September 10, 2025

Larry King net worth, life, legacy & wife

AIB (Association for International Broadcasting), CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

If you’re here for the straight answer on Larry King net worth, the most consistently reported figure is about $50 million—that’s the estimate widely cited at the time of his passing on January 23, 2021. Now, a quick but important nuance: the court-probated estate connected to his handwritten 2019 will was reported around $2 million, but that probate filing didn’t include assets held in trusts or jointly—common for someone with a long career and careful planning. In other words, that $2 million was not a full picture of his lifetime wealth.

Quick Facts
Full Name	Lawrence Harvey Zeiger (professionally: Larry King)
Born – Died	Nov 19, 1933 – Jan 23, 2021 (age 87)
Nationality	American
Education	Lafayette High School (Brooklyn)
Occupation	TV & Radio Host, Author
Known For	CNN’s Larry King Live (1985–2010); Larry King Now (Ora TV, 2012–2020); PoliticKING (2013–2020)
Years Active	1957–2021
Spouses	Married 8 times to 7 women (incl. Shawn Southwick, m. 1997; separated 2019)
Children	5 (Larry Jr., Andy†, Chaia†, Chance, Cannon)
Primary Base	Los Angeles, California
Cause of Death	Sepsis (with underlying conditions)
Estimated Net Worth (2021)	~$50 million (widely cited at the time of passing)
Probate Estate (2021)	~$2 million (will dispute noted; trusts/joint assets not included)

Table of Contents

How Larry King Made His Money (Career Snapshot)

The short story: six decades behind the mic. Larry King started in Miami radio in the 1950s, went national on The Larry King Show (Mutual Broadcasting System) in 1978, and then became a nightly ritual on CNN’s Larry King Live from 1985 to 2010. After CNN, he wasn’t done—he co-founded Ora TV and launched Larry King Now and PoliticKING, keeping interviews rolling well into his 80s.

On the money side, think steady (and sometimes very large) TV/radio paychecks, book deals, speaking, and the kinds of syndication/production ownership that reward longevity. You don’t interview presidents, icons, and headline-makers for 25 years without building equity—in the brand and in the bank.

Larry King Biography & Early Life

Born Lawrence Harvey Zeiger in Brooklyn, he grew up the son of Jewish immigrants from what is now Belarus. He famously simplified his on-air name to “Larry King”—snappy, memorable, and perfect for radio. He didn’t have a glossy Ivy League résumé; he had hustle, a bottomless curiosity, and a way of asking the obvious question others were too proud to pose. It worked.

There were bumps—health scares, divorces, even a few business misadventures—but the arc bends toward a staggering output: tens of thousands of interviews, awards on the shelf, and a place in pop culture that’s instantly recognizable (glasses, suspenders, that desk mic).

Larry King Career Highlights

CNN’s Larry King Live (1985–2010): Over 6,000 episodes; the network’s longest-running, most-watched program at its peak. A phone-in format, accessible style, and the biggest gets in politics and entertainment.

National radio: The all-night Mutual Broadcasting call-in juggernaut that made him a household name before TV did.

Ora TV era: Larry King Now and PoliticKING kept his curiosity—and that unmistakable cadence—alive online and on streaming platforms.

Author & cameo king: Books, columns, and a zillion on-screen cameos (often playing himself).

Larry King Net Worth — Where the $50M Estimate Comes From

Let’s unpack the larry king net worth math that lands around $50 million at the time of his death:

Decades of top-tier TV/radio compensation. He anchored prime hours on CNN for 25 years, then extended the franchise digitally.

Ownership & production. Participating in content beyond a host’s salary adds up over time.

Books, live events, endorsements. Not the core engine, but meaningful side streams.

Portfolio effects. A long working life (1957–2021) lets you compound earnings, even with periodic life turbulence.

How We Estimate Larry King Net Worth (and Why It’s Tricky After 2021)

With public figures—especially those who used trusts—there’s a difference between net worth and the probate estate that ends up in court. King’s 2019 handwritten will referenced a roughly $2 million estate to be split among his children; that filing didn’t account for trust-held or jointly titled assets. Many estates route the bulk of wealth outside probate to preserve privacy (and speed).

So we treat $50M as a credible lifetime net-worth benchmark and the $2M probate value as a subset—basically, what needed court handling. Both facts can be true at the same time.

Larry King Personal Life

He married eight times to seven women, and he was open about the messy parts of love and life. Two of his adult children, Andy and Chaia, sadly died in 2020. When he passed in 2021, tributes poured in from every corner—politicians, actors, journalists, and just…fans who grew up with him on in the background. If you ever fell asleep to that soothing cadence, you’re not alone.

His marriages were to: Freda Miller (1952–53; annulled), Annette Kaye (1961), Alene Akins (1961–63; and again 1968–71), Mary “Mickey” Sutphin (1964–67), Sharon Lepore (1976–83), Julie Alexander (1989–92), and Shawn Southwick (1997–2021; estranged, divorce proceedings filed in 2019).

Larry King Social Media Presence

Even after his death, his official pages remain active archives of a career people still search and share. Stats below come from Social Blade (and the official pages where appropriate), captured as of September 2025:

YouTube: 590,000 subscribers (Social Blade)
Instagram: 95,207 followers (Social Blade real-time)
Facebook: 336,375 page likes (Social Blade)

Total social following across these tracked platforms: 1,021,582.
(Notes: Larry’s famed Twitter/X presence isn’t included here; Social Blade’s public dashboards emphasize YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitch.)

FAQs: Larry King Net Worth & Legacy

What was Larry King’s net worth at the time of his passing?

Widely cited estimates place Larry King’s net worth around $50 million at the time of his death in 2021.

Why do some reports mention a ~$2 million estate?

That figure refers to a probate estate tied to a handwritten 2019 will. Probate filings often exclude assets in trusts or jointly titled property, so it doesn’t reflect his full lifetime wealth.

When did Larry King die?

January 23, 2021, at age 87.

What was Larry King’s cause of death?

Sepsis, with underlying conditions noted on official records.

How did Larry King make his money?

Decades of top-tier TV and radio hosting, especially Larry King Live on CNN, plus books, speaking, endorsements, and production/ownership arrangements.

What is Larry King best known for?

Hosting Larry King Live (1985–2010) on CNN and later digital shows like Larry King Now and PoliticKING via Ora TV.

Did Larry King leave a will?

Yes. Reports referenced a 2019 handwritten will connected to a probate estate. There were legal disputes about the will after his death.

How many times was Larry King married?

Eight times to seven women.

How many children did Larry King have?

Five children: Larry Jr., Andy, Chaia, Chance, and Cannon. (Andy and Chaia passed away in 2020.)

Where did Larry King live?

Primarily Los Angeles, California, during his later career years.

Did Larry King still earn money after leaving CNN?

Yes. He co-founded Ora TV and continued hosting digital shows, interviews, and special features, which extended his earnings well after CNN.

Was Larry King a philanthropist?

Yes. He supported various causes over the years, including heart health initiatives following his own cardiac issues.

Is Larry King’s social media still active?

Official pages remain as archives and are occasionally updated by teams or rights holders. His audience still engages with classic clips and tributes.

What’s the best way to think about Larry King’s net worth today?

Treat the ~$50 million figure as a credible lifetime estimate, and the ~$2 million probate number as a legal subset that didn’t include trust or joint assets.