Richard Simmons Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What was Richard Simmons’ net worth?

At the time of his passing, Richard Simmons, an American fitness personality and actor, had a net worth of $20 million. He is best known for his “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” fitness series and his vibrant personality. A strong advocate for health, he made numerous appearances on talk shows and programs to promote fitness and healthy living.

In February 2014, Richard withdrew from public life. There were rumors in 2016 that he was being held captive by a housekeeper, which he denied. Following these claims, police conducted a wellness check and found no evidence of any wrongdoing.

Early Life

Born Milton Teagle “Richard” Simmons on July 12, 1948, in New Orleans, Louisiana, he was the son of Leonard Douglas Simmons Sr. and Shirley May. Growing up in the French Quarter of New Orleans likely shaped his lively and colorful personality. His family was involved in show business, with his father working as a master of ceremonies and his mother as a traveling fan dancer. Over time, his father shifted to working in thrift stores while his mother became a cosmetics saleswoman. Richard has an older brother, Leonard Jr. From an early age, Simmons struggled with overeating, becoming overweight by age four. By the time he was five, he became aware of how others viewed him negatively due to his weight, and at 15, he weighed 182 pounds while attending Brother Martin High School.

Richard initially attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette before transferring to Florida State University, where he earned a BA in Art. He eventually reached a peak weight of 268 pounds, standing at 5′ 6″.

Career

In the 1970s, Richard Simmons relocated to Los Angeles, where he began working as the Maître d’hotel at Derek’s, a Beverly Hills restaurant. His move to L.A. sparked his interest in fitness. Through healthy eating and exercise, he lost 123 pounds and subsequently opened his own exercise studio that emphasized healthy eating, portion control, and fun exercise in a welcoming environment. Each week, he led aerobics and motivational classes at his Beverly Hills studio, which uniquely catered to overweight individuals, a rarity both then and now in Los Angeles. In November 2016, he unexpectedly closed his fitness studio.

Simmons featured in a segment of the news program Real People, showcasing clients who lost significant weight under his guidance at his gym. His rising media presence led to appearances on several game shows, such as Match Game, Price Is Right, $25,000 Pyramid, and Hollywood Squares. This exposure eventually resulted in a recurring role as himself on General Hospital, where he appeared for four years.

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Simmons became a ubiquitous figure, teaching exercise classes in shopping malls nationwide and hosting the television show Slim Cookin’ as well as the Emmy Award-winning The Richard Simmons Show.

He also made guest appearances as himself on various TV series, including Saturday Night Live, The Larry Sanders Show, and the Arrested Development episode titled “Bringing Up Buster.” In late 2007, he portrayed a conditioning coach in a comedic “This is SportsCenter” commercial on ESPN. Additionally, Simmons hosted a two-year radio show on Sirius Stars called Lighten Up with Richard Simmons, which aired from 2006 to 2008.

In 2010, Simmons claimed that he had maintained his impressive 100+ pound weight loss for 42 years, had been assisting others in their weight loss journeys for 35 years, and estimated that throughout his fitness career, he had helped people collectively lose around 12 million pounds. He embraced the internet as a platform for outreach, running his own membership-based.

also operates a website and maintains official pages across several social networking platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and YouTube.

Disappearance from Public Life

The public life of Richard Simmons has nearly vanished. His last significant appearance occurred in early 2014. In 2016, rumors and conspiracy theories regarding his absence began to emerge, with claims he was being held hostage by his housekeeper. However, Simmons promptly dismissed those claims during an audio interview with the Today Show on March 14, 2016. Later that November, without any indication from its famous owner, his popular and long-established gym abruptly closed. Consequently, the podcast Missing Richard Simmons launched in February 2017 to investigate the reasons behind his sudden retreat from public life.

In March 2017, a welfare check was conducted by the LAPD on Simmons, who confirmed that the well-known fitness expert was okay. Following a hospitalization for severe indigestion in April 2017, Simmons made his first public statement in over a year by sharing a photo of himself on Facebook along with the message “I’m not ‘missing,’ just a little under the weather.” Unfortunately, fans quickly deduced that the image he posted was actually from 2013, fueling rumors that the post may not have come directly from Simmons himself.

Both Simmons and his publicist have insisted that the worries surrounding his disappearance are unfounded and that he has simply opted for a more private life.

Reappearance on Social Media

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Simmons made a comeback on his YouTube channel to assist people in staying fit while at home. However, the available videos are older, lacking any new footage of Simmons, which has led to further speculation regarding who is specifically uploading these clips.

Additionally, he published a calendar for 2019 and continues to manage a newsletter, suggesting he is not entirely absent in a literal sense.

Personal Life

Recognized for his vibrant and friendly personality, Simmons possesses a remarkable ability to put people at ease while inspiring them to embark on their weight loss journeys, contributing to his immense success. His signature style has been brightly colored, striped Dolphin shorts paired with tank tops adorned with Swarovski crystals over the years.

In a 2008 interview with the Tampa Bay Times, he revealed that he chose the name Richard to honor his uncle, who financed his college education.

Real Estate

In 1982, Richard

A home in the Hollywood Hills was purchased for $670,000. Built in 1937, this colonial-style residence showcases Corinthian-style pillars at its entrance. Spanning 4,119 square feet on a 24,400-square-foot lot, the two-story property features four bedrooms, five bathrooms, and a backyard with a black bottom pool. Currently, its value ranges between $6-8 million.