Candace Bushnell (born December 1, 1958) is an American author, journalist, and television producer. She wrote a column for The New York Observer (1994–96) that was adapted into the bestselling Sex and the City anthology. The book became the basis for the HBO hit series Sex and the City (1998–2004) and two subsequent movies.
Bushnell followed with bestselling novels like 4 Blondes (2001), Trading Up (2003), Lipstick Jungle (2005), and The Carrie Diaries (2010). Two of her novels were adapted for television.
RELATED: Kelis Net Worth: Blending Music and Culinary Success into Fortune
Table of Contents
Candace Bushnell Net Worth
Candace Bushnell has a net worth of $2.5 million. Despite the success of Sex and the City, Candace did not earn millions from the show, even after it aired six seasons and several movies.
In a June 2023 interview, Bushnell revealed she sold the film and TV rights for just $100,000. In the same interview, she disclosed that 90% of her wealth comes from endeavors outside of Sex and the City, primarily her best-selling books.
Early Life
Candace Bushnell was born in Glastonbury, Connecticut to Calvin L. Bushnell and Camille Salonia. Her father was one of the inventors of the air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell used in the Apollo space missions in the 1960s. Her Bushnell ancestors trace back to Francis Bushnell, a signatory of the Guilford Covenant, who emigrated from Thatcham, Berkshire, England in 1639.
Her mother was of Italian descent. Candace attended Glastonbury High School and later studied at Rice University and New York University. She met Ron Galotti in 1995, who inspired Sex and the City’s Mr. Big.
Career
At age 19, Candace Bushnell moved to New York City and sold a children’s story to Simon & Schuster. She worked as a freelance journalist, struggling for many years. In 1993, she began writing for The New York Observer and created the column “Sex and the City”.
In 1997, it became an anthology and was adapted into the HBO series. Bushnell’s other works include Four Blondes, Trading Up, and Lipstick Jungle. She also hosted “Sex, Success and Sensibility” on Sirius Satellite Radio and created The Carrie Diaries books.
Personal Life
From 2002 to 2012, Candace Bushnell was married to Charles Askegard, a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet. They divorced in 2011. Bushnell found the experience disorienting, saying, “When I got divorced, I couldn’t get a mortgage; I didn’t fit into a computer model.”
She owned a co-op in Greenwich Village until 2015 and a historic Victorian farmhouse in Roxbury, Connecticut from 2005 to 2016. In 2016, she bought a co-op on East 74th Street in Manhattan.
Is Candace Bushnell the real Carrie Bradshaw?
Candace Bushnell was the brain behind the series and the real person behind the character Carrie Bradshaw.
Conclusion
Candace Bushnell’s journey from an aspiring writer to a successful author and producer, with a net worth of $2.5 million, is a testament to her talent, perseverance, and entrepreneurial spirit. Her story is an inspiring narrative of creativity and resilience in the competitive worlds of literature and television.
RELATED: Hans Zimmer Net Worth: Counting the Notes of the Composer’s Riches
FAQs about Candace Bushnell
- What inspired “Sex and the City”? Bushnell’s own social and dating life in New York City, alongside the lives of her friends, served as the primary inspiration for “Sex and the City,” offering a glimpse into the complexities of modern urban relationships.
- How much did Candace Bushnell earn from “Sex and the City”? Contrary to expectations, Bushnell earned just $100,000 from selling the TV and film rights for “Sex and the City,” a figure that highlights the financial realities behind literary success.
- What are some of Candace Bushnell’s other notable works? Beyond “Sex and the City,” Bushnell has penned several bestsellers including “Lipstick Jungle,” “One Fifth Avenue,” and “The Carrie Diaries,” each exploring different facets of life, love, and ambition.
- Has Candace Bushnell faced any financial losses in real estate? Yes, Bushnell experienced a loss on her Connecticut farmhouse, which she sold for less than the purchase price, showcasing the challenges of real estate investment.
- What is Candace Bushnell’s latest book? Bushnell’s most recent work, “Is There Still Sex in the City?” released in 2019, revisits themes of love and life, exploring the ever-evolving landscape of relationships and dating in the modern age.
