Conversation so far:
When was Merv Griffin born?
Merv Griffin was born July 6, 1925, in San Mateo, California.
Was Merv Griffin married?
Merv Griffin was married to the former Julann Wright from 1958 to 1976; they remained friends after their divorce.
What was interesting about Merv Griffin's personal life?
Merv Griffin kept his wealth an open secret, amassing media outlets, hotels and casinos with a net worth widely estimated at more than a billion dollars.

Question: why did he do this?
Self-contained rewrite: Why did Merv Griffin keep his wealth an open secret?