David Letterman Net Worth: Comedian Honored With Mark Twain Award In Washington

The American television host and comedian, David Michael Letterman has acquired an estimated net worth of over $400 million as of April 2017. Comedian Letterman is known for his self-deprecating sense of humor and the groundbreaking shows "Late Night with David Letterman" and "Late Show with David Letterman"

On Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017, Letterman was honored with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center in Washington.

The veteran host who fronted late-night TV for 33 years had an annual salary of $20 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. In the past, Letterman could easily earn $50 million a year in licensing and syndication fees but this earning reduced in the recent years. His production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated, produces and owns the rights to "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson."

Over the years, Letterman used his monetary wealth to become a real estate mogul. He owns a 108-acre estate in Westchester County, New York. He purchased this property for $5 million for 88 acres in 1994 and $5 million for the rest in 2007. He also owns a 2,700-acre ranch near Chateau, Montana; a place on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts; and a house in St. Barts Island, France. He co-owns Rahal Letterman Racing, an Indy Racing League team.

Letterman is a car enthusiast and has an extensive collection. Letterman owns 28 cars and two motorcycles that are parked in a Danbury warehouse at 45A Miry Brook Road next to Danbury Municipal Airport, reported the CT Post in 2012.

According to the report by the CT Post, 10 of Letterman’s cars are Ferraris. Other motor vehicles in Danbury include eight Porsches, four Austin Healeys, two Honda motorcycles, a Chevy pickup and one car each from automakers like Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, MG, Volvo and Pontiac.

Letterman’s total car collection is assessed to be more than $1.2 million according to Danbury’s 2011 grand list of all the motor vehicles in the city. Four of his prized Ferrari cars are the highest-assessed personal cars on Danbury's grand list. According to the CT Post report, the 1968 Ferrari 330 GTS takes top honors at $178,140, followed by the 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO at $157,680, the 1963 Ferrari Lusso at $154,380, and the 1974 Ferrari Daytona at $95,870. The warehouse where the prized possessions are kept covers nearly 37,000 square feet and sits on 3.28 acres.

Letterman is also involved in charities. His private foundation, the American Foundation for Courtesy and Grooming, has donated millions to non-profit organizations like the American Cancer Society, Doctors Without Borders, and Ball State University.

The 70-year-old Letterman, in 2015, retired from his work, but this year he announced his comeback to television in a new talk show series which will premiere on Netflix in 2018.

According to the Gazette Review, Letterman is one of the greatest TV stars of all time by TV Guide. He has accumulated numerous awards all through his career. Some of his accolades include two Daytime Emmy Awards, seven Primetime Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award, among several others. He was honored with the Sagamore of the Wabash Award by Mitch Daniels, the Governor of Indiana in 2007 for his contributions to the state of Indiana. In 2011, he became the first person to receive the Johnny Carson Award for Comedic Excellence.