What was Bob Barker's Net Worth and Salary?
Bob Barker, a revered American TV game show host and animal rights activist, left behind a net worth of $0 at the time of his passing on August 26, 2023, at the age of 99. Initially, his wealth peaked at $70 million, with at least $30 million known to be donated to various animal charities. Fulfilling his vow to "die broke," Bob's generosity included a significant $2.5 million contribution to PETA in 2012 and $25 million to establish the DJ&T Foundation, dedicated to spaying and neutering services. A $5 million donation to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society funded the anti-whaling ship "S.S. Bob Barker".
Bob Barker is best remembered as the longest-running host of the game show "The Price Is Right," which he led from 1972 to 2007. His impact was profound, earning him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the 1995 Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award, and the title of Greatest Game Show Host of All-Time by Time magazine. Before "The Price Is Right," he hosted "Truth or Consequences" from 1956 to 1974.
Barker's warm and engaging hosting style made "The Price Is Right" a cultural phenomenon. Under his direction, the show won several Daytime Emmy Awards, and Barker himself garnered 19 Daytime Emmys throughout his career.
Mark Davis/Getty Images
Early Life
Robert William Barker was born on December 12, 1923, in Darrington, Washington. Raised primarily on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in Mission, South Dakota, Barker is listed as an official member of the Sioux tribe. His mother was a school teacher, and his father an electrical high-line foreman.
Barker secured a basketball scholarship to Drury College (now Drury University) in Missouri and joined the Sigma Nu fraternity. He served as a fighter pilot in the US Navy during World War II, although he wasn't deployed before the war ended. Barker returned to college post-war and earned a degree in economics.
Career
Barker started working at KTTS-FM radio station in Springfield during college, later moving to Florida to work as a news editor and announcer at WWPG 1340 AM in Palm Beach. In 1950, he relocated to California, hosting "The Bob Barker Show" on radio for six years. His break into television came when game show producer Ralph Edwards discovered him, leading to his role as the host of "Truth or Consequences" from 1956 to 1974.
In 1972, Barker began his tenure as the host of the modernized version of "The Price Is Right" on CBS, a position he held until his retirement in 2007. Barker's last episode aired on June 15, 2007, after taping earlier that month. Following retirement, Barker returned to the show for special appearances, including promoting his autobiography, celebrating his 90th birthday, and a playful April Fools' Day episode in 2015.
Price is Right Salary
During the final decade of his career, Barker's annual salary for "The Price Is Right" was $10 million.
(Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images)
Other Work
Barker's unforgettable cameo in the movie "Happy Gilmore" (1996) alongside Adam Sandler featured a comedic fistfight on a golf course. Besides his film appearance, Barker and his wife, Dorothy Jo, were panelists on game shows like "Tattletales" and "Match Game." Barker also appeared on talk shows such as "Dinah!", "Larry King Live," "The Arsenio Hall Show," and "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." He voiced Bob Barnacle on Nickelodeon's "SpongeBob SquarePants" and starred in commercials for State Farm Insurance.
Barker's autobiography, "Priceless Memories," released on April 6, 2009, encapsulates stories from his 50-year television career and personal anecdotes from his early life, co-authored by Digby Diehl.
Personal Life
Barker married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Jo Gideon, from 1945 until her death in 1981. Although never remarried, he has had relationships, including a notable three-year affair with Dian Parkinson. His long-time companion, Nancy Burnet, has been with him for nearly 40 years. They resided in a Spanish Colonial-style home in California, valued at around $2.3 million.
In his honor, the "Bob Barker Studio" at CBS Television City was named.
Real Estate
For half a century, Barker lived in the same Hollywood Hills home, listed for sale by his estate in March 2024 for just under $3 million. Following renovations, the property sold in April 2024 for $3.8 million. A video tour from September 2021 shows the property before listing.
Animal Activism
Even after retiring, Barker remained a staunch advocate for animal rights, famously ending each show with a call for pet owners to spay or neuter their pets. He actively protested against circuses for animal cruelty.
In 2010, Barker donated $5 million to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society to purchase the "MY Bob Barker," used to disrupt illegal whaling. Additionally, he supported PETA with a $2.5 million donation for their Los Angeles headquarters, now named "Bob Barker Building." In 2014, Barker spent $700,000 relocating three elephants from a Toronto zoo to a California wildlife preserve:
S.S. Bob Barker (WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)
