Bill D'Elia Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday

Bill D'Elia is a prolific American television director, producer and screenwriter best known for his work on series such as Chicago Hope, Ally McBeal, and Boston Legal.

Introduction

Bill D'Elia — born March 23, 1946 — has carved out a distinguished career behind the camera, directing and producing dozens of acclaimed television programmes and earning recognition as a storyteller with both craft and conscience. With an estimated net worth of around $20 million, he remains married to interior-decorator and design-professional Ellie D’Elia (née Dombroski), and his birthday of March 23 marks each year the celebration of a creative life still influencing Hollywood.

Quick Facts

From Queens Beginnings to TV Powerhouse

Growing up in Queens, New York, the son of Italian-American parents, Bill D’Elia’s early ambition found a spark in theater and then a passion in production. A graduate of Ithaca College, followed by a master’s in communication arts from William Paterson University, he first cut his teeth directing commercials and short films. 

His major break came in 1989 with the independently produced film The Feud, which caught the attention of industry heavy-weights and led to his first episodic directing jobs. From there he steadily climbed: directing for series such as Northern Exposure, The West Wing, and later, assuming executive producer-director roles on major network dramas. 

Defining moments in Bill D’Elia’s journey include:

• Directing his first feature, The Feud, which opened doors into network television.

• Co-creating the series Judging Amy and launching his heavy-hit producer career. 

• Serving as executive producer and director on powerhouse series such as Boston Legal and Ally McBeal. 

• Winning the Rod Serling Award for social-justice engagement in television storytelling. 

D’Elia’s career is not just about output, but about meaningful content: integrating professional skill with a sense of purpose, setting him apart from many of his peers.

The Core Pillars of Bill D’Elia’s Wealth

The foundation of his estimated net worth stems from several interlocking pillars:

While specific breakdowns are not widely published, one estimate places his net worth at around $20 million, according to Celebrity NetWorth. 

Relationships & Family Life

Bill D’Elia’s personal life is rooted in family and partnership. He married Ellie D’Elia (née Dombroski), an interior decorator, and together the couple have two sons: comedian-actor Chris D’Elia and filmmaker Matt D’Elia. 

Key insights into Bill D’Elia’s relationships and personal life:

• The D’Elia family emphasizes creative craftsmanship: Ellie in design, Bill in production, and their sons in performance and filmmaking.

• The home partnership supports both his public career and private sense of grounding in family life.

• Despite Bill’s high-profile career, the family has largely kept personal life away from tabloid headlines.

Lifestyle, Assets & Interests

Beyond career success, Bill D’Elia leads a lifestyle that reflects both passion and purpose, including:

• Real estate asset: In 2018, Bill and Ellie sold their longtime Surfside, California vacation home for roughly $3.275 million, showcasing a tangible asset tied to his professional success. 

• Philanthropic engagement: He has supported causes such as gun-violence prevention, working with organizations such as Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence to help translate his creative platform into civic impact. 

• Hobby & craft mindset: From directing commercials to television dramas, D’Elia maintains a hands-on commitment to storytelling, often directing pilots and episodes himself rather than only supervising from the top.

Net Worth Breakdown & Analysis

When assessing Bill D’Elia’s net worth, it’s important to recognize the nature of estimation and the drivers behind the figure. The $20 million figure is drawn from sources like Celebrity NetWorth. 

Breakdown

*Estimates are indicative and not audited.

While the figure may appear modest relative to Hollywood megastars, for a career-behind-the-camera professional such as D’Elia it reflects a durable, mainstream­successful career in television across decades.

Key drivers of growth:

• Consistent executive-producer roles on high-visibility series.

• Ownership or back-end participation in long-running shows.

• Real-estate accumulation tied to professional earnings and lifestyle.

Public Image, Legacy & Influence

Bill D’Elia is regarded in the entertainment industry as a dependable architect of elevated television. His engagements in socially conscious programming (such as the Rod Serling award-winning work) give him a reputation beyond pure commercial success. 

Among peers he is seen as someone who straddles creative direction and business acumen — a “storyteller-producer” rather than simply a director. Publicly, his personal life stays private, which has helped maintain a professional-first image. His influence is evident in how many legal-drama series adopt narrative models he helped pioneer (ensemble casts, moral ambiguity, social themes).

Conclusion

From his birthdate of March 23, 1946, Bill D’Elia has advanced from Queens theatre student to a powerhouse of network television storytelling. His net worth — estimated at roughly $20 million — reflects a career built not on flash but on craftsmanship, consistency, and strategic production roles. His marriage to Ellie D’Elia and their creative family life anchor the personal side of a public career. Whether on set directing, producing a pilot, or quietly engaging in philanthropy, Bill D’Elia’s birthday serves as a yearly landmark for one of television’s more grounded yet accomplished figures.

Through the dual lenses of craft and purpose, his legacy is not just a tally of credits but a blueprint for how directors and producers can forge meaningful, lasting careers behind the scenes.