What is Lee Child's Net Worth?
Lee Child, whose real name is James Grant, is a renowned British author with a net worth of $70 million. Best known for his Jack Reacher series, Child introduced the iconic character in 1997 with the novel "Killing Floor." The book won the Anthony Award and the Barry Award for Best First Novel, catapulting Child into the literary spotlight. Besides the Jack Reacher series, Child has also ventured into writing non-fiction and numerous short stories.
Early Life and Education
Born on October 29, 1954, in Coventry, England, James Grant moved to Birmingham with his family at the age of four. He attended Cherry Orchard Primary School followed by King Edward's School. Later, he pursued a law degree at the University of Sheffield, graduating in 1977, even though he had no plans to practice law.
Career Beginnings in Television
After graduation, Grant worked as a presentation director for Granada Television in Manchester. During his tenure, he was responsible for overseeing the transmission of programs and writing numerous advertisements and news stories. He worked at Granada until 1995 when he was laid off due to corporate restructuring.
Jack Reacher
Post-Granada, Grant adopted the pen name Lee Child and embarked on a writing career. 1997 saw the release of his debut novel, "Killing Floor," starring the American ex-military policeman Jack Reacher. The success of the novel led to a prolific series of Jack Reacher thrillers, with at least one new book published each year. The series includes notable titles such as "Die Trying," "Without Fail," "Blue Moon," and more. In 2020, Lee Child announced his eventual retirement from the series, passing the baton to his brother Andrew, with whom he co-authored subsequent novels.
Jack Reacher's adventures have transcended the pages with screen adaptations. The first film, "Jack Reacher" (2012), based on the novel "One Shot," starred Tom Cruise as Reacher and was directed by Christopher McQuarrie. Cruise returned for the 2016 sequel, "Jack Reacher: Never Go Back," directed by Edward Zwick. In 2022, Amazon Prime Video launched the series "Reacher," starring Alan Ritchson. The first season is based on "Killing Floor," and the second season is adapted from the 2007 novel "Bad Luck and Trouble."
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Other Written Works
Beyond the Jack Reacher series, Child published the non-fiction book "The Hero" in 2019. He has also penned various short stories including "Ten Keys," "Public Transportation," and "Shorty and the Briefcase," which have appeared in multiple collections.
Other Projects and Activities
In 2007, Child collaborated with 14 other thriller authors for the audio serial "The Chopin Manuscript," narrated by Alfred Molina. A year later, he became a visiting professor at the University of Sheffield and was elected president of the Mystery Writers of America in 2009.
Child contributed vocals to the track "Reacher Said Nothing" on a 2019 album by Jennifer and Scott Smith. In 2020, he served on the judging panel for the Booker Prize and continuously sponsors ThrillerFest.
Honors
Lee Child has earned honorary degrees from several universities, including his alma mater, the University of Sheffield. His accolades also include lifetime achievement awards from the Crime Writers' Association, International Thriller Writers, and the British Book Awards. In 2019, he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his contributions to literature.
Personal Life & Real Estate
Child married Jane in 1975, and they have a daughter named Ruth. The family resides in New York. In 2014, Lee purchased a luxurious NYC condo for $9.15 million. Located near Central Park, the four-bedroom apartment features stunning park views and a high monthly HOA fee of $8,500. In November 2023, he listed the apartment for sale at $11 million.
