Ricky Gervais has jokingly announced plans to buy millions of scratchcards and take over Libya after a website listed him as one of the richest comedians in the world. The Reading-born comic said his listing at Celebrity Networth, which claims he is worth $80m (£49.2m), was 'spot on'.
Writing on his blog, he said: 'Wow! I think there must be a leak at my accountants ... I know it sounds a lot, but remember, I donate a lot of this to good causes. (The Inland Revenue mainly.) Now this is out, I will have to get my family a million scratchcards each for Christmas. I have decided to use the rest of the money to take over Libya.'
Gervais's net worth will no doubt have climbed following his hosting appearance at last month's Golden Globes, which made headlines around the world. He sparked controversy thanks to an opening routine that poked fun at various nominees and jokingly suggested the judges took bribes.
Meanwhile, the US version of his breakthrough comedy, The Office, has been sold into syndication and the second series of The Ricky Gervais Show is currently screening on HBO. Gervais's second appearance on The Simpsons also aired in the US earlier this week. 'Last time I had to write it, fly out to LA, do a read through and record it with all the cast,' he wrote on his blog. 'This time I went into a studio in Hampstead and adlibbed like a motherfucker for 20 minutes. Nice.'
