Wallace Amos Jr., a famous American television personality, entrepreneur, and author, recently passed away at 88 on August 13, 2024, amassing a significant net worth from his outstanding career.
Beginning his career through a clerk job with the William Morris Agency, Amos became the agency’s first African American talent agent. He signed Simon & Garfunkel and headed the agency’s rock ‘n’ roll department.
Wally Amos used to attract clients by sending them chocolate chip cookies along with invitations, which was the beginning of his entrepreneurial career. He established his first Famous Amos cookie store in 1975 in Los Angeles, California, with the help of a $25,000 loan from Marvin Gaye and Helen Reddy.
Eventually, his cookie business expanded and was sold in several supermarkets in the United States, earning him a significant profit from his entrepreneurial career.
Wallace 'Wally' Amos Jr., founder of Famous Amos cookies, dies at 88 https://t.co/utdK4YsTu5 pic.twitter.com/htl9U08f1S
— Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) August 14, 2024
Likewise, Wally Amos made a fortune in the company’s first year, earning $300,000. By 1982, the Famous Amos chocolate chip cookie generated around $12 million in revenue.
Unfortunately, due to financial instability, Amos had to sell his company and start a new business selling muffins under the name “Uncle Noname’s Cookie Company” with Lou Avignone. The company sold fat-free nutritious muffins and became Uncle Wally’s Muffin Company in 1999. The muffins are sold in more than 3,500 stores nationwide.
Moreover, in 2014, Wally Amos’ cookie returned as he brought his handmade cookies under a new name, “Cookie Kahuna.” The cookies were sold in a store in Hawaii, which is still operating and selling cookies in different flavors.
Wally Amos earned a significant business income of around $70,000, which added to his net worth.
Wally Amos also accumulated his earnings from his book royalties and television career
In addition to his exceptional entrepreneurial career, Wally Amos was a great writer, having written more than 14 books throughout his career.
His famous books include “Conversations of Success,” “The Power in You,” “Man with No Name: Turn Lemons Into,” and “Watermelon Credo: The Book.” The price of his books usually ranges from $4 to $18.
In addition to his books, Wally Amos was also a great TV personality who appeared in one of the famous television series “Learn to Read” and volunteered in several literacy programs.
Furthermore, Wally Amos also published two audiobooks, “Let Go, Let God” in 1998 and “Faith: Inspirational Messages” in 2001, in which he discusses spiritual and motivational topics.
Considering Wally Amos’ diverse career as a writer, TV personality, and businessman, he earned an estimated net worth of around $1 million as of 2024.
Additional Information
- Wally Amos was born to parents Wallace and Ruby Amos in Tallahassee, Florida, on July 1, 1936. He moved to New York City with his aunt after the divorce of his parents.
- He attended Vocational High School and further started showing interest in cooking from a very young age. His aunt, Della Bryant, taught him to bake cookies.
- Amos also earned the title ‘The King of Cookies’ by NBC affiliate KSNV-TV in Las Vegas in 2019.
