Don Francisco Biography: Net Worth, Age, Parents, Height, Wife, Children, Real Name, Shows
Biography
Mario Kreutzberger Blumenfeld, known professionally as Don Francisco, is a celebrated Chilean-American television icon born on December 28, 1940, in Talca, Chile, to German-Jewish immigrants who fled Nazi persecution.
He rose to fame in 1962 as the host of Sábado Gigante, a groundbreaking variety show blending comedy, music, interviews, and audience games that became one of the longest-running programs in TV history, airing for 53 years across Latin America and the U.S. on Univision, reaching an estimated 100 million viewers weekly in 30 countries.
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Married to Teresa “Temmy” Muchnick since 1963, with whom he has three children, Don Francisco is also renowned for his philanthropy, founding and hosting Chile’s Teletón charity telethon for disabled children from 1978 to 2021 and serving as the Hispanic spokesperson for the U.S. Muscular Dystrophy Association.
After retiring Sábado Gigante in 2015, he launched Don Francisco Te Invita on Telemundo in 2016. Inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2001, Don Francisco remains a beloved figure in Hispanic entertainment.
| Chilean television host | |
| Don Francisco | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Wiki Facts & About Data | |
| Real Name: | Mario Kreutzberger Blumenfeld |
| Stage Name: | Don Francisco |
| Born: | 28 December 1940 (age 84 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | Talca, Chile |
| Nationality: | Chilean, American |
| Education: | N/A |
| Height: | 1.80 m |
| Parents: | Erick Kreutzberger, Anna Blumenfeld Neufeld |
| Siblings: | N/A |
| Spouse: | Teresa Muchnik Rosenblum (m. 1962) |
| Girlfriend • Partner: | Not Dating |
| Children: | Vivi Kreutzberger, Patricio Kreutzberger, Francisco Kreutzberger |
| Occupation: | TV Personality |
| Net Worth: | $200 million (USD) |
Early Life & Education
Don Francisco, whose real name is Mario Luis Kreutzberger Blumenfeld, was born on December 28, 1940, in Talca, Chile.
He is of German-Jewish ethnicity, with his family adhering to the Jewish faith.
His parents, Erick Kreutzberger and Anna Blumenfeld Neufeld, were Jewish immigrants who had been born in Poland, lived in Germany, and fled to Chile in 1938—the day after Kristallnacht—to escape Nazi persecution during the lead-up to World War II.
Erick owned a menswear shop in Santiago and encouraged his son to pursue a career in fashion, while Anna was a classical singer who gave him singing lessons during his childhood.
German was Don Francisco‘s first language, spoken at home with his parents and grandmother, and he learned Spanish upon starting school.
No public information is available about any siblings. For his education, around 1959, his father sent him to New York City, where he attended a technical university to study men’s clothing design.
Career
Don Francisco, born Mario Kreutzberger, began his legendary television career in 1962 when he created and hosted Sábado Gigante on Chile’s Canal 13.
The variety show—featuring comedy sketches, live music, celebrity interviews, and audience-driven games—quickly became a national sensation and went on to make history as the longest-running TV program ever, airing continuously for 53 years until 2015.
Originally produced in Chile, Sábado Gigante expanded internationally in 1986 after Kreutzberger relocated the production to Miami and partnered with Univision, tapping into the rapidly growing U.S. Hispanic audience.
At its height, the show reached over 100 million viewers weekly across 30 countries in Latin America, the United States, and Spain. Memorable segments such as “El Chacal de la Trompeta” (a trumpet-wielding character who humorously dismissed poor performances), the “La Cámara Viajera” travelling camera, and the emotional “Cuéntame tu historia” became cultural touchstones.
Beyond television, Don Francisco established himself as a prominent philanthropist. In 1978, he founded Chile’s Teletón, a 27-hour charity broadcast supporting children with disabilities.
Hosting the event annually until 2021, he helped raise hundreds of millions of dollars for rehabilitation centres across the country. He also served for many years as the Hispanic spokesperson for the U.S. Muscular Dystrophy Association, further cementing his legacy of service.
After bidding farewell to Sábado Gigante in 2015 with a moving three-hour finale, Kreutzberger launched Don Francisco Te Invita on Telemundo in 2016—a more personal talk show centred on celebrity interviews and human-interest stories.
Throughout his career, he has earned numerous honours, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (2001), multiple Emmy Awards, and a Guinness World Record for the longest career as a television host. Now in his mid-80s, Don Francisco continues to make special appearances and remains a beloved, enduring figure in Spanish-language television and global entertainment.
Social Media
- Wikipedia: Don Francisco (television host)
- Instagram: Don Francisco (@donfranciscotv)
Personal Life
Don Francisco, born Mario Kreutzberger on December 28, 1940, is 84 years old.
He has been married once, to Teresa “Temmy” Muchnik Rosenblum, with sources indicating the marriage began in either 1962 or 1963; they have remained together after more than 60 years.
The couple has three children: Vivian (known as Vivi Kreutzberger, who followed in her father’s footsteps as a television host), Patricio Kreutzberger, and Francisco Kreutzberger.
Don Francisco stands at approximately 5 feet 10¾ inches (1.80 meters) tall.
Net Worth
Don Francisco, the legendary Chilean-American television host Mario Kreutzberger, has an estimated net worth of $200 million.
This wealth stems primarily from his 53-year run hosting Sábado Gigante on Univision, which drew massive audiences and syndication deals across 30 countries, supplemented by his later show Don Francisco Te Invita on Telemundo, real estate investments, and production ventures.
While some sources cite figures as low as $22 million or $150 million, the consensus among recent estimates places it at $200 million, reflecting his enduring impact on Hispanic media.
Filmography
Television Hosting (Major Shows)
- Sábado Gigante (1962–2015)
- Longest-running variety show in TV history (53 years)
- Canal 13 (Chile: 1962–1986) → Univision (Miami: 1986–2015)
- 8-hour weekly format with comedy, music, games, interviews
- Don Francisco Presenta (2001–2012)
- Weeknight talk/variety show on Univision
- Don Francisco Te Invita (2016–2019)
- Sunday morning interview show on Telemundo
- Teletón Chile (1978–2021)
- Annual 27-hour charity telethon for disabled children (founder & host)
- Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon (Hispanic Segment) (1980s–2010s)
- U.S. Hispanic spokesperson
- Specials & Guest Appearances
- Noche de Estrellas, Premios Lo Nuestro, Latin Grammys, Viña del Mar Festival (frequent host)
Film & Documentary
- Sábado Gigante: La Película (2004) – Cameo
- The Bronze Screen: 100 Years of the Latino Image in Hollywood (2002) – Himself
- Don Francisco: Reflexiones (various autobiographical specials)
Books
- Entre la Espada y la TV (1987) – Autobiography
- Mi Vida, Mi Show (2015) – Memoir
Awards & Honors (Selected)
- Hollywood Walk of Fame Star (2001)
- Guinness World Record: Longest TV hosting career
- Multiple Emmy Awards (Regional & National)
- TVyNovelas Lifetime Achievement Award
- Orden al Mérito Gabriela Mistral (Chile)
Production Credits
- Founder: Promofilm Chile (TV production company)
- Executive Producer: Sábado Gigante, Don Francisco Te Invita, Teletón
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