At 19, Ellie Kemper was named Queen of Love and Beauty at the 1999 Veiled Prophet Ball in St. Louis, an upper-crust debutante ball, reports Page Six. This title generated controversy in June due to its classist and racist roots, leading to a viral tweet labeling her "KKK queen." Some fans came to Kemper's defense, including journalist Javier E. David, who tweeted that such remarks are "borderline slanderous" as the ball is not affiliated with the KKK. All that said, it definitely rubbed many people the wrong way.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Kemper is worth $9 million. Despite her inspiring story of coming up in the comedy world, hers is not exactly a tale of rags to riches (as her aforementioned associations may hint). The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported in 2009 that Kemper's family founded Commerce Bancshares and that she was "born into a family of bankers." At the time, her father David was the chairman and CEO of the company. As of 2021, David serves as executive chairman while John Kemper, presumably Ellie's brother, serves as CEO, per their official website. The art museum at Washington University is named for Kemper's grandmother, Mildred Lane Kemper, after the family donated $5 million to the project.
So while Kemper's net worth is nothing vast, her family certainly has its own money. And perhaps, a few questions to clear up.
