How Much Was Regis Philbin Worth When He Died?
After decades of gracing our television screens and cementing his place as a pop culture icon, family members confirmed on July 25, 2020 that beloved Who Wants to Be a Millionaire host Regis Philbin has died at the age of 88.
According to People, the Philbin family announced the passing of the former game show host and one half of the legendary morning show Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee in an official statement issued exclusively to the magazine. "His family and friends are forever grateful for the time we got to spend with him – for his warmth, his legendary sense of humor, and his singular ability to make every day into something worth talking about," the statement read. "We thank his fans and admirers for their incredible support over his 60-year career and ask for privacy as we mourn his loss."
No official cause of death has been announced in relation to Philbin's passing — Philbin's family reported that he died of natural causes, though TMZ reported that an anonymous source alleges it was due to a heart attack. Still, the loss of the beloved TV host and his decades-long media legacy has been felt by all. Considering his illustrious career, it seems fairly certain that Philbin amassed a large amount of wealth during his tenure as a television personality. So what was Philbin's net worth when he died? Let's find out.
Regis Philbin's decades-long career amassed a fortune
Considering Regis Philbin's long-standing career in media — according to the Guinness Book of World Records, he has purportedly hosted the most amount of hours in the history of television to date — it's fair to assume that his hard work paid off until the very end. And per Celebrity Net Worth, that assumption is entirely correct.
As of 2020, Philbin was reportedly worth $150 million, with a salary of $20 million per year at the peak of his career. Philbin mostly retired from television in the early 2010s, with occasional guest appearances on Today with Kathie Lee and Hoda and other shows.
Philbin also acquired a number of valuable properties during his lifetime, including a family homestead in Greenwich, Connecticut reportedly worth $7.2 million, which was purchased in 2008 and put on the market in 2019 at an estimated $4.95 million, per Celebrity Net Worth. TMZ's report suggests that Philbin "possibly" passed away in the family home in Connecticut.
Our hearts go out to the surviving members of Philbin's family, including wife Joy and children Joanna, Jennifer, and Amy.
Regis Philbin didn't take his success for granted
Although some stars see success as an everlasting well, Regis Philbin was always realistic about showbiz. "I've been around long enough to know that everything comes to an end," the talk show host told Forbes in 2000. "Every day, you think to yourself, could this be the day it stops?"
There's a good chance Philbin's humbleness played a pivotal role in his longevity.
Not only was Philbin honest about his career, but he was giving, too. Case in point: In 2011, the TV personality helped auction off four VIP tickets to a taping of Live! With Regis and Kelly to raise money for a local nursing home in Connecticut, Greenwich Time reported. What a standup guy, right?
But wait — that's not all. Philbin also donated $500,000 to renovate the auditorium at his alma mater, Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, according to Catholic New York. The outlet reported Philbin put in an additional $50,000 and $175,000 into the school throughout the years.
There's no doubt Philbin enjoyed the fruits of his hard labor, but it's also clear he gave as much as he earned.