The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum » Monty Python Cast Decry Being Too Poor To Retire

RadioActive · May 4, 2025 7:06 am

They thought their comedy would bring them fame and fortune. Instead, it may have brought them only the former.

Several members of the Monty Python group, including John Cleese and Eric Idle, claim they've been left without much money, despite all the TV, stage and movie work they've done during their lifetimes. It's why some of them are still working past the age of 80, insisting they don't have the funds to retire in comfort.

According To Idle:

"I don't know why people always assume we're loaded. Python is a disaster. I never dreamed that at this age the income streams would tail off so disastrously."

How did they end up here? This article outlines what happened.

Hansa · May 4, 2025 9:23 am

I wish I was as poor as them.

Dial Twister · May 4, 2025 9:42 am

Hansa wrote:
I wish I was as poor as them.

Bingo!

RadioActive · May 4, 2025 9:45 am

Why doesn't Eric Idle try to look on the bright side of life?

g121 · May 4, 2025 9:53 am

worth $20M & still whining .. oy vey ; pompous much ..

John Cleese seemingly didn't fare much better than him, with the BBC star's messy divorces leaving him without a single piece of real estate left. He gave his final remaining flat to wife Jennifer Wade, lamenting to The Times of his fate: "The third wife got two properties, one was in London and one was in New York, and we had to sell the other three."

I’ve actually given the flat behind Peter Jones to Jennifer, so I don’t have a house [and] I don’t have a car.”

Like Eric, the 85-year-old is still working to maintain his lifestyle, despite having an estimated net worth of $20 million (£17 million) ..

Dial Twister · May 4, 2025 11:52 am

RadioActive wrote:
Why doesn't Eric Idle try to look on the bright side of life?

Oh, that's good. 😁

newsguy1 · May 4, 2025 12:10 pm

In Cleese's case iy did not help that he's had four wives and has to play the first three alimony.
He's still married to wife four.

DX · May 5, 2025 1:45 am

They have enough to buy an argument though.

Binson Echorec · May 5, 2025 10:09 am

DX wrote:
They have enough to buy an argument though.

No, they haven't.

Capricasix · May 5, 2025 10:10 am

Five minutes, or the full half hour?

RadioActive · May 5, 2025 10:17 am

What a stupid concept.

DX · May 5, 2025 10:41 am

Binson Echorec wrote:
DX wrote:
They have enough to buy an argument though.
No, they haven't.

But that's just a contradiction, it's not an argument!

Capricasix · May 5, 2025 10:52 am

If I argue with you, I must take up a contrary position!

mace · May 6, 2025 5:55 am

Judging by the comments, readers had no sympathy for them. My favourite "Made loads, spent loads, moan loads"

RadioActive · May 7, 2025 6:54 am

I had no idea "The Holy Grail" was partially funded by Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. But it was done on the cheap, so much so that the cast had to rush back after shooting to their rundown hotel every day by public transit to make sure they got the limited supply of hot water for their showers.

50 years of 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail': Its legacy and what it means to fans

Easily Amused · May 7, 2025 7:12 am

mace wrote:
Judging by the comments, readers had no sympathy for them. My favourite "Made loads, spent loads, moan loads"

Too much SPAM? 🤔

Binson Echorec · May 7, 2025 9:54 am

RadioActive wrote:
I had no idea "The Holy Grail" was partially funded by Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. But it was done on the cheap, so much so that the cast had to rush back after shooting to their rundown hotel every day by public transit to make sure they got the limited supply of hot water for their showers.

50 years of 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail': Its legacy and what it means to fans

And George Harrison's Handmade Films funded "The Life of Brian". Hey, wait...maybe these guys have been terrible with money all along!