So, get this—Walter Kirn, the guy who wrote Up in the Air (yeah, the one that turned into a big movie with George Clooney), is actually super loaded. He’s sitting on a net worth of like $11 million! But guess what? Despite all that dough, he’s just chilling in Livingston, Montana, living a super low-key life in the same house for the last 33 years. Pretty wild, right?
Kirn grew up in Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota, after his family moved there from Akron, Ohio. Post high school, he bounced around a bit, spending a year at Macalester College before hitting up Princeton. Fun fact: his family got into the Mormon church when he was a tween, but he’s not into it anymore.
Now, here’s where it gets juicy—he was married to Maggie McGuane, who’s got some serious Hollywood genes (her mom is Margot Kidder, and her dad is novelist Thomas McGuane). They had two kids but didn’t last. Now, he’s with his second wife Amanda Fortini, a magazine writer, and they split their time between Montana and Vegas.
Despite the big bucks, you wouldn’t guess it from his Insta. It’s all cute pics with his wife and kids, nothing flashy. Seems like his big priority is just keeping life simple and focusing on his family and writing, not showing off his wealth.
It’s kinda cool, actually. Shows you don’t have to let money change your life.
Kirn Is Still Chasing Excellence In Various Fields Despite His Plethora Of Successful Works
Walter isn’t one to rest on his laurels, even with a seriously impressive list of novels under his belt. This guy has more than just a knack for writing; he’s got a whole toolbox of skills he’s constantly expanding. Did you know he’s been diving into the world of podcasts and print magazines lately? Yeah, he is the co-host of “America This Week,” where he gets down and dirty with the big issues facing the U.S. today. It’s not just any podcast either—it’s the kind where you really get to chew on the meaty stuff of current affairs.
But wait, there’s more. He’s also thrown his hat into the publishing ring with “County Highway,” a fresh print mag that’s all about giving you that old-timey newspaper vibe while dishing out stories on modern America. It’s like he’s bridging two centuries with one publication!
Now, back to his writing. Kirn’s been all over the map with his storytelling. From novels like Up in the Air, which you probably know as that blockbuster film with George Clooney, to deeper digs like Blood Will Out, a true crime exploration that’s as chilling as it is fascinating. And let’s not forget his roots in fiction with works like Thumbsucker and She Needed Me, or his intriguing collection My Hard Bargain.
But Kirn isn’t just about spinning yarns. He’s got serious cred in the academic world too. He taught nonfiction writing at the University of Montana and even spent a year as the Vare Nonfiction Writer in Residence at the University of Chicago. Talk about goals!
So yeah, Kirn’s life is more than just penning bestsellers. He’s living proof that you can keep pushing, keep exploring, and never really have to settle into just one groove.
