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Why Brian Wilson's Net Worth Before His Death Is Lower Than You'd Think
The leader of one of the greatest rock bands of all time has died. At the age of 82, Brian Wilson passed away. The exact cause of death has yet to be determined, but it appears he struggled with a neurocognitive disorder in his later years. He leaves behind an immortal legacy of incredible music, which, although it became popular in the 1960s, has a popularity and intense relevance beyond just one generation. If there was any band that could declare itself the American version of The Beatles, it was Wilson's Beach Boys.
Because Wilson was not only a musician but also a writer, it stands to reason that his albums and songs netted him a ton of cash over the years. So, just how much was Brian Wilson worth before his death? What was his net worth?According to Celebrity Net Worth and Parade, Brian Wilson's net worth at the time of his death was $100 million dollars. While that sounds like a lot, just consider that currently, Paul McCartney is worth $1.3 billion. Similarly, Bob Dylan, another contemporary of Wilson's, is closer to $300 million, while Mick Jagger is around $318 million.
Obviously, Wilson's net worth could have come from his various albums and the countless times that Beach Boys songs have been used in movies, TV, and commercials. But, when you consider the ubiquity of songs like "Good Vibrations," to say nothing of "California Girls," you'd think this number would be a little bit higher. Here's why it's songwriting royalties alone were certainly reflective of great wealth, but the truth is, it could have been much more. The reason why Wilson's net worth wasn't in the stratosphere is that in 1969, the vast majority of the rights to Wilson's songs were sold to Irving Alamo Music for just $700,00 dollars.
This decision was made by Wilson's father, Murray Wilson, and resulted in the company that previously owned the music, Sea of Tunes, becoming very profitable. But not for Wilson. In the 1990s, it was revealed that shady business dealings allowed Wilson to sue for the return of his rights. That didn't happen, but he did get $25 million awarded in damages. Though a subsequent lawsuit from bandmate Mike Love divided up those payments a bit more
Of course, $100 million is still nothing to shake a stick at. But, unlike some of his contemporaries, Wilson wasn't rolling in dough from passive income thanks to profits from his songs. Much of his fortune came from his extensive tours, as well as his prolific solo Brian Wilson's Net Worth Before His Death Is Lower Than You'd Think first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 11, 2025
