Matthew Perry’s Estate: Who Will Inherit His Fortune?

Matthew Perry passed away on October 28, 2023, at 54, sparking speculation about his estate. Despite his Hollywood success, he made it clear that his father, John Perry, would never inherit his money.

Perry’s Struggles and Family Tensions

Throughout his life, Perry battled substance abuse. At one point, he brought alcohol into his father’s home, where his stepmother also lived. The situation disturbed her so much that his father politely asked him to leave.

Recalling that moment in his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, Perry wrote:

“Oh, I’ll leave, but neither of you will ever see a dime of my money, ever, I thought, but I did not say.”

Lawyer Weighs In on Perry’s Wealth

Entertainment lawyer Tre Lovell spoke about Perry’s financial legacy three days after his passing. He highlighted the actor’s lucrative earnings from Friends, where Perry and his co-stars—Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, and Matt LeBlanc—earned $1 million per episode by the final season.

Lovell estimated that Perry continued earning around $20 million annually in residuals. Since royalties remain an “obligation” even after death, a designated beneficiary will now control these earnings. However, it remains unclear whether Perry established a trust or a will to dictate his estate’s distribution.

If he left no legal directives, Lovell explained, Perry’s assets would likely go to his parents.

A Legacy Beyond Hollywood

Beyond acting, Perry devoted himself to helping others overcome addiction. He once revealed spending $9 million on his own recovery and later converted his Malibu beach house into a men’s sober living facility called Perry House.

He also foresaw his financial future shifting after landing Friends, realizing he would never go broke despite his addiction struggles. His success led to million-dollar film roles, including Fools Rush In alongside Salma Hayek.

Perry’s True Legacy: Helping Others

Despite his fame, Perry didn’t want Friends to define his legacy. Instead, he hoped to be remembered for his efforts to help others. His words, “When I die, I don’t want Friends to be the first thing that’s mentioned – I want helping others to be the first thing that’s mentioned,” now appear on the website of the foundation created in his honor.