Original Intact Edition Of Shakespeare's "first Folio" Sells For Almost $10m, Becomes The Most Expensive Work Of Literature, Ever | Celebrity Net Worth 2026
Just in case anyone out there ever doubted that a playwright by the name of William Shakespeare would ever amount to anything: A recent Christie's...
🌟 Public Figure · Updated: October 03, 2026 · 3 min read · FamsWorthHQ Financial Desk
Original Intact Edition Of Shakespeare's "first Folio" Sells For Almost $10m, Becomes The Most Expensive Work Of Literature, Ever | Celebrity — Estimated Net Worth & Financial Dossier
Executive Summary:
Just in case anyone out there ever doubted that a playwright by the name of William Shakespeare would ever amount to anything: A recent Christie's auction has cemented the bard's reputation for good, as a complete copy of Shakespeare's First Folio has sold for almost $10 million, becoming in the process the most expensive work of literature ever sold at auction.
Shakespeare's First Folio is the earliest published edition of his plays, dating all the way back to 1623, when it was published under the title "Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies." As you can imagine, the work that includes virtually all of Shakespeare's dramatic work is considered among the most influential works ever published, and its value goes far beyond any dollar amount. Nevertheless, rare book collector Stephan Loewentheil paid $9,978,000 for the copy, which is quite a bit more than presale estimates that were in the $4 million to $6 million range. He told reporters that he added the First Folio to his collection in order for it to "serve as a centerpiece of a great collection of intellectual achievements of man." He went on, telling CNN:
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Original Intact Edition Of Shakespeare's "first Folio" Sells For Almost $10m, Becomes The Most Expensive Work Of Literature, Ever | Celebrity — Financial & Wealth Report PDF
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💰 Original Intact Edition Of Shakespeare's "first Folio" Sells For Almost $10m, Becomes The Most Expensive Work Of Literature, Ever | Celebrity Financial Profile OverviewVerified Benchmark
Estimated Net Worth
$190.0 Million
Annual Salary / Earnings
$17.9 Million / year
Monthly Income
~$1.5 Million / month
Primary Wealth Sources
Various Income Streams, Investments, Brand Partnerships
Known Assets & Portfolio
Real Estate, Luxury Vehicles, Business Investments
Nationality / Origin
American
Industry / Category
🌟 Public Figure
Data Last Updated
November 2026
Biography & Early Wealth Journey
"[The First Folio] is the greatest work in the English language, certainly the greatest work of theater, so it's something that anyone who loves intellectualism has to consider a divine object."
Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images
CNN also reports that of the original 750 copies of the work that were published in 1623, only 235 are known to survive. Of those, only 56 have survived in complete form. And the last time a complete First Folio hit the auction block, in 2001, it sold for $6.1 million, which was also a record-breaking price at the time.
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This edition of the First Folio was sold by the cash-strapped Mills College in Oakland, which reportedly received it as a free donation back in 1977. Fortunately, the school has now gotten much more than they expected for the item.
What is Original Intact Edition Of Shakespeare's "first Folio" Sells For Almost $10m, Becomes The Most Expensive Work Of Literature, Ever | Celebrity's net worth in 2026?
As of 2026, Original Intact Edition Of Shakespeare's "first Folio" Sells For Almost $10m, Becomes The Most Expensive Work Of Literature, Ever | Celebrity's estimated net worth is $190.0 Million.
How does Original Intact Edition Of Shakespeare's "first Folio" Sells For Almost $10m, Becomes The Most Expensive Work Of Literature, Ever | Celebrity make money?
Original Intact Edition Of Shakespeare's "first Folio" Sells For Almost $10m, Becomes The Most Expensive Work Of Literature, Ever | Celebrity generates income primarily through Various Income Streams, Investments, Brand Partnerships.
What are Original Intact Edition Of Shakespeare's "first Folio" Sells For Almost $10m, Becomes The Most Expensive Work Of Literature, Ever | Celebrity's biggest assets?
They maintain a diverse portfolio including Real Estate, Luxury Vehicles, and Business Investments.
How much does Original Intact Edition Of Shakespeare's "first Folio" Sells For Almost $10m, Becomes The Most Expensive Work Of Literature, Ever | Celebrity earn per year?
Original Intact Edition Of Shakespeare's "first Folio" Sells For Almost $10m, Becomes The Most Expensive Work Of Literature, Ever | Celebrity brings in approximately $17.9 Million in annual earnings.
Is Original Intact Edition Of Shakespeare's "first Folio" Sells For Almost $10m, Becomes The Most Expensive Work Of Literature, Ever | Celebrity a millionaire or billionaire?
Yes, Original Intact Edition Of Shakespeare's "first Folio" Sells For Almost $10m, Becomes The Most Expensive Work Of Literature, Ever | Celebrity is a millionaire.
Financial Valuation Disclaimer: All net worth figures, annual salaries, and asset estimates presented on FamsWorthHQ are formulated using publicly accessible data, corporate filings, industry contract disclosures, and proprietary statistical modeling. Unless explicitly designated, figures represent estimated calculations and should be referenced for informational and comparative entertainment purposes.
