Who Is Philip K. Dick? Age, Biography and Wiki
Philip K. Dick, born on December 16, 1928, is one of the most renowned American science fiction authors, celebrated for his thought-provoking narratives that often delve into themes of reality, identity, and consciousness. His prolific career spanned over three decades, leading to the publication of numerous novels and short stories that influenced the genre profoundly.
If Philip K. Dick were alive today in 2025, he would be 96 years old. His works have continued to gain popularity, inspiring films, television adaptations, and countless fans worldwide.
| Occupation | Philosophers |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | December 16, 1928 |
| Age | 53 Years |
| Birth Place | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Sagittarius |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 2 March, 1982 |
| Died Place | Santa Ana, California, U.S. |
Popularity
Philip K. Dick's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
As of 2025, Philip K. Dick’s estimated physical statistics, considering his notable frame in his younger years, are:
- Height: Approximately 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm)
- Weight: Roughly 160 lbs (73 kg)
- Measurements: Generally lean; however, personal stats fluctuate throughout his life.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Philip K. Dick was married multiple times during his lifetime, with five marriages that reflect his complex personal life. His tumultuous relationships often mirrored the existential themes in his writing. Notably, he had a deep connection with his children, who have carry on his legacy.
In 2025, any discussions regarding a "boyfriend" or "girlfriend" would be a historical consideration, as he was noted for his significant relationships rather than casual dating. No current relationship status can be assigned.
Dick's family later moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. When he was five, his father was transferred to Reno, Nevada, and when Dorothy refused to move, she and Joseph divorced. Both fought for custody of Philip, which was awarded to Dorothy. Determined to raise Philip alone, she took a job in Washington, D.C., and moved there with her son.
Philip was enrolled at John Eaton Elementary School (1936–1938), completing the second through fourth grades. His lowest grade was a "C" in Written Composition, although a teacher said he "shows interest and ability in story telling". He was educated in Quaker schools.
In June 1938, Dorothy and Philip returned to California, and it was around this time that he became interested in science fiction. Dick stated that he read his first science fiction magazine, Stirring Science Stories, in 1940.
Net Worth and Salary
While precise figures regarding Philip K. Dick’s net worth at the time of his passing are challenging to pin down, estimates in 2025 suggest that his total wealth may exceed $2 million, with ongoing royalties from his vast collection of works. Owing much of this to adaptations in film and television, his legacy continues to generate income.
Dick sold his first story, "Roog"—about "a dog who imagined that the garbagemen who came every Friday morning were stealing valuable food which the family had carefully stored away in a safe metal container" —in 1951, when he was 22. From then on he wrote full-time.
During 1952, his first speculative fiction publications appeared in July and September numbers of Planet Stories, edited by Jack O'Sullivan, and in If and The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction that year. His debut novel, Solar Lottery, was published in 1955 as half of Ace Double #D-103 alongside The Big Jump by Leigh Brackett.
The 1950s were a difficult and impoverished time for Dick, who once lamented, "We couldn't even pay the late fees on a library book." He published almost exclusively within the science fiction genre but dreamed of a career in mainstream fiction. During the 1950s, he produced a series of non-genre, relatively conventional novels.
Career, Business and Investments
Dick's career is marked by numerous awards and accolades, including the Hugo Award and the Philip K. Dick Award, dedicated to science fiction literature. His works, including “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” and “The Man in the High Castle,” have been adapted into well-known cinematic and serialized formats.
Posthumously, his intellectual property continues to be a significant aspect of his career, contributing to his legacy and earnings through adaptations and a dedicated fan base. Business-wise, Philip K. Dick can be seen as an early investor in the concept of speculative fiction, deeply influencing modern science fiction storytelling.
Dick attended Berkeley High School in Berkeley, California. He and fellow science fiction author Ursula K. Le Guin were members of the class of 1947 but did not know each other at the time. He claimed to have hosted a classical music program on KSMO Radio in 1947. From 1948 to 1952, he worked at Art Music Company, a record store on Telegraph Avenue.
Social Network
Philip K. Dick’s social presence, while not active in today’s digital landscape, has been memorialized through numerous online and community platforms by his fans. There are multiple fan pages and discussion groups dedicated to dissecting his work and philosophy, promoting his insightful critiques on reality and society. In 2025, communities on platforms like Reddit and dedicated Facebook groups thrive, fostering discussions around his literary contributions and the ongoing cultural zeitgeist influenced by his works.
On February 20, 1974, while recovering from the effects of sodium pentothal administered for the extraction of an impacted wisdom tooth, Dick received a home delivery of Darvon from a young woman. When he opened the door, he was struck by the dark-haired girl's beauty, and was especially drawn to her golden necklace.
He asked her about its curious fish-shaped design. As she was leaving, she replied: "This is a sign used by the early Christians." Dick called the symbol the "vesicle pisces".
This name seems to have been based on his conflation of two related symbols, the Christian ichthys symbol (two intersecting arcs delineating a fish in profile), which the woman was wearing, and the vesica piscis.
Education
Dick attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied literature. Although he did not graduate, his time there served as a foundation for the literary themes he would later explore. His education, coupled with a passion for philosophy and metaphysics, significantly shaped his narrative style and thematic choices throughout his literary endeavors.
Following years of drug abuse and a series of mystical experiences in 1974, Dick's work engaged more explicitly with issues of theology, metaphysics, and the nature of reality, as in novels A Scanner Darkly (1977), VALIS (1981), and The Transmigration of Timothy Archer (1982).
A collection of his speculative nonfiction writing on these themes was published posthumously as The Exegesis of Philip K. Dick (2011). He died in 1982 in Santa Ana, California, at the age of 53, due to complications from a stroke.
Following his death, he became "widely regarded as a master of imaginative, paranoid fiction in the vein of Franz Kafka and Thomas Pynchon".
