William Shatner Net Worth

What is William Shatner's net worth?

William Shatner is a Canadian-born actor, author, producer, director, screenwriter, and singer who has a net worth of $100 million. William Shatner is best known for his portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk in the "Star Trek" franchise. Shatner has also had leading roles in other hit shows, including "T.J. Hooker," "The Practice," and "Boston Legal." In May 1983, Shatner received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He also has a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.

He began his acting career in the 1950s, performing in various theater productions and television shows in Canada. In the 1960s, Shatner gained international recognition when he was cast as the lead in "Star Trek: The Original Series," which aired from 1966 to 1969. His portrayal of the charismatic and bold starship captain earned him a devoted fan following and cemented his status as a science fiction icon. After "Star Trek," Shatner continued his successful career in television, notably starring as the title character in the legal drama series "T.J. Hooker" (1982-1986) and hosting the popular reality show "Rescue 911" (1989-1996). He also reprised his role as Captain Kirk in seven "Star Trek" feature films between 1979 and 1994.

In addition to his acting career, Shatner has authored numerous books, including memoirs and science fiction novels. He has also released several spoken-word albums and has performed on Broadway. In the 2000s, Shatner gained further popularity for his comedic roles, particularly his Emmy-winning performance as eccentric lawyer Denny Crane on the series "Boston Legal" (2004-2008).

Convention Earnings

William Shatner appears at dozens of conventions every year. To appear at a convention, he charges $10,000 for travel expenses, then $10,000 per hour with a five-hour minimum.

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Did William Shatner make $600 Million off Priceline?

There is a persistent rumor that William Shatner made $600 million as the commercial pitchman for Priceline.com. It's not true.

Back in 1997, Shatner signed on to be the "Priceline Negotiator" in a series of commercials for the upstart dotcom travel company. At the time, the internet bubble was still growing bigger, and companies like Priceline were getting insane stock market valuations from their IPOs. According to the rumor, Shatner insisted on receiving stock as compensation instead of cash. At the time, getting stock seemed like a brilliant move, but soon, the bubble burst, and Priceline shares lost nearly all their value. The stock eventually fell to a low of $1.80 per share in 2000. Fast forward a little more than a decade, and Shatner was still doing commercials, and Priceline's stock had made a huge comeback. Rumors swirled that Shatner didn't sell any of his stock during the decade after the bubble burst, leading some to speculate that his shares were now supposedly worth over $600 million.

Shatner has vehemently denied these rumors on several public occasions, most notably in an interview with Howard Stern. He even took to Twitter with the following:

"Someone stupid said a stupid thing about me making $600M. It ain't so. Relatives are coming out of the woodwork. Too bad it never happened."

Imeh Akpanudosen / Getty Images

Early Life

William Shatner was born on March 22, 1931, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to a Jewish family. The family's last name had been anglicized from Schattner to Shatner by his paternal grandfather. His parents were Ann and Joseph. He has two sisters. Shatner attended Willingdon Elementary School and West Hill High School and is an alumnus of the Montreal Children's Theatre. He studied Economics at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, where he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in 1952.

Early Career

After graduating from McGill University, William Shatner began his professional career behind the scenes, working as the business manager for a playhouse in Montreal. His ambition soon pushed him toward acting, and he joined the Canadian National Repertory Theatre, where he trained as a classical Shakespearean performer. By 1954, he was appearing at the prestigious Stratford Shakespeare Festival, taking on a range of roles that showcased his versatility and stage presence.

That same year, Shatner began appearing on Canadian television, landing a role as Ranger Bob on "The Canadian Howdy Doody Show." His early exposure on screen led to more acting opportunities in both television and film. In 1958, he made his feature film debut in "The Brothers Karamazov," where he played a supporting role alongside Yul Brynner. Around the same time, he appeared in the anthology series "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" in the memorable episode "The Glass Eye," which further demonstrated his ability to adapt to suspense and dramatic material.

Throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s, Shatner became a reliable guest star on a variety of television programs, including "The Twilight Zone," "The Fugitive," and "Dr. Kildare," laying the groundwork for his breakthrough role.

Star Trek in 1966 (Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)

Star Trek

Shatner's defining career moment came in 1966 when he was cast as Captain James T. Kirk in Gene Roddenberry's science fiction series "Star Trek." The show, which ran for three seasons until 1969, was not a ratings success during its original broadcast but developed a passionate fan base in syndication throughout the 1970s. Shatner's portrayal of Kirk—bold, charismatic, and uncompromising—turned him into a cultural icon and solidified "Star Trek" as one of the most influential franchises in television history.

In 1973, Shatner reprised the role in the animated "Star Trek" series, voicing Captain Kirk. He went on to play Kirk in seven feature films, beginning with "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" (1979) and concluding with "Star Trek Generations" (1994), where the character met his on-screen death. He also directed "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier" (1989) and several television episodes, further shaping the legacy of the franchise.

The enduring popularity of "Star Trek" made Shatner a fixture at fan conventions, where he embraced his role as the face of the franchise. Over time, he moved from resisting typecasting to celebrating his connection with Captain Kirk, ultimately making peace with the character that defined his career.

Star Trek Salary & Royalties

As William has explained in various interviews, relatively speaking, he was paid well for his work on the original Star Trek series. Unfortunately, he was going through a divorce at the time and had three kids to support, so he was actually broke throughout the series. He does NOT earn royalties Star Trek reruns. Royalties for reruns would not be negotiated by the Screen Actors Guild for several years after the show was canceled.

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Television Success Beyond Star Trek

Though "Star Trek" was his signature role, Shatner achieved success outside the franchise as well. In the 1980s, he starred as Sergeant T.J. Hooker in the police drama "T.J. Hooker," which ran from 1982 to 1986. The role gave him another chance to lead a network series, and he also directed several episodes, honing his skills behind the camera.

Later, Shatner found renewed acclaim in the legal drama genre. Cast by David E. Kelley, he played eccentric attorney Denny Crane in the final season of "The Practice" before taking the character to the spinoff "Boston Legal" (2004–2008). His performance, which balanced comedy with poignant commentary on aging and morality, won him two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe. The role introduced Shatner to a new generation of viewers and marked one of the most celebrated periods of his later career.

From 2016 to 2018, Shatner starred in NBC's reality-travel comedy "Better Late Than Never," alongside Henry Winkler, George Foreman, and Terry Bradshaw. The series followed the group's adventures around the world, further highlighting Shatner's enduring charisma and sense of humor.

Film Work

Beyond "Star Trek," Shatner's film credits include a wide range of roles. He co-starred in the popular comedies "Miss Congeniality" (2000) and its sequel "Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous" (2004), playing beauty pageant director Stan Fields. These lighthearted roles showcased his knack for self-deprecating humor and his ability to play off his larger-than-life persona.

Throughout his career, Shatner appeared in dozens of films spanning genres from westerns to thrillers, often embracing camp and parody, which endeared him to audiences who appreciated his willingness to laugh at himself.

Recording Career

In addition to acting, Shatner cultivated a unique career as a recording artist. His first album, "The Transformed Man," was released in 1968 and became infamous for its dramatic, spoken-word interpretations of popular songs and classical pieces. While initially met with mixed reviews, the album later achieved cult status.

Over the decades, Shatner released several more albums, often collaborating with rock and pop artists. His most successful project was the 2011 album "Seeking Major Tom," which featured covers of iconic songs like David Bowie's "Space Oddity," Pink Floyd's "Learning to Fly," and Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody." The record reached the Billboard charts and introduced Shatner's musical experiments to a new audience.

His recording career, though unconventional, has remained a quirky and beloved part of his persona, blending theatricality with pop culture irreverence.

Personal Life

Shatner has been married four times. His first marriage was to Canadian actress Gloria Rand in August 1956. They had three daughters: Leslie (1958), Lisabeth (1960), and Melanie (1964). Shatner left Rand while he was filming the original "Star Trek" series. Rand divorced him in March 1969.

Shatner's second marriage was to Marcy Lafferty and lasted from 1973 to 1996.

His third marriage was to Nerine Kidd Shatner. They married in 1997. She was 38, and he was 66. On August 9, 1999, Shatner got home late one night and discovered Nerine's body at the bottom of their swimming pool. The autopsy found alcohol and Valium in her blood, and the coroner ruled the cause of death as an accidental drowning.

In 2001, Shatner married Elizabeth Anderson Martin. Shatner filed for divorce from Elizabeth in 2019, and it was finalized in January 2020. Upon their divorce, following the terms of their prenuptial agreement, Shatner paid Elizabeth a lump sum of $2 million for spousal support, and deeded her properties in Malibu and Kentucky. William kept a home in Studio City, California, a ranch in Three Rivers, Ca, several horses… AND "all horse semen" collected and stored by the former couple.

In June 2011, McGill University awarded him an honorary Doctorate of Letters. Shatner was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters from the New England Institute of Technology in May 2018.

In 2021, William Shatner became the oldest person to fly into space at the age of 90 years old when he boarded the Blue Origin sub-orbital capsule.

William Shatner Salary

How much does William Shatner make per episode of a television show? $150,000

Real Estate

William Shatner's longtime residence in Los Angeles is a four-bedroom, four-bathroom, 4,016-square-foot home in Studio City, California. As part of his 2020 divorce settlement with ex-wife Elizabeth, he deeded her a home in Malibu and their Belle Reve Farm in Versailles, Kentucky. Shatner kept an 18-acre ranch in Three Rivers, California, which he bought in 1979 with his wife, Marcy.

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