| Net Worth | $20 million |
|---|---|
| Salary | N/A |
| Birthdate | June 8, 1957 |
| Birthplace | Windham, New York, USA |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | N/A |
| Profession | Comic author, entrepreneur |
| Nationality | American |
What is Scott Adams’ Net Worth?
Scott Adams, an American comic author and entrepreneur, has a net worth of $20 million. He accumulated his wealth primarily through his creation of the popular comic strip Dilbert. This iconic comic strip, which he launched in 1989, quickly gained international recognition and appeared in over 2,000 newspapers in 19 languages across nearly 60 countries.
Highlights
– Scott Adams’ net worth is estimated to be $20 million.
– He achieved success as the creator of the comic strip Dilbert, which became hugely popular worldwide.
– Adams also earned income from his role as the executive producer of the Dilbert television show.
– He is the founder of Scott Adams Food, Inc., a vegetarian food company.
– Adams gained notoriety for his accurate prediction of Donald Trump’s presidential election victory in 2015.
– In February 2023, Adams faced controversy and lost important newspaper publications and his distributor due to contentious remarks made on his YouTube show.
Early Life
Scott Adams was born on June 8, 1957, in Windham, New York. He developed an interest in cartooning at a young age, drawing comics inspired by Peanuts. Adams won his first drawing competition at the age of 11. Despite his passion for cartooning, he pursued a more traditional career path and obtained a bachelor’s degree in economics from Hartwick College in 1979. After completing his MBA at U.C. Berkeley in 1986, he moved to California.
Career
Adams began his career working for various companies, including Pacific Bell, where he was employed when his first Dilbert cartoon was published. Balancing his day job with his passion for cartooning, Adams diligently drew Dilbert cartoons every morning before work. He based the characters in his comic strip on his former coworkers at Pacific Bell.
In 1989, Adams launched Dilbert with United Media, and the strip gradually gained popularity. By 1991, Dilbert appeared in 100 newspapers, and by 1994, it reached 400 newspapers. Adams received his first paycheck from Dilbert royalties, amounting to $368.62. As the comic’s popularity continued to grow, Adams eventually quit his job at Pacific Bell to focus on Dilbert full-time. By 1996, Dilbert was featured in 800 newspapers worldwide.
Adams’s success with Dilbert led to numerous opportunities, including the release of his first business book, “The Dilbert Principle,” in 1996. The comic strip also became the basis for a television series that ran from 1998 to 2000 and won a Primetime Emmy Award in 1999. Dilbert even expanded into merchandise, further contributing to Adams’ wealth.
In addition to his work on Dilbert, Adams ventured into other projects. He founded Scott Adams Food, Inc., a vegetarian food company, and authored nonfiction books such as “The Religion War.” Adams also gained attention for his outspoken opinions shared on social media, with his predictions about Donald Trump’s election victory being particularly noteworthy.
Unfortunately, Adams faced controversy in February 2023 when he made racist and disparaging remarks against black people on his YouTube show. Following this incident, a number of prominent news outlets dropped Dilbert, and his distributor decided to terminate their working relationship.
Personal Life
Scott Adams has faced personal challenges throughout his life. He suffers from focal dystonia, which affects his ability to draw for extended periods of time, leading him to use a graphics tablet instead. In 2008, he underwent surgery to correct spasmodic dysphonia, a condition that causes irregular vocal cord behavior.
In terms of his personal relationships, Adams married Shelly Miles in 2006, but they divorced in 2014. Despite the separation, they remain friends. In 2019, Adams announced his engagement to model Kristina Basham, and they tied the knot on July 11, 2020.
Net Worth Over Time
Scott Adams’ net worth has grown steadily throughout his career, primarily due to the success of Dilbert. Starting with modest earnings from Dilbert royalties, Adams eventually became a millionaire. Although he faced controversy and experienced setbacks in recent years, his net worth remains at an estimated $20 million.
Components of Net Worth
Scott Adams’ net worth is derived from various sources, including:
1. Dilbert: The success of the Dilbert comic strip, with its international syndication and merchandise sales, has been the primary contributor to Adams’ net worth. Adams earned substantial royalties from the publication of Dilbert in newspapers worldwide and the licensing of the comic for various merchandise.
2. TV Show: Adams served as the executive producer of the Dilbert television show, which added to his income and contributed to his net worth.
3. Books: Adams authored several nonfiction books, including “The Dilbert Principle” and “The Religion War,” which likely generated additional income.
4. Entrepreneurship: As the founder of Scott Adams Food, Inc., Adams ventured into the vegetarian food industry. While the success of this business’s financial performance is uncertain, it is a component of his overall net worth.
Despite the controversies and challenges faced in recent years, Scott Adams’ net worth of $20 million reflects his significant achievements as a comic author and entrepreneur.