Danielle Steel is one of the most famous authors worldwide. She is known for her romance novels, many of which also have serious elements to their storylines. Although she is one of the world’s most successful authors, there are many facts about Danielle Steel that people do not know. Here are some Danielle Steel facts you may find interesting to learn about.
Danielle Steel Facts: Her Early and Personal Life
Where Was Danielle Steel Born?
Danielle Steel was born in New York City on August 14, 1947. However, she has European heritage, as her father was a German-Jewish immigrant, and her mother was Portuguese.
Is Danielle Steel a Pen Name?
Often, writers use a pen name, so it is unsurprising that one of the Danielle Steel facts people want to know is whether she uses her real name. The answer is no, as Danielle Steel is her real name. However, it is an abbreviated version of her full birth name, as she was born Danielle Fernandes Dominique Schulein-Steel.
Is Danielle Steel Married?
Although Danielle Steel is now unmarried, she has been married five times. Her first husband was Claude-Eric Lazard, whom she married in 1965 and divorced in 1974. A year later, Steel married her second husband, Danny Zugelder, but they also divorced three years later. In the same year as her second divorce, Steel married William George Toth, but the marriage lasted just two years. In 1981, Steel married for the fourth time to John Traina. It was her longest marriage, but the pair eventually divorced in 1998. Finally, Steel married businessman Thomas Perkins in 1998. Again, the marriage did not last, and they divorced in 2002.
Does Danielle Steel Have Children?
Steel has one daughter, Beatrix, from her first marriage. The author has no children from her second marriage but suffered multiple miscarriages during their marriage. From her third marriage, she has one son, Nick. During her fourth marriage, Steel had five more children: Samantha, Victoria, Vanessa, Maxx, and Zara. Steel also has two adopted children.
Where Does Danielle Steel Live?
Danielle Steel’s main residence is in San Francisco. It is a 55-room property called Spreckles Mansion that was built in 1912. The house was originally the home of Adolph B. Spreckles, a sugar tycoon. Steel also has a home in Paris and spends as much time in France as possible.
Facts About Danielle Steel: Her Writing Career
When Did Steel Publish Her First Book?
Steel began her career as a writer in the 1960s, although she did not start writing novels until much later. Initially, she worked as a freelance writer, then worked as a copywriter in both PR and advertising agencies. She did not publish her first book, Going Home, until 1973.
How Many Books Has Danielle Steel Written?
In total, Danielle Steel has written 190 books, including 140 novels. She is predominantly known for writing romance novels, and these often have darker elements written into the storyline. Steel has also written some children’s books and poetry. Her books have been translated into 43 languages.
Are There Any Television Adaptations of Her Books?
Twenty-two of Steel’s novels have been adapted for television. Therefore, even those who have not read Steel’s books may have seen her stories brought to life on screen.
Other Danielle Steel Facts
She Has Two Charitable Foundations
Danielle Steel has two charitable foundations. The first is the Nick Traina Foundation in memory of her son, who died by suicide in 1997. Steel wrote His Bright Life, a nonfiction book about her son’s life and death, and used the proceeds of book sales to found the charity, which aims to improve mental accessibility issues. Steel then launched the Yo Angel Foundation in 2002 to help the homeless.
What Is Danielle Steel’s Net Worth?
One of the Danielle Steel facts fans want to know is about her wealth. She is one of the most successful and best-selling authors of all time, which also makes her one of the richest writers. So, what is Danielle Steel’s net worth? It is estimated that Danielle Steel’s net worth is $600 million. She is as rich as Candy Spelling and richer than Stephen King, but not as rich as J.K. Rowling or James Patterson.
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