Net Worth Ranker
What Is Rick Steves’ Net Worth?
Rick Steves, the American television personality, travel author, and staunch advocate for independent travel, has amassed a considerable net worth of $15 million. This financial standing is primarily attributed to his multifaceted career, which encompasses television production, book publishing, radio broadcasting, and tour operations. Steves’s net worth reflects his decades-long commitment to promoting European travel and his entrepreneurial acumen in creating a successful travel-related business.
Rick Steves’ Career Highlights and Revenue Streams
Rick Steves’s journey to becoming a renowned travel expert began in his twenties when he started teaching travel classes through The Experimental College at the University of Washington. While supplementing his income with piano lessons, he penned his first book, “Europe Through the Back Door,” in 1979. This self-published venture laid the foundation for his travel center storefront, which served as both a piano lesson studio and a base for organizing group tours.
Steves’s career took a significant leap forward in 1991 with the debut of “Travels in Europe with Rick Steves,” a television show that ran for seven years. This initial foray into television paved the way for his more enduring program, “Rick Steves’ Europe,” which premiered in 2000 and has been a consistent presence on television screens ever since, albeit with occasional breaks in production years. The show’s success is a testament to Steves’s engaging presentation style and his ability to capture the essence of European travel.
In addition to his television work, Steves launched a radio show called “Travel with Rick Steves” in 2005. This radio program provides listeners with travel tips, cultural insights, and interviews with travel experts. Furthermore, Steves began writing a newspaper column focused on travel in 2006, further expanding his reach and solidifying his position as a leading voice in the travel industry.
All of Rick’s television series and other projects are produced through his own production company, Back Door Productions. Rick Steves’s popularity stems from his unique philosophy of travel, encouraging people to experience destinations as “temporary locals,” going beyond typical tourist routes to explore smaller villages and immerse themselves in local culture.
Rick Steves’ Early Life and Education
Richard John Steves Jr. was born on May 10, 1955, in Barstow, California, to musician parents. His family moved to Edmonds, Washington, when he was 12. At the age of 14, Steves experienced his first taste of European travel when his parents organized a trip to visit piano factories throughout the continent. While his parents focused on their piano business, Rick fell in love with Europe and the joy of traveling.
At 18, he returned to Europe independently. After graduating from high school, Steves attended the University of Washington, where he studied European History and business administration. He graduated in 1978. His academic background in European history provided him with a strong foundation for his future career as a travel expert, while his business studies equipped him with the entrepreneurial skills necessary to build his travel-related empire.
Rick Steves’ Real Estate Investments and Philanthropy
In 2017, Rick Steves demonstrated his commitment to social responsibility by donating a 24-unit apartment complex to the YWCA in Seattle. This generous donation, valued at $4 million, was intended to provide housing for homeless individuals in the city. Steves revealed that he had acquired these apartments over the years as part of a retirement plan, showcasing his foresight and business acumen. He explained that he had started buying up cheap apartments decades earlier, after he experienced initial success in the television industry, as part of a retirement plan.
Steves’s philanthropic endeavors extend beyond real estate donations. He has contributed royalties from one of his books to Bread for the World, an organization dedicated to ending world hunger. Additionally, he donated $1 million to the Edmonds Center for the Arts and $50,000 to the ACLU, demonstrating his support for various social and cultural causes. Following the inauguration, he donated $1 for every dollar spent on his website, amounting to $50,000, to the ACLU.
Rick Steves’ Personal Views and Relationships
Rick Steves is known for his outspoken personal views. He is a registered Democrat who endorsed Hillary Clinton, and he is an active Lutheran Christian. He is passionate about Martin Luther’s teachings, the European Reformation, and similar topics. Steves is involved with organizations such as the Lutheran Peace Fellowship, the Luther Institute, and the Lutheran Theological Seminary. One of his most outspoken political views is that cannabis should be legalized, viewing it as a “soft drug” less harmful than alcohol and tobacco. He regularly voices concerns about homelessness in Washington. Rick Steves was first married to Anne, with whom he had two children before their divorce in 2010. His son Andy has followed in his footsteps, founding the company Weekend Student Adventures Europe and writing the book “Steves’ Europe: City-Hopping on a Budget.” In 2019, it was announced that Rick Steves was dating Bishop Shelley Bryan Wee.
Rick Steves’ Digital Presence and Mobile App
In 2010, Rick Steves expanded his reach into the digital realm with the launch of the “Rick Steves Audio Europe” mobile app. Available for both Android and iOS devices, this app provides travelers with a wealth of self-guided tours throughout Europe, along with travel tips and cultural insights. The app has garnered high ratings and has been downloaded by hundreds of thousands of users, further solidifying Steves’s position as a leading authority on European travel.
