Stephen King is one of the world’s most successful authors and storytellers, with over 60 novels and dozens of short stories that have earned him a place in the rich list. As an author, he has created some of the most iconic horror, suspense, fantasy and science fiction works ever written. His estimated net worth has recently been reported as being around $500 million USD – making him one of the wealthiest authors in the world. But what makes Stephen King so successful? In this post we will explore his career, major works and achievements, income sources and assets owned by Stephen King. We will also look at how popular Stephen King is around the world and analyse his earning over time.
Introduction to Stephen King and his Work
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, crime, science-fiction and fantasy novels. He was born in Portland, Maine on September 21st 1947 and studied English Literature and Creative Writing at University of Maine. He began writing for fun while still in college but soon made it his profession when his first novel ‘Carrie’ became a bestseller in 1974. Since then, he has become one of the best-selling authors of all time – selling more than 350 million copies across the globe. Some of his most famous works include ‘The Shining’, ‘IT’, ‘Misery’ and ‘The Dark Tower series’.
Stephen King’s Estimated Net Worth
As of 2021, Stephen King’s estimated net worth is reportedly around $500 million USD, placing him among the wealthiest authors in the world. This wealth comes mainly from sales of his books which are currently published in 49 languages across 43 countries. He also earns money through movie adaptations of his work (e.g The Shawshank Redemption), comic book spin offs, television shows and audio books.
Early Life and Education of Stephen King
King was born in Portland, Maine to Donald Edwin King and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury. His parents separated before he was two years old and he grew up with his mother in Durham, Maine where she worked as a caregiver in an industrial laundry facility. King attended grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School where he wrote for the school newspaper, acted in school plays and graduated in 1966. He went on to study at the University of Maine and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language and Literature in 1970.
Major Works and Achievements of Stephen King
Since publishing his first novel ‘Carrie’ in 1974, Stephen King has gone on to write several other successful books such as ‘The Shining’ (1977), ‘Christine’ (1983), ‘Misery’ (1987), ‘Needful Things’ (1991) and ‘The Green Mile’ (1996). All these novels were adapted into successful films or television series. Additionally, many of his books have won awards such as The British Fantasy Award for Best Novel in 1987 for ‘It’ and Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel in 1996 for ‘The Green Mile’. His 2000 non-fiction memoir ‘On Writing: A Memoir Of The Craft’ was praised by critics and readers alike.
What are Stephen King’s Major Sources of Income?
Apart from book sales, Stephen King generates a significant amount of income from film adaptations of his work. For example, the 1999 film adaptation of ‘The Green Mile’ grossed over $286 million dollars worldwide. Other major sources of income for King include royalties from foreign editions of his books, income from speaking engagements and endorsement deals.
Assets owned by Stephen King
In addition to his estimated net worth of $500 million USD, King owns multiple properties including a $2 million mansion in Bangor, Maine; a waterfront property in Florida valued at around $3 million USD; a house in Westford, Massachusetts; a large home near Sarasota Springs; and a home near Orrington Beach Maine valued at $7.5 million USD.
Philanthropic Endeavours of Stephen King
Stephen King is known to be generous with his fortune, having donated millions of dollars to charities throughout his career. In 2013, he donated $1 million to Maine Innocence Project which helps free wrongfully convicted prisoners. In 2014, he established a scholarship fund called SK Scholarship Program which provides educational opportunities for students who otherwise could not afford higher education. Most recently in 2020, he contributed $25 thousand dollars towards coronavirus relief efforts in Maine.
Popularity of Stephen King Around the World
Stephen King is a household name all around the world due to the success of his books and their film/TV adaptations. He has gained recognition from numerous awards such as National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters in 2003 and Horror Writers Association Lifetime Achievement Award 2015 amongst others. He even has a day named after him: October 24th is now officially recognised as ‘Stephen King Day’ in the state of Maine.
Analysis of Stephen King’s Earning Over Time
Throughout his illustrious career spanning nearly five decades, Stephen King’s earning power has increased significantly year on year. His 2019 total earnings alone exceeded $40 million dollars according to Forbes magazine – setting a new record for authors’ earnings that year. From 2004 to 2017 his earning steadily rose from just under $20 million per annum to approximately $35 million per annum – demonstrating a significant increase in popularity during that period.
Conclusion – What Does the Future Hold for Stephen King?
At 74 years old, there is no sign that Stephen King’s success is slowing down any time soon – if anything it seems like he is gaining more traction as each year passes by! He continues to publish new books every year (most recently ‘If It Bleeds’ in 2020) and produce movies based on older works such as the upcoming Netflix adaptation of ‘The Stand’. There is no doubt that Stephen King’s net worth will continue to grow significantly into the future – cementing himself as one of the greatest authors in history.