James Brown Net Worth

How much was James Brown worth?

Net Worth:$100 Million
Profession:Professional Singer
Date of Birth:May 3, 1933 (aged 73)
Country:United States of America
Height:
1.68 m

About James Brown

James Joseph Brown born May 3, 1933 was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, musician, record producer, and bandleader with an estimated net worth of $100 million. James Brown was originally from South Carolina, the son of Susie and Joe Brown. After the couple split up when James was 2, James lived with his father until he was 6, and was then sent to live with an aunt in Augusta, Georgia. James dropped out of school in the seventh grade and worked various jobs, including singing and dancing, to earn money.

During his childhood, he also learned how to play multiple instruments, including the piano and guitar, as well as a harmonica that had been given to him by his father. In 1949, when he was 16, he was convicted of armed robbery and sent for a stint to a juvenile detention center.

American singer, songwriter, dancer, musician, record producer and bandleader James Brown had an estimated net worth of $100 million dollars at the time of his death, in 2006. Known as the “Godfather of Soul”, “Mr. Dynamite”, and “Soul Brother No. 1”, James Brown is one of the most important musicians of 20th century music and dance.

After being released from incarceration in 1952, James turned his focus toward the entertainment business. By 1955, he was already a veteran of local vocal groups when he signed his first recording contract as a member of The Flames, who would later become best known as James’ backing group. In 1956, James Brown & The Famous Flames had their first hit with “Please, Please, Please” on Federal Records, then went on to have a string of R&B; hits from the mid-’50s through the mid-’60s. His hits with the Famous Flames during this period included “Try Me,” “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” and “I Got You (I Feel Good).”

Beginning in the mid-1960s, James Brown split with the Famous Flames, moved away from traditional R&B;, and incorporated more Soul and Funk into his music; his 1967 hit “Cold Sweat” is cited by music historians as the first true Funk song.

He continued in this direction as a solo artist and with a new backing band, The JB’s, through the mid-1970s. As his musical popularity faded in the 1980s, he embraced a more commercial sound and also appeared as himself in a handful of films, including “The Blues Brothers” and “Rocky IV.” His final album of new music, The Next Step, was released in 2002.

While we have no first hand knowledge, James Brown was arrested and jailed a few times during his recording career:

  • In 1988, he led police on a high speed chase along the Georgia-South Carolina border, after which he was convicted of evading arrest, drug possession and carrying an unlicensed gun, among other offenses. He was released from prison in 1991 after serving three years, and had his crimes pardoned in 2003.
  • In 2004, he pleaded no contest to domestic violence charges brought against him after his girlfriend said he assaulted her.


He was also accused of assault multiple other times in the 1990s and 2000s while suffering from drug problems.

James Brown died of pneumonia on Dec. 25, 2006 after being ill since a performance trip to Europe that November. During private and public memorial services held in the days after his death, thousands of fans and celebrities showed up to pay tribute, including Michael Jackson, Prince, Bootsy Collins and Stevie Wonder. All these artists have acknowledged James’ influence on their music and performance styles, and James still remains a highly influential artist to this day.

James was legally married three times. His first marriage was to Velma Warren, which lasted from 1953 to 1969. The second marriage was to Deedee Jenkins from 1970 to 1981. His marriage to Adrienne Rodriguez lasted from 1984 until she died in 1996 from complications following plastic surgery. At the time of his death in 2006, James Brown’s net worth was $100 million.

James was also in a relationship with singer Tomi Rae Hynie from 2001 to 2004. Although the couple had a wedding, the marriage was ruled invalid because she was legally married to another man. James also had at least five sons and four daughters and is believed to have sired at least three other children outside of his marriages.

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