The recent death of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Mario Vargas Llosa, has shocked not only the literary world, but also to international public opinion. With a race that covered more than six decades, the Peruvian writer died at age 89 leaving behind an immense work and an estimated economic heritage at more than 10 million euros (11.37 million dollars).
The Peruvian writer, author of classics such as ‘The city and dogs’, ‘Conversation in the cathedral’ and ‘The Chivo party’, will not only be remembered for his contribution to Hispanic American literature, but also for having built a significant fortune. His public profile as a global intellectual, international media collaborator and political figure allowed him to consolidate a solid personal economy.
The journalist and writer Jaime Bayly He recently referred to this issue on his YouTube channel, revealing little known details about the economic management of Mario Vargas Llosa. According to Bayly, the author’s fortune not only includes real estate properties, but also the liquid money distributed in banks, financial and institutions. “when the fortune of Vargas Llosa is estimated at 10 million euros, real estate heritage is not being considered, but only cash,” he said.
One of the key moments in the accumulation of this wealth was in 2010, when Vargas Llosa was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. This international recognition was accompanied by one million euros in cashbut it also meant a commercial revaluation of his works. The publishers began paying important figures for each new book.
According to Jaime Bayly, the literary agency Carmen Balcellswhich represented Vargas Llosa, managed to Alfaguara will pay an advance of 1 million euros for each new book After the Nobel. “Before the Nobel, he charged half a million euros, but after winning everything he changed. His value as an author shot his income,” the driver explained.
-However, the communicator also clarified the magnitude of these figures: “It sounds a lot, and it is not so much, because of that million, the agency stayed with a commission. Then you had to pay taxes that are always onerous,” he said.
Another important source of income for Vargas Llosa was its participation as a columnist in international media. Jaime Bayly He revealed that the writer charged 8 thousand euros for each biweekly column published in the newspaper El País de España, which represented a monthly income of 16 thousand euros only by that means.
In addition, its columns were reproduced by other media such as the Nation of Argentina, the third in Chile and the trade in Lima, although with presumably minor amounts. “That is a glory. Collect 8 thousand euros for a journalistic article! What envy,” Bayly said with a laugh, and then add that, in contrast, he does not receive payments for his own columns.
The departure of the author of ‘mischief of the bad girl’ also leaves an unknown on how his inheritance will be distributed. Vargas Llosa had three children with Patricia Llosaand maintained a romantic relationship with the socialite Isabel Preyslerfrom whom he separated in 2022.
The distribution of its heritage will probably be the object of media attention, given its complexity and the multiple personal stages that the writer lived. Meanwhile, Vargas Llosa’s literary legacy will continue to shine, consolidating its name as one of the greatest exponents of universal literature.
