How Much is John D. Carmack II Worth? $40 Million
A Glimpse into John D. Carmack II’s Life
Born on August 20, 1970, in Roeland Park, Kansas, USA, John D. Carmack II made a name for himself as a renowned game programmer. He is best known as the founder of id Software and has played a pivotal role in developing successful games such as “Rage,” “Commander Keen,” “Doom,” and “Quake.” Besides, he has contributed to Oculus VR. His illustrious career spans back to the late 1980s.
Have you ever pondered over John Carmack’s wealth in early 2016? Sources estimate his net worth at over $40 million, amassed through his prosperous involvement in the professional video game programming realm.
John Carmack’s Net Worth $40 Million
John Carmack, the son of Stan Carmack, a local TV news reporter, was raised in Shawnee Mission, Kansas. His educational journey took him through Shawnee Mission East High School and Raytown South High School simultaneously. He then briefly attended the University of Missouri–Kansas City for two semesters before embarking on a career as a freelance programmer. His passion for computers and programming surfaced at an early age, even leading to an arrest during high school for attempting to pilfer an Apple II computer.
John’s career kicked off in the late 1980s when he joined Softdisk, where he met John Romero, a co-founder of id Software, and Adrian Carmack. While at Softdisk until 1991, he worked on the platform Gamer’s Edge. His breakthrough came with the success of his first game “Commander Keen,” prompting him to establish his own company, id Software.
Since then, his career has been a journey of continuous growth, translating to an increasing net worth. At id Software, John has been credited as the programmer and developer of popular games like “Shadow Knights” (1991), “Wolfenstein 3D” (1992), “Doom” (1993), and its sequels “Doom II: Hell On Earth” (1994), “Doom 3” (2004), and “Doom 3: Resurrection Of Evil” (2005). Additionally, he is recognized for titles such as “Quake” (1996), “Quake II” (1997), “Quake III: Arena” (1999), and “Quake 4” (2005), all significantly contributing to his net worth.
He is also acknowledged for implementing new technologies in game graphics, including Adaptive Tile Refresh, Raycasting, Surface Caching, and Mega Texture, further bolstering his net worth and popularity.
Noteworthy among his accomplishments is the establishment of Armadillo Aerospace, primarily focused on creating suborbital spacecraft for space tourism. The company secured several NASA challenges, earning around $850,000, but witnessed setbacks leading to its temporary halt in 2013. More recently, in 2013, John joined Oculus VR as its CTO, now serving as his primary source of net worth.
John’s successful career has garnered several prestigious awards, including induction into the Hall of Fame of the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, and a Lifetime Achievement award from the Game Developers Conference. His influence has been recognized by various magazines, such as Time, MIT Technology Review, and Computer Gaming World. On the personal front, John Carmack has been married to Katherine Anna Kang since 2000, and the couple resides in Heath, Texas, USA, with their son.
# | Quote |
---|---|
1 | John’s View on Programming: He evaluates various aspects independently as he believes programming is more than just coding. It involves grasping complex problems, being consistent, creative, and maintaining focus, all contributing to great work. He respects the abilities of his competitors, acknowledging their impressive skills. |
2 | Carmack’s Stance: If you don’t care enough to express your own thoughts, you shouldn’t be quoted. |
3 | A Candid Admission: In his younger years, he admits to being an arrogant and amoral individual, caught in a web of conflict between intelligence and the inability to pursue his passions. He had a troubled phase ending in a one-year stint at a juvenile home. |
# | Fact |
---|---|
1 | Programming for the new DOOM game to be released sometime in 2002. [2001] |
2 | He shares a son, Christopher Ryan Carmack, with Katherine Anna Kang, born on Friday, August 13 at 12:50 pm, weighing six pounds, seven ounces. |
3 | He took a computer workstation on his honeymoon. |
4 | John’s Parents: Stan and Inga Carmack |
5 | He is the older brother of Peter Carmack. |
6 | Revolutionizing the Gaming Industry: Every game released by Carmack’s company has pushed the game and graphics envelopes, setting new benchmarks for 3-D interactive games. His contribution has been crucial in transforming the concept of first-person shooter games, visionary for the gaming world. |
7 | A Literary Favorite: Carmack holds Vernor Vinge’s “A Deepness in the Sky” as one of his preferred novels. |
8 | Economic Freedom: His success at id Software has granted him the luxury of not having to work, offering him a sense of freedom from external influence. He indulges in exotic cars, owning a 600hp twin-turbo Ferrari F50 and a 1000hp twin-turbo V-12 Ferrari Testarossa GTO. |
9 | Residence: He resides in Mesquite, Texas with his wife, Anna Kang, ex-director of id Software. |
Miscellaneous
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Doom³ | 2004 | Video Game programmer / technical director | |
Quake III: Arena | 1999 | Video Game lead programmer | |
Quake II | 1997 | Video Game lead programmer | |
Doom 64 | 1997 | Video Game programmer | |
Quake | 1996 | Video Game lead programmer | |
Final Doom | 1996 | Video Game programmer | |
Hexen | 1995 | Video Game programmer: 3D engine | |
Doom II: Hell on Earth | 1994 | Video Game lead programmer | |
Heretic | 1994 | Video Game programmer: 3-D engine / set engineer | |
Ultimate Doom | 1993 | Video Game programmer | |
Spear of Destiny | 1992 | Video Game software engineer | |
‘Goodbye, Galaxy!’ Episode IV: Secret of the Oracle | 1991 | Video Game programming team | |
‘Goodbye, Galaxy!’ Episode V: The Armageddon Machine | 1991 | Video Game programming team | |
Aliens Ate My Baby Sitter! | 1991 | Video Game software engineer |
Writer
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Return to Castle Wolfenstein | 2001 | Video Game story | |
Commander Keen | 2001 | Video Game story | |
Spear of Destiny | 1992 | Video Game | |
Wolfenstein 3D | 1992 | Video Game story |
Director
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Quake 4 | 2005 | Video Game | |
Doom³ | 2004 | Video Game |
Thanks
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
MansLaughter | 2015 | very special thanks: consult | |
Serious Sam II | 2005 | Video Game special thanks | |
Serious Sam: The Second Encounter | 2002 | Video Game special thanks | |
Kingpin: Life of Crime | 1999 | Video Game special thanks | |
Descent | 1994 | Video Game special thanks | |
Rise of the Triad: Dark War | 1994 | Video Game special thanks |
Self
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
NextWorld | 2008 | TV Series documentary | Himself – Armadillo Aerospace |
The Jace Hall Show | 2008 | TV Series | Himself |
Doom Nation | 2006 | Video documentary short | Himself |
Won Awards
Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | Academy Fellowship | BAFTA Awards | BAFTA Games | |
2001 | Hall of Fame | Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, USA |