Who Is Barbara Walters Husband
Barbara Walters husband was Merv Griffin, an American television producer and entrepreneur best known for creating Merv Griffin Enterprises. Griffin developed long running TV formats including Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!. He built a media company that produced game shows, talk programs, and music, and he remained a central figure in broadcast entertainment for decades.
Griffin and Walters were married from 1981 until his death in 2007. Their relationship was widely covered in business and entertainment media because of Griffin's role as a producer and owner of multiple TV formats. Walters continued to be identified publicly as his widow in interviews and profiles.
Merv Griffin Net Worth and Business Activities
Merv Griffin's net worth was estimated in the hundreds of millions during his lifetime, driven by royalties from his TV formats and ownership of companies including Merv Griffin Enterprises and Griffin Communications. He also owned the Resorts International hotel and casino company and held significant real estate and media assets. His business activities spanned television production, music publishing, hospitality, and media investment.
Griffin's income came from licensing fees for Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!, which are still produced and distributed globally. He also generated revenue through radio and TV stations, music catalogs, and real estate holdings. His estate and business interests continued to be managed by family and professional advisors after his death.
Merv Griffin Career Highlights and Legacy
Griffin started as a singer and actor before moving into television production and talk hosting. He created The Merv Griffin Show, which aired on NBC and CBS, and later sold his production company to The Coca Cola Company in 1986 for a reported $250 million. He used the proceeds to expand into hotels, casinos, and media, and he continued to develop new TV formats through the 1990s and 2000s.
Griffin's legacy includes two of the most successful game shows in American television history, as well as a portfolio of media and hospitality assets. His work influenced daytime and syndicated TV, and his formats are still licensed and adapted internationally. Walters, as his wife and a leading figure in broadcast journalism, remained connected to his business and media legacy throughout her career.