Net Worth Ranker
What Is Dave Matthews’ Net Worth?
Dave Matthews, a multifaceted artist celebrated as a singer, songwriter, musician, actor, record label owner, and producer, boasts a substantial net worth of $350 million. This financial success is attributed to his diverse talents and ventures across the entertainment industry.
Dave Matthews Band: Career Highlights and Touring Revenue
In early 1991, Dave Matthews founded the Dave Matthews Band (DMB) in Charlottesville, Virginia. The band’s inaugural performance took place on March 14, 1991, at Trax Nightclub in Charlottesville. The lineup included saxophonist LeRoi Moore, drummer Carter Beauford, bassist Stefan Lessard, violinist Boyd Tinsley, and keyboardist Peter Griesar (who departed in 1993).
DMB’s debut EP, “Recently,” was released in 1994, featuring live recordings from The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia, and Trax in Charlottesville. On September 20, 1994, the band launched their debut studio album, “Under the Table and Dreaming,” which achieved commercial success with hits like “What Would You Say,” “Satellite,” and “Ants Marching.” The album was certified six times platinum, marking DMB’s rise to international fame. “Under the Table and Dreaming” and its successor, “Crash,” earned the band a Grammy Award and four additional Grammy nominations. “Crash’s” notable tracks included “Crash into Me,” “Too Much,” and “Tripping Billies.”
DMB’s third studio album, “Before These Crowded Streets,” released in April 1998, sold over 900,000 copies worldwide in its first week, achieving instant commercial success. Their fourth studio album, “Everyday,” released in February 2001, was also a major commercial hit. Subsequent albums include “Busted Stuff,” “Big Whiskey and the Groo Grux King,” “Away From The World,” and “Come Tomorrow.” The 2018 release of “Come Tomorrow” debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, making DMB the first band to have seven consecutive studio albums debut at #1.
Dave Matthews also released a solo album, “Some Devil,” in 2003. This project allowed him to explore his individual musical style outside of the band’s established sound.
Dave Matthews Band has maintained a consistent touring schedule since the early 1990s, performing every summer with few exceptions. From 2000 to 2009, DMB grossed over $500 million from touring and sold 11,230,696 tickets, surpassing all other bands worldwide. Each tour attracts over one million fans, many of whom attend multiple shows. In 2010, they played 114 shows, including a European tour. 2011 saw 44 shows played, which included the Dave Matthews Band Caravan festival-style shows. In 2012, 78 shows were played, 62 in 2013, 57 in 2014, 75 in 2015 and 50 in 2016.
The band’s concert tickets average around $60, with lawn seats at $45 and pit or lower reserved seats at $85. A unique aspect of DMB’s tours is their varied setlists, which differ each night. For example, at The Gorge in Washington State during Labor Day weekend, the band played 63 songs over three nights without repeating any.
Beyond touring, DMB generates revenue through merchandise sales. In 1998, the band sold $200,000 worth of merchandise per day on tour. The Dave Matthews Band Warehouse fan club, with approximately 100,000 members paying $35 annually for early access to concert tickets, contributes an additional $3.5 million per year.
Acting Career and Personal Ventures
Dave Matthews began acting before forming his band, participating in productions at Charlottesville’s Offstage Theatre and Live Arts Theater in the early 1990s. In 2005, he played Otis in the film “Because of Winn-Dixie.” In 2007, he appeared in “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry” and the television show “House.” In 2008, he played in “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan.” He also starred in “Lake City” alongside Sissy Spacek. Matthews had roles in “The Other Side,” “In the Woods,” and “Just Go With It” in 2011.
In January 1994, Matthews’ older sister, Anne, was murdered in South Africa, an event that deeply affected him. Dave Matthews married Ashley Harper in 2000. They have twin daughters, Stella and Grace, born August 15, 2001, and a son, August, born June 19, 2007. His daughter Stella inspired the line in his song “Alligator Pie” from the 2010 album “Big Whiskey and the Groo Grux King.”
Matthews serves on the Farm Aid board of directors with Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, and Neil Young, supporting family farmers in the United States through an annual benefit concert. In 2011, he collaborated with winemakers Steve Reeder and Sean McKenzie to create Dreaming Tree Wines.
Real Estate Holdings and Blenheim Vineyards
Dave Matthews is a significant private landowner in Virginia, owning hundreds, possibly thousands, of acres, primarily around Charlottesville. He has also collaborated with local governments to acquire land for public use. Since 1999, he has owned Blenheim, an 18th-century farm, which he transformed into Blenheim Vineyards. The vineyard produces 5,500 cases of wine annually, including their signature Petit Verdot and special edition wines featuring unique labels with drawings by Matthews. Dave and his family lived in a home in Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood, purchased in 2001 for $360,000.
