Alex Trebek was a beloved Canadian-American television personality, best known as the iconic host of the long-running quiz show “Jeopardy!” Trebek’s career spanned decades, earning him a place in television history. With his distinctive voice, wit, and intellect, he became a household name and a symbol of knowledge and trivia.
Content of this Article
- Facts About Alex Trebek
- Alex Trebek’s Appearance
- Alex Trebek’s Net Worth
- Alex Trebek’s Personal Life
- Alex Trebek’s Career
- Alex Trebek’s Real Estate
Facts About Alex Trebek
| Nationality | American/Canadian |
| Estimated Net Worth | $75 million |
| Religion | Christian |
| Zodiac Sign | Cancer |
| Birthplace | Sudbury, Ontario |
| Birthday | July 22, 1940 |
Alex Trebek’s Appearance (Height, Hair, Eyes & More)
| Height | 173 cm |
| Weight | 149 lbs |
| Hair Color | Brown/Gray |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Body Type | Slim |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
Alex Trebek’s Net Worth
Alex Trebek (George Alexander Trebek) had a net worth of $75 million when he passed away. He was most famous for hosting the TV quiz show “Jeopardy!” He hosted the show from 1984 until he sadly passed away in November 2020.
Alex Trebek’s Personal Life
In 1974, Alex Trebek tied the knot with broadcaster Elaine Callei, but they had no children. However, Trebek did adopt Callei’s daughter, Nicky. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1981. In 1990, Trebek found love again and married Jean Currivan, a real estate project manager in New York. This time, they had two children together, named Matthew and Emily.
On January 30, 2004, Trebek had a fortunate escape from a serious accident. He had been driving his pickup truck alone on a rural road in Templeton, California, on the Central Coast. He was returning from a family visit at Lake Nacimiento. During his drive, he dozed off at the wheel, which caused his truck to hit a row of mailboxes, launch 45 feet over an embankment, and finally stop against a utility pole in a ditch. Luckily, Trebek wasn’t given a ticket for the incident, and remarkably, he was back to hosting “Jeopardy!” just four days later.
On December 10, 2007, Trebek had a minor heart attack at home. However, he quickly recovered and returned to work in January 2008 as planned. Then, on June 23, 2012, he experienced another mild heart attack. He was able to return to work just the following month. During the winter break of “Jeopardy!” taping on December 15, 2017, Trebek was hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. This hospitalization was due to complications from a fall he had suffered in October of the same year. The fall had caused a subdural hematoma. Trebek underwent surgery the next day to address this issue and remove the blood clots from his brain.
On March 6, 2019, Trebek revealed he had been diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer. Before receiving this diagnosis, he had been dealing with a constant stomach ache, unaware that it was a disease symptom. In March 2020, Trebek shared that he had completed one year of cancer treatment. He acknowledged that the chemotherapy treatments had been tough, sometimes even more challenging than the cancer symptoms. However, he expressed his confidence in surviving another year and emphasized that discontinuing treatment would feel like letting down his family, supporters, and faith in God.
On July 16, 2020, Trebek provided an update on his battle with cancer. He mentioned that although he was still experiencing fatigue, the chemotherapy was showing positive results. In October, Trebek underwent surgery as part of his cancer treatment. He made a courageous return to “Jeopardy!” two weeks after the surgery. However, due to the pain from the surgery, he couldn’t manage his regular workload. As a result, he had to split his typical five-episode taping session over two days. These five episodes turned out to be his final ones.
On October 29, 2020, Trebek recorded his last episode of “Jeopardy!” After that, Ken Jennings stepped in as a substitute host. This was initially intended to be a temporary arrangement while Trebek recuperated from his surgery, which took place on November 8. On that same day, November 8, Trebek passed away at his home in Los Angeles. He was 80 years old and had fought pancreatic cancer for 20 months. After his passing, Trebek was cremated, and his ashes were given to his wife.
Alex Trebek’s Early Life
Alex Trebek was born on July 22, 1940, in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. His parents were George Edward Trebek, a chef who had come to Canada from Ukraine as a child, and Lucille Marie Lagacé, who was of Franco-Ontarian descent. He grew up in a home where French and English were spoken, making it a bilingual household.
Trebek went to a military college but left when they told him to cut his hair. When he was 13 years old, his first job was working as a bellhop at the same hotel where his father was a chef. Trebek then went to Sudbury High School, now called Sudbury Secondary School.
Afterward, he went to the University of Ottawa, where he studied philosophy and earned his degree in 1961. While at the university, he was part of the English Debating Society and aspired to pursue a career in broadcast news.
Alex Trebek’s Career
Before finishing his degree, Alex Trebek began his career in 1961 by working at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). His first hosting gig was on a Canadian music show called “Music Hop” in 1963. In 1966, he hosted a quiz show for high school students called “Reach for the Top.”
From 1967 to 1970, Trebek was a host for CBC, where he introduced classical music programs, including performances by Glenn Gould. He also briefly hosted a weekly skating program during that time. Starting on April 1, 1969, Trebek took on the role of hosting “Strategy,” a weekday afternoon game show. From 1971 to the end of 1972, he hosted “I’m Here Til 9,” the local morning drive radio show on CBC Toronto.
Jeopardy!
Art Fleming was the first host of “Jeopardy!” when it aired on NBC from 1964 to 1979. Then, starting in 1984 until his passing in 2020, Alex Trebek took over as the host of the daily syndicated version. One memorable exception in this long tenure: on April 1, 1997, as an April Fool’s joke, Trebek swapped places with “Wheel of Fortune” host Pat Sajak for a day.
In November 2018, Trebek extended his contract as the show’s host until 2022. In January 2019, he mentioned that his workload, which involved 46 taping sessions yearly, was still manageable despite his age.
Trebek continued to host the show and recorded his last episode on October 29, 2020, with plans to air it on Christmas Day. However, contingency plans were implemented for the scheduled taping on November 9–10, 2020, because he could not participate.
Other Game Shows
In 1973, Alex Trebek moved to the United States and began hosting a new game show called “The Wizard of Odds” on NBC. Just a year later, he became the host of the well-received game show “High Rollers,” created by Merrill Heatter and Bob Quigley. He also hosted a syndicated season of this show. During breaks from “High Rollers,” Trebek took on the role of hosting the short-lived CBS game show called “Double Dare.”
Alex Trebek’s Real Estate
Alex Trebek’s longtime home in Los Angeles was demolished. His daughter, Emily, a real estate agent in Los Angeles, put the property up for sale in January 2022, a little over a year after her father’s passing from pancreatic cancer. The house was sold in May 2022 for $6.45 million, a substantial increase from the $2.15 million Trebek originally paid for in 1991.
This Mediterranean-style mansion, constructed in 1923, was on 1.5 acres in Fryman Estates. It had a generous size of 10,000 square feet and boasted five bedrooms, nine bathrooms, and various lavish living areas.
Inside, you could find a grand two-story entrance with two staircases, a circular lounge area, a stylish gold-and-white wet bar, a media room with a library, and a movie theater. Outside, the property featured a guesthouse, a fountain, and a swimming pool complete with a slide for added enjoyment.
Trebek and his wife, Jean, took a lot of pride in looking after and enhancing the property during their time there. However, after Jean sold the house in January 2022, the new owners acquired demolition permits in February 2023.
Net Worth of Other Notable TV Hosts
Tyra Bankss’ Net Worth
Tyra Banks, an iconic American supermodel and media mogul, has left an enduring imprint on the world of fashion and entertainment. With beginnings in the modeling industry, she not only became a sought-after face for leading brands but also shattered barriers by becoming the first Black woman to grace the cover of GQ and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Banks further expanded her influence by stepping into television as the creator and host of the globally acclaimed “America’s Next Top Model” series and helming her own talk show. Apart from her on-screen successes, Banks ventured into the literary world, penned books, and even founded her cosmetics line. A keen businesswoman with a nose for investments, her forays into real estate and other ventures significantly boosted Tyra Banks’ net worth to an impressive $90 million.
Barbara Walters’ Net Worth
Barbara Walters was a pioneering figure in the field of journalism, best known for her compelling interviews with influential figures from politics, entertainment, and culture. Starting her career at a small advertising agency, Walters made significant strides, breaking barriers for women in media. She became the first female co-host of a U.S. news program and the first female network news anchor. Walters co-hosted “The View” and co-executed the show for 25 years, marking it as a space for diverse female voices to discuss varying viewpoints. Aside from her illustrious career, Walters led a colorful personal life, with her relationships and family forming a significant chapter. Towards the end of her life, she resided in a luxurious New York City apartment, which, after her passing, was listed for sale. Barbara Walters’ net worth was approximately $170 million at the time of her death.