Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon. The two late-night show hosts not only share a first name, but also a TV timeslot. Every night, the two are fighting for the title of the better Jimmy, begging for viewers to watch them and not the other. There have been a handful of iconic late-night show hosts over the years who have battled to be the late-night king, but there has been no bigger battle than the two Jimmys.
Jimmy Kimmel Vs. Jimmy Fallon: The Ratings
When watching a late-night show, we either flip to our favorite host or put on a show based on their guests. Regardless of who you decide to watch, the numbers certainly don’t lie. Late-night hosts have battled one another for the top spot throughout the years, and that includes Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel. When it comes to the average ratings between the two of them, Kimmel takes the crown.
According to LateNighter, year-end ratings in 2024 showed that between the two Jimmys, Kimmel averaged approximately 1,773,000 viewers. Meanwhile, Fallon drew in approximately 1,373,000 viewers. While the numbers are pretty close, it’s quite obvious that Kimmel brings in more than Fallon. Based on these stats alone, Jimmy Kimmel will take home the trophy for better late-night host.
Jimmy Vs. Jimmy: Money Talks
Of course, viewership is important, but at the end of the day, money does all of the talking. In the battle of the Jimmys, who’s the higher-paid late-night host? According to Celebrity Net Worth, Kimmel currently has a net worth of approximately $50 million and makes $15 million annually for hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
Fallon, however, brings home a little more bacon when it comes to his net worth. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Fallon is worth approximately $70 million. For hosting The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, he pockets $16 million annually. For this late-night host battle, it’s clear that Fallon takes this round.
Kimmel Vs. Fallon: Better Style
Sharing the same name and timeslot is about the two main things that both Jimmys have in common. Their shows are different in many ways besides basic formatting. While they both have their monologues, interviews, and funny gags, it’s the way that they deliver their jokes and approach their guests that makes a stark difference.
Kimmel tends to have a drier tone and sense of humor. He also discusses politics and rags on President Trump more, along with more serious topics, giving viewers his own funny takes on world news. Because of this, he tends to be a bit more controversial than Fallon. He still does his funny segments like “Lie Witness News” and “Mean Tweets,” but he’ll always be a bit edgier than Fallon.
On the other hand, Fallon approaches his late-night show differently. While he might discuss politics occasionally, he doesn’t focus as much on it as Kimmel. Fallon tends to be more lighthearted, fun, and giggly. He doesn’t stir the pot as much, often doing skits and playing fun games with his guests. Coming from Saturday Night Live before hosting his show, you can see where his SNL background comes into play.
So, Who’s The Better Jimmy?
While we can sit here and debate numbers, salaries, and comedy styles, at the end of the day, everyone has their preference as to which Jimmy is their favorite. I tend to gravitate toward the Jimmy that has the guests I’m more interested in, but I often find myself tuning into Fallon more often than not. I prefer his sillier humor along with the games he plays with his guests. Don’t get me wrong, though, I often enjoy the dry humor of Kimmel too.
When it comes to the great battle of the better late-night Jimmy, who’s your favorite to watch?
