The Four Women Who Defined A Legend: Inside Johnny Carson's Tumultuous Marriages And $20 Million Divorce

The private life of "The King of Late Night," Johnny Carson, was a stark contrast to his smooth, charming on-screen persona, marked by four tumultuous marriages that spanned his entire career. While he was the undisputed master of *The Tonight Show* for three decades, his relationships with Jody Morrill, Joanne Copeland, Joanna Holland, and Alexis Maas were famously complicated, often ending in highly publicized, multi-million dollar divorce settlements. The recent passing of his third wife, Joanna Carson, in 2024, brings renewed focus to the women who shared his journey, from his humble beginnings in Nebraska to his reign as a television icon. This deep dive, updated for late 2025, uncovers the untold stories of the women behind the curtain, the staggering financial cost of their separations, and the lasting legacy each wife left on the life of one of America's most beloved entertainers.

Johnny Carson's Four Wives: A Complete Biographical Profile

The legendary television host, John William Carson, was married four times. Each marriage marked a distinct era in his professional and personal life, with the women moving from college sweethearts to models, and finally to a financial professional who became his widow.

• First Wife: Jody Morrill Wolcott (Born: c. 1929)
  • Marriage: 1949
  • Divorce: 1963
  • Children: Three sons: Christopher "Chris" Carson, Richard "Rick" Carson (d. 1991), and Cory Carson.
  • Key Role: The wife during Carson's early career climb, including his move to Los Angeles and the birth of his three children.
• Second Wife: Joanne Copeland Carson (Born: October 20, 1931; Died: May 8, 2015)
  • Marriage: 1963
  • Divorce: 1972
  • Children: None.
  • Key Role: Married just as Carson began hosting *The Tonight Show*. Known for her close friendship with author Truman Capote.
• Third Wife: Joanna Holland Carson (Born: Johanna Ulrich; May 1, 1930; Died: April 26, 2024)
  • Marriage: 1972
  • Divorce: 1983 (Finalized 1985)
  • Children: None.
  • Key Role: Her divorce resulted in one of the most expensive celebrity settlements of the era, costing Carson a reported $20 million.
• Fourth Wife: Alexis Maas Carson (Born: 1952)
  • Marriage: 1987
  • End of Marriage: 2005 (Carson's death)
  • Children: None.
  • Key Role: Carson's final wife and widow, she was a financial professional who remained with him until his death.

The College Sweetheart and the Dawn of Stardom: Jody Morrill Wolcott

Jody Morrill Wolcott holds a singular place in Johnny Carson's history: she was the only one of his wives with whom he had children. The couple met while attending the University of Nebraska, marrying in 1949, long before the bright lights of network television beckoned. Their 14-year marriage was the backdrop to Carson’s critical early career development, from his local radio and television work in Omaha to his move to California and the beginning of his national fame.

The couple had three sons: Chris, Cory, and Rick. Tragically, their middle son, Rick Carson, died in a car accident in 1991, an event that deeply affected the famously private comedian. The pressures of Carson’s burgeoning career, combined with his struggles with alcohol, reportedly strained the marriage, leading to their divorce in 1963, the same year he took over *The Tonight Show*. Following the separation, Jody chose a life away from the relentless media spotlight, focusing on raising her sons and reportedly remarrying. Her decision to maintain a private existence has kept her story largely out of the celebrity gossip columns, solidifying her legacy as the quiet, foundational figure of the Carson family.

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The Truman Capote Connection: Joanne Copeland Carson

Johnny Carson married his second wife, Joanne Copeland, in 1963, just as his career was skyrocketing with *The Tonight Show*. Joanne, a former model and flight attendant, was a vibrant personality who found herself thrust into the epicenter of Hollywood and New York's elite social scene.

Their nine-year marriage was marked by both professional success for Carson and increasing personal strain. The most fascinating and unique aspect of Joanne’s post-divorce life was her deep, unconventional friendship with the celebrated author Truman Capote. Capote, known for his acerbic wit and high-society connections, became one of Joanne's closest confidantes, often staying in her Palm Springs home. It was in a detached bedroom at her estate that Capote ultimately died in 1984. This extraordinary connection between the wife of the late-night king and the literary icon provides a unique layer to her story, highlighting her independent and colorful life long after her separation from Carson. Joanne Carson passed away in 2015 at the age of 83.

The $20 Million Separation: Joanna Holland Carson

The marriage of Johnny Carson and model Joanna Holland in 1972 began in the shadow of his previous divorce and ended with a financial earthquake that made Hollywood history. Their 11-year union was a fixture of the 1970s celebrity landscape, but it dissolved in a contentious, public divorce that dragged on for years.

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The final settlement, reached in 1985, was staggering. Joanna Holland walked away with an estimated $20 million in cash and property. To put this figure into perspective, when adjusted for inflation, this amount is estimated to be approximately $48 million to $58 million in today's money, making it one of the most expensive celebrity divorces of its time. The huge financial cost was a constant source of bitterness for Carson, who famously joked on *The Tonight Show* that he now knew the difference between "a million dollars and a billion dollars: about $20 million."

Joanna Carson, who went on to become a notable philanthropist, remained a prominent figure in the Palm Springs social scene. The news of her death in April 2024 at the age of 93 is a recent and notable update, closing the chapter on one of the most financially impactful relationships of Carson's life.

The Final Chapter and Enduring Legacy: Alexis Maas Carson

Johnny Carson’s fourth and final marriage, to Alexis Maas, provided him with the stability he sought in his later years. The couple married in 1987, four years after his separation from Joanna Holland. Maas, a former financial professional, was 26 years Carson's junior and offered a quiet, private counterbalance to the public chaos of his previous marriages.

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Alexis Maas remained his wife until his death in 2005. As his widow, she inherited a significant portion of his vast estate, which was estimated to be around $300 million to $450 million at the time of his passing. While the exact amount of her inheritance remains private, her net worth is frequently estimated to be in the hundreds of millions, securing her place as one of the wealthiest widows in Hollywood. True to the pattern of their marriage, Alexis Maas has maintained a highly private life since Carson's death. She has largely avoided the spotlight, dedicating herself to managing his estate and philanthropic endeavors, ensuring the legacy of the late-night icon is preserved with dignity and discretion.

The Lasting Impact of The Carson Marriages

The four marriages of Johnny Carson serve as a powerful narrative thread through his life, illustrating the high cost of fame and the difficulty of maintaining a private life in the public eye. The entities and themes that emerge from these relationships are central to understanding the man behind the desk:

• The Financial Cost of Fame: The $20 million settlement with Joanna Holland remains a landmark moment in celebrity divorce history, highlighting the immense wealth Carson accumulated and the financial stakes of his personal life.
• The Children: His three sons from his first marriage—Chris, Rick, and Cory—were a source of both joy and private sorrow, particularly following Rick's tragic death. Their lives were fundamentally shaped by their father's fame and his subsequent divorces.
• Private Struggles: Biographies often cite Carson's struggles with alcohol and his emotionally reserved nature as contributing factors to the breakdown of his first three marriages. These personal demons were a stark contrast to his relaxed, on-screen persona.
• The LSI Keywords and Entities: The story is rich with topical authority, touching upon key figures like Truman Capote, the institution of The Tonight Show, the concept of celebrity divorce settlements, and the private lives of Hollywood legends.

Ultimately, the story of Johnny Carson's wives is a compelling, multi-faceted look at the man who dominated late-night television. From the quiet support of Jody Morrill to the financial finality of Alexis Maas, each woman played a defining role in the life of a television giant, leaving behind a legacy that continues to fascinate audiences decades later.