Matthew Perry spent a staggering $9 million in his battle to get sober — a figure more fitting for a blockbuster film than a personal recovery journey. But Perry’s story is about much more than money; it’s a tale of perseverance, survival, and the support he received from his Friends co-stars. Perry revealed this shocking amount during an open interview with The New York Times while promoting his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. See Saif Ali Khan Reveals The Kissing Scene That Made Him Uncomfortable: ‘Worst in Cinema History
“I’ve probably spent $9 million… or something trying to get sober,” he shared. But there’s good news too: he’s now celebrating 18 months of sobriety, marking a huge milestone in his recovery. However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. At one point, his Friends co-star Jennifer Aniston took a bold step to confront him about his addiction. Perry recalled the emotional moment, saying, “Imagine how scary a moment that was. She was the one who reached out the most. I’m really grateful to her for that.”
Even though he became a beloved star as Chandler Bing, Perry’s struggles with addiction began early on during the height of Friends’ success. While his character delivered sharp one-liners, Perry was quietly battling alcoholism behind the scenes. His struggles deepened, and by his own admission, he was taking 55 Vicodin pills a day. “At the time, I should have been the toast of the town,” he said. “Instead, I was in a dark room, meeting only drug dealers, and completely alone.”
In 2018, his addiction nearly cost him his life. Though the public was told he suffered a “gastrointestinal perforation,” the real cause was far more serious: his colon ruptured due to opioid abuse. This led to five months in the hospital, two weeks in a coma, and nine months with a colostomy bag. Yet, through it all, Perry found incredible support from the Friends cast. He compared them to penguins, saying, “When one is sick, or when one is very injured, the other penguins surround it and prop it up… That’s kind of what the cast did for me.”
From 1994 to 2004, Matthew Perry’s role as Chandler Bing made him a household name and Friends a global phenomenon. But despite the fame, fortune, and success, he couldn’t escape the harsh reality of addiction.
