Whoopi Goldberg Slammed After Sharing Surprising Reason She Can’t Retire

Legendary actress and talk show host Whoopi Goldberg has never been afraid to open up about her opinions on real-world issues. Over the last few years, the 69-year-old, most known for her time on “The View,” has sparked up controversy for her hot takes on everything from millennials in the workplace to her own finances. And she doesn’t seem bothered by the pushback, as she has once again riled up the public by revealing the surprising reason she claims she’s unable to retire.

During an interview with Entertainment Tonight, the “Sister Act” performer discussed what it’s like to be back for another year of “The View” on ABC.

Amid that conversation, the interviewer asked Goldberg whether she’d consider slowing down any time soon, as she’s been a panelist on the long-running show since the early aughts.

“Yeah, but who can afford to do that? You know, if you don’t marry well, you gotta keep working,” Goldberg told the interviewer, to which they replied, “I think you can probably afford to do that by now.”

“No, not by now. Not yet,” Goldberg replied. “I gotta keep paying those bills, baby.”

While it’s unclear exactly how much Goldberg, who has also starred in numerous blockbuster films, television series, and Broadway productions, makes on “The View,” a previous report from Variety notes that the mother of one signed a contract extension back in 2016 for around $5-6 million.

According to another report from Parade, a source shared in 2022 that Goldberg was making $8 million a year for her work on the show. The publication also reported her net worth to be around $30 million.

Despite the reported hefty paycheck, Goldberg shared a similar sentiment regarding her spot on the show in 2024, saying she was only on “The View” for the money.

“I work for a living. If I had all the money in the world, I would not be here, OK? So, I’m a working person, you know?” she said.

Her most recent comments also didn’t sit well with the public, with many taking to social media to slam the actress for being out of touch.

On Reddit, a user shared the clip of Goldberg’s comments, sparking immediate backlash from others who questioned how the star doesn’t have the funds to retire.

“Nonsense … she’s a very wealthy woman,” someone wrote, while another added, “So, she makes millions of dollars every year and does not have money saved? That’s pretty pathetic.”

On Instagram, other users shared similar comments, with one writing, “Girl, if you’re bad with money, just say that.”

Another commenter pushed back on Goldberg’s claims about marriage, writing, “It’s not about marrying well, it’s about how you manage your money.”

Several other posters criticized the “Color Purple” star’s previous comments about finances, referring to a specific statement she made about the younger generation.

During a previous episode of “The View,” Goldberg discussed the current state of today’s economy and also called for younger people, specifically millennials, to shift their perspective on work.