Richard Simmons Had a Sizable Net Worth Before His Death
Updated July 13 2024, 5:05 p.m. ET
Prior to his death in July of 2024, Richard Simmons had generally stayed out of the spotlight for the past few decades. Once a popular figure who could be seen encouraging thousands of people around the country to stay fit by Sweatin' to the Oldies, he had spent the last several years of his life living a quiet, private life.
Although Richard has passed away, his legacy still lives on. Following the announcement of his death, some people were curious about exactly how much the exercise mogul was worth.
What was Richard Simmons's net worth?
Richard had an estimated net worth of roughly $20 million. That net worth came from decades of exercise training and advocacy, most famously in his series Sweatin' to the Oldies. Those tapes turned Richard into one of the most famous personalities of the 1980s and allowed him to continue advocating for physical fitness for decades to come. Richard earned the majority of his income through those tapes and other partnerships related to his fame.
Richard Simmons
Public Figure/Fitness Guru
Net worth: $20 Million
Richard Simmons is an American fitness personality best known for his exercise tapes, Sweatin' to the Oldies, which were popular in the 1980s. He became widely known through his popularity on TV and for his consumer products, and eventually became an advocate for physical fitness in the world of politics.
Birthdate: July 12, 1948
Birthplace: New Orleans, La.
Birth Name: Milton Teagle Simmons
Father: Leonard Douglas Simmons, Sr.
Mother: Shirley May
A movie about Richard Simmons's life was announced in Januray of 2024.
Although Richard himself was totally uninterested in the spotlight, Hollywood is still very interested in his story, so much so that it was announced that Pauly Shore would be starring in a biopic about the fitness icon.
Following the news, Richard shared an update via Facebook to make it clear that he was in no way involved with this effort.
"Hi Everybody! You may have heard they may be doing a movie about me with Pauly Shore," he wrote in the update. "I have never given my permission for this movie. So don’t believe everything you read."
"I no longer have a manager, and I no longer have a publicist. I just try to live a quiet life and be peaceful," he added, making it crystal clear that he has no interest in reclaiming the spotlight now that he's well into his 70s.
Pauly is reportedly set to play Richard in a short film that will premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. In addition, a full-length film is already underway at Warner Bros.
“I’m really excited about sharing Richard Simmons’s life with the world,” Pauly said in speaking with Variety. “We all need this biopic now more than ever. Simmons represented mental health, getting people in shape and being his authentic silly self!"
