Born as Howard Allen Frances O’Brien on 4th October 1941, in New Orleans, Louisiana USA, she is a writer, best known to the world under the pseudonym Anne Rice, who has written and published such books/chronicles as “The Vampire Chronicles” featuring vampire Lestat, “New Tales of the Vampires” which follows the life of Pandora, and “Christ the Lord” in which she speaks about Jesus and his life.
Have you ever wondered how rich Anne Rice is, as of late 2016? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Anne`s net worth is as high as $50 million, earned through her successful career as a writer. So far, her works have sold around 100 million copies, which makes her one of the most popular authors in recent American history.
Anne Rice Net Worth $50 Million
Anne is one of four daughters born to Howard and Katherine Allen O’Brien. One of her sisters is also a writer, Alice Borchardt, who is focused on fantasy and horror fiction. She spent her childhood and early teen years in her hometown, living in her grandmother`s rented home, facing numerous family problems including poverty and her mother`s alcoholism. Nevertheless, Anne stayed strong and found sanctuary in her grandmother, however, she died in 1949. Anne went to St.lphonsus School, which is a Catholic institution. Anne`s mother died when she was 15, and as a result, her father put her and her sisters to St. Joseph’s Academy. Soon after her father remarried and moved the family to Richardson, where Anne went to Richardson High and matriculated in 1959. She enrolled at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, but after a year transferred to North Texas State College, but was forced to drop out since she didn`t have enough money to support her education, and was unable to find a job. Her life then became even more troubled, from living with Dennis Percy and his family to sharing an apartment with Ginny Mathis, who was her friend from Texas Woman`s University. The two worked in the same insurance company and started taking night classes at University of San Francisco. After a short break she continued her education at San Francisco State University, graduating with a BA degree in Political Science in 1964. Anne was subsequently focused on family matters for a few years, but in 1970 she returned to San Francisco State, and two years later received an MA degree in Creative Writing.
Her first novel came out in 1976, entitled “Interview with the Vampire”, which actually began in 1973 as a short story. The book received positive critiques, and as of 2008 had sold more than eight million copies worldwide. The book became the first out of ten in “The Vampire Chronicles”, which features such books as “Vampire Lestat” (1985), “The Queen of the Damned” (1988), “Merrick” (2000), “Blood and Gold” (2001), “Prince Lestat” (2014), and most recently “Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis” (2016), the sales of which have increased Anne`s net worth to a large degree.
The Vampire Chronicles cemented Anne`s place in the gothic genre, however, she has branched out into Christian literature and erotica as well. Her chronicles “Christ the Lord” consists of three books – “Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt” (2005), “Christ the Lord: Road to Cana” (2008), and “Christ the Lord: The Kingdom of Heaven”, which is yet to be released. Under the pseudonym Anne Rampling, she has published two erotic novels, the first “Exit to Eden” (1985), and second “Belinda”, published in 1986. Furthermore, she has published four more erotic novels under the pseudonym A. N. Roquelaure. The first book came out in 1983 entitled “The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty”, which was followed by “Beauty`s Punishment” (1984), and “Beauty`s Release” in 1985, while the fourth novel came out in 2015 entitle “Beauty`s Kingdom”. All have contributed to her net worth.
Several of her books have now been made into films, including “Interview with the Vampire”, released in 1994, then the sequel “Queen of the Damned” in 2002. “Exit to Eden” has also been made into film, and also a film based on her “Christ the Lord” chronicles, was released in 2016 entitled “The Young Messiah”. These have also increased her net worth.
Regarding her personal life, Anne was married to Stan Rice from 1961 until his death in 2002; the couple had two children, however, her daughter died from leukemia when she was only five years old. However, their second child, Christopher Rice, is also a successful writer, and so far has six best-selling novels.
Anne has had a troubled life which has left marks on her health; she is an insulin-dependent diabetic patient, and has gastric problems. She has faced death several occasions, but has managed to recover each time. She has also had her way with faith, changing from agnosticism to Christianity, and has now declared herself as secular humanist.
World Horror Convention Grand Master Award, Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement, Goodreads Choice Awards Best Horror
Nominations
Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel, Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Lambda Literary Award for Horror/Science Fiction/Fantasy, Lambda Literary Award for Gay Men's Science Fiction/Fantasy
Movies
Interview with the Vampire, Queen of the Damned, Exit to Eden, Feast of All Saints, Christ the Lord
On connecting: We're frightened of what makes us different.
2
Vampires have always been part of our culture. There have always been superstitions surrounding death and burial in western Europe and the idea that the dead will come back. When you write a story about good and evil using a vampire, you are reaching back to the Renaissance for a figure as powerful as God and the devil. What I love about my readers is that they really understand what my books are about.
3
The vampire is always presented as someone who is living a heightened existence and that is very seductive. He is also someone who is able to satisfy all of his cravings. I don't see this as a time of weakness at all. The vampire image reflects the enormous leap in visual perspective. This is the time of Federal Express, long-distance calls and faxes. Someone can get up in the morning and call New York or Paris. All kinds of business transactions and close book deals can be made -- it's like flying all over the world. Vampires are superhuman magnifications of us, of the way we feel in these powerful times.
4
The vampire is that glittering, dazzling rule-breaker and outsider who has gained ascendancy over time and place.
5
To write something, you have to risk making a fool of yourself.
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Fact
1
Irish-American.
2
Has currently put her New Orleans home up for sale and is moving to Florida. [February 2004]
3
Lives in La Jolla, California. [2005]
4
Received a 12,000 dollar advance for "Interview with The Vampire".
5
Gave birth to her 2nd child at age 36, a son Christopher Travis Rice (aka Christopher Rice) on March 11, 1978. Child's father is her now late husband, Stan Rice.
6
(August 5, 1972) Her only child, a daughter Michele Rice, died from leukemia at the age of 5.
7
Gave birth to her 1st child at age 24, a daughter Michele Rice on September 21, 1966. Child's father is her now late husband, Stan Rice.
8
Biography/bibliography in: "Contemporary Authors". New Revision Series, Vol. 133, pp. 369-377. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2005.
9
Chose the pseudonym Anne Rampling, under which she penned her novels "Exit to Eden" and "Belinda," in honour of actress Charlotte Rampling because Anne "admired Charlotte's grace."
10
Has written under the pseudonyms Anne Rampling and A.N. Roquelaure.
11
Has a collection of several hundred pairs of black button-up shoes.
12
Her sister, Alice Borchardt, is also a novelist.
13
Her novel "The Vampire Lestat" is currently being made into a stage production with songs by Elton John and Bernie Taupin.
14
Has written several other novels outside her famous Vampire Chronicles, including the Mayfair Witch trilogy, erotica and historical fiction. However, none of these books has achieved the fame (or sales) of her vampire tales.
15
Lives and works in the California desert.
16
Suffers from diabetes.
17
Has pictures of herself giving birth to son, Christopher Rice, on the walls of her New Orleans home.
18
Has claimed in interviews that she fears the dark.
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Vampire Chronicles
TV Movie based on the novels "Interview with the Vampire" and "The Vampire Lestat" by pre-production
The Young Messiah
2016
novel "Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt"
Queen of the Damned
2002
novels "The Vampire Chronicles"
Earth Angels
2001
TV Movie
Feast of All Saints
2001
TV Movie book
Rag and Bone
1998
TV Movie story
Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles
1994
novel / screenplay
Exit to Eden
1994
novel "Exit To Eden"
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Vampire Chronicles
TV Movie executive producer pre-production
Earth Angels
2001
TV Movie executive producer
Feast of All Saints
2001
TV Movie executive producer
Rag and Bone
1998
TV Movie executive producer
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
A Place Among the Undead
2016
TV Series documentary
Herself (2016)
Talk Stoop with Cat Greenleaf
2016
TV Series
Herself
Lestat, Louis, and the Vampire Phenomenon
2014
Video short
Herself
ITW ThrillerFest Banquet Awards
2014
TV Special
Herself
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
2012-2013
TV Series
Herself - Guest
The Colbert Report
2012
TV Series
Herself - Guest / Author, The Wolf Gift
The Hour
2012
TV Series
Herself
The Future of Fear
2011
TV Movie documentary
Herself
The Real Vampire Files
2010
TV Movie documentary
Herself
CBS News Sunday Morning
2006
TV Series documentary
Herself
The O'Reilly Factor
2005
TV Series
Herself
Scarborough Country
2005
TV Series
Herself
Charlie Rose
1994-2005
TV Series
Herself - Guest / Herself
Larry King Live
2003
TV Series
Herself
Night Bites: Women and Their Vampires
2003
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Crossing Over with John Edward
2002
TV Series
Herself
SexTV
2001-2002
TV Series documentary
Herself
Interview With the Vampire: In the Shadow of the Vampire
2001
Video documentary short
Herself - Author / Screenwriter
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
1996-2000
TV Series
Herself
Biography
2000
TV Series documentary
Herself
Great Books
1999
TV Series documentary
Herself
Ellen
1996
TV Series
Herself
Ancient Mysteries
1994
TV Series documentary
Herself
Bookmark
1993
TV Series
Herself
Without Walls
1993
TV Series documentary
Herself
The Oprah Winfrey Show
1991
TV Series
Herself
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1995
Hugo
Hugo Awards
Best Dramatic Presentation
Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)
1994
ACCA
Awards Circuit Community Awards
Best Adapted Screenplay
Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)
Known for movies
Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994) as Writer