Jim Davis Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday Facts

Jim Davis Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday

Jim Davis is a cartoonist recognized for creating the iconic comic strip Garfield.

Introduction

Jim Davis, born July 28, 1945, is an American cartoonist whose creation of the strip Garfield turned into a global brand. His estimated net worth stands at around US $800 million, and he is married—his personal life and relationships reflecting both the quieter reality of his Indiana roots and the commercial success of a pop-culture icon. 

Quick Facts

From Hoosier Farm to International Syndication

Raised on a small Black Angus cow farm near Fairmount, Indiana, Davis’s early life was rooted in modesty and creativity. His childhood—spent among cows and cats—would later inspire the barnyard-humor and relatable slacker vibe of Garfield. 
At Ball State University he studied art and business, and his exposure to the cartoon-medium developed through small regional strips like Gnorm Gnat. When syndicates told him “bugs — nobody can relate to bugs,” he pivoted to cats — his reasoning: cats were under-represented and versatile. 
Defining moments in Jim Davis’s journey include:

• Launching the strip Jon (featuring Jon Arbuckle and a prototype Garfield) in 1976. 

• Syndicating Garfield nationally on June 19, 1978, in 41 newspapers. 

• Founding his company Paws, Inc. in 1981 to manage licensing and merchandising. 

• Selling Paws, Inc. (and the Garfield brand) to media conglomerate ViacomCBS/Nickelodeon in 2019 — a pivotal business turn. 

The core pillars of Jim Davis’s wealth include:

• Comic-strip syndication & royalties: Garfield became one of the most widely syndicated strips in history. 

• Merchandising & licensing: Plush toys, books, television programs and global rights built a sprawling brand. 

• Business-exit value: The sale of Paws, Inc. and rights in 2019 injected major value into his portfolio. 

Relationships & Family Life

In his personal life, Davis has maintained long-term partnerships and a relatively private home base in Indiana. He was first married to Carolyn Altekruse, with whom he shares a son. She was famously allergic to cats (ironic given his career).  On July 16, 2000, Davis married Jill, who had two children from a previous marriage; together they blend family and work, as Jill has held a senior licensing role at Paws, Inc. 
Key insights into Jim Davis’s relationships and personal life:

• His first marriage created a family tie to his early adult career.

• His second marriage, blending family and business, anchors his Indiana home-life and the Garfield enterprise.

• He maintains strong roots in his hometown region, rather than shifting to celebrity locales.

Beyond Career Success: Lifestyle, Assets & Interests

Beyond the central success of Garfield, Davis leads a lifestyle grounded in his Indiana roots while engaging in philanthropic and creative pursuits.

• He resides near his hometown in Indiana, maintaining proximity to his original farm-community roots. 

• Collects original comic-art: in 2019 he began auctioning off original hand-painted Garfield strips (1978-2011). 

• Founded the Professor Garfield Foundation, dedicated to children’s literacy and creative education. 

• Hobby: Drawing strips remains a daily discipline — despite corporate success, he emphasizes the craft of three-panel timing and drawing economy. 

Net Worth Breakdown & Analysis

How do we arrive at Jim Davis’s estimated wealth? The following table outlines the major components:

Analysis: The vast bulk of Davis’s net worth stems from the long-term monetization of Garfield — syndication, licensing, brand extensions, and the strategic exit via Paws, Inc. While public figures run the risk of decline in print media, Davis diversified early into global brand licensing and digital transitions. His modest lifestyle and farm-based residence may have preserved more of the wealth than typical celebrity-entrepreneur models.

Public Image, Legacy & Influence

Jim Davis remains respected not only as a creator of a pop-culture icon, but as a businessman and educator who consciously built a global brand without losing sight of his creative roots. His slang-humoured cat, Garfield, became shorthand for everyday indulgence and irreverence, yet Davis framed the character’s success as rooted in straightforward human emotions: food, sleep, frustration. 
In the world of cartooning and licensing, his influence is broad: he mentored artists, lectured on “the business of the comic strip”, and built a company (Paws, Inc.) that supported artists in production and merchandising. He’s frequently cited in interviews as emphasizing fun and consistency rather than chasing novelty. 
Legacy-wise, his net worth and achievements place him among the most commercially successful cartoonists. Yet his public persona stays surprisingly low-key, grounded in rural Indiana, distancing him from the glamour of many entertainment tycoons.

Conclusion

From July 28, 1945—the day Jim Davis was born—to building a brand worth roughly US $800 million, his journey reflects both imaginative creativity and business acumen. His net worth is intertwined with the success of Garfield, his relationships root him in mid-America rather than celebrity excess, and his age/birthdate and birthday mark a life lived comparatively quietly, yet impactfully. In marrying whimsy (the lasagna-loving cat) with industrious licensing, Jim Davis reminds us that even a lazy orange tabby can become a global phenomenon — when guided by consistent craft, smart branding and a touch of humor.