Born Winston Conrad Martindale on the 4th December 1933 in Jackson, Tennessee USA, Wink is a radio and television personality best known to the world as the host of many game shows, including “Tic Tac Dough” (1978-1985), and “Debt” (1996-1998), among many other differing engagements. Wink’s career started in the late 1950s.
Have you ever wondered how rich Wink Martindale is, as of early 2017? According to authoritative sources it has been estimated that Martindale’s net worth is as high as $20 million, an amount earned through his successful career in the entertainment industry.
Wink Martindale Net Worth $20 Million
Wink’s career began when he was 17 years old and still in high school, when he joined radio station WPLI in Jackson as a disc jockey, earning $25 per week. His interest increased, and although studying at Memphis State University, from which he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in 1957, Wink simultaneously pursued his radio career. He moved to WTJS, and then to WDXI, and after that he started working as a host of the morning show at WHBQ. He also tried his hand at spoken-word poetry, and recorded several songs, including “Deck of Cards” which reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was platinum certified, which only increased his net worth. Two years after his graduation, Wink joined KHJ as a morning man, at their headquarters in Los Angeles, California, but soon moved to KRLA and then to KFWB. During the ’60, he also worked on KGIL, and through the ‘70s had stints at KKGO, KMPC, only to join KABC in the late ‘80s, which further increased his wealth.
To speak of his television career, it began with a hosting position of the “Mats Patrol”, aired on WHBQ-TV in Memphis, which is a science-fiction TV program for children. Also, he started hosting the TV show “Teenage Dance Party”, on which program Elvis Presley also appeared. The two were quite close friends, and when Presley died in 1977, Wink aired a radio tribute to the deceased rock ‘n’ roll king.
After WHBQ-TV, Wink joined NBC as a host of the game show “What’s This Song?”. Although the show only lasted from 1964 until 1965, it certainly increased Wink’s net worth, and garnered attention to the new game show host. Some years later, he got his big break as emcee on the game show “Gambit” (1972-1976), and then in the spin-off “Las Vegas Gambit” (1980-1981). In the ‘80s, Wink reached his full potential with the show “Tic-Tac-Dough” (1978-1985), and encouraged by the success of the show, he ventured out on his own, starting Wink Martindale Enterprises, and created several shows, including “Bumper Stumpers” (1987-1990) in collaboration with Barry & Enright, producers who created Tic-Tac-Dough. During the ‘90s Wink also had success with several game shows, including “High Rollers”, “The Last Word”, then “Trivial Pursuit” (1993), and the highest-rated quiz show “Debt” (1996-1998), all of which added a significant amount to his net worth.
He has remained active in the entertainment world even in the new millennium, despite his age, and made numerous appearances, including as a pitchman for the travel website Orbitz, and as a host of “Instant Recall” (2010). Most recently, he also appeared in the soap opera “The Bold and the Beautiful” (2016), which also improved his wealth.
In recognition of his long and eventful career, Wink received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006.
Regarding his personal life, Wink was married to Madelyn Leech from 1954 until 1971; the couple has four children. He has been married to Sandy Ferra since 1975.
He is a born-again Christian, and has recorded an appearance on the Trinity Broadcasting Network in an episode of their star show “Praise the Lord”.
