He made the world laugh for decades. But in his final years, Sam Simon — the brilliant mind behind The Simpsons — chose to do something few in Hollywood ever dared.
After being diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2012, Sam made a decision that stunned even his closest friends: He donated his entire $100 million fortune to found the Sam Simon Foundation — a quiet but powerful force for compassion.
🐾 A Legacy of Love, Not Limelight
The Sam Simon Foundation provides:
Free veterinary care for low-income families
Rescue operations for animals at high-risk shelters
Training for service dogs to assist veterans and individuals with disabilities
Sam once said in an interview,
“I have more money than I’m interested in spending. And everyone in my family is taken care of. So I’m doing something useful.”
And he did — quietly funding rescue missions, sponsoring animal shelters, and building mobile vet clinics that reached underserved communities across California and beyond.
Sam Simon, 59, Dies; Guided ‘The Simpsons,’ Then Shared His Profits – The New York Times
🎬 Hollywood Wasn’t Ready for This Ending
In a town often driven by ego and excess, Sam’s story broke the mold. While others planned red-carpet farewells, he slipped away in 2015, leaving behind no mansion tours or statues — only wagging tails, full bellies, and lives forever changed.
His foundation continues to grow to this day, running solely on the strength of his vision and generosity.