Matthew Perry’s Sister Reveals He Spent $7 Million Trying to Get Sober Before His Death

Matthew Perry’s Sister Reveals the Cost of His Sobriety Efforts

Matthew Perry’s sister, Mia Bowick, has revealed that the Friends actor allegedly spent $7 million trying to remain free from drugs and alcohol during his years in the public eye. Bowick discussed the scale of Perry’s efforts in The One About Matthew Perry, a new documentary about his life and legacy scheduled for release on Netflix on October 27, 2026.

“All great stories have comedy and tragedy in them, and that certainly was Matthew’s story,” Bowick says in a trailer for the documentary. She also describes the emotional struggle behind Perry’s repeated attempts to get sober: “My brother would talk about that feeling of emptiness or loneliness that he couldn’t quite fill,” Bowick said. “He spent $7 million trying to get sober. That’s how seriously he took his disease.”

Perry died at the age of 54 at his Los Angeles home in October 2023. He was found unresponsive in his swimming pool. The cause of death was listed as the acute effects of ketamine, with drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine also contributing.

Documentary Revisits Perry’s Addiction and Rise to Fame

The documentary addresses Perry’s long-publicized struggles with drugs and alcohol, including his admission that he could not remember large portions of filming Friends because he was under the influence. It also features a talk-show clip in which Perry discussed his intense desire to become famous and the consequences he believed came with achieving that ambition.

“I said, ‘God, you can do anything you want to me. Just please make me famous,’” the actor said before recalling that he later “got a phone call and instantly knew my whole life was gonna change.” Perry then warned: “But God did not forget the other part.”

The film’s release comes as Perry’s death remains connected to a criminal investigation into the supply of ketamine he received before his passing. The BBC reported that prosecutors said Perry’s personal assistant and two doctors provided him with more than $50,000 worth of ketamine in the weeks leading up to his death. His assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, 60, was sentenced to 41 months in prison in connection with the case.

Mia Bowick Discusses Matthew Perry’s Legacy

Bowick previously spoke about participating in the tell-all documentary. Entertainment Weekly reported that she was ‘ready to share these memories and what it was like to love Matthew through all the complexity of his life.’ She continued, per the outlet: “As his sister, he shaped who I am today, the person I strive to be, and the work to which I’ve devoted my life. Matthew had a beautiful heart and a generous spirit, and even in his darkest moments, he could still make you laugh and feel loved. I hope this series gives everyone who loved him, whether personally or from afar, a deeper appreciation for who he truly was, and the legacy he leaves behind.”

Bowick also recounts how making people laugh helped Perry cope, while his physical comedy and work outside acting allowed him to help others. His efforts included a rehabilitation program intended to support people seeking sobriety from addiction.

The One About Matthew Perry will include interviews with friends and notable figures who knew Perry at different stages of his life, from childhood onward. The documentary is positioned as an account of both Perry’s cultural impact and the personal challenges he faced behind his success as one of television’s best-known actors.

Why This Matters

Matthew Perry’s story highlights the contrast between the public success of a major television star and the private, prolonged nature of addiction and recovery. The reported $7 million spent on sobriety underscores how extensively Perry pursued treatment and how difficult maintaining recovery remained throughout his life. The documentary also arrives while legal scrutiny continues over the circumstances surrounding the ketamine supplied to him before his death, bringing renewed attention to both his legacy and the risks associated with addiction treatment and controlled substances.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The One About Matthew Perry about?

The Netflix documentary examines Matthew Perry’s life, career, addiction struggles, attempts to achieve sobriety and legacy. It includes interviews with friends and people who knew him from childhood onward, as well as commentary from his sister Mia Bowick.

How much did Matthew Perry allegedly spend trying to get sober?

Mia Bowick says Matthew Perry spent $7 million trying to get sober, describing the expense as evidence of how seriously he treated his addiction.

When did Matthew Perry die?

Matthew Perry died at age 54 in October 2023 at his Los Angeles home. His death was attributed to the acute effects of ketamine, with drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine listed as contributing factors.