DAVID LETTERMAN | $400 MILLION
David Letterman, a fixture in late-night television, hails from Indianapolis, Indiana. He graduated with a diploma from the Department of Television and Radio at Ball State University. Letterman began his career as a weatherman for a local TV station, where his humorous approach to weather reporting caught attention. Encouraged by his distinctive style, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a comedy writer.
While performing stand-up at The Comedy Store, Letterman was discovered by a scout from “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.” Impressed by his talent, Carson frequently invited Letterman to appear as a guest. When Carson retired in 1992, many expected Letterman to be his successor. However, NBC chose Jay Leno instead, leading Letterman to move to CBS where he launched “The Late Show with David Letterman.” This sparked an ongoing ratings battle with Leno. Letterman’s initial three-year contract with CBS paid him $14 million annually. He retired in 2014, and by 2020, he had amassed a net worth of $400 million.
