Net Worth Ranker
What Is Jim Davis’ Net Worth?
Jim Davis, the American cartoonist best known for creating the “Garfield” comic strip, has accumulated a significant net worth estimated at $800 million. This impressive figure is primarily attributed to the enduring popularity and widespread syndication of “Garfield” since its inception in 1978.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born James Robert Davis on July 28, 1945, in Marion, Indiana, Jim Davis spent his formative years on a cow farm in Fairmount, Indiana. He attended Fairmount High School, where he served as the Art Editor for the school newspaper, “The Breeze.” Davis’s initial foray into the world of comics was marked by his contributions to “The Breeze” and numerous illustrations for the school yearbook during his senior year. Following high school, he pursued studies in art and business at Ball State University, where he also became a member of the Theta Xi fraternity.
Prior to achieving fame with “Garfield,” Davis honed his skills at an advertising agency. From 1969 to 1978, he served as an assistant to Tom Ryan, the creator of the “Tumbleweeds” comic strip. During his time with Ryan, Jim Davis conceptualized the comic strip “Gnorm Gnat,” which was published in “The Pendleton Times” from 1973 to 1975. Undeterred by early rejections, he drew inspiration from the success of Snoopy in “Peanuts” and decided to create his own relatable, furry character.
The Garfield Phenomenon
Davis initially published the comic strip “Jon” (later rebranded as “Garfield”) in “The Pendleton Times” from 1976 to 1978. In June 1978, the strip achieved syndication, appearing in 41 newspapers. By 2013, “Garfield” had become a global sensation, syndicated in over 2,500 newspapers and earning a Guinness World Record as the most widely syndicated comic strip.
In addition to “Garfield,” Jim Davis created the comic strip “U.S. Acres” in the 1980s. From 2000 to 2003, he also collaborated with Brett Koth to write a “Mr. Potato Head” comic strip. The “Garfield” franchise has expanded into various media, including two live-action/computer-animated feature films featuring Bill Murray as the voice of Garfield. “Garfield: The Movie” (2004) generated $203.2 million at the box office, while “Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties” (2006) earned $143.3 million.
The “Garfield” universe also includes several primetime specials, such as “Here Comes Garfield” (1982), “Garfield Goes Hollywood” (1987), and “Garfield Gets a Life” (1991), as well as three direct-to-video movies: “Garfield Gets Real” (2007), “Garfield’s Fun Fest” (2008), and “Garfield’s Pet Force” (2009). The animated series “Garfield and Friends” aired on CBS from 1988 to 1994, followed by “The Garfield Show,” which aired on Cartoon Network from 2009 to 2012 and on Boomerang from 2015 to 2016.
In 2019, ViacomCBS acquired Jim Davis’s company, Paws, Inc., with plans to develop a new “Garfield” animated series for Nickelodeon. The deal further solidified the “Garfield” franchise’s presence in the entertainment industry.
Paws, Inc. and “Garfield” Comic Strip Legacy
Davis established Paws, Inc. in 1981 to manage the production and licensing of “Garfield.” The company employs approximately 50 licensing administrators and artists. In late 2019, Jim Davis began auctioning off hand-painted “Garfield” comics created between 1978 and 2011. These comics had been carefully preserved in a climate-controlled safe. The decision to auction them was driven by the desire to share them with a wider audience.
Davis is also the founder of the Professor Garfield Foundation, which supports children’s literacy initiatives. Since 1978, Garfield has appeared in over 2,500 newspapers and journals, holding the Guinness World Record for the most syndicated comic strip in the world. The comic has spawned countless television shows, films, and merchandise, bringing in millions of dollars a year. The estimated revenue from licensing and merchandising alone totals hundreds of millions of dollars annually. This income has significantly contributed to Davis’s substantial net worth.
Paws, Inc. which is solely owned by Davis, brought in revenue of over $30 million in 2018 before ViacomCBS purchased it in 2019 for an undisclosed sum. The company’s assets included not only the copyrights to Garfield but also a large collection of original comic strips. It’s important to note that the specifics of the Paws, Inc. acquisition deal, including the precise monetary value exchanged, remain confidential, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact impact on Davis’ net worth beyond the initial estimates.
Awards and Recognition
Jim Davis has received numerous accolades for his contributions to the world of cartooning. He has been nominated for 10 Primetime Emmys, winning Outstanding Animated Program for “Garfield in the Rough” (1985) and “Garfield in Disguise” (1986) and Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour) for “Garfield’s Babes and Bullets” (1989). He received a Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement in 1983 and a Sagamore of the Wabash from the State of Indiana in 1988.
Davis has been honored with several awards from the National Cartoonist Society, including the Elzie Segar Award for Contributions to Cartooning (1985), Best Strip (1986), and the Reuben Award for Overall Excellence in Cartooning (1989). He was presented with an Indiana Arbor Day Spokesman Award by the Indiana Division of Natural Resources and Forestry in 1989 and a Good Steward Award by the National Arbor Day Foundation in 1990. Davis received the Indiana Journalism Award from the Ball State University Department of Journalism in 1991, and the State of Indiana named him a Distinguished Hoosier in 1992.
In 1995, he received a Project Award from the National Arbor Day Foundation, and in 1997, he won an LVA Leadership Award from the Literacy Volunteers of America. In 2016, Jim was presented with an Inkpot Award at San Diego Comic-Con International. These achievements reflect the widespread recognition of Jim Davis’s talent and impact on the world of cartooning.
Personal Life
Jim Davis married Carolyn Altekruse on July 26, 1969, and they had a son, James, before divorcing. Davis has been married to his second wife, Jill, since July 16, 2000, and he is stepfather to her two children from a previous marriage. In 2016, Jim was hired as an adjunct professor at Ball State University to teach workshops on cartooning and sequential narrative, as well as lectures on the history, development, and business of “Garfield.” He resides in Albany, Indiana, where he continues to oversee the “Garfield” franchise through Paws, Inc.
Although specific details about his personal spending habits and real estate holdings are not publicly available, it’s reasonable to assume that a significant portion of his earnings has been invested in real estate, stocks, and other assets. It is known that he lives in Albany, Indiana, and runs Paws, Inc. from there, suggesting that he likely has properties and assets tied to his business operations in that area.
Factors Contributing to Net Worth
The primary factor contributing to Jim Davis’s substantial net worth is the overwhelming success of “Garfield.” The comic strip’s widespread syndication, coupled with its adaptation into various media formats, has generated substantial revenue over the years. Licensing and merchandising deals have further augmented Davis’s earnings. The “Garfield” franchise has proven to be a valuable asset, contributing significantly to Jim Davis’s overall financial success. With an estimated net worth of $800 million, Jim Davis’s “Garfield” continues to entertain audiences worldwide and generate substantial revenue, solidifying his position as a prominent figure in the world of cartooning and entertainment.
