Early Life and Education

Melissa De la Cruz was born on September 7, 1971, in Manila, Philippines. At the age of 12, she immigrated with her family to the United States. She studied art history and English at Columbia University in New York City.

Professional Career

Before becoming a successful young adult author, Melissa De la Cruz worked as a fashion and beauty editor, writing for prestigious publications such as Marie Claire, Harper's Bazaar, and Glamour. Her experience in the fashion industry inspired her novel How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less.

Notable Works

Melissa De la Cruz is best known for her young adult book series, including Au Pairs, Blue Bloods, and The Ashleys. Her novel Isle of the Lost, a prequel to Disney's Descendants, spent over 50 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. She also co-wrote Frozen, the first novel in the Heart of Dread series, with her husband Michael Johnston.

Television Adaptations

Her first adult series novel, Witches of East End, was adapted into a drama series by Lifetime. The show starred Julia Ormond and Jenna Dewan.

Personal Life

Melissa De la Cruz's father was an investment banker. She is married to Michael Johnston, with whom she collaborated on the Heart of Dread series.

Melissa De la Cruz Physical Stats

Melissa De la Cruz stands at 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 130 pounds. She has a slim body shape with measurements of 34-24-36. Her eye color is brown and she has long, flowing black hair.

Melissa De la Cruz Net Worth 2024

As of 2024, Melissa De la Cruz's estimated net worth is around $10 million. Over the last few years, her net worth has steadily increased due to the success of her young adult novels and various book deals. In 2021, her net worth was estimated to be around $5 million, which increased to $7 million in 2022 and $9 million in 2023. This represents a percentile increase of 40% from 2021 to 2022, 28.57% from 2022 to 2023, and an estimated 11.11% increase from 2023 to 2024.

Melissa De la Cruz's main source of income comes from her career as a young adult author. She has written numerous bestselling novels and series, which have garnered a large fan base and critical acclaim. In addition to book sales, she also earns income from movie and television adaptations of her work, as well as speaking engagements and appearances at literary events. Her continued success in the publishing industry has solidified her status as one of the most prominent