His birthday is September 30, 1975, which means he will be 50 years old in 2025. He is a well-known author and reporter, and his work with The Atlantic and his books with cultural comments have won him many awards. Coates became famous across the country for his writings about race in the United States. It is thought that Ta-Nehisi Coates’ net worth will be around $5 million by 2025.
This will come from selling books, giving speeches, writing comic books, and working on script projects. Kevin Matthews is his wife, and the two of them have a kid.
Social Profiles
Quick Bio
Field | Detail |
---|---|
Full Name | Ta-Nehisi Paul Coates |
Date of Birth | September 30, 1975 |
Age (2025) | 49 |
Birthplace | Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
Education | Howard University |
Occupations | Author, Journalist, Essayist, Novelist, Activist |
Notable Books | The Beautiful Struggle, Between the World and Me, We Were Eight Years in Power, The Water Dancer, The Message |
Major Awards | National Book Award (2015), MacArthur Fellowship |
Family | Married, one son |
Current Position | Writer-in-Residence, Howard University |
Comics | Black Panther, Captain America for Marvel |
Ta-Nehisi Coates Net Worth in 2025
Estimates of Coates’ net worth vary a lot. In recent years, sources have mostly given numbers is around $5 million. However, exact numbers can change and are often kept secret. His income comes from:
- Book earnings from best-selling books
- Giving speeches at public events and universities
- Among his academic duties are being a professor at MIT and being a writer-in-residence.
- Marvel signs contracts for comic books
- Deals in Hollywood (Warner Bros., HBO)
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Income and Business Ventures
Sales of books and writing
Bestsellers like “Between the World and Me,” “The Beautiful Struggle,” and “The Water Dancer” bring in a lot of money for Coates. However, these books have won awards and are still in high demand.
Writing and Journalism
He started his work as a reporter and contributor to The Atlantic. His essay “The Case for Reparations” started a lot of debate and brought him more attention.
Comic books and making movies
Coates writes for Marvel’s Black Panther and Captain America comics. He gets paid for these work through contracts and earnings.
Speaking in public and fellowships
Coates is in high demand as a speaker at universities and foreign conferences, and he charges a lot of money for keynote speeches and panel discussions. To his honor, being named a MacArthur Fellow brought money and more attention from the academic community.
Other Business Plans
There are many ways to make money, such as consulting, teaching, and working with the media on unique projects. Coates weighs his options and usually picks projects that are in line with his morals and will help him grow as a writer over ones that will make him money.
Comparison with Other Celebrates
Celebrity | Primary Area | Net Worth (2025) | Notable Works/Role |
---|---|---|---|
Ta-Nehisi Coates | Author/Journalist | $5 million | Between the World and Me, Marvel comics |
Oprah Winfrey | Media | $2.8 billion | The Oprah Winfrey Show, OWN Network |
J.K. Rowling | Author | $1 billion | Harry Potter series |
James Patterson | Author | $800 million | Alex Cross series |
Stephen King | Author | $500 million | It, The Shining, Carrie |
Nora Roberts | Author | $400 million | In Death series, numerous romances |
John Grisham | Author | $400 million | A Time to Kill, The Firm |
Rick Riordan | Author | $40 million | Percy Jackson series |
Who is Ta-Nehisi Coates?
Coates was born on September 30, 1975, in Baltimore, Maryland. He grew up in a big family that was shaped by his father, William Paul Coates, who served in Vietnam, was a Black Panther, and started Black Classic Press. Coates’ outlook and writing were deeply affected by Black Classic Press and his father’s activism. He grew up with lots of books and ideas that were centered on African Americans.
Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Career & Professional Achievements
Journalism and Early Writing
After going to Howard University, Coates started working as a journalist. He wrote for The Village Voice and Time, and at The Atlantic, he became famous across the country. Some of his essays, like “The Case for Reparations” (2014), which was very important, started national conversations about race, history, and politics.
Author & Literary Influence
Several of Coates’ books have been praised:
- The National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize were both given to Between the World and Me (2015), a letter to his son about being Black in America.
- The Beautiful Struggle, We Were Eight Years in Power, The Water Dancer, and The Message are some of his other works.
Marvel Comics & Hollywood
Coates wrote well-known runs for Black Panther and Captain America in Marvel Comics. His stories went to Hollywood for movies and TV shows, like a Warner Bros. Superman movie he worked on with J.J. Abrams.
Education Background
Coates went to several schools in Baltimore, including Woodlawn High School. He then studied media for five years at Howard University, also known as “The Mecca.” He didn’t finish high school or get a degree, so he is the only one in his family who doesn’t have a college education.

Personal Life and Family
My Wife and My Marriage by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Kenyatta Matthews is married to Coates. She also has an effect on his writing; her ideas and point of view can be seen in the things he has written.
Families and kids
He has a kid named Samori who is very important in Between the World and Me. Coates’ parenting shows that she cares about history, respects herself, and works to improve her community.
In what place does Ta-Nehisi Coates live?
Coates was last seen living in New York City. He has lived in Paris before, but he has kept information about his home secret.
Influence, Awards & Legacy
Coates has gotten a lot of praise:
- Award for Best Book
- Grant for MacArthur “Genius“
- Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize
His work has an impact on Black thinking, American politics, and literature, making him a public intellectual and thought leader.
FAQs about Ta-Nehisi Coates
Why did Ta-Nehisi Coates choose to write?
Because he went to Howard University but didn’t finish.
Which book by Ta-Nehisi Coates is the most well-known?
The World and I
Who does Ta-Nehisi Coates marry?
John Kenyatta Matthews
What kind of degree does Coates have from Howard?
Didn’t finish school; studied news
Conclusion
Ta-Nehisi Coates has worked as a journalist, author, comic book artist, and movie director, leaving a legacy that goes beyond traditional limits. Coates’s net worth shows how much people like and respect him, but what’s even more important is how he affects American society, challenges racial narratives, and inspires new writers and thinkers. His story is important for more reasons than just money; it shows how powerful brave writing can be over time.
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