Hard Times For Former Bay Area Radio Broadcasters

Ron Owens

Ronn Owens, a prominent former KGO radio host, and his wife, Jan Black, a former KCBS anchor, filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy on August 14, 2025, in Arizona federal court, citing $2.3 million in liabilities. 

The couple, once considered Bay Area media royalty, owes over $511,000 to more than 40 creditors, including banks and credit card companies, with over $400,000 of the debt incurred in 2025. Significant debts include $300,000 in credit card balances to creditors like American Express and Bank of America, and a $51,000 lawsuit from JP Morgan Chase for unpaid balances. Their monthly expenses include $6,640 for medical, dental, and insurance costs, plus a $14,188 mortgage they reportedly stopped paying.

Owens, who hosted The Ronn Owens Program on KGO 810 AM for 46 years until his retirement in 2021, has been battling Parkinson’s disease since 2001, four bouts of cancer (most recently colon cancer), heart issues, COVID, and pneumonia. These health challenges have led to extensive medical bills, with Owens spending up to six months in hospitals over recent years, requiring an in-home caregiver. 

Ronn and Jan

Black noted that their supplemental health insurance does not cover all residual medical expenses, exacerbating their financial strain.

A GoFundMe campaign launched on December 31, 2024, to support their medical and financial burdens has raised over $131,000 of a $140,000 goal, with contributions from notable figures like former KGO colleague Leo Laporte and Santa Clara attorney Todd Rothbard. 

However, questions arose about the use of these funds, particularly as the couple incurred significant debt after the campaign began. Owens publicly denied allegations that the funds were used for their daughter Laura’s legal expenses, emphasizing that the money was a “lifeline” for their financial struggles.

The bankruptcy filing coincides with a high-profile legal controversy involving their daughter, Laura Owens, who lives with them in their $1.5 million Scottsdale, Arizona, home. Laura faces seven felony charges, including perjury, fraud, forgery, and evidence tampering, stemming from a 2023 claim that she was pregnant with twins by Clayton Echard, a former star of The Bachelor. She allegedly fabricated evidence, including an altered ultrasound image, and is scheduled for trial in early 2026.