Jay Leno has been making headlines lately, but not for his comedy. The former Tonight Show host has suffered a string of injuries that even led to some outlandish conspiracy theories. Yet that didn't stop Bill Maher from putting Leno on the spot.
In November 2022, a vehicle exploded at his Los Angeles garage. Leno suffered serious burns to his hands in face. He then broke multiple bones in a January 2023 motorcycle accident. Then, Leno broke his wrist and suffered severe bruising when he fell down a hill outside his hotel in Pennsylvania in November 2024.
It sounds like an unfortunate series of events for Leno. However, others didn't see it quite that way. A string of conspiracy theories arose suggesting Leno had gambling debts and these "accidents" were put on by the mob.
Bill Maher decided to run with the idea during an episode of his Club Random podcast. “It’s a conspiracy theory, since you’ve had three accidents that you actually have gambling debts and that you’re being beaten up by the mob,” Maher said.
Leno laughed it off, finding the premise amusing. Would the mob really track him to Greenburg, Pennsylvania just to throw him down a hill?
“That’s not what they’re saying, please don’t mischaracterize,” Maher teased in response. “They’re saying throw you down the hill was your cover story, and they just beat you up like the mob always does.”
The Real Time host eventually came around and dismissed the conspiracies. “The article started out by saying ‘Jay Leno, who’s worth $450 million, has gambling debts,'” Maher said. “I was like that is quite a gambling debt.”
Jay Leno's net worth stands at an estimated $450 million (per CelebrityNetWorth). So the idea that he amassed such a gambling debt that he'd be targeted by the mob is ridiculous. Between his Tonight Show earnings, stand-up career, and other ventures, Leno is doing pretty well for himself ... minus all the accidents.