Hugh Malcolm Downs was born on 14 February 1921, in Akron, Ohio USA, to Edith and Milton Howard Downs. He is a retired broadcaster, television host, news anchor and TV producer, plus author and music composer, but best known for hosting the News program “Today”, the game show “Concentration” and the news magazine “20/20”.
So just how wealthy is Hugh Downs? Sources state that Downs has established a net worth over $20 million, as of mid-2017, earned during his career in television which spanned more than five decades, as well as through his various publications.
Hugh Downs Net Worth $20 million
Downs grew up in Ohio, where he attended Lima Shawnee High School and Bluffton College. He then enrolled at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, graduating in 1941, and later attended Columbia University in New York City, followed by a gerontology postgraduate degree from Hunter College at the City University of New York.
His broadcasting career started on the radio, becoming an announcer and program director at Lima’s station WLOK during his years at Wayne State. Prior to his graduation, he moved on to WWJ in Detroit. His civilian career was interrupted when in 1943 he enlisted in the US Army to serve in World War II. After war, he became an announcer at NBC radio network at WMAQ in Chicago, Illinois. His wealth began to increase.
Downs’ foray into television came in the mid ’40s, working at the WBKB-TV station, todays WBBM-TV. In 1950 he began announcing for the popular TV soap opera “Hawkins Falls”, after which he served as an announcer for various projects, including the children’s show “Kukla, Fran and Ollie”. His net worth further grew.
In the mid-’50s, Downs relocated to New York City, becoming the announcer for the NBC daytime TV program “The Home Show”. He also announced for the network’s comedy program “Caesar’s Hour”, and one of NBC Radio’s Monitor “Communicators” during this time. In 1957 he began announcing for “The Tonight Show”, holding the position until 1962.
Meanwhile in 1958, Downs became the host of the game show “Concentration”, the position he would hold for the next ten years, making him extremely popular and significantly improving his wealth. In 1962 he began co-hosting the NBC “Today Show”, reinforcing his fame and increasing his fortune. He remained on “Today Show” for nine years, until 1971.
In the mid-’70s Downs co-hosted the syndicated television program “Not for Women Only” with Barbara Walters, then in 1977 he became host of the PBS television program “Over Easy”, a position he held until 1983. All contributed to his net worth.
In the meantime, Downs became an anchor of the ABC news television program “20/20” with Walters in 1978, remaining on the show until his retirement in 1999. His long tenure earned him an Emmy Award, and secured him a firm spot in TV stardom. It also enabled him to earn a significant net worth.
Aside from his career on television, Downs is also a published composer, who also hosted the PBS showcase for classical music called “Live from Lincoln Center” during the ’90s. He has been involved in producing too, serving as executive producer of the documentary “Nothing by Chance”.
He has also authored a number of books, including his autobiography “Yours Truly”, an anthology of articles “Rings Around Tomorrow” and a collection of essays “Fifty to Forever”, to name a few. His involvement in these diverse projects improved his wealth too.
In addition, Downs had pursued an acting career, appearing in TV series such as “Family Guy”, as well as landing parts in films such as “A Global Affair”, “Oh God, Book II” and “Someone Like You”, expanding his talents and increasing his fortune.
Downs’ celebrated career has brought him enormous fame, as well as a number of honors and accolades, such as being certified by the Guinness Book of World Records for holding the record for the greatest number of hours on network commercial television, as well as induction into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame.
In his personal life, Downs has been married to Ruth Shaheen since 1944. The couple has two children. A devoted philanthropist, Downs served as a special consultant to the United Nations for refugee issues during the ’60s and as Chairman of the Board of the United States Committee for UNICEF.
