In an era of ever-increasing celebrity net worth, it’s easy to overlook Bob Barker. But the American game show host and TV personality has amassed a considerable fortune over his impressive career.
For game show fans, the name Bob Barker is almost synonymous with success. The former host of “The Price Is Right” has had a long and successful career as an actor, game show host, and TV personality. What’s even more impressive than his range of careers is his net worth.
But, how much is Bob Barker’s net worth?
Read on as we break down Bob Barker net worth, his career achievements, and all the details of his impressive financial portfolio.
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Early Life and Education
Robert William Barker was born in Washington D.C., on December 12, 1923. A basketball and football player in high school, he attended Drury College on a basketball scholarship.
He would cut short and joined the US Navy during WW2 as a fighter pilot. Barker was awarded the Air Medal and two Gold Stars in recognition of his service.
Following his tenure in the Navy, Bob pursued a degree at Drury University and graduated in 1947 with a bachelor’s degree. It would be here that he met Dorothy Jo Gideon, whom he later married on August 23, 1945.
After college, he moved to Los Angeles and began his career in entertainment. He started out as a radio announcer for the local CBS station and eventually moved up to the network level, hosting his own program on NBC radio.
Career Achievements
Back in college, Bob would balance working for the local radio stations with hosting a local quiz show. He started out in the 1950s and quickly rose to fame as a game show host hosting “Truth or Consequences”, which he remained on for eighteen years with success. It would be this show, “Truth or Consequences” that caught the attention of producer Ralph Edwards.
Edwards was looking for someone to host his new game show, “The Price Is Right” and it wouldn’t take him long to find his man in Barker. In 1972, he took the helm of “The Price Is Right” replacing its original host, Dennis James, and quickly made it one of America’s most popular game shows.
He went on to host this program for an incredible 35 years, making him one of the longest-running game show hosts in television history. In total, Bob Barker has been credited with hosting over 6500 episodes of The Price Is Right.
Not content with television success, Bob also ventured into other areas, hosting his own radio show for six years and appearing in films such as “Happy Gilmore”, “Caddyshack II” and “How I Met Your Mother”.
Bob also hosted the game show, “Family Feud” and occasional appearances on other shows. Additionally, Barker was involved in a variety of commercials and hosted several award shows.
Throughout his impressive career, Bob has won 19 Emmy Awards and was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1999. He’s also been involved in several charitable organizations and campaigns. He is also well known for his work in animal rights, campaigning to reduce the pet population and helping to get animal welfare laws passed.
He retired from television in 2007 after hosting his last episode of “The Price Is Right” and was succeeded by Drew Carey.
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Bob Barker Net Worth
In addition to his impressive career achievements, Bob Barker’s net worth is also something to be admired. Despite his advancing age, Barker still remains one of the most successful game show hosts in history and is estimated to have a net worth of $70 million.
This fortune is believed to be largely generated from his long-standing record as the host of The Price Is Right, which earned him an impressive $10 million per year. He also amassed a sizable fortune from his appearances in films, commercials, and radio.
He has donated large sums to animal charities throughout the years, as well as to several educational institutions.
Personal Life
Bob Barker married Dorothy Jo Gideon in 1945, and for over 30 years before her passing in 1981. The couple had no children.
Since his retirement, Bob has continued to remain involved in animal welfare. He is a co-founder of the DJ&T Foundation, which provides grants for spay and neuter programs throughout North America.
Barker has since moved back to his hometown of Missouri and spends most of his time there with his granddaughter Jennifer Edwards. In his free time, Bob enjoys playing golf and spending time with his family. He remains active within the entertainment industry and at 98 years old still enjoys playing golf whenever he can.
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Law Suits
Bob Barker had a longstanding lawsuit with different models that appeared on the show, Dian Parkinson and Holly Holstrom. Dian alleged sexual harassment and Holly alleged wrongful termination from the show. Dian would later drop her suit and Barker would settle with Holstrom out of court in 2017.
He also had a lawsuit with a CBS employee in 2007, which was later dismissed in 2009 and confirmed by the California Appeals Court in 2012.
Despite these legal issues, Bob Barker has remained one of the most iconic and successful game show hosts of all time with an impressive net worth. His career spanning over 70 years is a testament to his talent and hard work as well as his dedication to improving animal welfare laws around the world.
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Final Thoughts
Bob Barker is one of the most recognizable figures in American television history, with an impressive net worth of $70 million. His career as a game show host led to immense success, with The Price is Right being his most notable accomplishment.
Throughout his impressive career, Barker was awarded 19 Emmy Awards and was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1999. He has also been deeply involved in animal welfare campaigns, donating large sums to animal charities and helping to get animal welfare laws passed.
It is clear that Bob Barker was not just a successful game show host, but someone who has dedicated his life to making the world a better place. His impact on television history and his net worth are both something to be admired and respected.
