Imagup General Magazine 2024
David Letterman, the American comedian, writer and producer, has been hosting late-night shows ever since 1982. The 71-year-old TV show host has been around for quite some time and his net worth is probably quite high. So, here is everything you need to know about David Letterman, including his assets and some lesser-known facts.
Early and Personal Life
David Michael Letterman was born on April 12, 1947, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was the son of Joseph and Dorothy, who worked in a church administration. Letterman has German, English, Scots-Irish ancestry. His father suffered two heart attacks, one at 36 and one at 57, which was fatal. During his childhood, David used to enjoy collecting model cars. He was enrolled at Broad Ripple High School and Ball State University. He first started to work as a radio announcer but was quickly fired because he wasn’t a fan of classical music.
Letterman was married first to a woman Michelle Cook but finally settled down with a woman called Regina Lasko. They married in 2009 and share a son together, who they named Harry Joseph Letterman.
David has a number of health issues, including tinnitus, severe anxiety and hypochondria. Moreover, he doesn’t drink because he is a terrible drinker.
TV Career
Right after being laid off from the radio, he became a weatherman on WLWI TV station. He had a quite interesting on-air behavior and humor, which quickly attracted lots of attention. Moreover, Letterman also appeared in Freeze-Dried movies and hosted a talk show, Clover Power. He was a pit road reporter for the ABC Sport’s tape-delayed coverage of the Indianapolis 500 in 1971. Then, he moved to Los Angeles in the mid-seventies.
Comedy Career
He started performing at The Comedy Store where he was noticed by George Miller. So, he was asked to be part of the group of writers who wrote for Jay Leno and Robert Schimmel. He accepted that proposal and in just two years, he wrote for the six-week summer series The Starland Vocal Band Show. Moreover, David also hosted the show The Riddlers and co-starred in comedy special Peeping times. He also appeared in other shows, such as Mork & Mindy, Mary, The Gong Show, the 20,000$ Pyramid and Password.
He started hosting the morning comedy show called The David Letterman Show and joined NBC in 1980. The show was loved by critics, but it wasn’t the audience’s choice. Hence, it ended up being canceled that same year.
Late Night with David Letterman
Letterman’s work was very much appreciated by NBC and they offered him his own late-night show. The Late Night first appeared in 1982 and it has hosted a number of celebrity guests throughout the years. The show became a huge hit, partly for the guests and partly for the rich comedy writing. This show brought a unique kind of humor which was often controversial in a fun way.
Then, in 1992, the position for The Tonight Show was empty as Johnny Carson retired. However, NBC gave the position to Jay Leno which made Letterman leave and go to CBS. The show kept its name and Letterman received a 14$ million year contract.]
Moreover, he also hosted the 67th Academy Awards ceremony but wasn’t really good at that. He announced his retirement in 2015 and his last episode aired on May 20, 2015. Stephen Colbert replaced Letterman.
David Letterman set up his own production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated and a record company called Clear Entertainment / C.E. Music.
David Letterman Net Worth
Letterman’s net worth is estimated to be around 400$ million with an annual salary of almost 20$ million a year. The former host of the Late Show with David Letterman has earned all his money through his hard work. Most of his assets come from his production company, Worldwide Pants, and real estate investments. Moreover, much of his cash comes from his salary, appearances, and his ranch in Montana that works bison.
Likewise, David has become something of a real estate mogul. Hence, he owns a 108-acre estate in Westchester County, New York, a place on Martha’s Vineyard, a 2,700-acre ranch near Chateau, Montana, and a house in St. Barth’s. Additionally, he has a private foundation, the American Foundation for Courtesy and Grooming, through which he has donated to a number of causes and non-profits, including Doctors Without Borders and the American Cancer Society. Like all of this is not enough, Letterman also co-owns Rahal Letterman Racing, an Indy Racing League team.
