Ellen White's Investment Strategies: A Financial Review

Ellen G. White was an American author, co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and a leading figure in American vegetarian history. She wrote over 5,000 periodical articles and 40 books, including Steps to Christ, The Desire of Ages, and The Great Controversy. White's books have been published in more than 140 languages, and she is considered the most translated female non-fiction author in history.

White's income came primarily from book royalties, and she made well over $100,000 in her lifetime. She also received a salary from the Seventh-day Adventist Church, similar to that of a minister. In addition, White and her husband, James, acquired and rented out various properties, and peddled religious pictures and paper dress patterns.

White's wealth allowed her to live a lavish lifestyle. She spent her final years in a two-story ranch home in the exclusive Napa Valley area near San Francisco, and she travelled the world, often first-class. She also had an extensive personal staff, including a personal nurse, a cook, a seamstress, farm hands, and secretaries.

Book Royalties

Ellen G. White was an American author and co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. She wrote over 5,000 periodical articles and 40 books, with more than 200 White titles available in English as of 2019.

The vast majority of her income came through royalties on her books. She made well over $100,000 in book royalties in her lifetime. In today's dollars, that is approximately $3.1 million. She may have started out penniless in the 1840s, but that situation was soon reversed. By the late 1850s, she was making over $1,000 a year on royalties.

In addition to her book royalties, White also received a salary from the Seventh-day Adventist Church, similar to that paid to ministers. She also received pay for all the articles she wrote for denominational papers.

In a letter written in 1897, White responded to accusations of accumulating great wealth:

> "You have made reports in reference to me being rich. How did you know I was? For about ten years I have been working on borrowed property. Should I sell all that I have in my possession, I would not have sufficient to pay my outstanding debts...I have invested money in the Parramatta church, in the Prospect church, in the Napier church, in the Ormondville church, in the Gisborne church, and in the education of students...All the royalty on my foreign books sold in America is sacredly dedicated to God for the education of students, that they may be fitted for the ministry. Thousands of dollars have been thus expended. Is this the way to accumulate money?"

Rental Income

Ellen G. White's income was in the millions of dollars in today's money. She made well over $100,000 in book royalties during her lifetime, which is the equivalent of approximately $3.1 million in 2020. In addition to her book royalties, White also received a salary from the Seventh-day Adventist Church, similar to that of a minister.

White and her husband, James, also acquired a significant amount of real estate, which they rented out. While it is challenging to determine their exact rental income, there are a few examples in White's letters. In 1878, she mentions renting out a home for $65 per month, which is equivalent to $1,769 per month in 2020. In 1889, she attempted to rent her home in Battle Creek for $12-$15 per month, which is $351-$438 per month in 2020. In 1890, she discusses renting out one of her larger properties for $175, or $5,112 in 2020.

White also received payment for the articles she wrote for denominational papers, and she and her husband sold various other merchandise, such as religious pictures and paper dress patterns for the "Reform Dress" they promoted in the early 1860s.

It is worth noting that White and her husband were able to keep the majority of their income due to the lack of income tax and social security tax in the United States during their lifetime.

Minister's Salary

Ellen G. White received a salary from the Seventh-day Adventist Church, similar to that paid to ministers. This was in addition to the vast majority of her income, which came through royalties on her books. It is unclear whether her salary was larger than most ministers in the denomination before or after book royalties.

Other Income

Ellen G. White's other sources of income included:

• Minister's salary: She and her husband, James, each received a salary from the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
• Rental income: The Whites rented out multiple properties, including a home for $65/month in 1878, which is the equivalent of $1,769/month in 2020.
• Payments for articles: She was paid for the articles she wrote for denominational papers.
• Merchandise sales: The Whites sold various merchandise, such as religious pictures and paper dress patterns for a dollar apiece in the early 1860s.

Real Estate Holdings

Ellen G. White's real estate holdings were extensive, though records are scant. Here is a list of her documented holdings:

• A home in Greenville, Michigan, which she moved into in 1867 and sold in 1875.
• A home in Iowa, which was sold in 1875.
• Property near South Bend, Indiana.
• A home in Oakland, California, built in 1876.
• A modest four-room home in Healdsburg, California, acquired in 1877.
• The "White Ranch" in Colorado, acquired in 1879, which included a small cabin.
• A 16-room, three-story brick mansion in Battle Creek, Michigan, purchased in 1881. The estate included 30 acres and 200 fruit trees.
• A small home in the resort town of Petoskey on Lake Michigan.
• Various homes in Battle Creek, Michigan.

In addition to these properties, White also owned the Elmshaven estate in St. Helena, California, where she spent the last fifteen years of her life. The estate included a two-story office building with a library and vault, two cottages for staff, and a barn and stable stocked with livestock and equipment.

White was also known to rent out some of her properties, generating additional income.

Frequently asked questions