Sam Simon’s fortune was reported at about $100 million in 2014, but that figure was not an audited net-worth calculation or a final estate valuation. Simon, who died in 2015, said he planned to give his wealth to charity; available reporting does not establish how much was ultimately distributed.
What was Sam Simon’s net worth?
CBS News described Simon’s fortune as $100 million in November 2014, while reporting on his plan to give it to charity. That is a contemporary reported estimate—not a verified accounting of his assets and debts, and not a probate-based final estate total. The sources available do not establish an audited net-worth figure.
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The Simpsons: Season 1 | $48.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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The Simpsons Movie | $9.69 | Buy on Amazon |
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The Simpsons - The Complete Fourth Season | $52.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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The Simpsons - The Complete Third Season | $63.40 | Buy on Amazon |
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The Simpsons: Season 2 | $44.00 | Buy on Amazon |
Because Simon died on March 8, 2015, at age 59, it is more accurate to discuss the fortune reported during his lifetime than to assign him a current net worth or state a definitive value for his estate. CBS News reported the $100 million figure and his charitable intention in 2014; the Television Academy’s remembrance records his death and career.
How did Sam Simon make his money?
Writing and producing for television
Simon was a writer, producer and early showrunner on The Simpsons. His television career also included work on Taxi and Cheers. His work on the long-running animated series was a major source of the income associated with his reported fortune. The Television Academy’s remembrance summarizes his credits and role on the show, and the Washington Post obituary provides further career context.
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Continuing payments from The Simpsons
In a 2007 CBS News profile, Simon estimated that he made well over $10 million per year from The Simpsons, including continuing payments after he stopped working on the show. CBS reported his explanation that he was paid whenever the show aired around the world. This was Simon’s historical estimate as reported in 2007; it does not establish his income in later years or a lifetime earnings total. Read the CBS News profile.
Did Sam Simon give his fortune to charity?
Simon said he planned to give his fortune to charity. His philanthropic work included animal-welfare efforts and food assistance through the Sam Simon Foundation. A 2015 Los Angeles Times obituary said he planned to donate the bulk of his fortune and described the foundation’s work. “The bulk” does not specify an exact amount, and the reporting cited here does not prove that every dollar of the fortune described in 2014 was ultimately distributed.
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What the reported figures do—and do not—show
| Figure | What it refers to | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| About $100 million | Simon’s reported fortune and charitable-giving plan | CBS News, November 2014; a reported estimate, not an audited net worth or final estate valuation. Source |
| Well over $10 million per year | Simon’s estimate of his annual income from The Simpsons | Reported by CBS News in 2007; historical, attributed to Simon, and not evidence that the amount continued unchanged. Source |
| No verified final estate total | A settled accounting of assets, liabilities or charitable distributions | Not established by the sources cited here. |
These numbers answer different questions: one is a reported estimate of his fortune in 2014, and the other is his estimate of annual show-related income in 2007. Neither supplies a complete accounting of what he owned, owed or ultimately gave away.
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