Man working his way up 
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Instead, Chappelle famously walked away from the series and a $50 million paycheck. He abruptly left during production in 2006, effectively breaking his contract with Comedy Central. He was reportedly unhappy with the direction the show had taken and needed to step away.
But there has been one person who has been with the comedian through it all and that's his wife, Elaine.
Dave and Elaine Chappelle Prioritize Family Over Money
In an interview with Time, Chappelle spoke about moving to Ohio and walking away from his show, saying, "Coming here, I don't have the distractions of fame. It quiets the ego down. I'm interested in the kind of person I've got to become. I want to be well-rounded, and the industry is a place of extremes. I want to be well-balanced. I've got to check my intentions, man.”
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There was much speculation during this time in Chappelle’s life. Fans couldn’t fathom the idea that he’d walk away from his popular and successful show and $50 million. People thought he must have a drug or alcohol problem. Others thought it was a mental health issue that led comedian Dave Chappelle to walk away from it all. That wasn’t the case at all. Chappelle simply reprioritized his life in a way that was better for himself and his family.
Through the media circus that followed Dave Chappelle’s wife Elaine Mendoza stood by him. Dave and Elaine have been married for 21 years. They tied the knot in 2001 and have two sons, Sulayman and Ibrahim, and one daughter, Sanaa.
Who is Elaine Chappelle?
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Dave Chappelle’s wife Elaine Mendoza was born on August 31, 1974, to devout Christian Filipino parents. (Dave converted to Islam in 1991.) She grew up in Brooklyn and according to various sources, once planned to become a professional chef. Dave and Elaine Chappelle met more than 20 years ago, so she would have been in her 20s. After meeting and falling in love with Dave Chappelle, Elaine chose to devote herself to raising the couple’s three children.
How Did Dave Chappelle and Elaine Meet?
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During an interview with Howard Stern in the early 2000s, Dave Chappelle revealed that he met his then-girlfriend Elaine Mendoza in Brooklyn and at the time he said she was pregnant with his baby. He said that he was immediately interested in her, but she took some time to get to know Dave before committing to the relationship.
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He also revealed that she was Filipino, which led Stern and his co-host Robin Quivers to make some distasteful jokes about Asian stereotypes. Up until this point Dave Chappelle had been a regular guest on Stern’s show and even credited the exposure Stern gave him with helping his career. After they made those so-called jokes about the future Elaine Chappelle, he has continually refused to ever appear on Stern’s show again. Though he publicly says it’s because the show tapes too early in the morning, it feels like he's showing where his loyalties lie – with his wife Elaine Chappelle.
Elaine is Dave Chappelle’s Support System
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Dave and Elaine Chappelle have a strong marriage that has lasted more than two decades so far. Over the years, Dave Chappelle has made many comments about how his wife is his support system. In his final interview with Howard Stern, Chappelle said, “She was with me when I was poor.”
For a celebrity like Chappelle, it is especially important to have a strong support system in place. Fans and the media can be brutal to a public figure like Elaine Chappelle’s husband. She has been with Dave through some rocky parts of his career including when he walked away from Chappelle’s Show and the more recent controversy over the anti-trans content in his standup routine.
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He appreciates the perspective Elaine Chappelle brings to his life and said, "My wife, if it gets real bad, she’ll let me know, like, ‘Oh, you should look into this.’ But for the most part, I try not to pay attention to it because you don’t want to be careful as a comedian. I try to keep my business small enough so it can still be authentic enough.”
Speaking of that $50 million Chappelle walked away from when he quit Chapelle’s Show and voided his contract with Comedy Central – Chappelle did an interview with Conan O’Brien in 2006 during which he talked about it, saying, “My wife’s still a little salty… She’s not mad at me, but don’t think you’re going to walk away from $50 million and your wife’s just gonna be cool with it.”
Where the Married Couple is Today
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Dave and Elaine Chappelle and their three children live on a 65-acre farm in Yellow Springs, Ohio, which is located about 20 miles from the Dayton Metropolitan area. In 2006, Chappelle said, “I used to be cable’s hottest star and now I’m just a Yellow Springs guy. It turns out you don't need $50 million to live around these parts, just a nice smile and a kind way about you. You guys are the best neighbors ever. That's why I came back and that's why I'm staying.”
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Chappelle grew up in Yellow Springs, where his father was the dean of students at Antioch College.
By all accounts, Dave and Elaine Chappelle are living a peaceful, quiet, and normal life in Ohio with their children. She keeps out of the spotlight and doesn’t have any social media accounts. They appear to be a grounded couple with mutual love and respect for each other and that’s a beautiful thing.
Why New Year's Resolutions Fail
It's that time of the year when you're feeling like this past year was a complete bust. You want change. So, like everyone else, you decide to come up with a list of Resolutions for this New Year. You are full of enthusiasm and excitement because you tell yourself that this year it's going to be different.
According to the American Medical Association (AMA), some 40-50% of people partake in this yearly tradition, but depending on which statistic you look at, only 10-15% of these people will eventually succeed in reaching their goals. And that's being generous.
So where do we come up short? The answer is simple. We don't have a plan and therefore we focus on the wrong things.
In actuality, making resolutions is not a bad thing. The problem usually comes from the lack of motivation and accountability that inevitably follows this period of excitement. You have to transform your enthusiasm into concrete and sustainable plan.
To increase your odds of success, you will need some accountability. Yes really. Those without it reduce their chance of success by half.
It's the same principle with Rehab programs. Why do you think they suggest the addict go to daily meetings? It's not so much that they will be learning new tools and skills (although that is part of it), but most of the benefit from those meetings comes from the support and accountability that they get from their peers.
So where do we get accountability? There are many places. Enlist friends and family. Tell as many people as you can. (Note: Tell people that will be supportive and hold you to realistic expectations.) Have a plan on how to accomplish your goal. List the steps. If you're not sure where to start, think about hiring a Life Coach or a professional mentor. Join a support group. You can even do it online. Just make sure there is a measure of accountability.
If you have a goal in mind, start right away. Don't wait until the end of the year. Just start! Why wait until the end of the year? It's very seldom that conditions will be perfect. So go ahead and make that jump!
The new year does not hold the answers, but you do. The real question is, are you ready to embrace change? Think about it. You've been stuck in a dead end job, or you've wanted to quit smoking. Or maybe you want to lose weight or quit drinking. What is that worth? If your resolution has been on your mind for awhile, don't you owe it to yourself act on it?
Don't get caught up in the trap. Put the cigarette down, get rid of the junk food in your house or start putting resumes in. Action brings results. Start now. Not tomorrow. Not tonight. But now! You've thought about it and talked about it. The only thing that is stopping you is you.
If you take nothing else away from this article but this one thing, I hope that it’s that there is never a perfect time except right now to start acting on your goals.
Jump!