Alison Berns Net Worth

What is Alison Berns' net worth?

Alison Berns is an American housewife and former actress who has a net worth of $10 million. Alison Berns is best known for being married to Howard Stern from 1978 to 2001. She met Stern while both were students at Boston University. The two married in 1978, well before Stern became a nationally syndicated shock jock, and she was by his side during his rise from local radio host to one of the most influential and controversial figures in American broadcasting.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Berns occasionally appeared on "The Howard Stern Show," participating in interviews and segments that gave listeners a glimpse into their marriage and home life. As Stern's fame grew through radio syndication, best-selling books, and the film "Private Parts," Berns became a recognizable figure to fans of the show, though she largely avoided the spotlight outside of that context.

The couple had three daughters together before separating in the late 1990s. At the time of their separation, Howard's net worth was already $80 million. He was earning $20 million per year from his radio empire. Their divorce, finalized in 2001, reportedly involved a substantial financial settlement and marked a turning point in Stern's personal life. Since then, Berns has maintained a private lifestyle, remaining known primarily for her long marriage to Stern during the most explosive years of his career. She married again in 2001, this time to a man named David Simon.

Early Life & Meeting Howard Stern

Alison Berns was born on May 26, 1954, in Newton Centre, Massachusetts. She was raised in a culturally Jewish household. Her parents reportedly practiced Transcendental Meditation, a detail that later became significant in her connection with Howard Stern.

She attended Boston University, where she studied social work. It was during her undergraduate years in the early 1970s that she met Stern. At the time, Stern was working on a student film about Transcendental Meditation and cast Berns in the project. Their relationship quickly turned romantic. Stern later wrote in his memoir "Private Parts" that he knew within a week of dating that he would marry her.

They were married on June 4, 1978, at Temple Ohabei Shalom in Brookline, Massachusetts, years before Stern achieved mainstream fame.

Life During the Rise of Howard Stern

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, as Stern's radio show grew into a syndicated powerhouse, Berns was frequently referenced on air and occasionally appeared as a guest on "The Howard Stern Show." Listeners became familiar with her through candid discussions about their marriage, parenting, and home life. She also appeared in several Stern-related projects, including "Negligee and Underpants," "U.S. Open Sores," and the 1997 film adaptation of "Private Parts," in which she played herself.

The couple had three daughters together:

• Emily Beth (born 1983)
• Deborah Jennifer (born 1986)
• Ashley Jade (born 1993)

As Stern's fame grew, their family life became a recurring theme on his show. Berns was often depicted as the grounding presence behind the scenes, balancing Stern's increasingly outrageous public image. Despite her public association with his brand, she largely avoided independent media exposure and maintained work in the mental health field.

Howard and Alison Berns in 1995 (via Getty)

Divorce & Settlement

Howard and Alison separated in October 1999. After separating, he moved from their former marital home in Old Westbury, New York, to a 4,000-square-foot apartment in Millennium Tower on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. He purchased that apartment in 1998 for $4.9 million.

According to a NY Post article in October 1999, at that point, Howard Stern's net worth was $80 million, and he was earning a salary of $20 million per year from his radio show. Under New York law, a long-term marriage such as theirs could have resulted in an equal division of marital assets, potentially entitling Berns to roughly half of Stern's fortune. However, the divorce, finalized in 2001, was described as amicable and handled privately to protect their children. The specific financial terms were never publicly disclosed, though Stern has stated in interviews that he wanted to ensure Berns was financially secure.

After separating, Stern moved into a 4,000-square-foot apartment in Manhattan's Millennium Tower, which he had purchased in 1998 for $4.9 million.

Later in 2001, Berns remarried David Scott Simon. He is not affiliated with Simon Property Group, despite occasional online speculation.

Real Estate

In November 1986, Howard and Alison purchased a 54-room mansion at 2 Grace Drive in Old Westbury, New York, for approximately $702,000. The estate became symbolic of Stern's early financial success and was frequently referenced on his show.

As part of the divorce proceedings, Stern deeded his interest in the property to Berns. She remained in the home for several years before selling it in December 2003 for $1.62 million.

In 2015, Berns and her husband David purchased a home in Delray Beach, Florida, for $1.54 million, signaling her long-term relocation away from the New York media orbit that once defined her public life.

Life After Howard Stern

Following her divorce, Alison Berns retreated almost entirely from public attention. Unlike her first marriage, her relationship with David Simon has remained private. She has continued her career in mental health as a licensed clinical social worker and psychoanalyst, a profession she reportedly maintained even during the height of Stern's fame.

Today, Berns is primarily known for her role during the most explosive years of Howard Stern's career. While her name remains linked to his rise, she has spent more than two decades living quietly, focused on family and professional work outside the entertainment industry.

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