David Baldacci Net Worth

What Is David Baldacci's Net Worth?

David Baldacci is an American novelist and producer who has a net worth of $50 million. Before becoming a best-selling author, David Baldacci worked as a lawyer in Washington, D.C. He was always interested in writing and wrote short stories and screenplays throughout his school years. Baldacci began writing a novel during his law career, and after working on it for three years, it was published in 1996. The book, "Absolute Power," was an almost instant international bestseller and was subsequently turned into a movie starring Clint Eastwood. Since then, David has written more than 50 novels and is the author of the King and Maxwell, Camel Club, John Puller, Will Robie, Amos Decker, Atlee Pine, Aloysius Archer, and Travis Devine. He has sold more than 130 million copies of his books, and they are available in nearly 50 languages. His novels have been adapted into the film "Wish You Well" (2013), the Hallmark movies "The Christmas Train" (2017) and "One Summer" (2021), and the TNT series "King & Maxwell" (2013). He served as a consulting producer on "King & Maxwell," a producer on "Wish You Well," and an executive producer on "The Christmas Train." Baldacci also came up with the idea for the Australian espionage series "Gray" (2023), and he executive-produced the show.

Early Life

David Baldacci was born David Gregory Baldacci on August 5, 1960, in Richmond, Virginia. He has Italian heritage, and he has a sister named Sharon, who is also an author. After graduating from Henrico High School, David enrolled at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. Next, he attended the University of Virginia School of Law, graduating with a Juris Doctor in 1986. Baldacci then spent nine years practicing law in Washington, D.C.

Career

David started writing stories during his childhood, and when he was practicing law, he decided to work on his first novel, "Absolute Power." After it was published in 1996, the novel became an international best-seller, and it was adapted into a 1997 film starring Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Ed Harris, and Laura Linney. Baldacci's standalone novels include "Total Control" (1997), "The Winner" (1998), "The Simple Truth" (1998), "Wish You Well" (2001), "True Blue" (2009), "One Summer" (2011), and "A Calamity of Souls" (2024). He is the author several series, and he has written books for young readers, such as "Freddy and the French Fries: Fries Alive" (2005), "The Finisher" (2014), "The Keeper" (2015), "The Width of the World" (2017), and "The Stars Below" (2019). In 2013, TNT aired the show "King & Maxwell," which was based on his book series of the same name. The show starred Jon Tenney and Rebecca Romijn and ran for 10 episodes. That year his novel "Wish You Well" was adapted into a film starring Ellen Burstyn, Mackenzie Foy, and Josh Lucas. His novels "The Christmas Train" and "One Summer" were adapted into Hallmark movies in 2017 and 2021, respectively. "The Christmas Train" aired on the Hallmark Channel, and "One Summer" aired on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.

(Photo by David Levenson/Getty Images)

Personal Life

David married Michelle Collin on May 5, 1990, and they have welcomed two children together. David and Michelle founded the nonprofit organization the Wish You Well Foundation, which is dedicated to "supporting adult and family literacy in the United States by fostering new and promoting existing adult literacy and educational programs." Baldacci began supporting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society after his sister was diagnosed with the disease. David has served on the board of trustees of Connecticut's Mark Twain House & Museum, and he gave a $1 million donation to the home in 2019.

Real Estate

David Baldacci and his wife, Michelle, maintain multiple homes across the United States. Their primary residence is a custom-built home in Fairfax County, Virginia, nestled on a secluded former forest farm outside Washington, D.C. The property features large open spaces, a Tuscan-style kitchen, a gym, and a backyard potting cottage that resembles something from a Disney fairy tale—fitting for a house filled with Disney memorabilia. In 2001, the Baldaccis purchased a summer home on Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, a retreat where the family enjoys sailing, water-skiing, and wakeboarding. They also own a home on Amelia Island, Florida, which they bought after becoming empty nesters to escape Virginia winters.

Awards

Baldacci has won Virginia Literary Awards (Fiction) for "Hour Game" (2005), "The Sixth Man" (2012), and "King and Maxwell" (2014), and he received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. In 2014, he earned an Audie Award for Thriller or Suspense for "The Hit," and in 2020, he won a Nero Award for "One Good Deed." David was honored with a Silver Bullet Award at the 2008 International Thriller Writers Awards and The People's Bestseller Dagger at the 2011 Crime Thriller Awards, and in 2024, the PEN/Faulkner Foundation named him a PEN/Faulkner Literary Champion.

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