the kitchen, but never pursued it full-time.
Relationship and Marriage
Mendoza Erfe met Chappelle in the early 2000s, when they were introduced through mutual friends. He discovered early on that he was attracted to her, but she was hesitant as she was not used to people with loud personalities. Eventually, she moved past this and found that he was actually hiding a bit of shyness, and their courtship quickly blossomed. In 2001, the two decided to marry, just before which Chappelle converted to the Islam religion, which he says has been very helpful in his life.
Erfe on the other hand was raised as a Christian, and decided not to give up her religion, despite which the two apparently have a good marital relationship. They do have arguments and debates from time to time but they keep things respectful. They would have three children together, and the family reside in Yellow Springs, Ohio on a 65 acre ranch. According to her, she loves the property as it is relaxing and surrounded by cornfields.
Husband – Dave Chappelle
David Khari Webber Chappelle is a comedian, actor, producer, and writer, best known for his signature brand of comedy, often involving discussions on pop culture, current events, racism, relationship problems, social problems and politics. He gained popularity in 1993 in the film “Robin Hood: Men in Tights”, as the character Ahchoo.
He also had supporting roles in several box office hits such as “Blue Streak”, “Con Air”, “The Nutty Professor”, and “You’ve Got Mail”. He also starred in the television series “Buddies”, and then had his first lead role in the 1998 film “Half Baked”.
In the 2000s, his fame grew even further with the creation of his comedy sketch series, entitled “Chappelle’s Show”, which he co-wrote with Neal Brennan. He stayed in it for two years before deciding to pursue stand-up comedy once again, performing around the US.
Over the next few years, his talent would lead him to be named as one of the greatest stand-up comedians in the US. His wealth increased significantly when he signed a comedy deal with Netflix, ensuring him $20 million per comedy release special he makes with the network. In 2017, he won his first Emmy Award and also a Grammy Award the following year for his Netflix specials.
Support in Times of Trouble
In 2005, Dave took a break from his career as he was having difficulty dealing fully with the stress of television production; he wanted to take some time away from everything, and moved to South Africa for a brief time to be closer to his roots. After this sudden decision, the media went crazy as numerous outlets started accusing Chappelle of leaving his wife and for being a drug addict.
Several media sources accused him of being reliant on medication, but he actually took the trip for reflection and rest. Elaine took offense to all these accusations and speculation about their family. She encouraged Dave to stay in Africa, until the media frenzy was over, and to ensure that he was fully refreshed when he returned.
Current Endeavors
While Mendoza Erfe spends her time taking care of the family, the children, and supporting her husband from the background, she is also involved in his other business endeavors. Aside from their farm in Yellow Springs, Dave also owns several houses in Xenia, Ohio, mostly rental properties that she manages, adding to the family’s wealth. He also has homes in other locations in the state.
She made an appearance in the special “The Age of Spin: Dave Chappelle Live at the Hollywood Palladium”. According to her, she decided not to pursue a career in the culinary arts after she had children, mentioning that she felt a lot more fulfillment and pleasure being with her children. Despite that, she continues to make good of her craft, and Dave has said that the family eat like kings due to her cooking talents.
During their free time they also do a bit of charity work. Chappelle has been known to work with Seeds of Peace International Camp which aims to bring together young leaders from communities in conflict. The couple are seen as a positive role model for bi-racial couples.
Elaine Mendoza Erfe Net Worth
How rich is Elaine Mendoza Erfe? As of early-2019, sources estimate a net worth that is over $1 million, earned through success in her various endeavors, plus no doubt a significant amount of wealth thanks to her husband, who has an estimated net worth at $42 million. As she continues her endeavors, it is expected that her wealth will also continue to increase.
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