Robert Duane Ballard’s net worth amounts to
$10 Million
Robert Duane Ballard – A Brief Overview
Robert Duane Ballard, born on the 30th of June 1942 in Wichita, Kansas USA, is an underwater archaeologist, professor of oceanography, and the founder and director of the Institute for Archaeological Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island (URI). He is also known for his service in the US armed forces. Ballard gained fame for his discoveries of the wrecks of the Titanic and Bismarck. Recognized with awards such as the American Geological Institute Award, Lindbergh Award, and Hubbard Medal from the National Geographic Society.
Ballard has accumulated an estimated net worth of $10 million, earned during his career in oceanography and archaeology since the mid-‘60s.
Professional Achievements
Born to Chester Patrick Ballard, who served as the chief engineer of the Minuteman program at North American Aviation, and his wife Harriet Nell, Ballard’s fascination with the deep sea was sparked by literature, movies, and television programs featuring the underwater world. He obtained a degree in chemistry and geology from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1965. Subsequently, he earned a Master of Science (MS) in geophysics from the University of Hawaii in 1966 and conducted mapping work of the seabed of the Gulf of Maine in the geological oceanography department at the University of Rhode Island in 1974. Ballard’s significant exploratory work includes the 1977 expedition that first dived into submarine hydrothermal sources known as Black Smokers near the Galapagos Islands with the research vessel Alvin. These sources emit a fountain of black, smoky water with temperatures reaching about 400 ° C.
In 1985, Ballard, alongside Jean-Louis Michel, located the wreck of the Titanic, which had sunk in 1912. His discoveries also include the German battleship Bismarck and the US American carrier USS Yorktown from the World War II. Ballard’s expeditions have extended to locating ancient shipwrecks, with notable findings like the Phoenician ship from the 7th century BC, one of the oldest wrecks ever found. Additionally, he carried out expeditions along the Turkish coast of the Black Sea from 1999 to 2000, unearthing ancient shipwrecks at varying depths. In 2000, traces of an ancient settlement were found on the coastal shelf of the Black Sea.
Ballard, in his personal life, was married to Marjorie Constance Jacobsen, with whom he had two children before their divorce in 1990. He later married documentary producer Barbara Hanford Earle, with whom he has two children.
- Structural Info
- Quotes
- Facts
- Filmography
| Full Name | Robert Ballard |
| Net Worth | $10 Million |
| Date Of Birth | June 30, 1942 |
| Place Of Birth | Wichita, Kansas, United States |
| Profession | Professor, Film Producer, Film Director, Television Producer |
| Education | University of Hawaii’s Institute of Geophysics, University of California, Santa Barbara, US Army’s ROTC program, University of Rhode Island |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Barbra Ballard (m. 1991), Marjorie Jacobsen (m. 1966–1990) |
| Children | Emily Ballard, Doug Ballard, Ben Ballard, Todd Ballard |
| Parents | Harriet Nell Ballard, Terry Ballard, Chet Ballard |
| Siblings | Nancy Ballard, Richard Ballard |
| Nicknames | Dr Robert Ballard , Robert Duane Ballard , Dr. Robert Duane Ballard , Bob Ballard , Robert D. Ballard , Dr. Robert D. Ballard , Dr. Robert R. Ballard , Dr. Robert B. Ballard |
| IMDB | |
| Awards | National Humanities Medal (2003), American Geological Institute Award, Kilby International Awards (1994), Lindbergh Award, Hubbard Medal (National Geographic Society, 1996), Caird Medal (2002), Academy of Achievement’s Golden Plate Award (1990), Ballard its Lone Sailor Award (U.S. Navy Memorial Fou… |
| Movies | The Living Sea (TV movie 1995), Lost Ships of the Mediterranean (1997), Avalon: Beyond the Abyss (1999), Titanic: 90 Years Below (2002), Titanic: Death of a Dream (1994), Pearl Harbor: Legacy of Attack (2001) |
| TV Shows | SeaQuest 2032 (1993-1994) |
| # | Quote |
|---|---|
| 1 | Forever may it remain that way. And may God bless these now-found souls. [Expressing his hope that the Titanic would not be disturbed] |
| 2 | The Titanic will protect itself. [on discovering that the ship’s bow is too damaged and too deeply buried in the ocean bottom to be plundered by treasure hunters] |
| 3 | It is a quiet and peaceful place-and a fitting place for the remains of this greatest of sea tragedies to rest. [on descending to the wreck of the RMS Titanic 73 years after it sank with more than 1,500 passengers on board, quoted in the NY Times, 10 September 1985] |
| # | Fact |
|---|---|
| 1 | Works with National Geographic and Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, Connecticut. |
| 2 | Is a big Red Sox fan. |
| 3 | Has two children from first marriage, Todd (deceased) and Doug (married with one child). Has two children from present marriage, Ben (b. 1994) and Emily (b. 1998) |
| 4 | Received an MS from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. |
| 5 | He has explored many under water shipwrecks including the Britannic (Titanic’s sister ship), Isis (an ancient Greek ship), and the ocean liner Lusitania. |
Miscellaneous
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lost Ships of the Mediterranean | 1999 | TV Movie documentary chief scientist – as Robert D. Ballard | |
| Avalon: Beyond the Abyss | 1999 | TV Movie technical advisor | |
| The Living Sea | 1995 | Documentary short academic advisor: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution – as Dr. Robert Ballard | |
| SeaQuest 2032 | 1993-1994 | TV Series technical consultant – 23 episodes |
Producer
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghost of the Baltic Sea | 2005 | TV Movie documentary executive producer | |
| Titanic Revealed | 2004 | TV Movie documentary executive producer | |
| Lost Liners | 2000 | TV Movie documentary co-producer – as Robert D. Ballard | |
| National Geographic Explorer | 1999 | TV Series documentary co-producer – 1 episode | |
| Nova | 1999 | TV Series documentary consulting producer – 1 episode |
