Bob Barker, 99, Who Lived Alone with Reported $70M Wealth, Won’t Have a Funeral or Memorial Service

• During his final days, the late Bob Barker lived alone but his longtime partner would check on him every day.
• Reports stipulated that the famous game show host died with an estimated fortune of $70 million.
• Barker won't be having a funeral or a memorial service.

Legendary and iconic TV host and animal rights advocate Bob Barker, best known for his role as the charismatic host of the popular game show "The Price Is Right," tragically passed away a few days ago. As confirmed by one of his representatives, Barker died at 99 in his Los Angeles home on Saturday.

Although, over the years, Barker battled challenging health ailments, such as skin cancer and severe fall injuries, media outlets reported that he passed away peacefully and of natural causes.

Bob Barker Built an Incredible Legacy and Garnered a Massive Fortune

Throughout his life, Barker built quite an illustrious career. In addition to hosting various shows before "The Price Is Right," he also starred in Hollywood films and series alongside the great likes of Adam Sandler and Neil Patrick Harris.

Over the course of his record-breaking 5-decade-long career in broadcasting, Barker managed to garner a wealthy net worth of $70 million. During his time on "The Price Is Right," his annual salary from the final year he hosted the show amounted to $10 million.

The beloved late star also held the title of having the world's longest-standing talk show career. Barker acquired his start in broadcasting back in 1956 with his first hosting gig on "Truth or Consequences," which he hosted until 1975.

With a whopping fortune as grand as his, Barker decided to donate significant amounts of his career proceeds to noble causes. One such cause that aligned with his passion and remained close to his heart until his demise was animal rights initiatives. One of his donations in 2010 amounted to a total of $5 million to the Sea Shepherd Society.

With the money, the group of activists purchased a ship used to locate and prohibit Japanese whaling boats, which they named "MY Bob Barker" to honor the game show host. The initiative was so important to him that he would sign off every "The Price Is Right" episode with a special plea. Barker would urge his viewers to do their part in controlling the pet population by spaying and/or neutering their pets.

In place of a funeral, Neal shared that Barker will be buried alongside Gideon at Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery in Hollywood Hills.

Another animal rights organization that Barker heavily supported was PETA. Their building, which houses their headquarters in Los Angeles, is named after the iconic TV host, who helped build it by donating $2.5 million. Naturally, when news of Barker's passing broke, PETA honored him and sang his praises concerning all the work he did:

"To us—and to so many animals around the world—Bob will always be a national animal rights treasure."

Additionally, in 2014, the "Truth or Consequences" host helped relocate three elephants from a zoo in Toronto to a Californian sanctuary by paying $700,000 to help with costs. Having wanted to further his efforts to help animals, Barker also paid a whopping $1 million endowment to the law school of Georgetown University to include a study program on animal rights.

Bob Barker's Relationships, Final Days, and Why He Won't Have a Funeral or Memorial

Outside of his incredible social activism work, Barker was also a beloved husband and (later on) partner and companion. Barker's first and only wife, Dorothy Jo Gideon, sadly passed away in 1981 after the two were married for over 30 years.

Gideon and Barker began as high school sweethearts and became inseparable ever since. They had no children together, and Barker chose not to remarry after she passed. Barker once called Gideon the most treasured possession of his life, and of their first encounter, he recalled:

"...There was a deck of cards there. She reached into the deck and pulled out the 10 of spades and she said, 'Here, this will be your luck.' And I've had this for 60 years and on the other side is Dorothy Jo."

Later in life, Barker met his longtime partner, Nancy Burnet, who cared for him until the end despite him living alone. Speaking of Barker's health during his final days, Burnet disclosed:

"I was in touch with the caregiver nurses every day, all day, and they checked in with me at night, if there was a problem and I was speaking with them until late...It was my pleasure to do it. To make sure that he was cared for in a way that everybody should be, frankly, but not everyone has that benefit that he did."

Apart from his family and doting partner, Barker was beloved by many around the world. Both his fans and fellow titans in the showbiz industry continue to extend their tributes and dedications honoring him and acknowledging the incredible impact his career and life had on the entertainment industry.

Thus, it may come as a surprise that Barker will not have a funeral or memorial service. Media outlets confirmed this to be the case via Barker's TV representative, Roger Neal, who revealed that the decision not to have a funeral service was a request made by the TV host himself.

In place of a funeral, Neal shared that Barker will be buried alongside Gideon at Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery in Hollywood Hills. Neal, who worked as Barker's publicist from 1987 until 1994, and again in 2020, also released an official statement confirming the tragic news of Barker's death.

Barker is missed by many around the world. We extend our condolences to his loved ones and longtime partner, Nancy Burnet, who cared for him until his end.