No joke: FunnyorDie considers an exit

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funnyordie.com

President Barack Obama interviewed by Zach Galifianakis.

Alex Dalenberg

Upstart Business Journal contributor

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I t pays to be funny.

Bloomberg reports that the Will Ferrell-founded comedy site FunnyorDie is exploring the possibility of a sale, with an asking price of between $100 million and $300 million.

“We've received unsolicited interest from a number of companies," CEO Dick Glover wrote in a memo to employees. “We are NOT trying to sell Funny or Die, but we thought it wise to engage some experts to help us evaluate the situation. In the meantime, if any of you mistakenly receive a briefcase full of cash, please bring it to my office immediately."

The news comes as Los Angeles-based FunnyorDie looks to expand its brand. The company recently branched into satirical news coverage, along the lines of The Onion or The Daily Show. It also scored a big get in March when President Barack Obama appeared on Zach Galifianakis's bizarro talk show“Between Two Ferns" to plug the Affordable Care Act.

Here's an early profile of FunnyorDie and its co-founders Ferrell, Adam McKay and Chis Henchy written in 2007 by Franz Lidz for Upstart's predecessor, Portfolio.

Alex is a Brooklyn-based freelance journalist. He writes about media entrepreneurs and creatives for Upstart Business Journal.