Stephen King Net Worth and Top-Grossing Novels of All Time

01.12.2022 - 17:08

Stephen King, famously known as 'the King of Horror,' is an American writer of fantasy novels, horror, thriller, and crime. One of the largest-paid writers of all time, Stephen King has an amount of net worth estimated at $600 million. On his bookshelves, he carries a selection of best-selling novels. Upwards of 350 million copies of Stephen King's novels have been sold, generating about $48 million in yearly revenue.

Stephen King wrote 64 novels, including five non-fiction works and seven written under the alias Richard Bachman. The works of Stephen King have been made into movies, series, TV shows, and comic books. Stephen has worked with different writers and authored both Marvel and DC comics.

Given his countless awards and achievements in literature, Stephen King is undoubtedly one of the finest authors of his time. Stephen King was indeed the fifth-highest-paid author worldwide in 2019.

His Personal Life

King and Tabitha Spruce got married on January 2nd, 1971. Together, they have three children. Naomi, their daughter, and Rev. Dr. Thandeka, who lives in Plantation, are both missionaries for the Unitarian Universalist Church. The two Kings' sons are also authors.

King is a well-known philanthropist, as is his wife. Each year, they provide $4 million to local fire departments, libraries, schools, and foundations that support the arts. The Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation, established by King and his wife, is the sixth-ranked charity in Maine with donations totaling more than $2.8 million annually.

Three residences are owned by King and his wife. They have a Victorian mansion in Bangor, Maine that was constructed in 1870 and was their primary location for a while; it will soon be converted into a museum and writer's retreat. Additionally, they own a vacation property in Lowell, Maine. Moreover, the family is the owner of a beachfront property in Sarasota, Florida, on the Gulf of Mexico.

Stephen King is so successful. What, however, were his best-selling books of all time? Everything you need to know is provided here:

1. The Shining

One of Stephen King's frightening and most intimate tales is The Shining. It became introduced in 1977. It's not just his highest-rated book on Goodreads; it is also his best-selling masterpiece. Roughly 700,000 copies have been sold. In 1980, Jack Nicholson starred in a famous feature film version of the book produced by Stanley Kubrick.

The terrifying story of Jack Torrance, the custodian of the Overlook Hotel, as he begins to suspect malevolent activity within the establishment. The success of the movie may be attributed to Stanley Kubrick and the outstanding actors, but Stephen King is to account for the horrors that are concealed in the narrative. The Shining continues to be a huge hit for both Kubrick and King.

2. Carrie

King's debut book, which was released in 1974, is acknowledged as one of the greatest horror books written. It focuses on Carrie White, a social outcast. Carrie has a devout mom who is mentally violent and endures constant abuse from her classmates. To have her vengeance, Carrie employs telekinesis. One of the most stunning and frightening works in American literature, this book was also turned into a film.

3. Salem’s Lot

King's second book, Salem's Lot, is considered to be among his masterpieces. The story centers on Ben Mears, who travels to Jerusalem's Lot, his homeland, to investigate a historic old property in a small village. He quickly discovers that there are vampires infesting the town, and it is up to him to end them. With that, a terrifying story of evil in a New England community begins. Among all vampire tales ever written, the book is excellent.

4. Misery

Any celebrity will probably admit that one of their concerns is a crazy follower. Best-selling author Paul Sheldon encounters Annie Wilkes, his biggest fan, after a terrible vehicle accident. As his nurse, Wilkes treated him. However, as Misery progresses, readers discover that she is far more than simply a medical professional. The movie was notably adapted into a movie with Kathy Bates, whose performance earned her Oscars.

5. Pet Sematary

'Whatever you bury, you possess. And everything you own always finds its way back to you.'

Pet Sematary, which was nominated for a World Fantasy Award in 1984 for Outstanding Novel, tells the tale of the Creed family, who've just settled into a house in Maine. Louis noticed the town's children's pet cemetery, where they buried their departed animals. But beyond the Sematary, there is a far darker mystery.

6. The Stand

It's commonly agreed that Stephen King's postapocalyptic masterpiece is one of his best and most challenging works. He published this book in 1990, making it his longest. The story seems to be distinct from those in his prior books, yet it still does a good job of embracing the horror and sci-fi sub-genres.

When a man slips from a bioweapons lab, he unleashes a horrible domino effect that causes a viral outbreak that eliminates almost all of humanity. A leader is required for the surviving. The environment around Mother Abigail, the virtuous, and Randall Flagg, the villain, soon returns to health. As a result, good and evil engage in an intense battle.

7. It

The monstrous IT is among the best-known evil of Stephen King. A set of friends are followed in the novel both as children and as grownups. They overcame Pennywise, a dangerous monster who mimics a clown and preys on children's fear when they were kids. This terrifying story features a clown that lives in a sewer and tempts children with a red balloon. Pennywise reappeared and is more powerful than ever 27 years later.

8. The Gunslinger

The Gunslinger is the debut novel in the Dark Tower series that combines science fiction, horror, and the American West. Most of Stephen King's books are distinctive on their own. Roland Deschain, the only surviving member of the knightly order renowned as the Gunslingers, is the subject of the tale. Roland's ultimate objective is to find The Man in Black and the legendary Dark Tower to preserve his crumbling planet.

9. Under the Dome

Science fiction legend Stephen King's masterpiece, Under the Dome, has sold millions of copies worldwide. The dome itself, rather than a specific antagonist, is the story's primary villain. The story takes place in Chester's Mill, a small community that is blocked off from the outside world by an incredible, unbreakable dome that descends from the sky. A multi-character point of view of how the inhabitants of the town cope with the tragedy of being abruptly locked off from the outside world. A few groups of locals led by an Iraq War veteran went out to discover the dome's mystery. The book was turned into a television series in 2013, and it gets a lot of attention there.

10. The Dead Zone

The novel was released in 1979 frequently listed among the best King novels. Johnny Smith had an accident that rendered him in a comatose state for four years. When he awakens, Johnny develops special powers where he can see people’s futures simply by touching their hands. A part of his brain was damaged and turned into a dead zone. He becomes a sort of reluctant hero. The Dead Zone explores whether this is a gift or a curse and what Johnny can do about it. The book was adapted into a Christopher Walken-led film in 1983.

Stephen King is truly a legendary author, a recipient of numerous awards throughout his career, and acknowledged as “The Master of Horror” among writers. His works are all masterpieces that will shake your imaginations of horror, science fiction, crime, and thrill. Fans admired King for each novel he authored. His works are undoubtedly best-selling novels and most of them are adapted into films.