Ali Wong is an American stand-up comedian, writer, and actress famously known for her stand-up comedy show, Baby Cobra, which premiered on Netflix in 2016. She married Justin Hakuna in 2014, and they have two beautiful daughters named Mari and Nikki Hakuta. Through her various stints as an actress, comedian, and writer, Ali Wong now has an estimated net worth of $3 million.
Although she became famous through her comedy show on Netflix, Ali Wong first came on the scene in 2005. Only six years later, she was named one of Variety’s “Top 10 Comics to Watch.” Since then, Wong’s career has evolved and grown in ways she never saw coming. Known for her incredible roles in Baby Cobra and Hard Knock Wife, she has since branched out to scriptwriting and film production, with an incredible performance in ABC’s American Housewife.
Ali Wong’s Early Life, Origin and Education
Ali Wong was born Alexandra Dawn Wong on 19th April 1982, in the US city called Pacific Heights in Los Angeles; into the family of Adolphus and Tam Wong. Her father was born and bred in the US where he worked as an anesthesiologist for Kaiser Permanente for over three decades.
Growing up, Wong attended San Francisco University High School where she served as class president. After graduating in 2000, she proceeded to UCLA where she majored in Asian American studies. As Wong recounts, her time at UCLA pretty much opened her eyes to her penchant for stage performance.
She joined UCLA’s LCC Theatre Company and in addition to that, spent a full summer working at a UC Berkeley alumni summer family camp, The Lair of the Golden Bear. Ali later moved back to her roots in Hanoi, Vietnam for a while and graduated with a B.A degree in 2004.
Ali Wong’s Fact Card
How Ali Wong Became a Professional Entertainer
Fresh from college, Wong began trying her hands on Stand-up comedy when she was 23 years old. It all began at Brainwash Cafe. After practicing there for a while, she relocated to New York to gain more exposure for her unique talent. True to her predictions, Wong started to perform more regularly, sometimes up to eight sessions per night.
By 2011, six years of consistent stand-up comedy began to pay off as she made it to Variety’s “Top 10 Comics to Watch.” Soon, Ali Wong became the face of comedy in the city and it did not take long before millions of fans and viewers began to demand a piece of her talent. Consequently, she started to honor invitations on talk shows such as Chelsea Lately, The Tonight Show, and New York Stand Up Show.
In the years that followed, other platforms such as MTV’s Hey Girl and NBC’s Are You There, Chelsea? came calling. But there was more to come. It wasn’t only the big shows that came calling, Wong had also caught the fancy of other big names in showbiz. She went on to run collaborations with the likes of Salma Hayek, Kelly Reilly, and Vanessa Redgrave. However, her finest hour was still on the way.
Big Break With Baby Cobra
Ali Wong’s big break came in 2016 when her stand-up comedy special titled Baby Cobra was released on Netflix. The mother of two minced no words about her sex life and her views on the much-talked-about feminism. Though passionate about the rights of women, she doesn’t consider herself to be a feminist.
Perhaps, one feature that made the series such a big sell was the perfect timing of its release; on Mother’s Day. But visuals and sounds are only a few ways the witty comedienne hopes to spread her message. More than ever, Ali Wong is poised to release her first book. The book, she says, would give voice to the experiences she’s had throughout her early life, up to the present.
One other reason she chose to voice this part of her life through writing is that certain things are not to be used for comedy. If anything, they are best featured in a book people can sit back and read at their convenience. There’s a part of Wong that endears her to her male fans: she never ceases to acknowledge the support of her husband. Let’s tell you about him.
What is Ali Wong’s Net Worth?
Ali Wong currently has an estimated net worth of $3 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. She made her wealth through her diverse careers as an actress, writer, and comedian. Through her various endeavors, Wong makes over $1 million annually. Her comedy special, Baby Cobra, which airs on Netflix, first positioned her on the global map.
However, she has released two more comedy specials on Netflix, including Hard Knock Mother, and her most recent Don Wong, which premiered in February 2022. She has featured in several critically acclaimed and commercially successful movies, including Always Be My Maybe, Birds of Prey, Father Figures. etc.
Asides from acting and comedy, Ali Wong also makes money through brand endorsements. However, how much she has made and the list of brands she endorses are currently not available. Albeit, it is believed to have contributed to her huge net worth.
Who Is Ali Wong’s Husband, Justin Hakuta?
Ali Wong has been married to Justin Hakuta since November 27, 2014. The two reportedly had their first encounter at the wedding ceremony of a mutual friend back in 2010; things got steamy from there.
Justin Hakuta was born on 18th October 1981, in Los Angeles, California to Ken Hakuta and Marilou Cantiller. His father is the famous Japanese-American inventor and TV personality popularly called Dr. Fad. His mother, on the other hand, is of Filipino descent. The two had met each other back in 1977 while they worked at the World Bank.
As the first of three children, Justin has two younger brothers, Kenzo and Aki. Growing up, Justin Hakuta schooled at the Washington DC-based Sidwell Friends School between 1994 and 2000. He then proceeded to Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in Decision Science in 2004.
During his college years, Hakuta reportedly invested a whole year in Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico, studying cognitive science, economics, and Mexican history. He would go on to obtain a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Harvard Business School in 2011. As of this writing, he serves as vice president of the healthcare company, GoodRx.
Does Ali Wong Have Children?
Ali Wong and her husband, Hakuta, have two lovely children named Mari and Nikki. They welcomed their first daughter Mari in November 2015, and she was born via emergency Caesarean Section after 24 long hours of labor. The actress named her Mari in honor of the Japanese author and organizing consultant, Marie Kondo.
Interestingly, she was pregnant with Mari when she launched her first Netflix comedy special, Ali Wong: Baby Cobra, in 2016. Mari is currently 7 years old. Two years later, precisely in December 2017, Ali and her husband welcomed their second daughter Nikki.
Like Mari, Wong was also pregnant with Nikki when she also launched her second Netflix special, Ali Wong: Hard Knock Mother. Nikki is currently 5 years old. Given that Ali’s kids are still young, it is hard to tell if they would follow in the footsteps of their comic mother. They currently live in Los Angeles.
How Tall is Ali Wong?
Ali Wong stands at a height of 5 feet, equivalent to 1.52 meters. She weighs 54kg (119 lbs) and has body measurements of 34-26-35 inches.
How Many kids does Ali Wong Have and Who are They?
Ali Wong and her husband Justin Hakuta have two children, namely Mari Hakuta and Nikki Hakuta. Mari was born in November 2015 and she is currently 7 years old, while Nikki (5) was born in December 2017.
What Happened To Ali Wong on American Housewife?
Ali Wong played the role of Doris on American Housewife and stopped appearing in person in early 2021. Although there were no reports that she had quit the show, the actress was said to have traveled as she was featured only via video call. However, it was later disclosed that Ali left the show because she could no longer put up with the toxic environment created on the show.
Who are Ali Wong’s Parents?
Ali Wong was born to Tam “Tammy” Wong and Adolphus Wong. Her mother is of Vietnamese descent, while her father, Adolphus, was a Chinese-American anesthesiologist. He passed on in 2011.
