Why 'America's Got Talent' Winner Terry Fator Finally Stopped His 'Out-Of-Control' Spending

When ventriloquist Terry Fator won "America's Got Talent" in 2007, he signed a $ 100 million with The Mirage in Las Vegas and began to live large. New cars, a luxurious house, and expensive possessions - Fator wanted it all, as he explains in an interview for "Oprah: Where are they now?"

"When I started making money, man, I was out of control," he says in the video above. "Twice a year, I would change my car and get a new one. Simply could not get enough of it. Simply wanted to spend, spend, and spend."

But everything changed when the actor married his wife, Taylor Makakoa.

"My wife is very frugal," says Fator. "I have to explain that I like ketchup brand. Ketchup I do not get the store brand because I do not like the store brand. She wants to save money, but is a penny less, you know?"

One of the most expensive lessons marriages came when Makakoa Fator celebrates a birthday. "I bought $ 40,000 Tiffany jewelry. I mean, it was beautiful ... I was so excited," she says. "I gave it to her for her birthday and the expression on his face - I knew she did not like."

When Fator asked his wife what was wrong, she said she just could not take $ 40,000 in jewelry, as beautiful as it was.

"She took it back," says Fator. "Do you have the money and bought a nice necklace $ 1,500. She gave the rest to your favorite animal charity."

From Makakoa frugality has infected Fator. "She really helped me to slow down," he says.