Paulo Coelho is a Brazilian novelist and lyricist best known for the internationally best-selling novel The Alchemist. The author has since written multiple novels, predominantly in the drama and romance genres. He is now one of the most successful and richest novelists of all time. However, his life was not always a success, and he went through some troubled times as a youth. So, how did he turn his life around and become the rich and successful author he is today? Here is a look at Paulo Coelho’s net worth and career.
Coelho’s Early Life
Paulo Coelho de Souza was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 24 August 1947. As a child, he attended a Jesuit school. Coelho had a natural creative streak and dreamed of becoming a writer. His parents disagreed with the path he was choosing in life and had him committed to a mental institution when he was 17 to dissuade him from the decision. Coelho escaped and was returned on three occasions before his eventual release when he was 20.
His parents wanted him to pursue a career in law, so the future author enrolled in law school and set aside his dreams. Unfortunately, it was not the life for him, and he left law school after one year. Instead, he decided to travel across Mexico, South America, Europe, and North Africa, living a hippie lifestyle.
Facts About Paulo Coelho: Troubled Times
It was while he was travelling in the 1960s that Paulo Coelho’s life began to unravel. Not only had he set aside his dreams and abandoned the career path chosen for him by his parents, but he also began to use drugs.
When he returned to Brazil, Coelho embarked on a career as a lyricist, which allowed his creative juices to flow. Although he now had a purpose in life, Coelho still faced troubles in his professional life.
Coelho began composing lyrics for Brazilian stars such as Raul Seixas, Rita Lee, and Elis Regina. However, some accused Coelho of ripping off songs from other countries that were not well known in Brazil. Furthermore, composing with Raul Seixas led to Coelho facing accusations of links to occultism and magic.
The writer also continued to experience difficulties in his personal life. During this period, Coelho was accused of subversive activities, leading to the ruling military government arresting and torturing Coelho. It was due to the view his lyrics were left-wing and dangerous.
One of the Paulo Coelho facts that fans of the writer want to know is what he did before becoming an author. Before embarking on his writing career, Coelho also pursued several other paths in life. Some of his jobs included acting, journalism, and directing theatre productions.
Paulo Coelho’s Net Worth: How He Made His Money Through His Career
Coelho eventually wrote his first novel, Hell Archives, in 1982. Sadly, it failed to make an impact, and Coelho’s writing career did not take off as he hoped. Four years later, the writer contributed to the Practical Manual of Vampirism. Again, it was unsuccessful, and Coelho later tried to have the work removed from shelves due to its poor quality.
In 1986, Paulo Coelho made the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela and used his experiences to write the book The Pilgrimage the following year. It was Coelho’s first success as a writer. However, his biggest hit was his next novel, The Alchemist, which he wrote the following year. Initially, a small Brazilian publisher signed the book.
When Coelho published his next book, Brida, it was another success, and it got signed by international book publisher HarperCollins. The success of this book led to the publisher also signing The Alchemist, leading to its international success.
Since then, Coelho has published approximately one book every two years. Although most of his work is fictional, four of his books are semi-autobiographical. These are The Pilgrimage, Hippie, Aleph, and The Valkyries. Coelho has also published collections of essays and newspaper columns.
Collectively, Coelho’s books have sold more than 320 copies. They are published in 170 countries and translated into 83 languages. Coelho is considered one of the most influential contemporary authors of today.
What Is Paulo Coelho’s Net Worth?
So, what is Paulo Coelho’s net worth? Currently, it is estimated that Paulo Coelho’s net worth is $500 million, which makes him one of the most successful and richest authors. Although he has made most of his money through his novels, he has also made money as a lyricist.
Paul Coelho Facts: His Personal Life
In 1980, Paulo Coelho married artist Christina Oiticica. Previously, the couple spent half a year in Coelho’s home city, Rio de Janeiro, and the other half in a country house in the French Pyrenees. However, they now live full-time in a lakeside home in Geneva, Switzerland. Coelho and Oiticica do not have children.
[…] Paulo Coelho is a Brazilian author and lyricist who published his first book in 1974. His fourth book, The Alchemist, shot him to literary fame. The book became an international success when translated from Portuguese to other languages. Following The Alchemist, Coelho went on to write a further 28 novels. Will Smith has the film rights to The Alchemist, so a film adaptation is in the pipeline. […]
[…] authors. He ranks significantly lower than writers, including J.K. Rowling, Stephen King, and Paulo Coelho. However, Brown is among the highest-paid authors in terms of the fees publishers pay him to write […]