Phil Donahue Leaves Behind a Massive Net Worth From His Contributions to Daytime Talk
Phil's family announced the talk show legend died on Aug. 18, 2024.
Published Aug. 19 2024, 11:30 a.m. ET
Daytime talk show pioneer Phil Donahue died at his Upper East Side home in Manhattan on Aug. 18, 2024, at the age of 88. According to his family, the host and media personality died of a long illness.
During his life, Phil created a daytime format that Oprah Winfrey has said inspired her iconic show's run. He also earned an impressive net worth. Here's what to know.
What was Phil Donahue's net worth at the time of his death?
Phil's net worth was estimated at $150 million. The earnings mostly came from the Cleveland, Ohio native's legendary talk show, The Phil Donahue Show, which first aired on Nov. 6, 1967. According to Celebrity Net Worth, he started the show in Dayton, Ohio after several years of working in broadcast news.
Phil Donahue
Daytime talk show host, Media personality, Writer
Net worth: $150 million
Phil Donahue was a media personality and journalist best known for pioneering the daytime talk show format. His daytime show, The Phil Donahue Show, later called Donahue, earned him 20 Emmys, including 10 for Outstanding Talk Show Host. He was also famously married to his second wife, actress Marlo Thomas, for 44 years until his passing in August 2024.
Birthdate: Dec. 21, 1935
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio
Birth Name: Phillip John Donahue
Marriages: Margaret Cooney (m. 1958, div. 1975), Marlo Thomas (1980)
Father: Phillip Donahue
Mother: Catherine Donahue
Children: Michael Donahue, Kevin Donahue, Daniel Donahue, Mary Rose Donahue, and James Donahue (James died of a ruptured aortic aneurysm in 2014)
The Phil Donahue Show was ahead of its time and covered previously taboo topics like eating disorders, atheism, and LGBTQIA and racial issues. The show earned Phil 20 Emmys, 10 of which included a nod to him as Outstanding Talk Show Host. He continued hosting the show for nearly three decades before ending it in September 1996 after 7,000 episodes. Oprah, who was a long competitor of his, presented him with a Lifetime Achievement Award around the time his show ended.
After The Phil Donahue Show wrapped, Phil briefly retired from the entertainment industry. In 2002, he came out of retirement to host his MSNBC news show, Donahue, where he controversially shared his opposition to the Iraq invasion in 2003. The show lasted only one season and was canceled in February 2003 due to low viewership.
Phil continued sporadically appearing on TV and was revered by daytime hosts who came after him until he died. In May 2024, he received a Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden, further stamping his influence on U.S. pop culture.
After news of Phil's death was announced, Oprah posted a black-and-white photo of her and Phil to social media with a heartfelt caption: "There wouldn’t have been an Oprah Show without Phil Donahue being the first to prove that daytime talk and women watching should be taken seriously. He was a pioneer. I’m glad I got to thank him for it. Rest in peace Phil 🙏🏽🕊️."
