Jim Davis' net worth

Jim Davis' net worth is estimated at $800 million.

How did Jim Davis build his net worth?

Jim Davis is a multi-award-winning American cartoonist, producer, screenwriter, and professor best known as the creator of the iconic cartoon character Garfield. Davis has amassed a considerable fortune through his various business ventures, including his work as a cartoonist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.

James Robert Davis was born in Marion, Indiana, in 1945. He grew up on a small farm and developed an early interest in drawing and art.

Davis attended Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, where he studied art and business. After college, he worked as an assistant to the famous cartoonist Tom Ryan, creator of the comic strip Tumbleweeds.

In 1978, Jim Davis created the character Garfield, a lovable and lazy orange tabby cat who loves to eat and sleep. Garfield is a syndicated comic strip and has appeared in more than 2,600 newspapers worldwide.

Garfield quickly became a pop culture sensation and has appeared in comic strips, books, television shows, and movies. The fat, lazy cat’s merchandise reportedly pulls in $750 to $1 billion annually.

Jim Davis has written, co-written, and/or produced Garfield TV shows, specials, and films, including Garfield and Friends, The Garfield Show, Garfield Originals, and the Emmy Award-winning Garfield in the Rough and Garfield’s Babes and Bullets.

Davis has created other comic strips, including US Acres and Gnorm Gnat. He also co-created a comic strip based on the character Mr. Potato Head.

In 2006, Jim Davis became a Ball State University faculty member as an adjunct professor. He lectured on the comics industry’s creative and business aspects.

Davis also served as the Fairmount, Indiana’s Future Farmers of America president.

In addition to his work as a cartoonist, Jim Davis is also an entrepreneur and has launched successful businesses. He is the founder and owner of Paws, Inc., a company that manages the licensing and merchandising of the Garfield brand.

Paws, Inc. generates significant revenue from selling Garfield-themed merchandise, including clothing, toys, and household items. The company produced the live-action Garfield: The Movie starring Bill Murray as the voice of Garfield, as well as its sequel Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties.

Jim Davis sold Paws, Inc. to Viacom in 2019. He may not own Garfield anymore, but he’s still pretty much involved in the character’s life.

How has Jim Davis spent his wealth?

Jim Davis has been married twice and has one son with his first wife. He has two stepsons with his second wife.

Davis is known for his frugal lifestyle and has not made many extravagant purchases, although he has an estate in Albany, Indiana, reportedly worth $880,000.

It is not known if Jim Davis has invested heavily in real estate or owns a collection of classic cars.

He is a committed philanthropist and has donated millions of dollars to charity over the years. He founded the Professor Garfield Foundation, which supports children's charities and animal welfare organizations. Jim Davis also supports Maddie’s Fund and Neurofibromatosis, Inc.

FAQ

How much is Jim Davis worth?

It is estimated Jim Davis has a net worth of $800 million.

What comic strip characters has Jim Davis created?

Apart from Garfield, the world's laziest cat, Jim Davis has created several other comic strip characters, including US Acres and Gnorm Gnat.

Does Jim Davis still create new Garfield comic strips?

Yes, Jim Davis is still involved in creating new Garfield content, although he no longer draws the comic strip himself.