David Letterman Net Worth: Career & Lifestyle

The longest reigning late-night host in history, David Letterman’s net worth is $400 million.

David Letterman is an American television host, writer, comedian, and producer.

He was the host of ‘The Late Show with David Letterman,’ which became one of the most popular late-night shows of all time.

Letterman’s legacy has been mentioned by other late-night hosts, including Conan O’Brien, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Jon Stewart, and Seth Meyers.

David Letterman | Quick Facts

Full Name	David Michael Letterman
Celebrated As	David Letterman
Date of Birth	April 12, 1947,
Place of Birth	Indiana, United States
Residency	California, USA
Age	75 Years Old
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	American
Gender	Male
Horoscope	Aquarius
Religion	Christian
Father	Harry Joe Letterman
Mother	Dorothy Letterman
Relationship Status	Married
Wife	Regina Lasko (m. 2009) Michelle Cook (m. 1968–1978)
Children	Harry Joseph Letterman
Height	6 ft. 1 inch
Weight	78 kg
Eye Color	Brown
Hair Color	Grey
Education	Ball State University, Broad Ripple High School
Profession	Television Host, Actor, Comedian, and Voice Actor
Social Media	Instagram, Twitter
Merch	Signed Late Talk Show Photo, Signed GQ, Signed People Magazine
Net Worth	$400 Million
Last Update	March 2023

David Letterman | Net Worth and Income

The most admired TV show host David Letterman’s net worth of $400 million as of  March 2023.

He earned it honestly through hard work and smart investing.

Much of his net worth has come from his appearances on TV shows, salary, and cash produced by his Worldwide Pants production business.

Earning From TV Shows

Letterman made millions of dollars from his first TV show.

By the time he took over Late Night with David Letterman in 1982, he received $625,000.

Further, his annual income rose to $7 million within a short period.

He earned as much as $40 million a year during his prime years.

Barack Obama, Robert Downey Jr., Robin Williams, Paul McCartney, Johnny Deep, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, Al Gore, Madonna, George Clooney, and Hugh Jackman have all appeared on the show in the past.

Even though David letterman retired from late-night TV in 2015, he is still a prominent celebrity who makes headlines whenever he re-enters the spotlight.

Recently, David Letterman became one of the highest-paid streaming stars for his limited-run Netflix talk show.

Earning From Book Royalties

David Letterman has released more than a dozen books through major publications during his three-decade career.

He garners big money through his book royalties every year.

People can find his books on Amazon, Google Books, and other online retailers.

When he retired in 2015, his book sales skyrocketed. That year he made more than $2.5 million through book sales revenue.

Earning From Investments

Not only is David a successful TV host, he also works as a television and film producer.

His company also produced The Late Late Show and other prime-time sitcoms, the most successful being Everybody Loves Raymond, which is now in syndication.

Moreover, David’s net worth is increasing because of some of the great real estate investments throughout his career.

David Letterman Net Worth in Different Currencies

Here’s what David Letterman’s net worth looks like in different currencies, including cryptocurrency Bitcoin

Currency	Net Worth
Euro	€ 353,348,000
Pound Sterling	£ 298,296,000
Australian Dollar	A$298,296,000
Canadian Dollar	C$ 512,314,000
Indian Rupee	₹ 30,017,620,000
BitCoin	฿ 7,824

David Letterman | Houses and Cars

Houses

The affluent host have invested highly in real estate.

He owns several properties, houses and apartment penthouses in different parts of the United States.

Letterman paid $10 million for over 100 acres in Westchester County, located just north of New York City.

Letterman also has massive property in Martha’s Vineyard and St. Bart’s.

Aside form that he owns a pent house apartment in New York’s Tribecca.

Cars

Letterman has a impressive collection of some of the most timeless and iconic cars.

The TV show host owns a 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO. With a price tag of $2.7 million, it is the most expensive automobile in David Letterman’s garage.

He is also the proud owner of several Porsches. However, one of his treasured possessions is a 1956 Porsche 356 1500 GS Carrera. It is a limited edition automobile worth $855,000.

Letterman has recently added a 1973 C20 Chevrolet pick-up truck in his garage, which cost him more than $34,700.

His garage also includes a 1960 Austin-Healey, a fast two-door convertible costs $33,800.

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David Letterman | Lifestyle and Vacations

As of March 2023 David Letterman’s net worth is a whopping $400 million.

The brilliant personality is currently enjoying the retired life. Since he has amassed a massive fortune in his career, he lives an affluent lifestyle.

Dave is currently married to Regina Lasko. Letterman began dating Regina Lasko in February 1986, and their son was born in 2003.

The pair married in 2009, and the family now lives in North Salem, New York.

The talk show host treasures his family soo much and loves spending time with them.

The letterman family is often spotted traveling together to the world’s beautiful cities.

David Letterman | Charity

Alongside his humorous personality, David is a very generous kindhearted man. With the donations, he has contributed to various sectors.

He donates millions of dollars to non-profits in Indiana and Montana through The Letterman Foundation for Courtesy and Grooming.

David donated more than 1,000 memorabilia to the eastern Indiana school. He even donated the 15 Emmy Awards he won as talk show host.

Moreover, Letterman also donated his  Kennedy Center Honor medal from 2012 and signed photos of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama from their “Late Show” appearances.

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David Letterman | TV Shows, Movies, Investments, Endorsements and Book

TV Shows

The comedian started the talk show in 1980 with a morning show on NBC, but the network canceled it after only a few weeks.

Late Night with David Letterman, which premiered in early 1982, was far more popular, keeping him on television screens for more than 33 years.

Likewise, Letterman made his television debut in the pilot episode of the short-lived 1986 series Coach Toast.

On Bonnie Hunt’s 1990s sitcom The Building, he appeared with a bag over his head like a visitor.

Currently, Letterman hosts ‘My Next Guest’ on Netflix.

Letterman’s shows have gotten 112 nominations and 16 wins in 33 years.

Movies

David Letterman has also experimented in the film industry, making multiple appearances on the big screen.

The incredible TV host made his film debut with Cabin Boy, released in 1994.

In addition, he has starred in Peeping Times, The Building, Fast Friends, and Mork and Mindy.

Investments

Letterman is not only the presenter of The Late Show, but he also owns his production company, Worldwide Pants.

In 2010, he launched his record label, Clear Entertainment.

Moreover, he has put a significant amount of money into land and estates.

In addition to his $10 land in New York, David has purchased properties in Martha’s Vineyard, St. Barth’s, and Montana, among other places.

Endorsement

David Letterman’s show drew a slew of sizable endorsement deals. Some of the memorable advertising aired in his show included Good Humor Ice Cream, The Beer Launching Fridge, and Lampshade.

David’s witty yet effective advertisement strategies in his shows attracted more brands.

He’s also been featured in magazines such as TV Guide, Newsweek, and G.Q.

Additionally, David appeared in SuperBowl 2010 commercial alongside Oprah Winfrey and Jay Leno.

David Letterman has become a household name. Through his Instagram account, he also promoted several culinary goods.

BBQ USA and Locanda Verde are two food products he has endorsed.

David Letterman’s net worth as of March 2023 is a staggering $400 million.

Book Publications

David has earlier mentioned that book royalties are one of the best forms of passive income post retirement, and he is indeed enjoying a lot from these royalties.

Some of his best-selling books include Late Night with David Letterman, This Land is Made for You and Me, and An Altogether New Book of Top Ten.

Interacting with a diversity of brains through his programs may have inspired him to pursue a career as an author in his later years.

David Letterman | Career

David Letterman graduated from Ball State University’s Department of Radio and Television and began his broadcasting career at the university’s campus radio station.

Letterman was also a member of the university’s Sigma Chi society.

He began his career as a radio talk show presenter on WXLW in the United States.

Moreover, David worked at WLWI as a news anchor and weatherman, where he was known for his novelty on air.

David quickly established himself as a regular guest on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show since he was able to wow Carson with his bizarre incredible sense of comedy.

David was the host of a late-night television chat program for 33 years, starting in February 1982 and ending in May 2015. Letterman hosted a total of 6,028 Late Night and Late Show episodes.

This iconic TV show host has launched a slew of young comedians to his show, and they all adore him.

In addition to being a great host, David is now a successful investor and entrepreneur.

Interesting Facts About David Letterman

• Letterman auditioned for the part of Ted Stryker along with Bill Murray and Chevy Chase but ended up losing out the part to Robert Hays.
• David never wore the same tie twice on his late show.
• David always throws a pencil at the end of each show, but it has erasers on both ends.

FAQs

Does David Letterman ever have depression?

Letterman has admitted that he has struggled with depression for many years. However, fatherhood was a far more powerful antidote than drugs in changing his bleak outlook on life.

What did David Letterman give Jimmy Kimmel as a gift?

David Letterman sent Kimmel his neckties when he left the Late Show. Jimmy can still be seen wearing those ties in his shows.

Why does Letterman keep his beard?

Letterman is also well-known for his presentable appearance. He used to shave daily. In one of his interviews, David revealed that he is tired of shaving and is growing a beard.

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