Dick Wolf has an estimated net worth of $600 million in 2023. Best known for his Law & Order Franchise, the famous American film and television producer is among the richest television producers of all time. He also has the longest-running dramatic show in television history.
Considering that he’s been active in the film and television industry for so long, it isn’t surprising to see that Dick Wolf is one of the richest producers alive. In this post, we’ll discuss his early life and career, focusing on how he made his money.
| Full Name | Richard Anthony Wolf |
|---|---|
| Net Worth | $600 million |
| Age | 76 |
| Date of Birth and Place | December 20, 1946 / New York City, New York, United States |
| Occupation(s) | Television and film writer, creator, producer, director, and executive producer |
| Nationality | American |
| Marital Status | Married with Susan Scranton |
Who is Dick Wolf?
Dick Wolf is an American television professional who has been active in the industry for over three decades. Born Richard Anthony Wolf in New York City in 1946, Dick Wolf was raised in Manhattan. His father was Jewish, while his mother had Irish descent. He was raised a Catholic and was an altar boy while growing up.
Dick Wolf attended Saint David’s School, The Gunnery, and Philips Academy. He also attended the University of Pennsylvania and was a member of the Zeta Psi fraternity. Wolf started exploring his creative side in school as he reportedly started a two-year detective serial in his school newspaper.
After schooling, Dick Wolf’s first job was in advertising. He worked as an advertising copywriter for Benton & Bowels, receiving credit for several successful campaigns. Even as a successful copywriter, he was writing screenplays, waiting for the right time to switch to a film career.
Dick Wolf moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film and television. After a few of his screenplays were produced and some were well-received, he moved on to television, starting as a staff writer on Hill Street Blues. Accolades didn’t take long to start coming as he got his first Emmy Award for an Episode he was credited as the only writer.
Wolf’s next major project was Miami Vice, and he served as both writer and co-producer in the third and fourth seasons. He started his original ‘Law & Order’ series in 1990, and it lasted till 2010. After about a decade, it was revived in 2022. Dick Wolf has been involved in several other projects, and we’ll discuss the most relevant ones in the next section.
Dick Wolf’s awards and achievements
As one of the most acclaimed television professionals, Dick Wolfs has won several awards and received several recognitions for his contribution to the entertainment industry. Without further ado, here are some of his major achievements and awards:
- Inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame (2007)
- Inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame (2013)
- Honorary Consul General of Monaco
- Emmy Award
- Special Edgar Award from Mystery Writers of America (2003)
- Creative Achievement Award from NATPE
- Distinguished Entertainment Industry Award from the Anti-Defamation League
- The Governor’s Award by the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
- Television Showman of the Year from the Publicist Guild of America
- Career Achievement Award from the Caucus for Television Producers, Writers & Directors (2005)
- Award for Outstanding Achievement in Drama from the Television Critics Association
- Producer of the Year from Producers Guild of America (2010)
Dick Wolf has several other awards and recognitions that we can’t possibly list here because of space constraints.
What is Dick Wolf’s net worth in 2023?
As of 2023, Dick Wolf’s net worth is estimated to be in the region of $600 million. In January 2020, Forbes reported that he had a fortune of over $550 million and could become TV’s latest billionaire due to a $300 million+ deal with NBC’s Peacock.
Dick Wolf’s impressive net worth is a testament to his hard work and life-long dedication to television. He’s recognized as one of the most prolific television writers and producers, spearheading some of the longest-running and most successful series of all time. Below, we’ll discuss some of the projects that earned him the hundreds of millions he owns.
Dick Wolf’s business and entertainment ventures
In the following sections, we’re going to examine Dick Wolf’s most prominent projects – from the Law & Order franchise to his books – in more detail.
Law & Order Franchise
One of the most popular television drama series of all time, Law & Order, is the brainchild of Dick Wolf. The original series ran from 1990 to 2010, when it completed its 20th season. It was revived after an 11-year break, and the 21st season premiered on February 24, 2022. The 22nd Season premiered on September 22, 2022. In all, the police procedural and legal drama has produced 488 solid episodes.
It’s safe to suggest that the bulk of Dick Wolf’s wealth came from the Law & Order franchise. As the creator and executive producer of the current series, he obviously makes a lot of money from it. His production company, Wolf Entertainment, has maintained a healthy relationship with NBC Universal for decades, and this franchise is one of their biggest legacies.
The spinoff shows from Law & Order that make up the franchise include Law & Order: Organized Crime and Law & Order: Hate Crimes. The last installment ordered by NBC in 2021, Law & Order: For the Defense, was called off.
Chicago Franchise
In May 2012, Dick Wolf developed a drama series that follows a group of men and women working at the Chicago Fire Department. Named Chicago Fire, it premiered on October 10, 2012. A spin-off of the series, which will follow the Chicago Police Department, was announced by NBC in March 2013. Aptly named Chicago P.D., the series had Derek Haas, Matt Olmstead, and Michael W. Brandt as executive producers under Dick Wolf.
The Chicago franchise had two extra shows after Chicago Fire and Chicago PD. The third installment of the franchise, Chicago Med, was a medical drama series that follows the emergency department (ED) doctors and nurses of a fictional Gaffney Chicago Medical Center. The last installment in the franchise, Chicago Justice, is a legal drama that follows the prosecutors and investigators at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.
FBI Franchise
Dick Wolf’s third franchise started when the acclaimed creator and producer became the executive producer of a CBS drama called FBI. The show starred leading Law & Order cast members and was an instant success.
To earn its place in Dick Wolf’s franchises, FBI has had two spinoffs, namely FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International. They’re all highly rated shows.
Other Works
In addition to the jobs he completed before starting the Law & Order franchise, Dick Wolf has several other works. He developed an unscripted show as a documentary drama for TNT in 2012 named Cold Justice.
Wolf also has a number of projects under development. Establishments like NBC and USA Network are understood to have active orders with the veteran producer.
Books
Dick Wolf has written four books. His first book was the non-fiction volume “Law & Order: Crimes Scene. It was a sort of companion to the Law & Order television series.
Wolf’s other three books are presented in a thriller series that centers on the same character, NYPD Detective Jeremy Fisk. The novels are titled The Intercept, The Executioner, and The Ultimatum. A New York Bestseller Author, it is rational to expect that Wolf made a reasonable amount of money from these books.
The bottom line – Dick Wolf earned his fortune by creating and producing some of the best television dramas of all-time
Dick Wolf is unarguably one of the greatest television professionals of all time. The acclaimed writer, producer, executive producer and director is behind some of the biggest TV franchises, including the Law & Order franchise, Chicago franchise, and FBI franchise. He has other works, including four books.
With an estimated net worth of $600 million, Dick Wolf also ranks among the wealthiest TV professionals. His wealth is also expected to grow in the coming years, thanks to some of his latest deals with television houses. We can also speculate that Wolf has other high-value deals, assets, and investments that will grow his wealth further in the near future.
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About the Author: Nathan Rivers
