Johnny Carson & Joanna Holland: The 'Alimony King' and Late-Night's Most Expensive Divorce
His Tonight Show salary became the centerpiece of a bitter divorce that earned him the nickname 'Alimony King'
Key Facts
What Happened
Johnny Carson, the undisputed king of late-night television and host of The Tonight Show for 30 years, married Joanna Holland in 1972. It was his third marriage. At the height of his career, Carson was earning approximately $25 million per year from NBC, making him the highest-paid entertainer on television. The couple lived lavishly in Bel Air, with additional homes in Malibu and New York.
By the early 1980s, the marriage was crumbling. Carson was known for his private nature and reportedly difficult personality off-camera. When Joanna filed for divorce in 1983, she hired one of Los Angeles' most aggressive divorce attorneys. The proceedings became a public spectacle, with Joanna demanding half of Carson's NBC contract and substantial ongoing support.
The settlement, finalized in 1985, reportedly exceeded $20 million — a staggering sum at the time. Joanna received the Bel Air home, significant cash payments, and annual alimony. Carson's comedic take on his own misfortune became legendary: he joked about his divorces nightly on The Tonight Show, once quipping that 'my ex-wives are living proof that alimony is the screwing you get for the screwing you got.'
The Carson-Holland divorce was a watershed moment in entertainment law. It established that a television contract's value — not just the salary it paid, but the ongoing earning potential and residual rights — was a marital asset subject to division. This precedent has been applied in hundreds of entertainment and sports divorces since. Carson married once more, to Alexis Maas in 1987, with a very thorough prenuptial agreement.
Legal Breakdown: Spousal Support
Entertainment Contracts as Marital Assets
The Carson divorce established that a TV contract's value — including future earnings potential, renewal options, and residual rights — is a marital asset when signed during the marriage. This applies equally to athletes, musicians, and other performers.
California Community Property
California's community property law means all income earned during the marriage is split equally. Carson's $25 million annual salary was entirely community property, giving Joanna a legal claim to half of everything earned during the marriage.
Serial Divorce & Cumulative Cost
Carson's three divorces cumulatively cost him tens of millions. Each subsequent divorce was more expensive because his wealth had grown. Serial divorce without prenuptial protection is one of the most common wealth-destruction patterns in family law.
What This Means for Your Divorce
- →Entertainment and sports contracts are marital assets. If your spouse signs a major deal during your marriage, you likely have a claim to its value.
- →After an expensive divorce, always get a prenuptial agreement before remarrying. Carson learned this lesson after three divorces.
- →Humor can be a coping mechanism, but making public jokes about your ex-spouse can complicate legal proceedings. Keep it private until everything is finalized.
- →California's community property law applies to all income earned during marriage — the higher your earnings, the higher the stakes.
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This article is based on publicly available court records, news reports, and legal analysis. It is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this content.
Divorce laws vary by jurisdiction. Always consult a licensed attorney in your area before making legal decisions.