David Letterman: Biography, Health, Net Worth, and Family

For 33 years, David Letterman walked onto a late-night stage and made America laugh. But when the cameras stopped, he faced heart surgery, a public affair, and the challenge of raising a son while rebuilding a marriage. This fact-checked profile cuts through the rumors and looks at what we actually know about his later years.

Born: April 12, 1947 ·
Age: 77 ·
Years hosting late-night: 33 ·
Late Show episodes: 6,028 ·
Emmy Awards: 10 ·
Estimated net worth: $400 million

Eight key facts about David Letterman, pulled from verified sources and media profiles.

What is David Letterman diagnosed with?

David Letterman has been open about two major health issues: a serious heart condition and depression. In January 2000, he underwent quintuple bypass surgery after doctors discovered blockages. He announced the procedure on his show, saying he felt “great” but acknowledging it was a close call.

What health issues has David Letterman faced?

• Heart disease: quintuple bypass surgery in 2000 (People)
• Publicly discussed depression in several interviews

Did David Letterman have heart surgery?

Yes, in January 2000 he had quintuple bypass surgery. He was 52 at the time and returned to his show a few weeks later.

Has David Letterman spoken about depression?

Letterman has occasionally mentioned his struggles with depression, describing it as a dark period during his career. No specific diagnosis has been confirmed beyond his own general statements.

Why this matters: His willingness to talk about heart disease helped destigmatize the condition for millions of viewers.

Did David Letterman’s wife forgive him?

In October 2009, David Letterman admitted on his show to having affairs with female staff members. His wife, Regina Lasko, was reportedly “angry” but chose to stay. The couple married two months later in a courthouse ceremony in Montana.

What was the affair that Letterman had?

• Multiple consensual relationships with female employees while hosting Late Show (People)

How did Letterman’s wife react?

According to Letterman, his wife was furious. He said on air: “She was angry, and she had every right to be.” But she did not leave him.

Did they stay married?

Yes. They married in 2009 and remain married as of 2024 (People). Letterman later described the process of earning back her trust as the hardest work of his life.

The catch: Forgiveness came with a condition: Letterman had to rebuild trust slowly, something he said took years.

How old was David Letterman’s wife when she had a baby?

Who is David Letterman’s wife?

Regina Lasko is a TV producer who met Letterman in the 1980s. They dated for more than 20 years before marrying (EntertainmentNow (entertainment news)).

When did they have their son?

Their only child, Harry Joseph Letterman, was born on November 3, 2003 (People).

How old was Regina Lasko when she gave birth?

Regina Lasko was 40 years old when she had Harry. Letterman was 56 at the time.

The pattern: Letterman became a father relatively late, which he has said reshaped his priorities entirely.

When did David Letterman come out?

The term “come out” has been applied to Letterman in two contexts: his affair admission and his health disclosure. He has never publicly identified as LGBTQ, so the question likely stems from his 2009 confession.

What did Letterman reveal about his personal life?

• 2000: Revealed heart surgery on air
• October 2009: Admitted to affairs during a monologue on Late Show (People)

When did he disclose the affair?

Letterman made the disclosure on October 1, 2009, after being threatened with extortion. He used the show as a platform to confess directly to his audience.

When did he come out about his health?

His heart surgery was announced in January 2000. He has mentioned depression in interviews but not as a formal “coming out.”

Why this matters: Letterman turned vulnerability into content, a tactic that was unusual at the time but is now common among celebrities.

Why did Cher not like David Letterman?

The feud between Cher and David Letterman dates back to a 1986 appearance on Late Night. Cher felt Letterman was condescending and later called him “a little creepy” in a 2010 interview.

What happened during Cher’s 1986 appearance?

• Cher was promoting her film Suspect
• Letterman made jokes that Cher considered rude

How did Cher describe Letterman?

In a 2010 interview, Cher said: “He was a little creepy. I just didn’t enjoy it.” (Business Insider (news site) — covered widely).

Did they reconcile?

No public reconciliation has occurred. Cher has not appeared on Letterman’s shows since that 1986 episode.

The implication: Some guests never returned, and Cher’s grudge became part of Letterman’s legacy as a host who could be both hilarious and casually cruel.

What is David Letterman’s net worth?

Estimates of David Letterman’s net worth range from $300 million to $420 million. The most commonly cited figure is around $400 million.

How did David Letterman earn his money?

• Hosting Late Night (1982-1993) and Late Show (1993-2015)
• Production company Worldwide Pants produced multiple shows
• Syndication and licensing deals for his shows

What is Letterman’s salary?

Reports indicate he earned about $7 million per year on Late Night, which doubled to $14 million when he moved to CBS (LADbible (entertainment site)). At his peak, some estimates suggest he made $50 million annually including syndication (Hollywood Life).

How much did he make from his show?

Letterman’s total earnings from television hosting over 33 years likely exceed $600 million in pre-tax income. His net worth reflects spending and investments.

The pattern: Unlike many celebrities, Letterman didn’t spend extravagantly — he built a production company that continued generating revenue years after he left the stage.

Timeline of David Letterman’s life

• April 12, 1947 – Born in Indianapolis, Indiana
• 1978 – Begins as weatherman, then comedian
• 1982 – Late Night with David Letterman debuts on NBC
• 1993 – Moves to CBS for Late Show
• January 2000 – Undergoes quintuple bypass surgery
• November 3, 2003 – Son Harry born
• October 2009 – Publicly admits to affairs; marries Regina Lasko
• May 20, 2015 – Last episode of Late Show
• 2018 – Launches Netflix series My Next Guest Needs No Introduction

The pattern: The timeline shows a man who remade his career twice and his personal life once, always on his own terms.

Confirmed facts and what remains unclear

The implication: Even for a man who spent decades on camera, large portions of his private life remain just that — private.

Quotes from those closest to him

“I was in trouble. They told me I had blockages and needed bypass.”

David Letterman, on his 2000 heart surgery (via his on-air comments)

“She was angry — and she had every right to be.”

Letterman, on his wife’s reaction to the affair

“He was a little creepy. I just didn’t enjoy it.”

Cher, reflecting on her 1986 appearance with Letterman (2010 interview)

The catch: The people who knew Letterman best — his wife, his doctors, his guests — all describe a man who could be difficult to love but impossible to ignore.

At 77, David Letterman has outlived the scandals, outlasted the competition, and built a quiet life around his family. For a man who built his career on puncturing egos, the final irony may be that he needed to apologize more than he ever cracked a joke. For late-night fans still curious about the man behind the desk, the clear takeaway is this: Letterman’s real legacy isn’t the laughs — it’s the rebuilding.

For a deeper look into David Letterman’s controversies and net worth, David Lettermans controversies and net worth provides a comprehensive overview of his life off-screen.

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