Willard Scott Net Worth

What was Willard Scott's Net Worth?

Willard Scott was an American weatherman, radio and television personality, comedian, actor, and author who had a net worth of $6 million at the time of his death in 2021 at the age of 87. Willard Scott was best known for presenting the weather on the NBC morning television show "Today" in the 1980s, and earlier for being the creator and inaugural performer of McDonald's mascot Ronald McDonald. Among his many other activities, Scott hosted the NBC telecast of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, worked as a pitchman for various companies, and wrote both fiction and non-fiction books.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Willard Scott Jr. was born on March 7, 1934 in Alexandria, Virginia as the only child of Willard Sr. and Mattie. He was brought up as a fundamentalist Christian. Scott became interested in broadcasting from an early age, and when he was eight years old he was introduced to CBS correspondent Eric Sevareid at WTOP in Washington, DC. Following that formative encounter, he organized a radio club on his block and built his own radio station in his basement. The station was shut down after about three months when FCC agents complained that the signal was reaching Pan Am's airport radios.

Scott attended George Washington High School, where he did a news broadcast and was elected class president during all four of his years. Meanwhile, outside of school, he created and announced a show at the local radio station WPIK-AM and served as a disk jockey at WOL-AM and WCFM. Scott also worked as an NBC page at WRC-AM in Washington, DC. He continued radio broadcasting in college at American University, where he worked with fellow student Ed Walker at the university's station WAMU. Scott graduated from American in 1955.

Joy Boys

After graduating from American University in 1955, Scott partnered with fellow alum Ed Walker to host a daily improvised comedy radio show on WRC-AM in Washington, DC. Originally titled "Two at One," it was soon renamed "Joy Boys" in reference to the opening theme song set to the melody of "The Billboard March." On the show, Scott and Walker did various skits and satirized public figures. They reached the peak of their popularity in the mid-1960s, and continued broadcasting on WRC until the station adopted a rock music format in 1972. "Joy Boys" subsequently moved to WWDC, where it broadcast until its conclusion in 1974.

Children's Television

Scott began his television career on children's shows, with his first appearance coming on WNBW-TV's "Barn Party" in 1954. The following year, he co-hosted the WRC-TV variety program "Afternoon" with Mac McGarry. Later, from 1959 to 1962 on the same network, Scott played Bozo the Clown on "Bozo's Circus." In 1966, he created and hosted the show "Commander Retro," which he called a 'real turkey' but said he had more fun doing than any other show.

Ronald McDonald

Due to his popularity playing Bozo the Clown in the Washington, DC area, Scott was enlisted by local McDonald's franchisees to create a new clown following the cancellation of "Bozo's Circus" in 1962. The result was Ronald McDonald, a hamburger-happy clown with a paper-cup nose and a cardboard food tray for a hat. Scott was the first person to portray the figure, which he did from 1963 to 1967. As Ronald, he appeared in television commercials and served as the master of ceremonies on the WRC-TV program "The Ronald Show."

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Weather Reporting

Scott began his longest-running role, as a weather reporter, in 1967. After serving for a few years as a fill-in weatherman on WRC-TV, he became the network's full-time weekday weatherman in 1970. A decade later, Scott moved to NBC, where he became the new weatherman on the morning show "Today." He quickly became popular with audiences due to his colorful personality and penchant for presenting the weather as different characters, including one time as pop singer Boy George and another time as Brazilian entertainer Carmen Miranda. Often, Scott did weather reports on the road while interviewing locals and attending community events. He also engaged in a myriad of antics not related to the weather, including celebrations of centenarian birthdays and notable anniversaries. Scott stepped down as the regular weather anchor in 1996, with Al Roker taking over the role.

Later Television Career

In the late 1980s, Scott played the guest role of Peter Poole in some episodes of the NBC sitcom "The Hogan Family." The next decade, he became a television pitchman for a number of different companies, endorsing such products as Lipton tea, Maxwell House coffee, and Diet Coke. Scott also served as the spokesman for the Days Inn hotel chain. Elsewhere, he hosted WAVE's coverage of the Kentucky Derby Festival, CBS's coverage of the Pillsbury Bake-Off, and NBC's coverage of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. On cable, Scott hosted "Willard Scott's Home and Garden Almanac" on the newly created HGTV. Among his other notable later credits, he narrated the weekly NASA show "The Space Story." Scott continued appearing occasionally on television until his official retirement in 2015.

Personal Life and Death

Scott was married to his first wife, Mary Dwyer, from 1959 until her passing in 2002. They had two children named Mary and Sally. Scott wed his second wife, Paris Keena, in 2014; they had first met at WRC-TV in 1977 and began dating in 2003. The couple lived in Sanibel, Florida.

On September 4, 2021, Scott passed away in Delaplane, Virginia at the age of 87.

Real Estate

In 1992, Willard bought 240 acres in Raphine, Virginia. In 2000, he completed construction on a large primary home. The property features several structures, including a barn that dates back to the late 1800s. Willard's daughters listed this property for sale in June 2025 for $3.8 million.

In 2013, Willard paid $1.25 million for a waterfront home in Sanibel Island, Florida.

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