Jay Leno is one of the most famous television hosts in history. He hosted The Tonight Show from 1992 to 2014, for 4,610 episodes. Fun-fact: he never spent a cent of his Tonight Show salary, only relying on what he made from stand-up.
Jay Leno Net Worth – $350 Million
How Did Jay Leno make his money & wealth
Jay was born as James Douglas Muir Leno was on April 28, 1950 in New Rochelle, New York. His mother was a homemaker, and was originally from Scotland. His father was an insurance salesman, and came from an Italian family. He spent his childhood and adolescence in Andover, Massachusetts and graduated from Andover High School.
Jay studied Speech Therapy at Emerson College. There, he discovered for passion for comedy and created a comedy club. After graduation, Jay started going to comedy clubs and doing stand-up. He then moved to Los Angeles, where he regularly performed stand-up, and wrote for a few TV shows.
Back then, what made a comedian’s career was a good appearance on Johnny Carson’s The Tonight Show. Jay had his first appearance on March 2, 1977. He became more and more popular as a stand-up, and continued to appear on the Tonight Show. He also appeared Late Night with David Letterman.
He made his TV debut in the 1976 episode “J.J. in Trouble” of Good Times, and later that year he appeared in the pilot of Holmes & Yo-Yo. He soon started getting bigger roles. Other movies and TV shows Jay appeared in are American Hot Wax, Silver Bears, Almost Heaven, One Day at a Time, Americathon, Polyester, Alice, and Laverne & Shirley.
By 1987, Johnny Carson, who was in his 60s, wanted a less stressful schedule. So instead of hosting the show 5 nights per week, he only hosted Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Mondays were hosted by a guest host, and Tuesdays were re-runs of old shows, called “Best of Carson.” In 1987, Leno became the exclusive guest host of the Tonight Show. While doing this, he would also do about 300 stand-up shows per year.
In 1992, Johnny Carson retired from the Tonight Show. Many people, including Carson himself, believed the new host should be David Letterman. Letterman had experience, having follow Carson with Late Night with David Letterman from 1982. But NBC chose Jay Leno. This would start the Letterman-Leno rivalry, which lasted for years, and was the subject of the book “Late Shift” and a movie by the same name.
Leno’s Tonight Show didn’t have the greatest ratings at first, but by 1995 it had become the highest rated late night talk show. Every year since then, until his retirement is 2014, Jay Leno’s Tonight Show was the highest rated late-night show on television.
Jay Leno Personal Life & FAQ’s
Is Jay Leno married?
Leno is married to Mavis Leno, a philanthropist and feminist activist. They met in the 70s and got married in 1980. They chose not to have children.
Jay Leno Salary & Annual Earnings in 2016
In 2016, Jay Leno’s earnings is estimated to be $15 Million. Some of this money comes from his current TV show “Jay Leno’s Garage,” but most of it is from his stand-up career(he still does about 200 shows per year). When he still hosted The Tonight Show, his annual salary was considerably higher. In 2002, his salary was $20 million per year. By 2009, it was $30 million.
Jay Leno’s House
Jay Leno lives in Beverly Hills, in 6,399 square feet house. It has 5 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms. It was built in 1978, and Jay bought it in 1987.
Jay Leno’s Cars
Charity, donations and philanthropy
In 2001, Jay and his wife donated $100,000 to stop gender apartheid in Afghanistan. In 2009, Jay donated $100,000 to a scholarship fund at Salem State College. In August 2012, Leno sold his Fiat 500 for $385,000 and he donated the money to help veterans. Other charities Leno has supported are: Bailey’s Café, Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, Entertainment Industry Foundation, Keep Memory Alive, LIVESTRONG, and many more!
Jay Leno’s Accomplishments
For almost 2 decades, he had the highest rated late night show on TV. He also won two Emmy awards.
