Danielle Steel's Net Worth Is Proof She Loves Writing

Danielle Steel

Romance readers have enjoyed author Danielle Steel’s books for decades. She writes a lot—according to her website, she’s written more than 200 books—so her fans don’t tend to wait long for new releases, and she doesn't tend to wait long for money. Steel’s prolific career means that she’s turned a conceivably low-paying job into an enormous net worth.

"I never had success as a goal,” she said in a 2019 interview with Glamour. “I had this drive to write the stories that came to me—and to conquer them. It came from the gut, not from the cash register."

Be that as it may, she’s certainly not hurting for cash. Her newest book, Upside Down, came out Jan. 2 as an instant bestseller and she already has more slated to publish this year. Here’s a closer look at Steel’s writing and how much money she’s made from it.

How did Danielle Steel get her start?

Steel spent the 1960s in fashion school and later working PR for an ad agency. She published her first book in 1973 (she would’ve been about 26) but it wasn’t a bestseller. So, she did what many young writers do—worked other jobs to stay afloat.

“To me your 20s and a good part of your 30s are about working hard so that you have a better quality of life later on,” she told Glamour. “I mean, I never expected that quality of life at 25. I had three jobs at the same time, and after work I wrote.”

Her persistence paid off. In 1978 she published The Promise, an immediate hit, and followed it up with a series of bestselling paperbacks. She’s been keeping up a steady clip ever since, as anyone who’s visited a used bookstore can attest to.

Related: 125 Best Romance Books of All Time, With Picks From Bestselling Authors and Indie Booksellers

What is Danielle Steel's net worth in 2024?

Danielle Steel is worth an estimated $600 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. And considering her massive portfolio of more than 200 books, it’s not surprising. She’s sold 1 billion copies of her books worldwide.

In her Glamour interview, Steel recalls a conversation she had with Alana Stewart, actor George Hamilton’s then-wife. Stewart told her, “It's better to be rich and miserable than poor and miserable,” and Steel acknowledges that there’s truth to the statement. (Although, she’s not miserable. Just rich.)

How much does Danielle Steel make a year?

It’s unknown how much Steel makes per year, perhaps because money is a bit of an uncomfortable subject for her. She particularly dislikes business deals and negotiations, according to Glamour. “I'm a writer, not a banker. I try to be responsible with [my money], but it's very awkward and I try to be discreet,” she said.

How many books has Danielle Steel written?

As she states on her website, Steel has written more than 210 books. These include 182 novels, 18 children’s books, four nonfiction works and a poetry book. She’s also written the lyrics to a music album.

How does Danielle Steel write so much?

Like Stephen King, whose fans label themselves "Constant Readers," Danielle Steel is always working. Despite her money and success, she still writes every single day.

“Dead or alive, rain or shine, I get to my desk and I do my work,” she's said. “Sometimes I'll finish a book in the morning, and by the end of the day, I've started another project.”

Related: All of Stephen King's Books in Publication Order

How many hours a day does Danielle Steel write?

Those who’ve been following Steel’s work over the years may wonder how she accomplishes it. The answer, apparently, is a lot of dedication and very little sleep.

She writes 20 to 22 hours a day at her typewriter, nicknamed Olly, and is known to work 24 hours straight a few times a month, as reported by Glamour. “I don't get to bed until I'm so tired I could sleep on the floor. If I have four hours, it's really a good night for me,” she said.

When it comes to the why of it, the answer’s obvious: Steel clearly adores writing. “When a book just flows, I love it,” she said. “Some of my ideas will start off as mundane, but as I write them they become magical—and I can never predict it. Other times it can feel like dragging an elephant across the room, but I get through it.”

What are Danielle Steel's bestsellers?

Technically, all of Steel’s works are bestsellers, since anything with her name attached sells like hotcakes. But some of her best-known books include Kaleidoscope (1987), Zoya (1988), The Gift (1994) and Safe Harbour (2003).

How many Danielle Steel books have been made into movies?

According to Steel’s website, 23 of her books have been adapted into movies. These include Message From Nam (1993), No Greater Love (1996) and Safe Harbour (2007).

Is Danielle Steel the richest writer in the world?

Steel fits comfortably in the category of richest writers in the world, although she’s not the richest. That title goes to Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, who has a net worth of $1 billion.

That’s not to say that Steel won’t ever take the title. At 76, she’s going strong with no plans of stopping anytime soon.

“When I was first starting out, I had the same agent as Agatha Christie,” she said. “I was about 19 years old and she was in her 90s. I met her once, and I remember she said, ‘I want to die face-first in my typewriter.’ And I feel that way. I mean, I want to go on forever, just writing.”

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