Net Worth Ranker
What Is Ben Mezrich’s Net Worth
Ben Mezrich, an American author known for his non-fiction narratives and thrillers, has accumulated a net worth of $6 million [1]. His financial success stems primarily from his writing career, which includes numerous best-selling books and adaptations of his works into successful movies and television series [1].
Early Life and Education
Born on February 7, 1969, in Princeton, New Jersey, Ben Mezrich’s upbringing laid a strong foundation for his future success [1]. He is the son of Reuben Mezrich, who served as the chairman of radiology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and Molli (Newman), an attorney [1]. Growing up in a Jewish household, Mezrich attended the private Princeton Day School [1]. He excelled academically and graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1991 with a degree in Social Studies [1]. This educational background provided him with the skills and knowledge necessary to craft compelling stories and navigate the world of publishing.
Career and Bestselling Books
Mezrich’s literary career spans both fiction and non-fiction genres. His non-fiction works have garnered significant attention and commercial success, particularly those that delve into the world of high-stakes finance, technology, and gambling [1].
Bringing Down the House: Published in 2003, “Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six MIT Students Who Took Vegas for Millions” became a “New York Times” bestseller [1]. The book chronicles the exploits of a group of MIT students who used card counting techniques to win large sums of money in casinos across America and the Caribbean [1]. The success of the book led to a film adaptation in 2008, titled “21,” which further amplified Mezrich’s reach and income [1]. While specific financial details of the book’s sales and royalties are not publicly available, its bestseller status and film adaptation undoubtedly contributed significantly to Mezrich’s net worth.
Ugly Americans: In 2004, Mezrich released “Ugly Americans: The True Story of the Ivy League Cowboys Who Raided the Asian Markets for Millions” [1]. This book explores the story of an American who exploits the Japanese stock market [1]. While it did not achieve the same level of mainstream success as “Bringing Down the House,” it still contributed to Mezrich’s overall earnings as a published author.
Rigged: “Rigged: The True Story of a Wall Street Novice Who Changed the World of Oil Forever,” published in 2007, details the establishment of the Dubai Mercantile Exchange [1]. Although specific sales figures are not publicly accessible, the book added to Mezrich’s reputation as a chronicler of financial narratives.
The Accidental Billionaires: Mezrich’s 2009 book, “The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal,” cemented his status as a bestselling author [1]. The book, which tells the story of the founding of Facebook and its co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, debuted at #4 on “The New York Times” Nonfiction Bestseller List and #1 on “The Boston Globe” Nonfiction Bestseller List [1]. In 2010, Aaron Sorkin adapted the book into the screenplay for the film “The Social Network,” which was nominated for eight Oscars and won three [1].
While precise financial figures from the book’s sales and the film adaptation are not publicly disclosed, it is clear that the success of “The Accidental Billionaires” and “The Social Network” significantly boosted Mezrich’s income and net worth. As the original author, Mezrich likely received royalties from book sales, as well as compensation for the rights to adapt his work into a film [1].
Bitcoin Billionaires: In 2019, Mezrich released “Bitcoin Billionaires: A True Story of Genius, Betrayal and Redemption,” a sequel to “The Accidental Billionaires” that explores the world of cryptocurrency [1]. This book led to him working as a consulting producer on the Showtime series “Billions,” further diversifying his income streams [1]. In 2023, the film “Dumb Money,” starring Pete Davidson and Seth Rogan, was based on “Bitcoin Billionaires” [1].
Breaking Twitter: In 2023, Mezrich published “Breaking Twitter: Elon Musk and the Most Controversial Corporate Takeover in History,” which examines Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter [1]. The book is one of Mezrich’s most recent publications and contributes to his ongoing income as an author.
Juvenile Fiction: Mezrich co-writes the children’s book series “The Charlie Numbers Adventures” with his wife [1]. The series, published by Simon & Schuster, follows a boy named Charlie Numbers and his group of Whiz Kids in Boston [1]. Titles in the series include “Bringing Down the Mouse” (2014), “Charlie Numbers and the Man in the Moon” (2017), “Charlie Numbers and the Wooly Mammoth” (2019), and “Charlie Numbers and the UFO Bash” (2023) [1]. While likely not as lucrative as his adult non-fiction works, this series adds to Mezrich’s overall income and demonstrates his versatility as an author.
Fact vs Fiction
Semyon Dukach, the main character in “Busting Vegas: The MIT Whiz Kid Who Brought the Casinos To Their Knees,” has publicly stated that the book is not entirely factual [1]. This highlights a recurring criticism of Mezrich’s work: that he sometimes takes liberties with the truth in order to create a more compelling narrative [1]. While this approach may generate controversy, it has not appeared to significantly diminish his readership or commercial success [1].
Film and Television Adaptations
Several of Mezrich’s books have been adapted into films and television series, providing him with additional income streams beyond book sales. These adaptations include:
21: Based on “Bringing Down the House,” the 2008 film “21” starred Kevin Spacey and told the story of the MIT card counters [1]. As the author of the source material, Mezrich likely received compensation for the film rights, as well as potential royalties based on the film’s box office success.
The Social Network: The 2010 film “The Social Network,” based on “The Accidental Billionaires,” won three Oscars [1]. Mezrich likely received compensation for the rights to adapt his book into a screenplay, as well as potential royalties based on the film’s box office success.
Dumb Money: The 2023 film “Dumb Money,” starring Pete Davidson and Seth Rogan, was based on “Bitcoin Billionaires” [1]. This adaptation would have provided Mezrich with compensation for the rights to adapt his work into a film.
Fatal Error: Mezrich’s novel “Reaper” was adapted into a TV movie called “Fatal Error” [1].
Personal Life
On September 9, 2006, Ben Mezrich married Dr. Tonya Chen at the Harbor View Hotel on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts [1]. They have two children and divide their time between Vermont and Boston, Massachusetts [1].
