William Shatner: The Iconic Journey Of A Multifaceted Legend

Just How Wealthy is William Shatner?

Let’s dive right into it—William Shatner, the Canadian-born actor, author, producer, director, screenwriter, and singer, has amassed a staggering net worth of $100 million. He’s best known for bringing Captain James T. Kirk to life in the legendary "Star Trek" franchise. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Shatner has starred in a host of other hit shows like "T.J. Hooker," "The Practice," and "Boston Legal." If you’ve ever walked by the Hollywood Walk of Fame, you might’ve noticed his star there, along with another one on Canada’s Walk of Fame.

Shatner’s journey in the entertainment world started way back in the 1950s when he was performing in theater productions and TV shows in Canada. The big break came in the '60s when he was cast as Captain Kirk in "Star Trek: The Original Series," a show that aired from 1966 to 1969. His portrayal of the fearless starship captain not only made him an international star but also turned him into a science fiction legend. After "Star Trek," Shatner’s career kept soaring. He starred as the title character in the legal drama "T.J. Hooker" from 1982 to 1986 and even hosted the beloved reality show "Rescue 911" from 1989 to 1996. And let’s not forget his unforgettable role as Captain Kirk in seven "Star Trek" movies between 1979 and 1994.

Besides acting, Shatner has written several books, including memoirs and science fiction novels. He’s also made a name for himself in the music world, releasing spoken-word albums and even performing on Broadway. In the 2000s, he gained a new wave of popularity thanks to his hilarious portrayal of the eccentric lawyer Denny Crane on the series "Boston Legal," a role that earned him an Emmy Award.

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Money From Fan Events

Nowadays, Shatner spends a lot of time at conventions, where fans can meet him and hear his stories. For each convention appearance, he charges $10,000 for travel expenses and $10,000 per hour, with a minimum of five hours. That’s some serious earning potential!

Did He Really Make $600 Million From Priceline?

There’s been a lot of talk about Shatner raking in $600 million as the pitchman for Priceline.com. Let’s set the record straight: it’s not true. Back in 1997, Shatner signed on to be the "Priceline Negotiator" in a series of commercials for the upstart dotcom travel company. At the time, the internet bubble was booming, and companies like Priceline were getting sky-high stock market valuations from their IPOs. According to the rumor, Shatner insisted on receiving stock as compensation instead of cash. It seemed like a smart move at the time, but then the bubble burst, and Priceline shares plummeted, hitting a low of $1.80 per share in 2000.

Fast forward more than a decade later, and Shatner was still doing commercials while Priceline’s stock had made a remarkable comeback. The rumors started flying that Shatner hadn’t sold any of his stock during the decade after the bubble burst, leading some to believe his shares were now worth over $600 million. But Shatner has been very clear in denying these rumors. In an interview with Howard Stern, he set the record straight, and he even tweeted about it: "Someone stupid said a stupid thing about me making $600M. It ain't so. Relatives are coming out of the woodwork. Too bad it never happened."

Shatner’s Beginnings

William Shatner was born on March 22, 1931, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, into a Jewish family. His last name was originally Schattner but was anglicized to Shatner by his paternal grandfather. His parents, Ann and Joseph, raised him and his two sisters in a close-knit household. Shatner attended Willingdon Elementary School and West Hill High School, where he first got a taste of the theater scene through the Montreal Children's Theatre. He went on to study Economics at McGill University in Montreal, earning his Bachelor's degree in 1952.

Shatner’s Career

After graduation, Shatner took a job as the business manager for a playhouse in Montreal, which eventually led him to join the Canadian National Repertory Theatre. There, he trained to become a classical Shakespearean actor. By 1954, he was performing in various roles at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival and even landed a part as Ranger Bob on the Canadian version of "Howdy Doody." His film debut came in 1958 with "The Brothers Karamazov," and he soon found himself starring in an episode of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" titled "The Glass Eye."

Shatner’s career skyrocketed when he was cast as Captain James T. Kirk in "Star Trek," which aired from 1966 to 1969. In 1973, he reprised the role of Captain Kirk, this time lending his voice to the animated "Star Trek" series. When "Star Trek" was canceled, it developed a cult following in the 1970s thanks to syndicated reruns, turning Captain Kirk into a cultural icon. Shatner began attending Star Trek conventions, further cementing his connection with fans.

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In the 1980s, Shatner took on the role of T.J. Hooker in the TV series that ran from 1982 to 1986. During this time, he also reprised his role as Captain Kirk in five "Star Trek" movies. He didn’t stop there; he also began directing both film and television, including several episodes of "T.J. Hooker" and the feature film "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier." Shatner co-starred in the 2000 movie "Miss Congeniality" and its 2004 sequel "Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous."

David E. Kelley cast Shatner as Denny Crane in the final season of the legal drama "The Practice," and the role carried over to "Boston Legal," where he remained until the series ended in 2008. From 2016 through 2018, he starred in both seasons of NBC's "Better Late Than Never." Aside from acting, Shatner has also had a successful career as a recording artist. His debut album, "The Transformed Man," came out in 1968, and his most successful album, "Seeking Major Tom," was released in 2011. It featured covers of iconic songs like David Bowie's "Space Oddity," Pink Floyd's "Learning to Fly," and Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody."

Shatner’s Personal Life

Shatner’s personal life has been just as eventful as his career. He’s been married four times. His first marriage was to Canadian actress Gloria Rand in August 1956. They had three daughters: Leslie, Lisabeth, and Melanie. Shatner left Rand while filming the original "Star Trek" series, and Rand divorced him in March 1969.

His second marriage was to Marcy Lafferty, which lasted from 1973 to 1996. His third marriage was to Nerine Kidd Shatner in 1997. Tragically, Nerine was found at the bottom of their swimming pool in 1999. The autopsy revealed alcohol and Valium in her system, and the coroner ruled her death as an accidental drowning.

In 2001, Shatner married Elizabeth Anderson Martin. However, their marriage ended in 2019, with the divorce finalized in January 2020. As part of their prenuptial agreement, Shatner paid Elizabeth a lump sum of $2 million for spousal support and deeded her properties in Malibu and Kentucky. Shatner kept a home in Studio City, California, a ranch in Three Rivers, California, several horses, and all the horse semen they had collected.

Shatner’s achievements extend beyond the screen. In June 2011, McGill University awarded him an honorary Doctorate of Letters. He also received an honorary Doctor of Letters from the New England Institute of Technology in May 2018. And in 2021, at the age of 90, Shatner became the oldest person to fly into space aboard the Blue Origin sub-orbital capsule.

Shatner’s Earnings Per Episode

So, just how much does William Shatner earn per episode of a television show? A cool $150,000 per episode.

Shatner’s Real Estate Empire

Shatner’s longtime residence is a four-bedroom, four-bathroom, 4,016-square-foot home in Studio City, California. As part of his 2020 divorce settlement with ex-wife Elizabeth, he gave her a property in Malibu and their Belle Reve Farm in Versailles, Kentucky. Shatner, however, kept an 18-acre ranch in Three Rivers, California, which he purchased in 1979 with wife Marcy.