How much is Walter Mercado worth?
| Net Worth: | $1 Million |
|---|---|
| Profession: | Astrologer |
| Date of Birth: | 9 March 1932 |
| Country: | United States of America |
| Height: | 5′ 9″ |
About Walter Mercado
During the 1980s, his show could be broadcast on a number of different television networks across the United States and Latin America. Following the purchase of WRIK-TV by Tommy Muiz, Mercado remained at the station for a period of two years until moving his show to WKBM-TV, Channel 11/Tele Once (which would subsequently become WLII-TV/Univision). Mercado’s forecasts were published in a variety of media, including newspapers, periodicals, and web pages, in addition to appearing on television programs. He worked for the Miami Herald as a writer for a syndicate. Additionally, he was heard on a number of radio programs.
Mercado was born on March 9th, 1932 in Ponce, Puerto Rico, which is also where he spent the majority of his childhood years. His parents were José María Mercado, from San Germán, Puerto Rico, and Aída Salinas from Catalonia, Spain. Even when he was a child, Mercado believed that he possessed certain mystical talents. He went to college and received degrees in teaching, psychology, and pharmacy. After graduation, he put his education to use by instructing others, researching the workings of the human mind, and gaining knowledge about the curative qualities of various plants.
In 1970, Mercado began including a recurring feature on astrology in his show, El Show de las 12. He supplemented his education by completing formal coursework in astrology, tarot, and other other occult subjects. WKAQ-TV Channel 2/Telemundo was the home of Mercado’s astrology television show, which aired once each week. After a number of years on the network, Mercado relocated his show to WRIK-TV (channel 7 in Ponce), where he continued to host it for a number of years after the network altered the programming it offered. Westinghouse has been a consistent sponsor for a very long period.
In 1986, Mercado was awarded the title Mr. Televisión by the Asociación de Cronistas del Espectáculo de Nueva York (Association of Latin Entertainment Critics of New York). At the close of the 1980s, Mercado had written seven books, one of which, titled “Más allá del horizonte,” or “Beyond the Horizon,” was translated and published in all three of the languages in which it was originally written (Spanish, English and Portuguese).
From the middle of the 1990s until 2010, Mercado’s show was broadcast in the Univision network throughout the Americas. However, on January 8, 2010, he made the announcement that he and Univision had ended their relationship after having been together for fifteen years.
Bill Bakula, a successful businessman, served as his manager. In 2003, he declared that he continued to maintain a “spiritual relationship” with the Brazilian actress and dancer Mariette Detotto, with whom he co-hosted a television program. Mariette Detotto was one of his co-stars. Mercado defined himself as androgynous and insisted that the primary relationship of his life was with his fans in archival and recent interview clips on his life that will be shown in a 2020 documentary titled Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado. He also joked about being a virgin into his 80s. The documentary will be titled Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado. He never abandoned his home in Puerto Rico and lived there continuously.
In 2005, he was asked to give Lisa Scott-Lee, a Welsh singer and songwriter, a special reading on her show, Totally Scott-Lee. He accepted the invitation and appeared on the broadcast. In addition, he made appearances on the show Primer Impacto, which is broadcast on the Univision network in the United States from the years 1994 through 2009.
During the middle of the 2010s, Mercado was also involved in the following businesses: a dating website; a line of Zodiac-themed soaps and hygiene goods; and a popular personal website and app that offered daily horoscopes and other features.
His website, which bears his name, saw more than one million hits in the first month it was online. During this time period, Mercado continued to make public appearances, but on a more sporadic basis than before.
Mercado was unsuccessful in a case brought by Bart Enterprises International in January of 2012. He was attempting to stop the company from exploiting his name and appearance in any future commercial endeavors they might undertake. In 1995, Mercado became the first party to sign a contract with the company. In 2006, he broke all relations with the corporation, which led to both sides bringing a lawsuit against the other party. Ultimately, the lawsuit was unsuccessful. The Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, Sandra Lynch, came to the conclusion that Bart Enterprises may proceed with its plans to use Mercado’s name and likeness in connection with upcoming commercial endeavors.
Mercado was taken by helicopter to the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, in January 2012 because he was having heart problems. He said that he had had gone and seen death and came back to life again. He claimed that he had evolved as a result of the event. He stated that one of his goals was to work with young people in Puerto Rico, that he intended to build the Shanti Ananda foundation, that he would develop a mystic center, and that he would donate three of his capes to a museum. The vast majority of his capes had been bought and sold at various auctions.
Summing-Up
This Puerto Rican astrologer, actor, dancer, and writer is also known by his stage name, Shanti Ananda. He is most known as a television personality for his shows as an astrologer, and he is also known by his stage name. After decades of hosting astrological prediction shows that were broadcast throughout Puerto Rico, Latin America, and the United States, he became a cultural icon in the Hispanic community.
