Donald Bellisario net worth
Number of divisions: 18
What is the net worth of Donald Bellisario?
Donald Bellisario is a prolific American television producer with a net worth of US$500 million. Donald Bellisario made his fortune by creating iconic TV shows including “Jag”, “Quantum Leap”, “Magnum PI” and “NCIS”.
early life
Bellisario was born on August 8, 1935 in Fort Cork, Pennsylvania. His father Albert Jethro (AJ) Bellisario is Italian-American, and his mother Dana (née Lapcevic) Bellisario is Serbian-American. Belisario served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years (1955-1959) and was promoted to the rank of sergeant before earning a bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University—he majored in journalism. Belisario’s first job after graduation was as a copywriter in an advertising company. Only three years later, Bellisario was appointed creative director of Bloom Agency in Dallas, Texas. Thereafter, in the early 1970s, Bellisario moved from Pennsylvania to Hollywood, pursuing his dream of becoming a screenwriter.
TV career
Belisario will continue to create some very successful and lucrative TV shows, which have earned him a huge fortune-many of which have entered the joint organization, which is the goal that every TV show is eager to achieve. Belisario began working with television producers such as Glen A. Larson and Stephen J. Cannell. It was under the guidance of such a mentor that Bellisario adopted several successful television production techniques. Belisario became an early advocate, and he used a handful of selected actors in many of his works-a technique that is still being imitated by successful TV and film producers to this day.
Belisario has created (or co-authored) popular TV series such as “Magnum, PI”, “Airwolf”, “Quantum Leap”, “JAG” and “NCIS”. He is also the screenwriter and producer of “Black Sheep Squadron”, not to mention the cult classic “Battlestar Galactica” series in the original version. Bellisario also wrote and directed the 1988 feature film “The Last Ceremony”, starring Daphne Zuniga and Tom Berenger.
“Magnum, PI” has been a big success for eight consecutive seasons. “Quantum Leap” only aired for four seasons, although it is still a fan favorite and has had a huge impact on budding TV creators. “JAG” was a huge success in the 10 seasons, and “NCIS” has been on the air since 2003 and was licensed for the 17th season in 2019. All these programs listed above are still airing globally and continue to be with this day.
Understandably, Belisario received a star on the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2004. This was actually quoted and shown in the “Trojan Horse” episode of the 9th season of “JAG”.
After some ugly (and widely reported) disputes with “Navy Crime Investigation Service” actor Mark Harmon, Belisario decided that it would be best to retire in 2007. However, Belisario retains the title of executive producer, even though it is believed that he does not have any creative or administrative staff involved in “NCIS”.
Bellisario later sued CBS to create the “Navy Crime Investigation Division: Los Angeles”, arguing that the contract he negotiated and agreed with the Internet gave him priority in any form of spin-off of the “Navy Crime Investigation Division”, and more Needless to say, the profit share of any new programs related to “NCIS” that should appear in the future. The lawsuit was settled before the case opened in 2011-the amount of the settlement was not disclosed.
Giulio Marcoci/Getty Images
Awards/Charity
Belisario was named an outstanding alumni of Pennsylvania State University in 2001, which is the highest honor the university has awarded to graduates of their projects.
Belisario raised a $1 million trustee matching scholarship for the School of Communication at Pennsylvania State University. He said: “I hope this scholarship will also ease the financial burden of other young men and women who defend our country to achieve academic goals.”
Bellisario also won the Visionary Award at the UCLA Neurosurgery Vision Ball on October 27, 2016.
The Penn State University Board of Trustees voted on April 21, 2017 to rename its School of Communication to Donald P. Bellisario School of Communication, further acknowledging Bellisario as one of their top alumni. This is an endorsement of the US$30 million donated by Belisario. This donation is still the largest donation in the history of Pennsylvania State University.
trivia
“Belisarius Productions” is the name of the Belisario production company-named after the legendary Roman general Belisarius. “Bellisario” also happens to be a variant of Italian.
personal life
Donald has been married and divorced several times, and has several children and stepchildren. His daughter Troian Bellisario (Troian Bellisario) is an actress, famous for her role in the TV series “Pretty Girl Lies.”
In 1998, he married a woman, Vivienne Lee. Sean Murray, the son of Vivienne’s previous marriage, will continue to appear on Donald’s show “NCIS”.
real estate
Donald has long referred to the Santa Barbara suburb of Montecito, California as home. In 2008, he bought a house in Montecito for US$4.2 million. He sold the house in 2015 for $5.9 million. Interestingly, in 2020, he bought a house across the street from his previous property for $5.2 million.
In 2012, he spent 9 million US dollars to buy a separate Montecito mansion.
In 1985, $1.3 million or a house was paid in Studio City, California. He sold the house in January 2019 for $5.85 million.
