Jeff Kinney is an American game designer, cartoonist, actor, producer, writer, and children’s book author. He is the man behind the highly popular “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” children’s book series. The books have been a massive success, with more than 150 million copies sold worldwide. In this article, we will delve into Jeff Kinney’s life, career, and net worth, which is estimated to be $80 million.
Early Life and Education
Jeff Kinney was born on February 19, 1971, in Fort Washington, Maryland. He grew up with three siblings, and attended Potomac Landing Elementary School and Bishop McNamara High School, graduating in 1989. Kinney went to the University of Maryland, College Park, where he created a popular comic strip called “Igdoof” for the student newspaper. He graduated in 1993 with a BA degree in criminal justice.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
In early 1998, Jeff Kinney came up with the idea of a wimpy middle-school kid named Greg Heffley, who creates illustrated stories about his life. This character would become the protagonist of Kinney’s children’s book series, “Diary of a Wimpy Kid.” The series first became popular in 2004 as a comic strip on the educational website Funbrain. Later, Kinney signed a multi-book deal with Abrams Books and released the first “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” book in 2007. The book was an instant success, and Kinney went on to release numerous further installments in the series.
Due to the success of the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series, several feature film adaptations have been made, both live-action and animated. The film adaptation released in 2010 made more than $75 million in the US alone, securing the series’ popularity among children.
Other Projects
Apart from the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series, Kinney has also been involved in other projects. He helped create the children’s online role-playing game “Poptropica” in 2007. The game has over 75 million registered users, making it one of the most popular children’s games in the world.
Kinney opened a local bookstore and café called An Unlikely Story in Plainville, Massachusetts, in 2015. Apart from that, he guest-hosted 10 episodes of the 10th season of the local quiz bowl show, “High School Quiz Show” on WGBH in Boston.
Personal Life
Jeff Kinney is married to his wife, Julie, since late 2003. They have two sons together.
Net Worth
As of 2021, Jeff Kinney’s net worth is estimated to be $80 million. He earns his wealth through the successful “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” book series, which has sold over 150 million copies worldwide. Kinney is also one of the highest-paid children’s book authors, earning $23 million annually through book advances, royalties, and more. His other projects, such as “Poptropica,” have also added to his wealth.
Conclusion
Jeff Kinney is an American game designer, cartoonist, actor, producer, writer, and children’s book author. His “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series has been a massive success, with over 150 million copies sold worldwide. Kinney’s other projects, such as “Poptropica”, have also been highly successful. With a net worth of $80 million, Jeff Kinney is undoubtedly one of the most successful children’s book authors in the world.
