Television personality Matthew Perry, who had never married or had children, passed away tragically on October 28th. He had stated that his father, John Perry, would not inherit his wealth. Perry faced a lifelong struggle with substance abuse. Even bringing alcohol into his father’s home during a period when John was married to someone else.
Matthew Perry had stated that not “a dime” of his money would go to his father
In his memoir, “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing,” Matthew Perry recounted how his stepmother was deeply upset by his actions—leading his father to calmly ask him to leave. Perry, at that moment, silently vowed that neither of them would ever see a dime of his money. “Oh, I’ll leave, but neither of you will ever see a dime of my money, ever, I thought, but I did not say.” Perry died on October 28, 2023. At the age of 54, from an apparent drowning at his Los Angeles home.
An attorney has subsequently provided their perspective on potential beneficiaries of the Hollywood star’s estate
Entertainment lawyer Tre Lovell shared insights on Matthew Perry’s potential heirs three days after his death. Lovell disclosed that Perry and his “Friends” castmates earned $20 million annually in residuals, which continues after an actor’s death.
Lovell revealed that Perry likely designated someone to determine the distribution of his royalties, though it remains uncertain if he had a trust or will in place. Without such arrangements, Lovell suggested that Perry’s fortune could go to his parents, John and Suzanne Morrison, in equal shares. “[Given] the fact that he didn’t have a spouse or children, it would go to his parents, equally.”
Matthew Perry was in the process of enhancing his efforts to support individuals grappling with addiction
“I had a big problem with alcohol and pills and I couldn’t stop,” he told PEOPLE in an exclusive new cover story. “Eventually things got so bad that I couldn’t hide it, and then everybody knew.” After enduring a challenging and prolonged struggle with alcohol and Vicodin addictions, Perry, at the age of 43, ultimately achieved sobriety. “Something clicked,” he said. “You have to want the help.”
Lovell also mentioned Matthew Perry’s probable support for addiction recovery charities, given his personal struggles. Perry openly discussed spending around $9 million on his recovery efforts, went to rehab around 15 times, and transformed his Malibu home into a sober living facility, Perry House.
Before his passing, Perry was actively engaged in broadening his efforts to assist individuals grappling with addiction. Although the extent of progress in establishing the foundation remains unclear at the time of his death, it seems evident that the “17 Again” actor was dedicated to supporting those confronting the same addiction challenges he had faced throughout his life.
Matthew Perry foresaw a positive financial change after landing the role of Chandler Bing in “Friends,” where he and his co-stars earned a million dollars per episode. Perry’s financial success continued with movie offers, such as “Fools Rush In” alongside Salma Hayek. Despite early challenges, Perry embraced sobriety in 2013.
His desire to be remembered for helping others is reflected in a quote featured on his foundation website, established posthumously. Perry aimed to shift the focus from his television success to his dedication to supporting those struggling with addiction.
Matthew Perry revealed the remarkable tale of his survival and underscores why fame did not provide the solution to his challenges
Keep Reading: This Was Matthew Perry’s Last Time Seen In Public, Plus The Actor’s Eerie Final Post
Sources
- “Matthew Perry’s Death: What Happens to His ‘Friends’ Fortune.” ET Online. Zach Seemayer. October 31, 2023
- “Matthew Perry Opens Up about Getting Sober – and Helping Others Battle Addiction.” People. Monica Rizzo. July 2, 2013