That Easy, Eh?

Merv Griffin was worth probably 1 billion dollars when he dies yesterday.

When he was creating “Jeopardy!,” he realized the show needed some music to fill the time while contestants were puzzling out a question. Sitting at a piano, he plunked out a few notes, then a repetitive melody, and within about a half-hour had the show’s familiar theme music. He retained the rights to the song even after selling the shows, and royalties from the ditty “made me a fortune, millions,” he said in 2005.

How much? he was asked. “Probably close to $70-80 million.”