Net Worth Ranker
What Is Robert Trujillo’s Net Worth
Robert Trujillo, the acclaimed bassist for Metallica, has amassed a considerable fortune over his career. As of today, Robert Trujillo’s net worth is estimated to be around $40 million. This wealth is primarily derived from his musical endeavors, including his role in Metallica, along with his contributions to other bands such as Suicidal Tendencies and Infectious Grooves, as well as collaborations with artists like Ozzy Osbourne. Additionally, Trujillo has earned income from songwriting, touring, and various film and television appearances.
Early Career and Musical Ventures
Robert Trujillo was born on October 23, 1964, in Santa Monica, California, and spent his formative years in Culver City. His ethnic background is a blend of Native American and Mexican ancestry. Trujillo’s passion for music emerged early in his life, leading him to participate in numerous local bands. At 19, he explored jazz music with the intention of becoming a studio musician. However, he decided to pursue rock and metal. In 1989, Trujillo joined Suicidal Tendencies, replacing bassist Bob Heathcote. His work with the band can be heard on the album “Controlled by Hatred/Feel Like Shit…Déjà Vu,” where he was credited as Stymee. He remained a member of Suicidal Tendencies until 1995, contributing to albums such as “Lights…Camera…Revolution!,” “The Art of Rebellion,” “Still Cyco After All These Years,” and “Suicidal for Life.” During his time with Suicidal Tendencies, Trujillo also founded Infectious Grooves, a funk metal band led by Mike Muir, the frontman for Suicidal Tendencies. Other members included guitarists Dean Pleasants and Jim Martin, and drummer Brooks Wackerman. The band’s debut album, “The Plague That Makes Your Booty Move… It’s the Infectious Grooves,” was released in 1991. This project added to Robert Trujillo’s net worth, providing additional income streams.
Metallica Membership and Subsequent Success
In February 2003, Trujillo officially joined Metallica, filling the void left by Jason Newsted. Prior to Newsted, Cliff Burton was the bassist. Robert Trujillo received a $1 million advance upon joining Metallica. His first album with the band was “Death Magnetic,” released in 2008, which reached number one on the Billboard 200. The album was nominated for six Grammy Awards, and secured three wins, including Best Metal Performance for “My Apocalypse.” From 2008 to 2010, Metallica embarked on the World Magnetic Tour to promote the album. His subsequent album with Metallica, “Hardwired… to Self-Destruct,” was released in 2016. This album became Metallica’s sixth consecutive studio album to debut at the top of the Billboard 200, and it received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rock Album. In 2009, along with the other members of Metallica, James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett AND former member Jason Newsted, Trujillo was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. These achievements and consistent album sales and tours significantly bolstered Robert Trujillo’s net worth. The consistent success of Metallica’s albums and tours has been a major source of income for Trujillo, contributing substantially to his $40 million net worth. Touring revenue alone can generate millions of dollars annually for each band member.
Collaborations and Other Projects
From the late 1990s, Trujillo played bass for Ozzy Osbourne, contributing to the 2001 album “Down to Earth.” He also re-recorded bass tracks for reissued versions of “Blizzard of Ozz” and “Diary of a Madman.” Trujillo also created the supergroup Mass Mental with singer Benji Webbe. They released one studio album in Japan and a live album before disbanding. Following this, Trujillo performed with Black Label Society. He contributed bass to two songs on the group’s 2002 album “1919 Eternal.” In 2002, Trujillo played bass on Jerry Cantrell’s solo album “Degradation Trip.” Beyond music, Trujillo co-wrote and produced the 2014 documentary “Jaco,” which chronicles the life of jazz bassist Jaco Pastorius. This project added another dimension to Robert Trujillo’s net worth, demonstrating his involvement in diverse ventures within the music industry.
Musical Style and Equipment
Robert Trujillo is known for his finger-style playing, and he sometimes uses a pick. He plays chord-based harmonics on the bass and uses the slap bass technique to produce percussive sounds. He uses his own code for writing down bass arrangements. With Metallica, Trujillo plays 5- and 4-string Warwick Streamer bass guitars. He has also played Fernandes Gravity 5-string basses. Before Metallica, Trujillo played 5-string Tobias, MusicMan, and ESP basses. In concert, he has been seen with a Yamaha TRB5-P2 5-string bass, a customized Rickenbacker 4001/4003 4-string bass, and both a Fender Precision Bass and a Fender Jazz Bass. In 2010, Trujillo partnered with Dunlop Manufacturing to create new signature bass strings that use taper-core stainless steel. His technical skill and endorsements contribute to his income, further enhancing Robert Trujillo’s net worth.
Real Estate Holdings
In December 2007, Robert Trujillo purchased a home in Topanga, California, for $1.8 million. This real estate investment is part of his overall financial portfolio, contributing to Robert Trujillo’s net worth. While specific details of other real estate holdings are not publicly available, this purchase demonstrates Trujillo’s investment in property. Real estate typically appreciates over time, providing a stable asset that contributes to long-term wealth. Owning property in California, particularly in areas like Topanga, can be a significant component of a person’s net worth due to the high value of real estate in the region. This property investment is one aspect of how Robert Trujillo manages and grows his financial assets.
