At 74, Jay Leno Is Preparing For The Future And Has Decided To Allocate A Significant Portion Of His Wealth To His Car Collection, Acknowledging The Inevitability Of Death
Jay Leno’s Final Chapter: A Legacy of Cars and Compassion
After a long career as a prominent late-night television host, Jay Leno, now 74, is preparing for his final farewell. Known for his deep passion for automobiles—which has led to a few life-threatening incidents—Leno is making significant end-of-life preparations, including a generous donation to a car museum.
Even after retiring from his late-night show, Leno continued to indulge in his automotive enthusiasm through “Jay Leno’s Garage,” a web series that aired on NBC.com from 2015 to 2022 and now enjoys success on YouTube with over 3.7 million subscribers. The show highlights his impressive collection of cars and motorcycles.
In November 2022, Leno suffered severe burns in a garage fire in Burbank, California. The fire, caused by gasoline, resulted in serious burns and the loss of his left ear, which has since been reconstructed. Despite this, Leno remained optimistic, stating he needed just a short recovery period.
A few months later, Leno faced another challenge with a motorcycle accident that left him with a broken collarbone, two cracked ribs, and two cracked kneecaps.
Through these trials, Leno’s steadfast love for his wife, Mavis, has been a constant. The couple, married since 1980, share a deep bond. Leno often advises others to marry someone who embodies their ideal self, as he does with Mavis.
Currently, the couple is dealing with a new difficulty. Mavis, now 77, has been diagnosed with rapidly progressing dementia. In April 2024, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge granted Leno conservatorship over Mavis’ estate, recognizing it as necessary for her care.
Documents indicate that Mavis has been experiencing significant cognitive decline. Her neurologist, Dr. Cohen, mentioned that she sometimes does not recognize Leno or recall her own birth date. Despite this, Leno is dedicated to her, providing her with attentive care.
Recently, it has been reported that Leno is organizing his estate to ensure that Mavis and his loved ones are well cared for. Legal documents reveal that Leno’s estate plan includes provisions for Mavis’ continued care and maintaining their home for as long as feasible, with funds allocated for necessary support.
Should Leno pass before Mavis, his estate will be allocated to the Leno Marital Trust, which contains his extensive car and motorcycle collection, valued at over $52 million. After the surviving spouse’s passing, the remaining assets will go to the JDM Foundation, a charity Leno established in 1988, which will use the funds to create a museum for his car collection.
Additionally, Leno has earmarked $7 million for his brother-in-law, Rikki Nicholson, and his nephew, Richard Leno. It is anticipated that the court will approve these estate amendments.
It’s hard to envision a world without Jay Leno. Share this story to extend your best wishes to Leno and Mavis as they navigate this chapter of their lives.