Wilbur Smith: “I want to be remembered as someone who has brought millions of joy,” Wilbur Smith said in his memoir “On Leopard Rock.”
Who is Wilbur Smith?
South African author Wilbur Smith, known worldwide for his historical novels, tragically died on Saturday, November 13, 2021 at the age of 88.
Smith became a household name with 49 astonishing titles as his brave adventure stories wowed readers and took them on a journey to the jungles of Africa, ancient Egypt, and World War II.
Mokhiniso Smith, his fourth wife, was by his side when he died. The cause of his death is not yet clear.
Its publisher, Bonnier Books UK, issued a statement saying: “World bestselling author Wilbur Smith died unexpectedly at his Cape Town home this afternoon after reading and writing with his wife Niso by his side one morning.”
The statement goes on to say: “The undisputed and inimitable master of adventure writing, Wilbur Smith’s novels have captivated readers for more than half a century, selling more than 140 million copies worldwide in more than thirty languages.”
The author wrote bestsellers such as “When the lion feeds”, “God of the river”, “Birds of prey”, “Warlock”, “The seventh scroll” and many others.
His novels have been translated into many languages around the world and have even been adapted into blockbuster movies like “Mountain of Diamonds,” “Scream at the Devil,” “Gold,” and “The Darkness of the Sun.”
Wilbur Smith is considered one of the most successful writers of all time and had a considerable fortune.
What is Wilbur Smith’s net worth?
Wilbur Smith, born January 9, 1933, in Kabwe, Zambia, grew up on a cattle ranch. He later graduated from Rhodes University in South Africa in 1954.
He began his career as an accountant but gradually ventured into his true passion, writing. While still working as an accountant, he published his first novel “When the Lion Feeds” in 1964.
The novel became a huge bestseller, inspiring 15 sequels as it followed the fate of an ambitious family for more than two centuries.
According to Idol Net Worth, Wilbur Smith’s net worth is estimated at a whopping $ 100 million.
The author remained relatively secretive in private life and was not often seen in luxury and extravagance.
He earned a reputation as a prominent conservationist and managed his own game reserve in Seychelles. Smith also had a pilot’s license and was a certified diver.
Smith’s Wife
Smith was married four times and his fourth wife, the Mokhiniso ‘Niso’ Smith, was with him to the end.
He married his first wife, Anne Rennie, a Presbyterian church secretary in Salisbury, Rhodesia, on July 5, 1957, and the couple had two children before divorcing in 1962.
Smith married his Jewel Slabbart on August 28. from 1964 after being introduced to a party in Salisbury. The couple had a child together, but the marriage ended in divorce.
He then met Danielle Thomas in 1971 and married her, who was also divorced. Tragically, he died of cancer in 1999 after battling the disease for six years.
In his 2018 memoir ‘On Leopard Rock’, Wilbur Smith specifically said, “I want to be remembered as someone who has brought millions of joy.”