Net Worth Ranker
What Is William Shatner’s Net Worth?
William Shatner, the Canadian-born actor, author, producer, director, screenwriter, and singer, boasts a net worth of $100 million. This substantial financial standing has been accumulated over a career spanning several decades, marked by diverse roles and ventures.
Sources of William Shatner’s $100 Million Net Worth
Shatner’s primary source of wealth is his acting career, most notably his role as Captain James T. Kirk in the “Star Trek” franchise. This role not only earned him initial salaries but also residuals from reruns, merchandise, and subsequent films. His role on “Star Trek: The Original Series,” which aired from 1966 to 1969, cemented his status as a science fiction icon. Shatner reprised his role as Captain Kirk in seven “Star Trek” feature films between 1979 and 1994, further augmenting his income.
Beyond Star Trek, Shatner has held leading roles in other successful television shows, including “T.J. Hooker” (1982-1986), where he played the title character, and “Boston Legal” (2004-2008), where he portrayed the eccentric lawyer Denny Crane, a role that earned him an Emmy Award. Shatner made $150,000 per episode.
His earnings also stem from convention appearances, where he commands $10,000 for travel expenses plus $10,000 per hour with a five-hour minimum. These convention appearances significantly contribute to his annual income.
Shatner’s literary career has also contributed to his financial success. He has authored numerous books, including memoirs and science fiction novels, which have generated royalties and sales revenue. In addition to his acting career, Shatner has released several spoken-word albums and has performed on Broadway.
Although rumors circulated that William Shatner made $600 million from Priceline, this is not true. Shatner was the commercial pitchman for Priceline.com, starting in 1997, and was compensated with stock options. Although the share prices eventually went up a decade later, he has denied making that much.
Early Career and Education
William Shatner was born on March 22, 1931, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He attended Willingdon Elementary School and West Hill High School and is an alumnus of the Montreal Children’s Theatre. Shatner studied Economics at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 1952. After college, Shatner got a job as the business manager for a playhouse in Montreal. From there, he joined the Canadian National Repertory Theatre to train as a classical Shakespearean actor. Starting in 1954, Shatner played a number of roles at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. That same year, Shatner was cast as Ranger Bob on The Canadian “Howdy Doody Show.” He made his feature film debut in 1958 in “The Brothers Karamazov.” He landed a role on “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” in the episode called “The Glass Eye.”
Real Estate Holdings
William Shatner’s longtime residence in Los Angeles is a four-bedroom, four-bathroom, 4,016-square-foot home in Studio City, California. This property forms a portion of his real estate assets.
As part of his 2020 divorce settlement with ex-wife Elizabeth, he deeded her a property in Malibu and their Belle Reve Farm in Versailles, Kentucky. Shatner kept an 18-acre ranch in Three Rivers, California, which he bought in 1979 with wife Marcy.
Personal Life and Marital History
Shatner has been married four times. His first marriage was to Canadian actress Gloria Rand in August 1956. They had three daughters: Leslie (1958), Lisabeth (1960), and Melanie (1964). Shatner left Rand while he was filming the original “Star Trek” series. Rand divorced him in March 1969. Shatner’s second marriage was to Marcy Lafferty and lasted from 1973 to 1996. His third marriage was to Nerine Kidd Shatner. They married in 1997. On August 9, 1999, Shatner got home late one night and discovered Nerine’s body at the bottom of their swimming pool. The autopsy found alcohol and Valium in her blood, and the coroner ruled the cause of death as an accidental drowning. In 2001, Shatner married Elizabeth Anderson Martin. Shatner filed for divorce from Elizabeth in 2019 and it was finalized in January 2020. Upon their divorce, following the terms of their prenuptial agreement, Shatner paid Elizabeth a lump sum of $2 million for spousal support, and deeded her properties in Malibu and Kentucky.
Career Milestones and Achievements
Shatner’s career is marked by several key milestones. His role as Captain Kirk in “Star Trek” in 1966 was a breakthrough, establishing him as a science fiction icon. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in May 1983 and a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame, further solidifying his status as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry. In 2021, William Shatner became the oldest person to fly into space at the age of 90 years old when he boarded the Blue Origin sub-orbital capsule.
