Johnny Carson Estate Gives $156M to Charity

Johnny Carson has rewritten the book on celebrity philanthropy. The late entertainer's charitable foundation has received $156 million from a trust that Carson set up years before his death in 2005, reports the Smoking Gun. The bequest means that Carson's foundation is now by far the biggest of Hollywood charities.

The trust previously made regular donations to the foundation, but usually in increments of $1 million and $2 million. The money goes to various organizations, including the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, the city's free clinic, and Planned Parenthood. Carson was extremely private about his personal finances, so it's unclear how big a percentage $156 million represents.