Why Veteran TV Star Efi Gilad Says He Cannot Afford to Retire
Veteran Israeli TV host Efi Gilad revealed in a candid podcast interview that he has no savings and cannot retire due to past financial mistakes and ADHD.
After decades at the forefront of Israeli television and hosting some of the country's most profitable shows, veteran broadcaster Efi Gilad has opened up about his complex financial reality. In a candid interview with Itay Segel on the "All-in" podcast, Gilad confessed that despite his high-profile career, he has no savings and must continue working.
The Cost of ADHD and Generosity
When asked what he wishes for in the upcoming decade, Gilad joked that he first needs to win the lottery. Explaining how he could lack funds after years of leading prime-time formats, he pointed to his attention deficit disorder. "People with ADHD are terrible at financial management. I don't have a shekel saved for a rainy day, and if I did, I always gave it to someone who needed it," he said.
Gilad admitted that his past financial choices mean retirement is simply not an option for him today. While he maintains a modest lifestyle far away from luxury brands and status symbols—focusing instead on recycling and self-repair—he remains acutely aware of the gap between his media status and his bank account.
"I have everything I need: a house, a car, a trip abroad once a year, and buying my daughters what they need, but I never leveraged the size of the star I was." — Efi Gilad
Past Losses and Lifelong Anxieties
This is not the first time Gilad has spoken openly about his monetary struggles. Over the years, he has revealed losing millions of shekels in failed business ventures, including organic agriculture and sustainability projects. He also shared that a deep-seated "fear of poverty" from his childhood drives him to work relentlessly, fueled by the constant feeling that his income could dry up at any moment.
Concluding the conversation, Gilad shared his recurring fantasy of winning 60 million shekels in the lottery. Rather than buying luxury items, his first instinct would be to call struggling friends and relatives to clear their debts and secure their housing, surrounded as he is by people who need financial relief.
