How much is Willie Nelson worth?
| Net Worth: | $30 Million |
|---|---|
| Profession: | Professional Singer |
| Date of Birth: | April 29, 1933 (age 88) |
| Country: | United States of America |
| Height: | 1.68 m |
About Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson was born on April 29, 1933 and is an American musician, actor, and activist with an estimated net worth of $30 million. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie (1973), combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger (1975) and Stardust (1978), is credited by music critics to have led to Nelson becoming one of the most recognized artists in country music.
He was one of the main figures of outlaw country, a subgenre of country music that developed in the late 1960s. Nelson also acted, appearing in over 30 films, co-authored several books, and has been involved in activism for the use of biofuels and the legalization of marijuana.
Nelson grew up in Texas and served in the U.S. Air Force. He worked as a radio DJ in Texas and Washington in the mid-1950s. Nelson played in several bands, and was always keeping his ears open, but it was only when he settled in the Houston area that he began to take music as his career.
Nelson relocated to Nashville in 1960. He began working for Hal Smith’s publishing house, Pamper Music, where he found success placing hits with Billy Walker (“Funny How Time Slips Away”) and, most enduringly, Patsy Cline (“Crazy”).
In 1962, he signed a recording contract with Liberty Records, but except for a pair of top 10 singles, the young country singer failed to hit. In 1970, Nelson returned to Texas. Nelson signed with Atlantic Records, resulting in the adventurous records Shotgun Willie (1973) and Phases and Stages (1974). These are the songs that laid the groundwork for what was to come.
In 1975, he released The Red Headed Stranger. It became one of the best-selling albums of Nelson’s career, and among of the most influential country albums of its time.
Although his record company initially wanted it re-recorded, Nelson fought for it being released as intended. The result was more than any A&R; rep could have hoped for. It sold over 1 million copies and changed the atmosphere in Nashville.
Nelson became associated with the Outlaw Country movement, along with Waylon Jennings, Tompall Glaser, and Jessi Colter. The collaborated on the compilation album Wanted! The Outlaws which became the first platinum-selling country record in history.
After his 1970s peak, Nelson has continued to be a talent to be reckoned with. He had released more than two dozen albums, and between 1975 and 1979 multiple certifications with the RIAA, including 5x Platinum for Stardust.
However, despite his earnings, he had tax problems with the IRS. In 1990, the country singer settled his hefty tax debt (at one time estimated to be $32 million) by 1993, according to Rolling Stone.
That year offered another milestone, when Nelson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
For the remainder of the ’90s and into the 2000s, Nelson has continued to have a healthy following and a prolific output of records. In 2018, Nelson was one of several artists on Restoration, which was an album containing various country renditions of Elton John songs, Willie performed “Border Song”.
In 2020, Nelson livestreamed a series of benefit concerts as a way to ease the financial burden of people during COVID-19. The first two raised $700,000. As of 2023, Willie Nelson’s net worth is estimated to be $30 million.
Toby Keith immortalized Willie Nelson’s bold taste in marijuana in the song “Weed with Willie,” which appeared on Keith’s album Shock’n Y’all.
