A Song of Ice and Fire author George R. R. Martin is arguably one of the most well-paid fantasy writers. While best known for the ASoIaF franchise, the 71-year-old writer had penned a number of novels and short stories before A Game of Thrones came to change the rules of grimdark fantasy in 1996.
Martin’s previous books were not as successful as ASoIaF while his fourth book Armageddon Rag, is considered an unfortunate moment in his career. However, his subsequent success as a tv writer with series like the 1987 Romance Beauty and the Beast and Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future (1985) helped him get established.
But his choice to return to novels in the 1990s with the impressive journey of A Song of Ice and Fire is what changed his career forever. Martin’s net worth only soared when he sold the rights of A Song of Ice and Fire, resulting in one of the most impressive pop culture phenomena of the past decade that made Martin’s works famous worldwide.
It is estimated that Martin earns $15 million a year and an additional $10 million from book royalties. His net worth is estimated to be between $60 and $120 million a year. This is not unlikely to increase, as the author continues to write books set in Westeros, some of which may well adapt in the future. It’s hard to imagine now that his early books did not know immediate success. While very few writers will manage to earn such impressive amounts from book writing, or even get a tv deal, perseverance might as well pay off.
Still, the author lives a relatively modest lifestyle. He drives an old Mazda car and has a small house in Santa Fe, while he prefers to shop locally, rather than visiting fancy restaurants. He was, however, happy to invest in the TV show, which featured impressive locations and lavish settings.
With The Winds of Winter release date hopefully approaching, and the upcoming HBO TV series House of the Dragon, (a prequel about a Targaryen civil war that adapts parts of Marin’s book Fire and Blood) set to premiere in 2022, this impressive net worth and earnings are likely to rise even higher in the near future.
Related: Why George RR Martin Is Taking So Long to Write The Winds of Winter
