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Gene Simmons Net Worth

Gene Simmons is the KISS frontman who earned millions from his live performances and legendary albums, becoming enormously wealthy in the process.

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Gene Simmons Net Worth

What is Gene Simmons’s net worth?

Net Worth:$400 Million
Age:75
Born:August 25, 1949
Gender:Male
Height:1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Country of Origin:United States of America
Source of Wealth:Professional Musician
Last Updated:Nov 17, 2024

Introduction 

Gene Simmons is an American professional musician with an estimated net worth of $400 Million.

Simmons is the co-founder of the 70s rock band KISS. This internationally famous group has made Gene and his fellow band members enormously wealthy. However, Simmons’ wealth didn’t come from the actual music itself, although it helped, of course.

Through licensing agreements on merchandise, Gene and the band placed their logo and iconic name on more than 5,000 different products, from t-shirts to pinball machines.

 

Quick Facts

  • Gene Simmons is his stage name, but his actual birth name is Chaim Witz.
  • Even with his rockstar persona, Gene doesn’t drink or do drugs, as his mother wouldn’t like it.
  • Gene’s hair caught on fire at the band’s first concert in 1973, when he performed a fire-breathing stunt.
  • He created a TV series called Gene Simmons’ Family Jewels, which gave the viewers an inside look into the rock star’s life.
  • One of KISS’s biggest hits, “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” is one of Gene’s least favorite songs to play, as he believes his voice sounds like his grandmother when he sings it.
  • Gene is multilingual, being fluent in German, Hebrew, Japanese, Hungarian, and English.

 

Early Life 

Chaim Witz was born August 25, 1949, in Haifa, Israel.

His family are Holocaust survivors, with his mother, brother, and uncle the only family members to survive a Nazi concentration camp.

Gene and his mother left Israel when Gene was 8, and the two moved to Queens, New York City. After moving to America, Gene took on a more American-sounding name, calling himself Eugene Klein. His mother saw that he was passionate about music and bought him his first guitar, but after a while, Gene decided to change over to the base, which he believed would help him get into a band more easily.

While in high school, he put together his first band, Lynx, which was shortly after renamed Missing Links. Gene moved on to a new band called The Long Island Sounds while attending Sullivan County Community College. He then transferred to Richmond College, where he earned a degree in education and started teaching grade school Spanish. To supplement his teaching work, he became an assistant to the editor of the Vogue and Glamour magazines.

While working alongside the glamorous editor, he decided to change his name to Gene Simmons, which would go on to be one of the most famous names in rock music worldwide. Shortly after that, he joined a band called Bullfrog Beer, taking the first major step in his music career, which eventually led him to meet Paul Stanley.

 

Career Overview

Once Gene met Paul, they decided to team up and form a band called Wicked Lester. The band was immediately successful, as they signed a deal with Epic Records. The band’s first album was a disaster, so Paul and Gene set out to become one of the best bands in the world. They teamed up with drummer Peter Crisis and guitarist Paul Frehley, marking the start of the legendary band KISS.

Their manager suggested that they wear full-stage makeup to stand out from other bands, and the fans loved it. They released their first album in 1974, which was popular, but the subsequent two albums were a bust. To build momentum, the band decided to perform live, and with Gene’s fire-breathing stunt, they built their reputation for performing amazing live shows.

They recorded their first show, and the album reached quadruple platinum status. The band played for five years and was incredibly successful, but they ultimately decided to pursue their solo careers.

After pursuing their solo careers, the band decided to get back together but was met with backlash from their fans. The makeup and Genes theatrics did not impress the crowds anymore, so they decided to play without makeup or any other unusual gimmicks.

This new look helped the band grow in popularity, but it wasn’t working for them, so Peter Criss was voted out of the band and replaced with Paul Charles (stage name Eric Carr), who played for KISS until he died in 1991.

In 2013, Paul Stanley and Gene teamed up with Doc Mcghee to become part owners of the LA Kiss Arena Football League team.

 

KISS Music Catalog & IP Sale

In April 2024, Kiss sold the rights to its music catalog, brand name, likeness, and intellectual property to Swedish entertainment and music investment firm Pop House Entertainment Group for a reported $300 million.

Pop House, co-founded by Bjorn Ulvaeus from ABBA, is well recognized for its digital avatar projects with ABBA and KISS. By purchasing KISS’s catalog, Pop House secured the iconic face paint designs, 5,000 branded products, merchandise, and trademarks of KISS as an American rock band, allowing it to generate revenue from multiple sources and develop new AI-generated content.

KISS praised their ongoing relationship with Pop House and sees them as the right partner to secure their band’s legacy and future interests. The sale also marks the band’s retirement from live performances and is one of history’s most significant catalog sales.

 

Career Earnings

Gene earned hundreds of thousands of dollars from his stage performances and album sales, but the real money was in licensing deals he helped negotiate. It is believed that Gene Simmons now earns a salary of over $34 million annually.

Here’s an estimated overview of Gene Simmons’s annual income:

  • 2013 – $25 million
  • 2014 – $26.4 million
  • 2015 – $25 million
  • 2016 – $28 million
  • 2017 – $29 million
  • 2018 – $29.5 million
  • 2019 – $28 million
  • 2020 – $30 million
  • 2021 – $32.5 million
  • 2022 – $34 million

With sales of KISS merchandise still ticking along, Gene and his fellow band members continue to enjoy the financial rewards of their iconic status. 

 

Net Worth Annually

Despite the rockstar persona and garish makeup, Gene is a down-to-earth individual with a head for numbers and an excellent grasp of investment strategy.

Here’s a breakdown of Gene Simmons’s annual net worth:

  • 2017 – $260 million
  • 2018 – $280 million
  • 2019 – $320 million
  • 2020 – $350 million
  • 2021 – $375 million
  • 2022 – $400 million

Gene has amassed enormous wealth by investing the money he received from the band’s live performances and commercial deals.

 

How Does Gene Simmons Spend His Money?

Gene had a mansion in the suitably celebrity-filled Beverly Hills valued at over $37 million.

Gene and his wife are big supporters of multiple charities, such as Barabara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, Kids Wish Network, and Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. His daughter shares his philanthropic side and has opened a charity foundation called Sophie’s Place, which helps benefit children.

 

Personal Life

Gene is currently married to Canadian actress, Shannon Lee Tweed. The two were dating for 28 years before getting married at the Beverly Hills Hotel in 2011 and have two children, Nick and Sophie.

In the past, Gene dated various stars, revealing that while still dating Cher, he had a crush on Diana Ross.

Gene is known for his playboy lifestyle and boastfully claims that he has had one-night stands with more than 5,000 women. He also reveals that he has a picture of every woman he has been with, along with the hotel key of where he shared his one-night stands.

 

Awards & Achievements

Here are some of the more memorable moments from Gene Simmons’s career:

  • Gene was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.
  • In 2020, Gene won the Guinness World Record for “Highest Flame Projection in a Music Concert” and “Most Flame Projections Launched Simultaneously in a Live Concert”
  • Gene was awarded the Golden Medal from the Circle Artistic de Barcelona in 2014.
  • In a surprising move, he was given the key to the city of Winnipeg in 2011.
  • In 2012, he received the Golden God Award from Revolver magazine.

What do you think about Gene Simmons’s net worth? Leave a comment below.

John is a professional accountant with a passion for writing. When not helping clients identify tax and financial opportunities, you can find him writing, sailing offshore, or flying a plane. He’s worked and partied with the rich and famous from around the world, getting an inside look at the secretive lifestyles of high-net-worth celebrities.

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Musicians

Peter Frampton Net Worth

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Peter Frampton Net Worth

What is Peter Frampton’s net worth? 

Net Worth:$20 Million
Age:74
Born:April 22, 1950
Gender:Male
Height:1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Country of Origin:United Kingdom
Source of Wealth:Musician
Last Updated:Nov 16, 2024

Introduction  

Peter Frampton is an English rock musician, singer, songwriter, and producer with an estimated net worth of $20 Million. 

Frampton has previously been associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. As a solo artist, he has released several albums, including his international breakthrough album, the live release Frampton Comes Alive!

 

Early Life 

Peter Kenneth Frampton was born on the 22nd of April, 1950, in Bromley, England. 

He first became interested in music when he was seven—having discovered his grandmother’s banjolele in the attic. 

Some of his early influences were Cliff Rich & the Shadows and American rockers Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. He later liked to listen to Jimi Hendrix and the Beatles. His father introduced him to the recordings of Belgian gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt.

 

Career 

Peter Kenneth Frampton, professionally known as Peter Frampton, is an English-American singer, songwriter, and guitarist born and raised in Kent, England.

Frampton was influenced by rock acts from the late 1950s and early 1960s, such as Cliff Richard and the Shadows, Eddie Cochran, and Jimi Hendrix.

He attended Bromley Technical High School, where he befriended David Bowie and played in bands such as the Little Ravens and the Preachers.

In 1966, he joined the band “Herd,” achieving success as a child singer, and joined Humble Pie with Steve Marriott during the same year.

 

Collaborating With Ringo Starr

Later in his career, he succeeded as a solo artist, released several albums, and collaborated with Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam.

Peter soon left the band “Humble Pie” and released his solo debut album “Wind of Change” featuring guest artists Ringo Starr and Billy Preston.

He has made appearances as himself in television programs like Madam Secretary, Family Guy, The Simpsons, and various other shows.

In addition to his successful albums “Frampton’s Camel” and “Somethin’s Happening,” he released his iconic live album “Frampton Comes Alive!”

His album “Frampton Comes Alive!” became one of the top-selling live albums of all time, winning the Juno Award in 1977.

The album had multiple successful singles, including “Show Me the Way” and “It’s A Plain Shame,” which were certified 8× Platinum by the RIAA.

 

Frampton Joins Walk Of Fame Legends

A year later, Peter received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and released his new hit album “I’m in You.”

At the same time, he starred alongside Barry Gibb from “The Bee Gees” in the film “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” in 1978.

Despite suffering a near-fatal car accident in the Bahamas in 1978, he went on to release the album “Where I Should Be” a year later.

On top of everything, in 1980, he was involved in a plane crash, which resulted in the loss of multiple guitars and various musical equipment.

That year, he released Rise Up and was featured alongside David Bowie on his album Never Let Me Down.

In the early 90s, he played various reunion shows for Humble Pie with Steve Marriott and starred in an infomercial for the eMedia Guitar Method.

 

Creative Peaks And Final Farewells

At the same time, he released his self-titled album “Peter Frampton” in 1994 and the “Frampton Comes Alive! II” album in 1995.

Following the release of his self-titled album, Peter was awarded a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album for “Fingerprints” in 2007.

Along with releasing the album “Thank You Mr. Churchill” in 2010, he embarked on his “Frampton Comes Alive 35th Anniversary Tour.”

Furthermore, he was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2016 and announced his retirement tour due to an Inclusion-Body Myositis diagnosis.

He contributed to Mark Knopfler’s album ‘Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero’ and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

 

Estimated Net Worth

In 2024, Peter Frampton’s net worth is estimated to be roughly $20 Million. 

 

Highlights

Here are some of the best highlights of Peter Frampton’s career:

  • Shine On (Song, 1972) 
  • Do You Feel Like We Do (Song, 1973) 
  • Show Me the Way (Song, 1975) 
  • Money (Song, 1975) 

 

Summary

Peter Frampton is an English rock musician and guitarist.

Frampton began his career with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. He is best known for his hit solo album ‘Frampton Comes Alive,’ which sold more than 16 million copies and was the best-selling live rock album until 1998.

His singles ‘Baby I Love Your Way’, ‘Do You Feel Like I Do?’,  and ‘Show Me the Way’. 

What do you think about Peter Frampton’s net worth? Leave a comment below. 

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Musicians

Suzette Quintanilla Net Worth

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Suzette Quintanilla Net Worth

What is Suzette Quintanilla’s net worth? 

Net Worth:$3 Million
Age:57
Born:June 29, 1967
Gender:Female
Height:1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Country of Origin:United States of America
Source of Wealth:Professional Musician
Last Updated:Nov 16, 2024

Introduction   

Suzette Quintanilla is an American professional musician for the family band Selena y Los Dinos.

Her late sister Selena, known as “the Queen of Tejano music,” performed until her murder in 1995. Quintanilla ended her musical career following her sister’s death. Along with her family members, she attended her sister’s star ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Dames in 2017. 

Suzette Quintanilla’s net worth is estimated to be roughly $3 Million. 

 

Early Life 

Suzette Quintanilla was born on June 29, 1967, in Texas.

She is the daughter of Abraham Quintanilla Jr. and Marcella Ofelia Samora. Her father is a singer and songwriter who encouraged his children to play music. 

She is the middle child of her parents, and she grew up to become a successful musician and singer. She and her siblings were raised as Jehova’s Witness. 

 

Career 

Although often overshadowed by her late sister Selena, Suzette Quintanilla has led an exciting life in the music industry. 

Inspired by her father Abraham’s love of music, Suzette became a drummer in the family band with her siblings. 

At first, the family played on street corners and quinceañeras until her father opened Papágayos, a Mexican restaurant in Lake Jackson, Texas. 

While her parents managed the restaurant, Suzette and her siblings played for and entertained diners. 

Unfortunately, the 1981 recession forced the restaurant to shut down after it began to lose patrons, and the family moved to Corpus Christi. 

However, in Corpus Christi, Selena began to gain attention as a singer, which allowed the family’s band to grow in popularity. 

With Selena’s talent set to make her one of the richest singers in the world, things began looking up for Suzette and her band.

 

Mainstream Success

In 1981, Selena y Los Dinos were signed to Freddie Records, and they began playing in local clubs to gain exposure. 

However, after completing their first album, Selena y Los Dinos, Abraham Quintanilla walked away from Freddie Records and moved to Cara Records. 

The group was later discovered by GP Productions while performing in 1987, and their second album, Alpha, was released. 

The same year, they released “Muñequito de Trapo,” which earned Selena a Best Female Vocalist of the Year award at the Tejano Music Awards. 

Selena y Los Dinos released their last independent album, Dulce Amor, in 1988. After that, Selena was signed to EMI Latin as a solo artist. 

While her sister became a household name, Suzette Quintanilla continued playing with her family’s band. 

In 1990, she began working with Q-Productions, a company founded by her father specializing in Latin music. 

Although not one of the richest people in the world, Suzette was enjoying a successful career in the music industry. 

 

Life After Selena

After Selena was shot and killed, Suzette Quintanilla was hit especially hard by her passing and quit performing music. 

While numerous celebrities, including Julio Iglesias and Gloria Estefan, mourned the singer’s loss, Suzette retreated from the public eye.

However, she did return to music in 2005 for a tribute concert to Selena called Selena ¡VIVE!, which was held in Houston, Texas. 

At the concert, Jennifer Lopez, who played the late singer in a 1997 movie about her life, gave an introduction. 

Suzette also returned with Los Dinos in 2010 to record a song for A.B. Qunitanilla’s group Kumbia All Starz. 

That said, aside from these two instances, Suzette has remained behind the scenes at Q-Productions, where she remains today. 

Suzette learned the ins and outs of running the company from her father and has since become its CEO.

She is responsible for many tribute projects to Selena and launched MAC makeup collections in her name in 2016 and 2022. 

In 2020, Suzette played a big role in the Netflix show Selena: The Series, a biographical drama based on her sister’s life.

 

Suzette Quintanilla Net Worth

Suzette Quintanilla’s net worth is estimated to be roughly $3 Million.  

 

Highlights

Here are some of the best highlights of Suzette Quintanilla’s career:

  • Alpha (Album, 1986) 
  • Preciosa (Album, 1988) 
  • Como La Flor (Song, 1992) 
  • Selena (Movie, 1997) 
  • She attended the event unveiling the wax figure of Selena at Madame Tussauds Museum (2019)

 

Summary

Suzette Quintanilla is a Mexican-American musician.

Quintanilla is Selena’s sister and the drummer for the band Selena y Los Dinos. She got interested in music when she was a kid. She started to play with the band ‘Los Dinos.’ As a teenager, she began performing with her siblings after their father opened his first Tex-Mex restaurant. 

Suzette Quintanilla’s net worth is estimated to be roughly $3 Million. 

What do you think about Suzette Quintanilla’s net worth? Leave a comment below. 

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Musicians

Krist Novoselic Net Worth

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Krist Novoselic Net Worth

What is Krist Novoselic’s net worth? 

Net Worth:$80 Million
Age:59
Born:May 16, 1965
Gender:Male
Height:2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)
Country of Origin:United States of America
Source of Wealth:Musician
Last Updated:Nov 16, 2024

Introduction    

Krist Novoselic is an American professional musician and activist.

Novoselic is best known as the bassist and founding member of the rock and Nirvana. The band disbanded following the death of its frontman Kurt Cobain. Novoselic formed Sweet 75 in 1995 and Eyes Adrift in 2002.

Between 2006 and 2009, he played in the punk band Flipper. He contributed bass and accordion to the song ‘I Should Have Known’ by the Foo Fighters.

Krist Novoselic’s net worth is estimated to be $80 Million. 

 

Early Life 

Krist Anthony Novoselic was born on the 16th of May, 1965, in Compton, California.

He is the son of Croatian immigrants Kristo and Marija Novoselic. Novoselic lived in Compton for one year before his parents moved to the ethnically Croatian Los Angeles neighborhood of San Pedro.

Novoselic has a younger brother and a younger sister. In 1971, his family relocated to Washington due to surging real estate costs in California. In 1980, his parents sent him to live with relatives in Zadar, Croatia. He returned to Aberdeen in 1981. He is partially fluent in Croatian.

 

Career 

Alongside Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic began a Creedence Clearwater Revival cover band in 1987, but they quickly fell apart. 

In 1990, the pair met drummer Dave Grohl, who was playing for the band Scream, and they were able to recruit him to their new band, Nirvana. 

After signing with DGC Records, the band began recording Nevermind in 1991, with Novoselic helping to write the song “Polly.” 

Upon releasing their debut album, the group won twice at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards, on which they performed their song “Lithium.” 

 

Nirvana

In 1992, Krist Novoselic and Nirvana released the album Incesticide, with Novoselic writing the lyrics for “Hairspray Queen,” “Dive,” and “Aneurysm.” 

Their third album, In Utero, was released in 1993. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 and sold 3.5 million copies. 

A year later, they released MTV Unplugged in New York, an album of their live MTV performance, which earned them a Grammy Award. 

Unfortunately, Nirvana came to an abrupt end when Kurt Cobain passed away in April 1994, causing Novoselic to fall back from the spotlight. 

However, Novoselic did appear at the 1994 Video Music Awards, where Nirvana won Best Alternative Video, and he paid tribute to Cobain. 

While Nirvana made him one of the richest rockstars in the world, Krist Novoselic wasn’t done with music after the band broke up. 

 

After Nirvana

In 1994, Krist Novoselic formed Sweet 75, and the band released their self-titled album three years later in 1997. 

Around the same time, he joined Johnny Cash, Kim Thayil, and Sean Kinney for a cover of Willie Nelson’s “Time of the Preacher.” 

He teamed up with Dave Grohl and his band the Foo Fighters in 2002 on the song “Walking a Line,” which served as a tribute to Cobain. 

Novoselic then formed Eyes Adrift, and they released their debut self-titled album the same year but disbanded in 2003. 

Following the breakup, Novoselic announced he was retiring from the music industry, stating that he disliked building publicity. 

However, he was back at it in 2006 when he joined the band Flipper on a tour across the United Kingdom and Ireland. 

He remained with them until 2008, and in 2009, Novoselic had a brief cameo in Robin Williams’ film World’s Greatest Dad

In 2010, he rejoined the Foo Fighters again, playing bass and accordion on their 2011 album Wasting Light. 

Novoselic and Grohl then teamed up with Paul McCartney on the song “Cut Me Some Slack” for the documentary Sound City.

 

NovoSelic’s Recent Work

Krist Novoselic performed “Helter Skelter” with Paul McCartney in 2016 as part of the One on One tour and confirmed that he was writing new music. 

Currently, Novoselic is part of the band Giants in the Trees, which was formed in 2017, and he plays guitar and accordion for Filthy Friends.

Giants in the Trees released their first album in 2017 and their second, Volume 2, in 2019.

Most recently, Novoselic has been working with Kim Thayil, Matt Cameron, and Jack Endino as part of the band 3rd Secret. 

Together, they released their first self-titled album in April 2022, part of which was recorded in Novoselic’s home. 

Having worked with some of the richest singers in the world, fans are eager to see who Krist Novoselic teams up with next!

 

Krist Novoselic Net Worth

Krist Novoselic’s net worth is estimated to be roughly $80 Million. 

 

How Does Krist Novoselic Spend His Money?

Krist Novoselic spends his money on real estate. 

 

Krist Novoselic’s Home 

Novoselic lives in a beautiful home in Seattle, Washington. 

 

Highlights

Here are some of the best highlights of Krist Novoselic’s career:

  • Smells Like Teen Spirit (Song, 1991) 
  • Come As You Are (Song, 1991) 
  • In Bloom (Song, 1991) 
  • Nevermind (Album, 1991) 
  • In Utero (Album, 1993) 

 

Summary

Krist Novoselic is an American rock musician.

Novoselic is most famous for being the co-founder and bassist of the Seattle-based band Nirvana. The band was internationally successful but disbanded after the death of the lead singer, Kurt Cobain. Novoselic continues to perform with other groups and is politically active.

Krist Novoselic’s net worth is estimated to be roughly $80 Million. 

What do you think about Krist Novoselic’s net worth? Leave a comment below. 

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