| Birth Name | Thomas Leo Clancy Jr. |
|---|---|
| Born | April 12, 1947 |
| Birthplace | Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Education | Loyola University (B.A. in English Literature) |
| Spouse | Wanda Thomas King (m. 1969) |
| Children | 4 |
| First Novel | “The Hunt for Red October” (1984) |
| Notable Novels | “Red Storm Rising” (1986), “Clear and Present Danger” (1989), “The Sum of All Fears” (1991) |
| Video Game Company | Red Storm Entertainment (co-founded in 1991) |
| Notable Video Games | “Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six” (1998), “Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon” (2001) |
| Net Worth at Time of Death | $300 million |
| Death | October 1, 2013 |
| Legacy | Pioneered the techno-thriller genre, known for his detailed knowledge of military technology and tactics, co-founded a successful video game company |
Tom Clancy (1947-2013) was an American author and businessman, best known for his bestselling military and espionage thrillers. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and attended Loyola University, where he earned a degree in English literature. Clancy initially worked in the insurance industry before writing his first novel, “The Hunt for Red October,” which was published in 1984 and became a bestseller.
Clancy went on to write many more novels, including “Red Storm Rising,” “Clear and Present Danger,” and “The Sum of All Fears,” among others. He was known for his detailed knowledge of military technology and tactics, and his books were often praised for their technical accuracy and realism. Several of his novels were adapted into successful films, including “The Hunt for Red October,” “Clear and Present Danger,” and “The Sum of All Fears.”
In addition to his writing career, Clancy was also a successful businessman. He co-founded a video game company, Red Storm Entertainment, which produced several popular games, including the “Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six” and “Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon” series. The company was eventually acquired by Ubisoft, a major video game publisher.
Clancy’s wealth was estimated at around $300 million at the time of his death in 2013. He had sold over 100 million copies of his books worldwide, and his video game company had also been very successful. Clancy was known for his love of cars and owned several luxury vehicles, including a Lamborghini Diablo and a Rolls-Royce Phantom. He also owned a 537-acre estate in Maryland, which included a mansion, a golf course, and a private runway for his planes.
Overall, Tom Clancy was a prolific author and successful businessman who achieved great wealth through his writing and gaming ventures. His legacy as a writer and entrepreneur continues to inspire many today.
Timeline:
1947: Tom Clancy is born in Baltimore, Maryland.
1965-1969: Clancy attends Loyola University and earns a degree in English literature.
1984: Clancy publishes his first novel, “The Hunt for Red October,” which becomes a bestseller and is later adapted into a successful film.
1986: Clancy publishes “Red Storm Rising,” which also becomes a bestseller.
1991: Clancy co-founds Red Storm Entertainment, a video game company.
1993: Clancy publishes “Clear and Present Danger,” which is adapted into a successful film.
1996: Clancy’s video game “Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six” is released and becomes a major success.
1998: Clancy’s video game “Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear” is released and also becomes a major success.
2002: Clancy’s video game company Red Storm Entertainment is acquired by Ubisoft, a major video game publisher.
2013: Tom Clancy passes away at the age of 66. At the time of his death, his estimated net worth is $300 million.
5 Interesting Facts about Tom Clancy:
- Clancy was a big fan of the military and often visited military bases to conduct research for his books.
- He was an avid car enthusiast and owned several luxury vehicles, including a Lamborghini Diablo and a Rolls-Royce Phantom.
- Clancy was one of the first authors to use the “techno-thriller” genre, which combines military and espionage fiction with detailed technical descriptions.
- He was a major supporter of the Republican Party and was friends with several high-profile politicians, including former President Ronald Reagan.
- Clancy was an early advocate for the use of computer technology in writing and was known for his use of computer-assisted research and plotting.
5 Quotes from Tom Clancy:
- “The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense.”
- “The control of information is something the elite always does, particularly in a despotic form of government. Information, knowledge, is power. If you can control information, you can control people.”
- “I don’t believe in luck. Not in golf, anyway. There are good bounces and bad bounces, sure, but the ball is round and so is the hole. You make your own luck.”
- “The most fundamental of all human rights is the right to control our own minds and thoughts. That includes the right to think foolish things, to make mistakes, and to accept the consequences of those mistakes.”
- “The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency.”
