After decades of holding the spotlightย as the host of lateย nightย TV,ย Jay Leno is preparing for his final curtain call.
The 74-year-old auto enthusiast is making end of life arrangements and leaving behind a chunk of cash to a museum that honors cars, a passion that almost killed him twice.
Keep reading to learn what the comedian is planning!
After leaving behind his successful career as the host of late-night talk shows, Jay Leno launched a web series on nbc.com (2015 to 2022) about cars.
Jay Lenoโs Garage, now appearing to more than 3.7 million subscribers on YouTube, allows the comedian to share his passion for cars and bikes with his audience.
In November 2022, the formerย Tonight Showย host was badly burned when a fire broke out in his Burbank, California garage.
โI got some serious burns from a gasoline fire.โ Leno toldย Varietyย at the time โI am OK. Just need a week or two to get back on my feet.โ
According to reports, the now 74-year-old man was working under a car when the fire sparked. He suffered third degree burns on his face and got a new left ear after losing his first one to the fire.
Unfortunately, his luck didnโt get any better.
Only two months after the fire, he suffered a broken collarbone, two cracked ribs and two cracked kneecaps in a motorcycle accident.
โTreats Mavis like goldโ
Despite his body breaking down with aging, passion-related accidents and high cholesterol, the one thing that holds strong in his life is his love for Mavis, who he married in 1980.
โI always tell guys when they meet a woman, โMarry your conscience. Marry someone whoโs the person you wish you could be and it works out okay.โ Leno tellsย Peopleย of his enduring love with Mavis, now 77.
After 45 years together, the childless couple started facing some hardships.
Mavis was diagnosed with dementia and her condition is rapidly declining.
In April 2024, Leno was granted a conservatorship over his wifeโs estate by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge who ruled the measure was โnecessary and appropriate.โ
According to court documents obtained byย Entertainment Tonight, โMavis has been progressively losing capacity and orientation to space and time for several years.โ
The filing also says and โJay is fully capable of continuing support for Mavisโ physical and financial needs, as he has throughout their marriage,โ but her โcurrent condition renders her incapable of executing the estate plan.โ
Included in the documents is a statement from her neurologist Dr. Cohen: โSometimes [Mavis] does not know her husband, Jay, nor her date of birth.โ
Cohen, Mavisโ attending doctor at Cedars Sinai, addsย that Leno โloves his wife very muchโ and โtreats [Mavis] like gold.โ
โNo one lives foreverโ
Only months later,ย In Touchย reports that Leno is now preparing for his own death, making end-of-life arrangements so his fortunes are delivered to the rightful beneficiaries.
The filing reads: โNo one lives forever, and the actions taken by Mr. Leno are reasonable and necessary for his and Mavisโ protection. Mavis does not object to the petition and in my opinion consents to it. Mr. Leno is her protector, and she trusts him. This estate planning is in her best interest and protects her interests.โ
Lenoโs latest filing details provisions for Mavisโ care and discloses that the couple intends to stay in their home โfor as long as reasonably possible,โ using their money for โassistance from household employees or caregivers as may be necessary.โ
If Leno dies first, โthe estate will divide into the Leno Marital Trustโฆit will have the Leno Collection and any real property housing Leno Collection. It will be irrevocable, and the survivor receives all income, plus principal for reasonable support. After the survivorโs death, after-tax balance will be distributed, along with the Leno Trust to JDM.โ
The Leno Collection is Lenoโs collection of automobiles and motorcycles, thatโs valued at more than $52 million, and any real property.
Leno also instructed the JDM Foundation, a charity he launched in 1988, to open a museum with his automobile collection, and heโs already named the three initial directors.
In addition, Leno is leaving $7 million to Mavisโ brother Rikki Nicholson, who lives next door, and to his nephew Richard Leno.
The court-appointed official said Lenoโs amendments to the trust will likely be approved.
Itโs hard to imagine a world without Jay Leno! Please let us know what you think and then share this story so we can send Leno and Mavis a lot of love!
