Eric Carle was born on the 25th June 1929, in Syracuse, New York State, USA, and is a designer, illustrator and author, who is probably best recognized for writing a number of popular children’s books such as “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” (1967), “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” (1969), and “The Grouchy Ladybug” (1977). His career has been active since 1966.
So, have you ever wondered how rich Eric Carle is, as of early 2017? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that the total size of Eric’s net worth is over $60 million, accumulated through his successful career as one of the world’s best-selling authors of children’s books.
Eric Carle Net Worth $60 Million
Eric Carle is the son of Erich and Johanna Carle. When he was six years old, he returned with his family to Stuttgart, Germany, where he spent one part of his life. He got his education there and he matriculated from the State Academy of Fine Arts in Stuttgart. During World War II, his father was a member of the German army, and he sent Eric to a small town to save him from the war, but he was nonetheless conscripted to dig trenches. In 1952, he relocated to New York City with only $40, but immediately began to work as a graphic designer for “The New York Times”. During the Korean War he joined the US Army, but ironically spent time as a mail clerk in Germany. Upon discharging, he worked the same job, until he was hired as the art director by an advertising agency which was much more to his liking.
Eric’s noted career really really began in the ‘60s, when he was spotted by author Bill Martin Jr., who asked him to work on the children’s picture book “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?”, which was published in 1967 and became a best-seller. Since then, his career has only gone upwards as well as his net worth and popularity. He started to write and illustrate his own stories, and his first book came in the following year entitled “1, 2, 3 To The Zoo”, and in 1969 his second picture book was published – “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” – which marked his whole career by achieving enormous success. The book sold over 38 million copies worldwide and translated in more than 50 languages, and earned him such awards as an American Institute of Graphic Arts Award in 1970, the 1975 Nakamori Reader’s Prize in Japan, and the 2003 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, etc.
To speak further about his works, Eric has published and illustrated more than 70 books, such as “The Grouchy Ladybug” (1977), “The Very Lonely Firefly” (1995), “The Very Clumsy Click Beetle” (1999), and “The Rabbit And The Turtle” (2008), but all of which added a considerable amount to his net worth. Most recently, he illustrated “The Nonsense Show” in 2015.
Thanks to his accomplishments, Eric has won a number of recognitions and honorary degrees from Appalachian State University in 2013, and Williams College in 2016. He also rewarded with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Illustrators.
When it comes to his personal life, Eric Carle was married to Barbara Morrison from 1973 until her death in 2015. She was his second wife, and from his previous marriage, he has two children. In Northampton, Massachusetts, he established with Barbara his own museum called The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in 2002, but now divides his time between Florida and North Carolina.
