Shuvrajit Das Biswas
Netflix’s ‘Tiger King‘ has got everybody talking, and at the center of it all is Joe Exotic, the titular Tiger King, himself. The former owner of The Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park remains a controversial figure with his gun-toting, open polygamy, and larger than life attitude.
However, over the series, we have also seen Exotic coping with monetary issues, trying to keep himself, and his business afloat. Naturally, you might be wondering what Joe Exotic’s net worth is, as of 2020. We have got you covered in that regard.
How Did Joe Exotic Make His Money?
Joe Exotic was born Joseph Schreibvogel, in Kansas. His family had some money, and his father was in the racehorse breeding business. Joe also inherited $250,000 from a wealthy grandfather. After Garold, Joe’s brother passed away in a highway accident, the family sued the trucking company and won $140,000.
Exotic used part of this money to buy 16 acres of land in Wynnewood and started the Garold Wayne Exotic Animal Memorial Park in 1999. It was later renamed to GW Exotic. Joe made a lot of money from the zoo’s entry fees. While normal entries cost $15 for adults and $10 for children, he made the real money from the VIP tours.
These cost $175 per person, and for an additional $50, visitors can take selfies with the animals, and enjoy some playtime. As per Texas Monthly, the zoo reported earnings to the sum of $117,022 in 2001. By 2006, this grew to $539,320, mostly from donations.
Joe used his popularity to create his own brand. He sold everything at the gift shop, from skincare products to alcohol and condoms. He also opened a bar, called the Safari Bar, and a pizza joint called Zooters, two miles down the road from the zoo.
A lot of Joe’s earnings also came from selling the tiger cubs. The docuseries shows John Finlay telling us that he traveled 38 states to deliver these cubs and big cats. Joe’s bulk of earnings naturally came from this, since we know that he made a profit of almost $2000 from selling a cub.
How Did Joe Exotic Cut Costs?
While Joe made a lot of money, he also cut costs. He paid his employees just $150 a week but offered them a place to stay. The employees would also raid the food truck, which mostly had meat which could not be sold at the supermarkets. This meat was actually meant for the animals.
Joe also managed to feed his big cats, carcasses of road kills. In this manner, he brought down the feeding costs of each cat, to around $3000, annually. However, Joe’s finances came under attack from Carole Baskin who filed a million-dollar copyright infringement suit. Joe declared bankruptcy and changed the ownership of the zoo.
Moreover, the prolonged legal battle with Carole took a toll on his finances. Ultimately, Joe’s finances supposedly dwindled to the extent that he tried hiring a hitman for $10,000. We know that he went to Allen Glover but only managed to pay him $3,000, upfront.
Joe Exotic’s Net Worth in 2020:
As per reports, Joe’s net worth, as of 2020, is somewhere around $10 million. Moreover, as of March 19, 2020, Joe announced a lawsuit against the US Fish and Wildlife Service. As of March 26, 2020, the suit has been filed. Joe is seeking damages to the sum of $94 million. He’s also demanded a Presidential pardon from Donald Trump.
As per Joe’s Facebook post, “This lawsuit has been filed in the name of Justice, The Trump Administration must be made aware of the Overreach, perjury, abuse of power and the failure to uphold the Oath of their position which is truth and Justice for all”.
Read More: Joe Exotic’s Governor Run
