Mike Peterson Net Worth - NetWorthRanker

Overview

Mike Peterson is a former American professional football player who played as a linebacker. He played college football for the University of Florida Gators. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in 1999 and played for them until 2002. Later, he played for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2003 to 2008 and the Atlanta Falcons from 2009 to 2012. He earned second-team NFL All-Pro honors in 2005. Peterson is involved in several charitable efforts and created the Mike Peterson Foundation more than a decade ago to help underprivileged families and children near Peterson’s hometown and playing teams. Peterson and his wife, Chantal, have two sons together, and live in Florida.

What Is Michael Peterson’s Net Worth?

Michael Peterson, the American novelist and convicted criminal known for being the subject of “The Staircase,” has varying net worth estimations. Celebrity Net Worth estimates his net worth to be $250,000. However, Nicki Swift and Women’s Health Magazine both cite Celebrity Net Worth with conflicting information stating that his net worth is approximately $500,000 as of 2022. These figures reflect his earnings from his novels, potential income from media appearances related to “The Staircase,” and other ventures.

Earnings from Literary Works and Media

Michael Peterson is the author of several novels, including “The Immortal Dragon” (1983), “A Time of War” (1990), “A Bitter Peace” (1995), “Charlie Two Shoes and the Marines of Love Company” (1998), and “Operation Broken Reed” (2007). In 2019, he released his memoir, “Behind the Staircase,” detailing his experiences with the legal system following his wife’s death. While specific sales figures and royalties from these books are not publicly available, they contribute to his overall income. It is also important to note that Peterson received $384,000 from his late wife Kathleen Peterson’s employer, per The Herald Sun. However, Peterson signed away his rights to his wife’s $1.4 million insurance payout, which instead went to his step-daughter and her father, per WRAL.

Financial Background and Assets

Before the notoriety surrounding Kathleen Peterson’s death, Michael Peterson was already financially stable. He earned a living as a novelist and newspaper columnist. At the time of the trial, prosecutors suggested that Peterson murdered his wife due to his financial situation. Experts testified that the Petersons were spending hundreds of thousands of dollars more than they made in the years leading up to Kathleen’s death. They were also around $142,000 in debt at the time, per CNN. Peterson sold the five-story home he lived in with Kathleen for $640,000 in 2004, according to the News and Observer. It was put up for sale again in 2020, per The Sun.