Rosie O’Donnell says she left her talk show after accumulating millions

Rosie O’Donnell recalls a specific moment in her career when she realized she had accumulated more wealth than she ever thought possible.

The 64-year-old comedian revealed that she chose to leave her wildly successful daytime talk show “The Rosie O’Donnell Show” after learning she was making nearly $100 million, saying no paycheck was worth spending time with her children.

“When I heard this [number]”I thought, ‘Okay, I’m done now,'” O’Donnell I told Page Six. “And everyone was like, ‘Why are you leaving?’ he asked.

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O’Donnell said reaching this financial milestone caused him to reevaluate his priorities.

“I had enough money to take care of everyone in my life, charity and strangers,” he said. “I wanted to be at their softball games. I wanted to be at their school plays.”

O’Donnell hosted “The Rosie O’Donnell Show” from 1996 to 2002, which is among the most popular daytime talk shows on television.

O’Donnell claimed that Warner Bros. tried to keep the show alive by offering him another $100 million to keep it on the air for two more years.

But he turned it down.

“‘Why did you say no?'” O’Donnell said. ‘ they asked,” he recalled. “And I said, ‘Because I already have that money, and if I think I need more, there’s something wrong with me.'”

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The actor added that he never understood those whose wealth became their primary motivation.

“I don’t understand billionaires,” he said. “I don’t understand how people measure their lives solely by money and not by what they can do for others.”

While O’Donnell has long claimed that quitting television allowed her to be a better mother, she has also been candid about the heartbreak that comes with raising her family; especially her daughter Chelsea’s years-long struggle with addiction and legal issues.

The actress recently reflected on her emotional reunion with Chelsea, who is now in prison, and described the visit as a turning point in their fractured relationship.

Rosie O’Donnell asked for prayers after her daughter Chelsea was sentenced to prison for violating probation. (Oconto County Sheriff’s Office; Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for ELLE)

“This was the first conversation I had with him in 10 years that lasted more than 25 minutes,” O’Donnell told Page Six.

“The first time I saw her coherently was during the four hours she spent in prison,” he continued, explaining that Chelsea had tears in her eyes after a tornado warning forced the visit to end early.

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“And for the first time I see an empathetic feeling in him,” O’Donnell said. “So, you know, it’s growing, and hopefully its future will be brighter than it has been in the past decade.”

Following the visit, O’Donnell wrote a poem describing the experience.

“The guard explained the rules,” he wrote. “Just hugs, hellos and goodbyes / No exchange of money / Hands on the table / No loud noises.”

Elsewhere in the poem, O’Donnell said her heart said “jump”[ped] When he saw Chelsea, he wrote that his daughter looked “fine” and had a “healthy calmness.”

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At the height of her success, Rosie O’Donnell chose family over wealth. (Dave Benett/Getty Images)

O’Donnell has publicly supported Chelsea throughout her legal troubles and addiction struggles.

Last October, the actor shared a childhood photo of Chelsea on Instagram and asked for prayers from fans after his daughter was sentenced to prison after her parole was revoked.

“I loved my child Chelsea Belle – before addiction took over her life – I love her now as she faces a terrible future – prayers welcomed,” O’Donnell wrote.

Just days earlier, Chelsea’s probation had been revoked and she was sentenced to prison, according to court documents previously reviewed by Fox News Digital.

O’Donnell has been open about her deteriorating relationship with her daughter Chelsea. (TheStewartofNY/FilmMagic)

At the time, O’Donnell told Fox News Digital that although the family’s journey had been painful, they were committed to supporting Chelsea.

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“I have compassion for those struggling with addiction; Chelsea was born into addiction and it has been a painful journey for her and her four young children,” he said in a statement. “We continue to love and support him during these terrible times. Prayers welcomed.”

Chelsea’s legal troubles began to escalate in 2024, when authorities charged her with two counts of possession of methamphetamine, one count of possession of a narcotic drug, two counts of illegally taking a prescription drug and resisting or obstructing an officer, according to court records previously reviewed by Fox News Digital.

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After a later arrest, O’Donnell addressed the situation on social media, expressing hope that her daughter would receive treatment.

“So yes, it’s true; Chelsea, who was released on bail by her birth mother, has been arrested again and is facing multiple charges related to drug addiction,” O’Donnell wrote. “We all hope he can get the help he needs to turn his life around.”