Ellen DeGeneres faces harsh criticism for $5K donation after tearful tribute to late producer Matthew Wright

ShareMorning Honey Staff Wed, November 4, 2026 at 8:30 PM UTC

Ellen DeGeneres shared an emotional tribute to longtime collaborator Matthew Wright. By: @ELLENDEGENERES/INSTAGRAM, By: @MWRIGHT1010/ INSTAGRAM

Just days after Ellen DeGeneres shared a tearful tribute to late producer and longtime collaborator Matthew Wright, she found herself at the center of a controversy after she reportedly made a $5,000 donation to a GoFundMe campaign for her late friend.

Multiple reports and an X (formerly Twitter) post by podcaster Dana Parish claimed that DeGeneres donated $5,000 to the donation drive, which drew attention online.

Ellen’s reported net worth is currently estimated at $450 million

Many Instagram users commented on the comedian’s latest social media post. “Worth $330 million btw and you couldn’t help your friend out after being laid off,” a commentator wrote.

Ellen’s reported net worth is currently estimated at $450 million. Last year, she appeared on Forbes‘ 2025 America’s Richest Self-Made Women Net Worth list. She ranked at No. 78 in the media and entertainment category.

Ellen DeGeneres’ net worth is reportedly $450M. By: MEGA

Another comment on Ellen’s Instagram post read, “She only donated $5k towards his final arrangements. She could have covered the entire thing easily. He worked for her for 16 years.”

Ellen’s reported $5K donation drew attention from online commentators

Similar thoughts echoed on X, where one user wrote, “That’s shocking. Ellen is worth $400 million.” Another user added, “Wow, 0.001% of her net worth! How generous.”

Matt Wright was a nine-time Emmy Award-winning producer. After his death, Ellen shared a tribute on Instagram, where she said, “So Matt Wright, who was our executive producer and was featured on our show a lot, died the other day. And he, he was an amazing guy.”

In her tribute to Matthew Wright, she also remembered the late Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss. By: MEGA

Wright and Ellen worked together for almost 16 years. “He would surprise me with things that he did all the time. He was smart, and he was kind. He was a part of our show. Everyone loved him. I loved him,” she said, recalling their time working together.

Ellen recalls her 16 years working with Wright

In her tribute to Wright, Ellen mentioned that the two were working on a project together. “Anyway, we’re gonna miss him,” she said.

An emotional Ellen added, “He is and always will be the glue to our entire family at The Ellen Show and he will… I think this is gonna be a really… I don’t know what I’m saying.”

Ellen DeGeneres shared this selfie with her wife, Portia de Rossi, on Tuesday. By: @ELLENDEGENERES/INSTAGRAM

She also remembered tWitch, who worked as a DJ on her show, adding, “He was a good guy, and he and Twitch were so close, so now he and Twitch are together dancing and laughing.”

Wright’s family starts a fundraiser, now complete

Wright died at the age of 52 in his sleep on Friday, October 30, in Los Angeles. The late producer is survived by his husband, Justin Fusella, his father, David Wright, and his sister, Mandy Wright.

Ellen paid her condolences to Wright’s family and said, “Anyway, to Justin, his husband, and to his family, I’m so sorry, because we lost a good guy.”

Matthew Wright died at the age of 52 in Los Angeles. By: @MWRIGHT1010/ INSTAGRAM

The fundraiser launched by Wright’s family, to which Ellen reportedly made a $5K contribution, is meant to cover travel to take his remains to his husband, Justin, and his family. It will also cover the New York funeral and Los Angeles memorial costs. Wright’s family has raised $94,280, surpassing its original $50,000 fundraising goal.