| Real Name: | Robert William Barker |
| Birthday: | December 12, 1923 |
| Net Worth: | $70 million |
| Height: | 185 cm |
| Occupation: | American Television Game Show Host - Retired, Animal Activist |
Bob Barker is a retired American TV game show host and animal activist. Bob was the host of The Price is Right from 1972 to 2007. That makes him the longest-running daytime game show in North American television history. He also hosted Truth or Consequence from 1956 to 1974. Some sources say his price for the Price is Right was $10 million per year.
As of June 2020, Bob Barker’s fortune is over $70 million. He spends most of his money on animal rights and protection.
Born in Darrington, Washington in 1923, he enlisted in the Navy during World War II. He worked part-time in radio while attending college. And in 1950, he moved to California to pursue a career in broadcasting. The rest, as they say, is history.
Career Summary
Bob worked his first media job at KTTS-FM Radio while attending college in Drury, Springfield. He had a wife at the time. He moved with her to Lake Worth, Florida to work as a news editor at the WWPG 1340 AM radio.
And in 1950, he wanted something bigger. So, he moved to Carolina to pursue a career in broadcasting. He started with his own show, The Bob Barker Show. This show ran for six years from Burbank.
At the time, he got an offer to host the Truth or Consequence Show. He accepted the job on December 31, 1956. He hosted the show until 1974, making him one of the longest hosts of the show.
In 1971, he hosted a pilot for the NBC show Simon Say. He had to interact with a giant computer called Simon in a Let’s make a deal style trades. Sadly, the show didn’t take on. There is, yet, one low-quality clip of the pilot you can find online.
In early 1972, Mark Goodson and Bill Todman wanted to review the Price is Right. Dennis James got the first gig as host. But when CBS expressed interest, they wanted Barker to be the host.
Bob began the CBS revival of the show on September 4, 1972. And on October 15, 1987, he made history. He did something no other host did. He renounced hair dye and wore his hair gray. At the time, this was his natural color.
On October 31, 2006, he announced to the world that he will retire from the show in June 2007. Barker taped the final episode on June 6, 2007. The show aired twice on June 15.
After his retirement, the show continued. He made three return appearances to The Price is Right. He made one in April 2009 to promote his autobiography, once in December 2013 to celebrate his 90th birthday, and in April 2015, for an April Fools’ Day switch.
Net Worth, Salary and Earnings
During the last decade of his tenure on The Price is Right, Bob had an annual salary of $10 million. The Price is Right is among the 60 greatest game shows ever, making it to the Top 5.
A lot of people think that Bob Barker owns the show. But that is not the case. The franchise began in 1956 as a television game show with Bill Cullen as the host. It was then revamped in 1972, with Barker as the host. Since 2007, Drew Carry hosts the program.
With an annual salary of $10 million, it is easy to see how Bob Barker’s fortune is $70 million.
Personal Life
Bob Barker married his high school sweetheart Dorothy Jo Gideon in 1954. They stayed together until she died of cancer in 1981. They had no children.
Bob’s other relationship is with the model Dian Parkinson from The Price is Right. They dated for three years until she filed a lawsuit claiming sexual harassment.
On September 16, 1999, he appeared before Congress regarding HR 2929: the Captive Elephant Accident Prevention Act. While preparing, he experienced clumsiness in his right hand. Barker got diagnosed with a blocked left carotid artery. Three years later, he had two additional crises while taping the 30th season finale of The Price is Right.
He has had several mild bouts with skin cancer. This is a result of his frequent tanning. Bob consults with a dermatologist regularly to make sure they prevent cancers from spreading.
Legal Issues
In 1994, Dian Parkinson filed a lawsuit against Barker citing sexual harassment following their three-year affair. She alleged that she got extorted by threats of firing. Later, she dropped her lawsuit, saying the stress damaged her health.
In 1995, model Holly Hallstrom left the show and filed a lawsuit against Barker for wrongful termination and malicious persecution. She claimed Bob launched a media attack against her, saying she was “disruptive to the working atmosphere of the show”. The lawsuit ended in a settlement in 2005.
Fight for Animal Rights
During his tenure as a host, Barker ended episodes with the phrase “This is Bob Barker reminding you to help control the pet population, have your pets spayed or neutered”. Drew Carey continues this signature sign-off advocating neutering.
He founded the DJ&T foundation in 1994. He named the foundation after his late wife and mother. Barker and his foundation contributed millions of dollars for animal neutering programs and animal rescue. He works closely with Betty White as an advocate for animal rights.
In 2004, he donated $1 million to Columbia University School of Law to support the study of animal rights.
Legacy
Bob Barker is one of the most influential hosts in television history. He is still the longest-tenured host of a TV show.
And he made history with other shows. For example, his show End of the Rainbow made him travel across America and help the not so fortunate ones. This is the premise of many TV shows nowadays as well.
He revolutionized the trends of his time. Barker gave up coloring his hair and let it stay naturally gray silver. After that, many other hosts followed and sported their natural hair color.
And he made history with The Price is Right. It is the first TV game show in history to go from 30 minutes to a full hour, doubling his workload and salary.
The one hour format will bring millions of dollars to Barker. As of June 2020, Bob Barker’s wealth is more than $70 million.
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