Net Worth Ranker
What Is Tony Griffin’s Net Worth?
Tony Griffin, born on December 8, 1959, in California, is an American actor and writer. His net worth is reported to be $200 million. He is the only son of the late Merv Griffin, a prominent entertainment and business figure, and Julann Wright, who were married from 1958 to 1976.
Tony Griffin’s Career in Entertainment
Tony Griffin’s career in entertainment includes roles in various films and television series. In 1986, at the age of 27, he appeared in the film “Evil Laugh.” The following year, he played a prison guard in Mel Brooks’ comedy “Spaceballs.” In 1993, he had a role in “Aspen Extreme,” followed by appearances in “Iron Will” (1994) and “Dracula: Dead and Loving It” (1995). Further film credits include “Ringer” (1996) and “The Christmas List” (1997).
He also appeared in episodes of the TV series “Coach” and “High Incident,” as well as the shorts “Squint” and “Les Carottes Sont Cuites.” Griffin was also in the 1994 film “Drop Zone,” starring Wesley Snipes and Gary Busey, which grossed $62 million against a budget of $45 million.
In 2000, Tony Griffin wrote the TV movie “Cutaway.” In 2002, he won a Malibu Film Festival Best of the Fest Award for Best Short Film for “Squint.”
Merv Griffin’s Business Empire and its Impact on Tony Griffin’s Net Worth
Merv Griffin’s business ventures significantly influenced Tony Griffin’s financial standing. Merv Griffin was the creator of “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune,” two highly successful game shows. “Jeopardy!”, launched in 1964, featured a unique answer-and-question format and its theme song, “Think!”, generated substantial income. Merv estimated in a 2007 interview that he had earned $70-80 million from “Jeopardy!” theme song royalties alone.
“Wheel of Fortune,” introduced in 1975, became another popular game show. In 1986, Merv Griffin sold the rights to “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune” to The Coca-Cola Company (then owners of Columbia Pictures) for $250 million, while retaining a share of the shows’ profits. This deal contributed significantly to his wealth.
Merv Griffin also invested in real estate, acquiring hotels and resorts, including the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills and Resorts International hotel and casino in Atlantic City. These investments increased his wealth and diversified his business interests. At the time of his death in 2007, Merv Griffin’s net worth was estimated to be around $1 billion, although this figure may be exaggerated.
Estate Lawsuit and Inheritance Details
In August 2009, Tony Griffin filed a lawsuit against the management of his late father’s companies, Merv Griffin Entertainment and The Griffin Group. The lawsuit alleged that the management had mismanaged a portion of the Griffin fortune on “speculative ventures.” The lawsuit revealed that after taxes, debts, donations, and other considerations, Merv Griffin’s assets that were not already in trusts were worth $140 million at the time of his death in 2007.
According to the terms of Merv’s estate, Tony Griffin is entitled to a minimum distribution of $2 million per year. Additionally, if either of Merv’s businesses are sold, Tony is entitled to 60% of the profits.
Real Estate Investments
In 1997, Tony Griffin purchased a home in Malibu for $350,000. He sold this property in 2016 for $3.85 million, demonstrating a significant return on investment. This real estate transaction contributed to Tony Griffin’s overall net worth.
