Net Worth Ranker
What Is Harry Nilsson Net Worth’ Net Worth
At the time of his death on January 15, 1994, Harry Nilsson’s net worth was estimated to be -$1 million. This negative net worth was a stark contrast to the peak of his career in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when he achieved millionaire status and signed a $5 million record contract with RCA, one of the most lucrative agreements in the music industry at the time.
Financial Success and Subsequent Decline
Nilsson’s financial success in the late 1960s culminated in a $5 million recording contract with RCA Records. This deal, considered one of the largest at the time, would be worth approximately $36 million today after adjusting for inflation. Nilsson’s association with The Beatles significantly boosted his career, including an instance where John Lennon advocated for his contract approval with RCA executives, highlighting Nilsson’s talent alongside Elvis Presley as key artists for the label. Despite this early financial windfall, Nilsson faced a devastating financial decline due to embezzlement by his business manager, Cindy Sims.
In 1991, Nilsson discovered that Sims had stolen a significant portion of his earnings. In a letter filed in court, Nilsson stated that he and his family “went to bed one night a financially secure family of eight and woke up the next morning with $300 in our checking account.” Sims’s actions included concealing foreclosure notices from Nilsson, leaving him unaware of the severity of his financial situation. At one point, Nilsson believed he was worth around $8 million, only to find out he was “virtually penniless” and deeply in debt. Cindy Sims was convicted of grand theft and served two years in state prison for her actions.
The financial troubles led to Nilsson’s estate filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after his death. In 1988, Nilsson mentioned that his company, Hawkeye, incurred losses of approximately $240,000 for the fiscal year ending October 31, with revenues of $100,000 from “The Telephone.” Nilsson was the largest shareholder in Hawkeye, holding 4.2 million shares (about 12%) and investing $114,000 of his own money into the company.
Early Career and Musical Achievements
Born Harry Edward Nilsson III in Brooklyn, New York, on June 15, 1941, Nilsson moved to Los Angeles as a teenager. Before achieving fame, he worked as a computer programmer at a bank while pursuing his passion for musical composition. He gained initial success by having his songs recorded by artists such as The Monkees. In 1964, Nilsson collaborated with Phil Spector, co-writing three songs. He also formed a partnership with Perry Botkin Jr., who helped market Nilsson’s songs. George Tipton, a music copyist, invested $2,500 (his life savings at the time) to finance the recording of four Nilsson songs, which he also arranged.
Nilsson’s debut studio album, “Spotlight on Nilsson,” was released in 1966. He followed this with albums such as “Pandemonium Shadow Show” (1967), “Aerial Ballet” (1968), and “Nilsson Sings Newman” (1970), a collaboration with Randy Newman. His album “Nilsson Schmilsson” (1971) reached #3 in the US, #2 in Australia, and #4 in the UK and Canada, marking a significant commercial breakthrough. This album featured the hit singles “Without You” and “Coconut”. Nilsson also released “The Point!” (1971), an original children’s story, and “Aerial Pandemonium Ballet” (1971), which was the first remix album.
Nilsson achieved two Grammy Awards during his career, one for “Everybody’s Talkin’,” featured in the film “Midnight Cowboy,” and another for “Without You.” His single “Without You” reached #1 in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, and Ireland. Other notable songs include “Everybody’s Talkin'” and “Coconut.” As of March 2025, “Without You” has 351,000 streams, “Everybody’s Talkin'” has 304,500 streams, “One” has 105,100 streams and “Coconut” has 80,700 streams on Spotify.
Personal Life and Final Years
Nilsson married three times: to Sandra McTaggart (1964-1966), Diane Clatworthy (1969-1974), and Una O’Keeffe (1976 until his death). He had seven children, including one from a previous relationship and six with Una O’Keeffe. Ringo Starr served as best man at his wedding to Una. In 1993, Nilsson suffered a major heart attack, which spurred him to work on a greatest hits collection and a new album. He died on January 15, 1994, at the age of 52, from a heart attack. In November 2022, BMG acquired Harry Nilsson’s song rights, including his publishing catalog and artist/writer revenue streams.
