David Milch's raw memoir exposes addiction, Alzheimer's and $100M losses

From Deadwood to debt and diagnosis, David Milch's unflinching memoir lays bare the cost of genius—and self-destruction. A story of survival against impossible odds.

, and Administrator

2026 May 4 . 2:04 PM

1 min read

The image shows a paper with a drawing of a horse and a man riding it, surrounded by a crowd of... — The image shows a paper with a drawing of a horse and a man riding it, surrounded by a crowd of people. At the bottom of the paper is text that reads "darktown sports - winning easy".

David Milch's raw memoir exposes addiction, Alzheimer's and $100M losses

David Milch, the acclaimed TV writer and producer, is set to release his memoir Life’s Work on September 13. The book will explore his long battle with addiction, financial ruin, and his 2019 Alzheimer’s diagnosis. His story includes both professional success and deep personal struggles.

Milch’s gambling addiction cost him over $100 million in just 11 years. Much of his fortune vanished at Santa Anita racetrack, where he frequently bet on horses. Despite owning successful racehorses like Gilded Time and Val Royal—both Breeders’ Cup winners—his losses mounted.

By 2016, his debts reached $17 million, owed to the IRS. His wife, Rita Milch, later sued their business managers, claiming they had hidden the true scale of his financial crisis. Beyond gambling, Milch has openly discussed his struggles with alcohol and heroin. In 2019, he received an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Now, his memoir promises an unflinching look at his life—from addiction and recovery to the challenges of living with a degenerative disease.

Life’s Work will detail Milch’s rise as a TV creator and his steep personal decline. The book, described by Random House as a raw account of addiction and resilience, arrives as he continues to navigate health and financial fallout. His story offers a rare glimpse into the consequences of unchecked compulsions.