Matthew Perry Admits He Spent $9 Million On His Sobriety Journey And Hopes To ‘Help People’ With His Story

Apr 20, 2023

After his award-winning portrayal of Chandler Bing in “Friends,” Matthew Perry went on to become a huge star. The American-Canadian actor also appeared in several films like “Fools Rush In,” “Almost Heroes,” “The Whole Nine Yards,” “17 Again” and “The Ron Clark Story,” among many others. 

Not only is he a recognized actor, but Perry also helmed production roles like being a co-creator, a co-writer and an executive producer of TV shows. He showcased all of these skills in the ABC sitcom “Mr. Sunshine,” where he is also the lead actor. He also starred in some short-lived television series like “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” and “The Odd Couple.”

However, his most memorable acting gig to date is still on “Friends.” He went on to receive a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, and he won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. 

At the show’s peak, Perry, like all of his castmates, was reportedly making a million dollars per episode. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Perry’s fortune stands today at $120 million, primarily attributed to his stint on “Friends” and his other works in film and television. 

However, a significant portion of his net worth has been devoted to a rather important aspect of Perry’s wellness – his journey toward sobriety. In an interview with The New York Times, Perry revealed that he has spent a whopping amount of money in his numerous returns at rehab and therapies just to get by. Read on to learn more about Perry and his grueling journey toward recovery. 

After a 1997 ski accident, Perry was first prescribed Vicodin, a pain medication used to treat severe pain. Its medical use has been commonly exploited in the country leading to addiction. In an interview with People Magazine, Perry said that it was not his intention to have a problem with it. 

“But from the start I liked how it made me feel, and I wanted to get more. I was out of control and very unhealthy,” he said as he recalled having his addiction deepen even further. 

Speaking to The New York Times, he would recall the ways he tried to get more of the drug, which led to his eventual stint in rehab. 

“I would fake back injuries. I would fake migraine headaches. I had eight doctors going at the same time,” he said. “I would wake up and have to get 55 Vicodin that day and figure out how to do it. When you’re a drug addict, it’s all math. I go to this place, and I need to take three. And then I go to this place, and I’m going to take five because I’m going to be there longer."

Perry’s weight fluctuated throughout the years he was on and off in rehab. In measuring how addicted he became, the actor even confessed to not remembering three seasons of “Friends.” Various tabloids and publications chronicled every misstep of Perry's and his tumultuous journey in rehab. However, a realization hit him hard in 2001. In another interview with People Magazine, Perry had this to say.

“I can’t describe it, because bigger things were taking place that I can’t put into words. I was in fear of losing my life,” he recounted. “There’s a moment of clarity where you have to prioritize your life. I listened to it.”

Elaborating more on his journey to The New York Times, Perry made a shocking revelation on how much he had spent to become sober. 

“I've probably spent $9 million or something trying to get sober,” he casually confessed. 

The cost, however, was substantiated. In his interview with People Magazine, Perry detailed that the overall cost of his sobriety journey had been “costly” because he was in and out of rehab 15 times over the years. He even had 14 total surgeries done on his stomach. 

At the age of 49, Perry publicly acknowledged that he suffered a gastrointestinal perforation as his colon burst from opioid overuse. Perry had another epiphany after he woke up from a two-week coma with a two percent chance to live. He was hospitalized for five months and used a colostomy bag for nine months afterward. 

“My therapist said, ‘The next time you think about taking OxyContin, just think about having a colostomy bag for the rest of your life.’ And a little window opened, and I crawled through it, and I no longer want OxyContin,” he admitted. 

To compile his realizations and write about his grueling journey toward recovery and self-discovery, Perry released his own memoir, “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing.” 

"I wanted to share when I was safe from going into the dark side of everything again. I had to wait until I was pretty safely sober — and away from the active disease of alcoholism and addiction — to write it all down. And the main thing was, I was pretty certain that it would help people,” he explained to the magazine about his memoir. 

Eventually, Perry went on to do important work in inspiring others to follow through with their recovery from substance abuse as he became active in organizations and charities.

Are you a fan of Matthew Perry? What can you say about his journey toward getting sober? Let us know, and pass this on to your family, friends and other loved ones.