Salman Rushdie Biography: Sir Ahmed Salman Rushdie born 19 June 1947 is a novelist born in India who holds both British and American citizenship. His writing often blends magic realism with historical fiction and explores themes of cultural connections, disruptions, and migrations between Eastern and Western societies, frequently set on the Indian subcontinent.
Salman Rushdie Biography
Salman Rushdie married actress and television host Padma Lakshmi—best known for her show Padma’s Passport—on April 17, 2004. She was also the dedicatee of his eighth novel, Fury (2001). A significant chapter in Rushdie’s life began on February 14, 1989, when Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, issued a fatwa against him due to the publication of his controversial novel The Satanic Verses.
Salman Rushdie Biography 2025 Details
| Born | Ahmed Salman Rushdie 19 June 1947 Bombay, British India |
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| Education | University of Cambridge (BA) |
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Clarissa Luard (m. 1976; div. 1987)
Marianne Wiggins (m. 1988; div. 1993)
Elizabeth West (m. 1997; div. 2004)
Padma Lakshmi (m. 2004; div. 2007)
Rachel Eliza Griffiths (m. 2021)
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| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Natalie Rushdie (daughter-in-law) |
| Category | Lifestyle |
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Solomon Rushdie Achievements
As of that time, Rushdie was working on his ninth novel. Before dedicating himself to writing full time, Rushdie had a successful career in advertising. He worked as a copywriter at the London firm Ayer Barker until 1982. Rushdie was born to Anis Ahmed Rushdie, a well-educated and successful businessman from Bombay’s middle class. He grew up in affluent surroundings and was sent to study in England at the age of 14, receiving a strong education.
About Salman Rushdie
Sir Ahmed Salman Rushdie is an Indian-born British and American novelist. His work often combines magic realism with historical fiction and primarily deals with connections, disruptions, and migrations between Eastern and Western civilizations, typically set on the Indian subcontinent.
Solomon Rushdie Personal Life
Rushdie’s second novel, Midnight’s Children (1981), won the Booker Prize that same year and was later celebrated as the greatest Booker-winning novel on both the 25th and 40th anniversaries of the prize. Following the publication of his fourth novel, The Satanic Verses (1988), Rushdie became the target of numerous assassination attempts and death threats due to what some viewed as a disrespectful portrayal of the Prophet Muhammad. This controversy culminated in a fatwa issued by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini, calling for his death.
Salman Rushdie Wiki
- Born: 19 June 1947 (age 77 years), Mumbai
- Spouse: Rachel Eliza Griffiths (m. 2021) ·
- Children: Zafar Rushdie, Milan Rushdie
- Awards: Booker Prize, Order of the Companions of Honour ·
- Height: 1.7 m
Early Life and Education
Salman Rushdie was born on 19 June 1947 in Bombay, British India, into a Kashmiri Muslim family. His father, Anis Ahmed Rushdie, was a Cambridge-educated lawyer turned businessman, and his mother, Negin Bhatt, was a teacher. Rushdie’s father was removed from the Indian Civil Services after it was revealed that his birth certificate had been altered to show a younger age. Rushdie has three sisters.
In his memoir Joseph Anton, Rushdie notes that his father adopted the surname Rushdie in homage to the medieval Islamic philosopher Averroes (Ibn Rushd). Rushdie credits The Wizard of Oz as his earliest literary influence, saying it inspired him to become a writer. He also grew up reading avidly, influenced by authors like P.G. Wodehouse and Agatha Christie, whom many children in India admired during his youth.
Salman Rushdie at a Glance
Category: Richest Celebrities › Authors
Net Worth: $10 Million
Birthdate: June 19, 1947 (age 77)
Birthplace: Mumbai, India
Gender: Male
Height: 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Profession: Writer, Novelist, Author, Copywriter, Screenwriter, Essayist
Nationality: British-American
Career as a Novelist
Rushdie published his debut novel, Grimus, in 1975, a fantasy and sci-fi story about a Native American man who gains immortality through a magical liquid. Though initially overlooked, Rushdie’s major breakthrough came in 1981 with Midnight’s Children, which follows a boy born at midnight on the day of India’s independence and endowed with special powers. This novel catapulted him to fame and won the Booker Prize. He followed it up with Shame in 1983, which was a strong contender for the Booker Prize.
His most controversial work, The Satanic Verses (1988), received critical acclaim but ignited outrage among many Muslims who perceived it as offensive. Subsequent novels include The Moor’s Last Sigh (1995), The Ground Beneath Her Feet (1999), Fury (2001), and Shalimar the Clown (2005). Other notable works are The Enchantress of Florence, The Golden House, and Quichotte.
Additional Literary Contributions
Rushdie’s oeuvre extends beyond novels to nonfiction, essays, and children’s literature. His first nonfiction book, The Jaguar Smile: A Nicaraguan Journey (1987), was followed by essay collections like Imaginary Homelands, Step Across This Line, and Languages of Truth: Essays 2003–2020. His autobiography Joseph Anton: A Memoir chronicles his years under the fatwa. In children’s literature, he wrote Haroun and the Sea of Stories (1990) and its sequel Luka and the Fire of Life (2010).
The Satanic Verses Controversy and Fatwa
The Satanic Verses triggered intense backlash for its perceived irreverence towards Islam. The novel sparked protests, book burnings, and violent attacks worldwide. Several individuals involved in publishing or translating the book were targeted, some fatally. It was banned in multiple countries with large Muslim populations, including India, Iran, Bangladesh, and others. In February 1989, Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa calling for Rushdie’s assassination, forcing him to live under police protection for years.
Although diplomatic efforts were made in the late 1990s to ease tensions, the fatwa was reaffirmed in 2005 by Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In 2010, Rushdie was also listed as a target by Al-Qaeda.
Stabbing Attack and Recovery
On August 12, 2022, Rushdie was stabbed multiple times during a public lecture at the Chautauqua Institution in New York. The attack resulted in serious injuries, including the loss of sight in one eye and limited use of one hand. The assailant was arrested and charged with attempted murder. Despite these near-fatal wounds, Rushdie has returned to public life, continuing to advocate for freedom of expression and artistic liberty.
Recent Work
Rushdie released Victory City, a critically acclaimed novel set in 14th-century southern India that blends myth, magic, and political allegory. The story follows a woman who uses poetry to create an empire. In 2024, he announced an upcoming nonfiction memoir reflecting on the 2022 attack and the fatwa’s lasting impact, seen as a spiritual successor to Joseph Anton.
Honors and Awards
Rushdie has received numerous awards, including the European Union’s Aristeion Prize for Literature, Germany’s Writer of the Year Award, the Golden PEN Award, and the Hans Christian Andersen Literature Award. Harvard University honored him with an Outstanding Lifetime Achievement in Cultural Humanism award. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2007 for his contributions to literature.
Personal Life and Political Views
Rushdie’s personal life has included five marriages and four divorces. He married Clarissa Luard in 1976, with whom he had a son, Zafar. They divorced in 1987 after he began dating Australian writer Robyn Davidson. He subsequently married novelist Marianne Wiggins in 1988 (divorced 1993) and Elizabeth West in 1997, with whom he had a son named Milan (divorced 2004). From 2004 to 2007, he was married to actress and TV host Padma Lakshmi.
Since 2000, he has lived primarily in New York City near Union Square. Politically, Rushdie is generally liberal. In the 1980s, he supported the UK Labour Party and advocated against racial discrimination. In the US, he backed Barack Obama’s election and participated in the Occupy Movement. He has been a vocal critic of religious extremism and totalitarianism.
What Is Salman Rushdie’s Net Worth 2025?
Sir Ahmed Salman Rushdie, an Indian-born British-American novelist and essayist, has an estimated net worth of $10 million. Known for his literary brilliance and fearless engagement with complex themes like identity, religion, and free speech, Rushdie first gained global recognition with his 1981 novel Midnight’s Children. This landmark book, which explores India’s transition from colonial rule to independence, won the Booker Prize and is considered one of the greatest novels of the 20th century.Rushdie’s work is a unique blend of magical realism, historical fiction, and satire. His 1988 novel The Satanic Verses sparked worldwide controversy due to its portrayal of Islam, prompting a fatwa by Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini calling for Rushdie’s assassination.
FAQs
What is the net worth of Solomon Rushdie?
Rushdie has a net worth of approximately $10 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. His newest novel, “Victory City,” is due to be published in Feb. 2025.
What is Salman Rushdie’s height?
Salman Rushdie is approximately 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 meters) tall.
How many children does Salman Rushdie have?
Salman Rushdie has two sons: Zafar from his marriage to Clarissa Luard, and Milan from his marriage to Elizabeth West.
What nationality is Salman Rushdie?
Salman Rushdie holds British and American citizenship. He was born in India but became a British citizen in 1964 and later moved to the United States.
What awards has Salman Rushdie received?
Salman Rushdie has won several awards, including the Booker Prize, the European Union’s Aristeion Prize, Germany’s Writer of the Year Award, the Golden PEN Award, and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2007.
What happened to Salman Rushdie in 2022?
In 2022, Salman Rushdie was attacked and stabbed multiple times during a public event in New York, resulting in serious injuries including the loss of sight in one eye.
Who was Salman Rushdie married to?
Salman Rushdie has been married five times, including to actress and TV host Padma Lakshmi from 2004 to 2007.