Who Is Patricia Cornwell? Age, Biography and Wiki
Patricia Cornwell, born on June 9, 1956, in Miami, Florida, is a celebrated American crime writer best known for her thrilling novels featuring forensic science and crime investigation. With a career spanning over three decades, she has captivated readers worldwide with her gripping storytelling and vivid character portrayals. As of 2025, Cornwell is 68 years old and continues to be a prominent figure in the literary world.
| Occupation | Journalist |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | June 9, 1956 |
| Age | 69 Years |
| Birth Place | Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Gemini |
| Country | U.S |
Popularity
Patricia Cornwell's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific details on her body measurements may not be publicly available, Patricia Cornwell is known to be of average height and build. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, she often emphasizes the importance of physical and mental wellness, both of which play a role in her creative process.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As a private individual, Patricia Cornwell has kept her personal life largely under wraps. However, she has been open about her relationships in the past. Currently, in 2025, she is reportedly dating Dr. Brian C. McKim, a prominent figure in the medical community. The couple shares mutual interests in art, philanthropy, and the written word, providing a thriving support system for each other.
Her father was one of the leading appellate lawyers in the United States and served as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black. Cornwell later traced her own motivations in life to the emotional abuse she says she suffered from her father, who walked out on the family on Christmas Day 1961. She has said, "He was on his deathbed.
We knew it was the last time we were seeing each other; he grabbed my brother's hand and mouthed 'I love you,' but he never touched me. All he did was write on a legal pad 'How's work?'"
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Patricia Cornwell boasts an impressive net worth estimated at $100 million. Her financial success comes from best-selling novels, various adaptations of her works into films and television series, as well as her ventures in speaking engagements and writing workshops. Her significant contributions to the crime genre have not only earned her accolades but also substantial financial rewards.
Cornwell fired the firm after discovering in July 2009 that the net worth of her and her company, Cornwell Entertainment Inc., despite having above $10 million in earnings per year during the previous four years, was a little under $13 million, the equivalent of only one year's net income.
After Cornwell filed the lawsuit, Snapper pleaded guilty to violating campaign finance regulations. The court case opened in January 2013, with Cornwell suing the firm for a combined sum of $100M. On February 19, a Boston jury awarded Cornwell US$50.9 million (£33.4 million).
Career, Business and Investments
Cornwell's career took off with her debut novel, "Postmortem", which introduced readers to the character of Kay Scarpetta, a forensic pathologist. This series has become one of the cornerstones of modern crime fiction. Over the years, she has written numerous bestsellers and won multiple awards including the Bram Stoker Award and the Stonewall Book Award.
In addition to her writing career, she has invested wisely in various businesses and real estate, expanding her wealth and influence. Cornwell remains involved in several philanthropic endeavors, focusing on literacy and education, especially for at-risk youth.
Cornwell began work on her first novel in 1984, about a male detective named Joe Constable and met Dr. Marcella Farinelli Fierro, a medical examiner in Richmond, and subsequent inspiration for the character of Dr. Kay Scarpetta. In 1985, she took a job at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia.
She worked there for six years, first as a technical writer and then as a computer analyst. She also volunteered to work with the Richmond Police Department.
Cornwell wrote three novels that she says were rejected before the publication in 1990, of the first installment of her Scarpetta series, Postmortem, based on real-life stranglings in Richmond in the summer of 1987.
The novel won her various awards including the British John Creasey Award, the French Prix du Roman d'Adventure and the American Edgar Award.
Social Network
Patricia Cornwell actively engages with her fanbase and the literary community through various social media platforms. You can find her on:
- Twitter: @PatriciaCornwell
- Instagram: @patriciacornwell
- Facebook: Patricia Cornwell Official
Other significant themes in the Scarpetta novels include health, individual safety and security, food, family, and the emerging sexual self-discovery of Scarpetta's niece. Often, conflicts and secret manipulations by Scarpetta's colleagues and staff are involved in the story-line and make the murder cases more complex.
Although scenes from the novels take place in a variety of locations around the United States and (less commonly) internationally, they center around the city of Richmond, Virginia.
Education
Cornwell graduated from King College in Tennessee with a Bachelor’s degree in English. Her time in college helped her hone her writing skills and develop a passion for storytelling. This academic background is evident in her detailed and meticulous approach to crime writing.
On June 14, 1980, she married Charles L. Cornwell, who was 17 years her senior and one of her professors. The marriage occurred shortly before her graduation. Charles Cornwell later became a Christian preacher. In 1989, the couple separated, with Patricia retaining her married name after the divorce.
