Gene Shalit had an estimated net worth of $1 million in 2026, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The famous film critic for NBC’s TODAY died on June 12. The news was confirmed by NBC. His family revealed in a statement to the television network that he died peacefully in his sleep. Shalit was a hundred years old.
Originally known as Eugene Shalit, Gene was a famous American journalist, film and book critic, and television personality whom people knew because of his pun-filled reviews. He was also famous for his hairstyle, oversized glasses, and colorful bow ties.
Let’s have a look at Gene Shalit’s net worth and his successful career in television and journalism.
Gene Shalit net worth: A look at his fortune
Gene Shalit had an estimated net worth of $1 million at the time of his death, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The majority of his wealth comes from his long career in broadcasting. He started his journey in the 1960s and officially joined TODAY in 1970 as a contributor. Within a few years of his joining, he became a recognizable movie critic, and viewers loved him for sharing his views on the films in a humorous and fun way.
After three years of his joining, he was also promoted to a full-time entertainment correspondent and movie critic. Besides sharing his thoughts on films, Shalit has also interviewed many well-known celebrities over the years, like Harrison Ford and Oprah Winfrey.
However, the exact amount he used to earn from TODAY is not disclosed as of now. After working there for forty years, Shalit retired in 2010. Given that he worked with the show for four decades, it is believed that a large part of his net worth came from the program.
In addition to his work on TODAY, Shalit also worked for the Twin Cities’ daily newspaper, The Daily Illini, and The Associated Press. The exact amount he earned from these jobs was never disclosed. Shalit was interested in journalism from his early years, and he even reportedly started his school’s first newspaper, named The Spotlight.
The list does not end there, as Shalit also worked for The New York Times, Look, Ladies’ Home Journal, and Seventeen, which contributes to his overall net worth and recognition.
While he was a famous film critic, he was also known in the entertainment industry for being a voice actor. In SpongeBob SquarePants, he voiced Gene Scallop and was also part of the film Tootsie.
He was also an author, known for writing the books Somehow It Works, Laughing Matters: A Celebration of American Humor, and Great Hollywood Wit. Six years after his retirement, he released a book titled Khrushchev’s Top Secret Coloring Book. The earnings from his books also contributed to his overall net worth.
Additionally, Shalit was also featured in popular shows like Family Guy, The Critic, and Saturday Night Live with Jon Lovitz. On top of that, he also appeared on Late Night with David Letterman.
Also Read: Was Gene Shalit married? Looking back at Nancy Lewis and their family before her death from cancer
Edited by Vatsala Chauhan