Letterman vs. Leno: Late Night TV Wars - 1993 - ABC News Nightline Shatner Method 29.1K subscribers Subscribe 58K views 4 years ago With Dave Letterman's show having started up on CBS that. ga('ads.send', { Trevor Noah. When he appeared on "Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen" in 2019, Leno explained how he and Letterman started out as friends. Outside of Hermosa, Jimmy owns a $7.1 million two-parcel home in the Hollywood Hills above the famed Chateau Marmont. Kimmel has invested a sizeable amount of money in real estate. In his early years he struggled to hide his disdain for guests he didnt like (leading Cher, among others, to regard him warily). Didn't we just go through this? A full body orgasm at the L.A. Phil? Perhaps a sense of shoulda-coulda-woulda is why Letterman seemed a bit at sea in a recent New York Times look back. He also made multiple appearances as the featured comedian on "Late Night with David Letterman." Beginning in 1986, Leno served as a regular replacement presenter for Johnny Carson on "The Tonight Show." . He was a former weatherman and a failed morning-show host who perfected a sort of snide, irreverent attitude towards showbiz types, Rolling Stone wrote after Letterman announced his retirement last year. But theres this thing about legends: They usually come out on top. Ferguson first found success in the United States on The Drew Carey Show and was able to transition that success into becoming the new Late Late Show host in early 2005. window.adsContainer = {"position2":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Above_Next_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position3":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_ATF_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position4":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position5":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle1_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position6":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle2_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position7":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle3_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position8":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle4_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position9":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle5_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position10":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle6_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position11":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle7_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position12":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle8_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position13":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle9_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position14":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle10_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position15":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle11_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position16":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle12_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250}} Maybe it was the heart surgery.. Why is former late night talk show host David Letterman's net worth ($400 million) so much higher than his former rival Jay Leno's net worth ($150 million) when Leno ultimately got the coveted Tonight Show gig from Johnny Carson when he retired? http://www.forbes.com/sites/briansolomon/2014/04/10/stephen-colbert-to-replace-david-letterman-on-cbs-the-late-show/ Source: Forbes.com. David Letterman net worth: The legendary comedian has well-planned his earnings as he still gets a $50 million salary a year. You can't tell the story of 1990s hip hop without Warren G, who helped to revolutionize west coast rap and made it moremainstream. You have entered an incorrect email address! Lettermans panache his unbridled impertinence wasnt enough. When he appeared on "Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen" in 2019, Leno explained how he and Letterman started out as friends. Chelsea Handler is an American comedian actress, television host, and producer. Dr. Phil McGraws net worth is estimated to be roughly $400 million, making him the 4th richest TV host in the world. According to Motor Biscuit, Leno has collected 286 vehicles over the years (169 cars and 117 motorcycles). Meanwhile, Letterman manned CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," which premiered a year after Leno's late-night venture. As the host of CNBC's Jay Leno's Garage, he reportedly owns 181 cars and 160 motorcycles, per Yahoo! He graduated from Andover High School where he received a bachelors degree in speech therapy. Craig Ferguson is a Scottish-American television host, author, comedian, and actor. But his detachment was part of the act and made his fans love him even more. When Leno was named as Johnny Carson's replacement, it caused an uproar as many expected Letterman to take over for Carson upon his retirement. Jay Leno is currently 61 years old while Dave Letterman is 64. David Michael Letterman (born April 12, 1947) is an American television host, comedian, writer and producer. }); Bill OReillys net worth is approximately $85 million, making him the 12th richest TV host on the list. Leno previously stated he'd "obviously leave NBC immediately" if Letterman was afforded the spot (via The New York Times). Conan OBrien is a long-time talk show host who has been at the helm of a number of shows throughout his career, but is best known for his role as the host of Conan, which has been on the air for five years. Being the host of 'The Tonight Show', Leno earned $320 million as a salary. Get our L.A. . As of May 2023, Jay Lenos net worth is $450 Million. Matt Groenings name appears in the credits to (nearly) every episode of The Simpsons, the longest running primetime TV show ever. eventAction: 'click_adunit' Some of the most popular TV hosts in the world are worth more than a half-billion dollars! There was no doubt that the legend was, well, legendary. He just needs to look at the 1993 news conference in which he announced his move to CBS. A TV fixture for over 40 years, David Letterman has a net worth of approximately $400 million . He got the estate instead, Sara Gilbert dissects The Conners: If theres no conflict, its not funny, The North remembers: In Northern Ireland, Game of Thrones leaves a lasting legacy, Review: White House Plumbers reenacts the mishaps of Watergates operatives for laughs, Get ready for the 2023 Met Gala: Heres when, and how, to tune in live, Tucker Carlson, Don Lemon blasted at White House Correspondents dinner, Tom Jones review: PBS Masterpieces latest period drama is laid-back and enjoyable. Alexander Gustafsson is among the greatest mixed martial artists to come from Sweden, as well as one of the greatest to never win a title in the UFC. Furthermore, former Vice President of NBC Rick Ludwin suggested that Letterman had become difficult to work with. He is the host of his own television show Dr. Wendy Williams net worth is $60 million, making her the 14th richest TV host in the world. But the question this article will answer is which of these popular late night hosts is worth the most money. Letterman assumed for years that when Carson retired, he'd get the prime 11:30 p.m. time slot and become the new host of "The Tonight Show" but that didn't happen, according to People. http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/late-show-with-david-letterman/news/100253/ Source: Tvguide.com. }); Emmy has a big passion for helping others and motivating people. In 1992 he used to make $1 million annually from The Tonight Show, but in 1994 he was making $3 million. Todays late-night talk shows viral-culture enterprises comprised of buzz moments and component parts that can be embedded, downloaded, tweeted are produced with tonight, tomorrow, or anytime audiences in mind, EW wrote last year. And why? Ellen Degeneres is an American comedian, television host, actress, LGBT activist, and writer. For David Letterman's arrival, CBS spent $8 million in renovations. reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. As of May 2023, Judy Sheindlins net worth is approximately$420 million. Discovery), Shows: The Steve Harvey Morning Show, Family Feudand Miss Universe competition, Shows: Hannity, other FOX news broadcasts, Shows: American Idol and Live with Kelly and Ryan, Shows: The Tonight Show and The Jay Leno Show, Shows: Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with David Letterman and My Next Guest with David Letterman, (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images), Sign up for the List Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning, The place to be on May 1 and be seen was at New York's Met Gala, https://thelistwire.usatoday.com/lists/richest-television-hosts-oprah-ellen-degeneres/. As of April 2023, Jay Leno's net worth is roughly $450 Million. let gads_event; That was why he had enough credit in the bank to be the first talk-show host to return after the Sept. 11 attacks. As of May 2023, James Cordens net worth is approximately $12 million. With Jason Alexander, W. Kamau Bell, Lewis Black, Todd Boyd. News). ), Michael J. Discover morecelebrity net worthson AudacyThe cast of 'Full House' ranked by net worthThe richest models in the world, ranked by net worthThe cast of 'Walker Texas Ranger' ranked by net worthThe cast of 'Nash Bridges,' ranked by net worthThe cast of 'S.W.A.T.' has created a million-dollar income in his short career, becoming wealthy through his musical ability and engaging live performances. } It is expected that his net worth will increase more in future, all dedicated to his hard work. It's absolutely depressing for anyone over 30 to tune in to Dave and see him so brazenly do the show he used to rail against every night when he was on at 12:30, kissing celebrity ass and repeating the same gimmick jokes night after night after night. After working his way up through stand-up, Leno got the gig hosting The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on NBC in 1992, which he continued until 2009, earning a $320 million salary. OReilly reported for local television stations during the late 1970s and 1980s in the United States and later for CBS News and ABC News. Take note that Johnny Carson was on NBC, as was Letterman. DeGeneres is best known for her syndicated TV talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show. If Letterman wanted to use a 20-year-old feud for laughs or simply remind his audience the feud existed, such comments seemed irrelevant. People just liked watching his show more than they liked watching my show.. And while Letterman's snarky comments about his colleague appeared to be made in jest, the two did in fact have a rocky relationship which started when Leno joined NBC. You cant stay mad at someone who makes you laugh. When Letterman was honored with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2017, Leno wrote a touching open letter to his former competitor. Letterman's show, "Late Night with David Letterman," aired immediately after Carson's NBC program making him a shoo-in for Carson's coveted timeslot. We prevailed for a while, and then I lost my way a little bit, Letterman told the Times. Letterman's licensing and syndication payments used to bring him $50 million annually, although that figure has dipped significantly in recent years. OBrien has a very particular hosting style which includes a high degree of spontaneity, and his style of humor has been described as awkward and self-deprecating. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ Tags : Actor American Comedian Former late-night Television host . He played smart. Jay Leno had a triumphant run as the host of "The Tonight Show," but his appointment came with a bit of controversy. David Letterman; Net Worth: $400 Million; 10. American television host, comedian, and writer Jay Leno has an estimated net worth of $350 million dollars, as of 2023. And on February 24th, 2014, he assumed his role as the host of Late Night with Seth Meyers and officially joined the ranks of talk show hosts. He won 22 Emmy awards throughout his career, which is the most ever for a male individual. Some Interesting Facts You Need To Know He has also snagged two Daytime Emmys and 10 Primetime Emmys since 1981 and four . Jimmy Fallon took over "The Tonight Show," while Stephen Colbert got to run things on "The Late Show." In 2016, Letterman was asked if he missed hosting and said he didn't as it was now for younger people. As of April 2023, Jay Leno's net worth has been estimated to be $450 million. His annual income is $50 million that comes from licensing and syndication fees. He took a hiatus for a quintuple bypass in 2000, then brought his doctors on-air to thank them for saving his life. He hosts the late night television talk show, Late Show with David Letterman, broadcast on CBS. But you can be sure his net worth will skyrocket once he establishes himself as the successor of Jon Stewart on The Daily Show. Ellen DeGeneres net worth is roughly $450 million. Even as the host reached out to Leno for a 2010 Superbowl commercial, he was taking OBriens side in the Leno-OBrien wars. Audacy may earn commission for products purchased via affiliate links. "Dealing with Dave had become bothersome and draining, and he could be unnecessarily rude to network people not just me," Ludwin claimed. BBQ USA and Locanda Verde are two food products he has endorsed. Sean Hannity is an American talk show host and political commentator. Letterman and Jay Leno were in a time-slot competition for decades, although both have since left their late-night hosting spots (to Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert respectively). Start your Independent Premium subscription today. They saw Letterman as genuine. He is considered to be one of the richest TV hosts in the world. Best known for his singles "We Paid" and "Grace," 42 Dugg has become one of the biggest up-and-coming rappers in the music industry. has created a million-dollar income in his short career, becoming wealthy through his musical ability and engaging live performances. In addition to this, he is a jack of all trades in the industry as he has been a director, writer, producer and voice actor. Trailing behind Letterman is Jay Leno and just like his counterpart, Leno has been a late-night TV staple for a very long time. And of course, the Shakespearean struggle over Tonight did not stop there. Jay Leno and Mavis Nicholson have been married for 37 years since 30th Nov 1980. He spent $10 million for 108 acres of land in Westchester County, N.Y., just north of New York City, he owns properties in Marthas Vineyard and St. Barts, and a ranch in Montana, according to BounceMojo. Letterman retired in 2015, while Leno has continued making TV appearances and hosting various shows, such as "Jay Leno's Garage." I want to be the person I always thought I was and probably was pretending I was, he told Oprah Winfrey in 2013. So get ready for this awesome list were about to show you. In 2010, Leno and Letterman actually worked together to film a Super Bowl commercial where the latter imitated the former. "I blamed the whole thing on him. He hosted late night television talk shows for 33 years, beginning with the February 1, 1982, debut of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC and ending with the May 20, 2015, broadcast of Late Show with David Letterman on CBS. Stewart has hosted The Daily Show from 1999 to 2015. It is creepy: Not exactly the note any showman should want to go out with while comparing retirement to a good, solid punch to the head. Contrast this to Lenos first act after he retired the first time: He stole back his own show from Conan OBrien and, after his second retirement, won a Mark Twain prize and leaped back on to the stand-up comedy circuit. David Letterman's Net Worth Is Somewhere Over $400 Million. After getting noticed by Johnny Carson and making a fan out of NBC bigwig Fred Silverman, however, David Letterman found himself taking his goofy antics to a 12:30 a.m. time slot and thus, a late-night TV legend was born.. So you have to make Jay counter that. David Letterman's Net Worth Growth Rate. Banks began her career at the age of 15 when she was the first woman of African American descent to be featured on the covers of GQ and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. 5 November 2015. As of May 2023, Conan OBriens net worth is estimated to be roughly $85 million. I was a very loud, boisterous performer, but I wasn't that good a writer. Sounds brutal. Then, in 2003, Kimmel left The Man Show permanently to host his own all-new talk show called Jimmy Kimmel Live! In terms of awards, Letterman (and his show) received more awards than Leno. The Kid Laroi overcame a difficult childhood to become Australias most successful rapper and is set to become even wealthier from his enormous talent. (From "Late Show," air date:. These days, Jerry Seinfeld is almost as famous for being rich as he is for his long-running show. The host of the show is often the reason why 99% of individuals tune in, and thus, the hosts of these shows are paid very handsomely. This is a significant drop from the $6 million he used to make at Comedy Central while he hosted 'The Colbert Report'. David Michael Letterman . The richest comedians in the world, ranked by net worth, David Letterman Net Worth: $400 Million, Ellen DeGeneres Net Worth: $500 Million. Heres a quick recap of the top 20 richest TV-Hosts in the world: I expected #18 James Corden and #19 Anderson Cooper to have a much higher net worth since they are both so popular. "I decided that I didn't like Warren Littlefield because I didn't get 'The Tonight Show'," Letterman told writer Jason Zinoman, who wrote the biography "Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night" in 2017. Stephen Colbert's 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' is one of the most-watched talk show from the late-night category. David Letterman was the host of his own talk shows for a total of 33 years. Leno not only won Carson's seat, for over two decades he went on to trounce Letterman in the ratings. However, it was rumored that David World would take over hosting the show, but . And he'd watch me and go, 'How can you be so confident on stage?' David Letterman vs Jay Leno The long time rivalry, if not a feud, between David Letterman and Jay Leno began on May 22, 1992, when Johnny Carson, the host of the the Tonight Show retired and was replaced by current host Jay Leno amid controversy. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno aired on NBC from 1992 through 2009. Fallon stopped filming new episodes of his talk show and offered an apology. He beat Leno in the ratings for a few years; an HBO film portrayed Leno as a bit of a lunk. Jay Leno's net worth has been accumulated through a career lifespan of more than 40 years. },false) What about the fact that the dinosaurs are singing and dancing? Jay Leno. 2023 Audacy, Inc. All rights reserved. The most successful comedians in the world can make anyone laugh, but theyre the ones laughing all the way to the bank. He was the host of the show for nine years, until 2014, when he then went on to host the syndicated Celebrity Name Game in September of 2014. Adam Sandler has made plenty of bad movies, but when hes good, hes good. He has other investments that make him a good amount of money. His earnings come from his many gigs, including his talk show, hosting award shows, voice acting, stand-up comedy, and his car collection. Whoopi Goldberg interrupts 'The View' live segment, raises her voice and hits co-host, Demi Moore has not left Bruce Willis's side and is doing everything to make his 'last moments happy', 'Liza took a final breath and sighed': Liza Burke, 21, dies 6 weeks after stage 4 cancer diagnosis, Baywatch star Jeremy Jacksons ex-wife Loni Willison spotted looking for food in LA waste, Archie Blake: Boy, 11, mauled by shark while snorkeling just meters away from shore during family trip. Tim Allen is providing a hopeful health update on Jay Leno.. Ferguson has won two Daytime Emmy Awards for being a host of the syndicated game show Celebrity Name Game. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), He shelled out $8.2 million on a third house in the same neighborhood, in 2018. David Letterman Net Worth. We have come to the richest talk show host out there, and it is none other than the king of late night himself, David Letterman. eventAction: 'view' (For what its worth, Letterman said on his show last week that he was invited to appear on Lenos last Tonight but said no because he felt it would detract attention from Leno himself.). LISTEN on theAudacy AppSign Upand Follow AudacyFacebook|Twitter|Instagram, Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade, Introducing Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade. People admire the New York Yankees, but not because they lost to the Boston Red Sox in the 2004 American League Championship Series. His career spanning 22 years as a late-night TV host was validated upon his retirement in 2014 as he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. Jay Leno seriously burned by flames suddenly bursting from car exhaust. Carson's 1992 retirement touches a nation - and touches off an epic late-night war between Jay Leno and David Letterman. Hosting a television shownot a bad gig, right? - Quora We are one of the worlds fastest growing window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { "The Net Worth of The Richest Late Night Talk Show Hosts" Trevor Noah is a South African comedian and actor who is a very new addition to the list of talk show hosts, as he became the host of The Daily Show in late September of 2015. Its a safety issue. Jay Leno, Now, today is the day we honor, of course, the Presidents, ranging from George Washington, who couldnt tell a lie, to George Bush, who couldnt tell the truth, to Bill Clinton, who couldnt tell the difference. Jay Leno, Scientists are complaining that the new Dinosaur movie shows dinosaurs with lemurs, who didnt evolve for another million years. For over 22 years Jay Leno was a staple on NBC, with The Tonight Show with Jay Lenorunning from 1992-2009 and The Jay Leno Showon air from 2009-2014, making him one of the longest-running hosts in history. During the docuseries, former "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" monologue writer Jimmy Brogan revealed that Leno had signed "a secret deal" that secured his spot as Carson's replacement (via People). Check out the 20 richest TV hosts in 2022 below: Shows: Celebrity Name Game and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Shows: Anderson Cooper 360, other CNN broadcasts, Shows: The Late Late Show with James Corden, Shows: Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Comedy Centrals The Man Show, (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images), Shows: The Colbert Report and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, (Photo by Lars Niki/Getty Images for New York Women in Film & Television), Shows: The Daily Show and The Problem with Jon Stewart, Shows: Late Night with Conan OBrien and Conan, (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Warner Bros. No matter how much moral outrage his defenders can muster no matter how many column inches were filled by writers who said America should like him more Letterman is the man who couldnt beat Jay Leno, and sometimes couldnt beat Lenos replacement. We predict Jay Leno's net worth to reach $450 million in 2022. Throughout all his career endeavors, Leno has accumulated a net worth of $450million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. bill OReilly is an American author, journalist, and former television host. He is famously prickly on-camera and off. "I mean, it's crazy. Emmy has been studying celebrities careers, biographies, lifestyles, and net worths for over 3 years. Jay Leno hosted "The Tonight Show," while David Letterman hosted "Late Show with David Letterman." Leno's comedic style focuses on observational humor and puns, whereas Letterman's involves sarcasm and self-deprecation. Im awash in melancholia, he told the paper of tonights exit. Leno's "Tonight" routinely beat Letterman in the ratings for the vast majority of the time they went head-to-head. As the top earner on Seinfeld, he pulled in a million dollars per episode, and thats not to mention all the royalties since. David Letterman's Background. Phillip Phil Calvin McGraw is an American television host, author, and psychologist. "And our shows were very competitive. His commentary on Donald Trump's presidency and resurfaced clips of him performing in blackface on 'The Man Show' in the late '90s and early '00s resulted in him being torn apart by audiences and his apology was branded as 'lame'. And at that point, there was not much I could do about it. Writers Guild of America Award for Variety, Musical, Award, Tribute, Special Event (1989), Primetime Emmy Award For Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series, 1995), TV Guide Award (Favorite Late Night Show, 1999), People Choice Award for Favorite Late Night Talk Show (2006), Mark Twain Prize For American Humor (2014). Thats especially correct when you see the dollars connected to some of the various TV show hosts that have starred on the small screen for years, from Oprah to David Letterman and Jay Leno. . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. As of May 2023, Stephen Colberts net worth is roughly $45 million. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. David Letterman is an American comedian and former late-night talk show host who has a net worth of $400 million. if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ While Letterman was furious about not getting "The Tonight Show" gig, his career didn't falter. "The idea that there was a huge rift between me and Dave yeah, of course there was," Leno wrote, per The Hollywood Reporter. 5. As ABC 7 explained: I was delighted by everything that happened except you losing your job, Letterman told OBrien on The Late Show in a May 2012 interview, during which both TV hosts did a mock imitation of Leno.. Since 2010, OBrien has hosted Conan on the channel TBS. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), According to People, it wasn't Johnny Carson who passed over David Letterman as his "Tonight Show" replacement, it was the network. Included: Jay should increase the length of his opening monologue. In 2022, David has a net worth of $480 million and his multiple investments will make him more money. His mother came to New York at the age of 11, and is was born in Greenock in Scotland. Last month you were fat, now youre average hey, lets get a pizza! Jay Leno, With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?Jay Leno, Major league baseball has asked its players to stop tossing baseballs into the stands during games because they say fans fight over them and they get hurt. Jay Lenos net worth is roughly $400 million, making him the 6th richest TV host on the list. By Jay Leno, as told to Patrick Shanley. He is also famous for observational clean humor, and a cartoon-like facial feature, in which he made reference to in one of his biographies in 1996. "Once Jay left, I knew I had to get out," Letterman told biographer Jason Zinoman. Jay Leno's net worth is roughly $400 million, making him the 6th richest TV host on the list. The job was ultimately given to Leno, marking the beginning of the late-night feud. Im looking to find out why I behaved the way I behaved., This was the guy who pioneered Will It Float?, Now hes more of the Old Softy, The Washington Posts Hank Stuever wrote. While speaking to Winfrey on Oprah's Next Chapter in 2013, Letterman addressed his feud with Leno. The masses still loved him, but Lenos reputation in the entertainment industry was dealt a blow from which it has never recovered. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Gloria Vanderbilt told Anderson Cooper not to expect a trust fund. Leno grew up in Andover, Massachusetts. },false) 3.. He purchased a $2.175 million Californian home, one block away from Hermosa Beach. }) He is one of the best performers in comedy and books over 300 appearances annually. Interestingly enough, both entertainers announced their exits from the late-night stage around the same time in 2014. When David Letterman signed off on CBS The Late Show Wednesday night, a bunch of A-listers turned up to bid him goodbye. Author of the book Crazy Like a Fox: The Inside Story of How Fox News Beat CNN, he is a frequent pop-culture expert on national TV, radio shows and industry panels. She is the face behind the net worth profiles here on Wealthy Gorilla. From the time he started in. He retired from Tonight last year, and like Letterman, he got a sendoff from a roster of stars, including Oprah Winfrey, Jack Black and Carol Burnett. He almost never gives interviews (well, until his finale approached, anyway). Throwing in his collection and the properties would push him past a half-billion dollars, not a bad way to enjoy . Along with Matt Stone (below), Trey Parker helped create the comedy behemoth that is South Park, one of the longest running TV series of all time, and the Tony-winning Book of Mormon. Not bad for a couple kids from CU Boulder.
