Personal Life
Griffin kept many details of his personal and business life private, including his alleged homosexuality, although he was subject to unsuccessful lawsuits by Dance Fever host Deney Terrio, alleging sexual harassment, and by assistant Brent Plott seeking $200 million in palimony. He remained friends with his ex-wife, whom he credited with creating the premise of Jeopardy!. On being wealthy he said that "if people know you're rich they don't talk with you when you walk down the street." He kept his wealth as an open secret, amassing media outlets, hotels and casinos with a net worth widely estimated at more than a billion dollars. Griffin stated he didn't really know his worth because it “would keep me from sleeping at night.” He and former First Lady Nancy Reagan exchanged birthday greetings each July 6, for they shared the same birthday. Griffin was also an honorary pallbearer at the funeral of President Ronald Reagan in 2004. He was friends with both of the Reagans for many years.
Read more about this topic: Merv Griffin
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