Former host of NBC’s The Tonight Show, Jay Leno, has faced his share of difficulties and challenges in his personal life, but a recent visit from the president of the General Motors Corporation was just what the doctor ordered—and likely gave Leno a much-needed moment of respite in the midst of his difficulties.
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A Heartbreaking Decision
Leno and his wife of more than 45 years, Mavis, are both aging, and Mrs. Leno’s health has taken a downturn as her dementia has shown increasing signs of progression.
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In January 2024, Jay Leno was forced to make the heartbreaking decision to petition the court to become his wife’s conservator, citing evidence of her cognitive decline. Then, in April, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge granted Leno’s request, noting that the former comedian and late-night host had been providing his wife with “very good care.”
“Everything you’re doing is right,” the judge said to Leno during his court appearance. “I totally understand this is a difficult period.”
The legal team echoed the judge’s sentiments, saying that Mavis Leno had been “receiving excellent care with her husband.”
The Next Steps: End-of-Life Plans & Arrangements
However, that “difficult period” was not quite over for the former Tonight Show host.
Immediately following his court appearance, Jay Leno was tasked with making the necessary changes and provisions to his wife’s will. He was also forced to finalize end-of-life arrangements for himself and his fortune to ensure that his wife is provided for in the event of his death.
Those arrangements included provisions for Mavis Leno should her husband die before she does.
They further include directives about how the couple’s wealth will be distributed following their deaths and what will happen to Mr. Leno’s massive automobile and motorcycle collection, valued at more than $52 million.
Leno Gets a Visit From General Motors
This week, General Motors president Mark Reuss visited Leno at Burbank Airport, where his private collection of more than 180 vehicles and 160 motorcycles is housed. But Reuss didn’t come alone.
Instead, he brought with him a 2025 Corvette ZR1 and gave Jay Leno, a known car enthusiast and collector.
Reuss also brought with him one of his family heirlooms—a 1967 427 Sting Ray outfitted with a Powerglide automatic transmission that belonged to his late father, Lloyd Reuss.
Per Corvette Blogger:
Recently introduced as a 2025 model, the ZR1 has turned heads around the world with its 1,064-horsepower, twin-turbo DOHC flat-plane crank engine–said to be the most powerful V8 ever produced by an American automaker.
[During the episode of “Jay Leno’s Garage”], Jay tries to get a price tag out of Mark, suggesting to the GM leader that at $200,000, it matches the performance of foreign exotics costing nearly $3 million.
Ever true to the GM creed, however, Mark doesn’t spill the beans on what it will actually cost to buy a ZR1 next year–at least what the MSRP will be, only suggesting that it will be “true to Corvette tradition–aspirational but attainable” and “the best amount of horsepower per buck out there.”
He also explains that the new LT7 engine was possible because of the mid-engine placement that allowed room for the twin turbochargers instead of the superchargers required in front-engine Corvettes.
“Jay Leno’s Garage” on CBNC
After retiring from his role as host of The Tonight Show on NBC in 2014, passing the torch to SNL‘s Jimmy Fallon, Leno landed a very different role on television as the host of a series that married his talents as a TV host with his passion for classic and vintage vehicles and motorcycles.
The end result was CNBC’s Jay Leno’s Garage, a popular television series that began its run on CNBC. The series showcased the legendary comedian and former late-night host Jay Leno’s affinity for automobiles.
The show delves into Leno’s extensive car collection, featuring rare and vintage vehicles, high-performance supercars, and cutting-edge automotive technology. Each episode highlights the cars and the stories behind them, with Leno sharing insights from his vast knowledge of automotive history.
The show also includes interviews with celebrity car enthusiasts, test drives, and road trips, making it a must-watch for car lovers and gearheads.
The 2025 Corvette ZR1
Though fans would love to know more about the Corvette ZR1, embargo restrictions made it impossible for Reuss and Leno to share any more information on the soon-to-be-released vehicle, pending its debut.