Net Worth Ranker
What Was Kenny Rogers’ Net Worth?
At the time of his death on March 20, 2020, Kenny Rogers, a multifaceted American entertainer, had a net worth of $250 million. This substantial wealth accumulated through a career that spanned multiple domains, including music, acting, and entrepreneurship.
Early Career and Musical Beginnings
Kenneth Ray Rogers was born on August 21, 1938, in Houston, Texas. His early life involved various odd jobs that paid as little as $9 per week. Rogers’s formal education included attending high school in Houston and later enrolling at the University of Houston. His musical journey began in the 1950s. His 1957 hit, “That Crazy Feeling,” brought him considerable early attention. Subsequently, he explored genres like jazz, country-pop, and psychedelic rock.
In the 1960s, Rogers joined the Bobby Doyle Three, a jazz group. Although the group eventually disbanded, they achieved recognition with the hit “Here’s That Rainy Day.” Later in the decade, Rogers worked as a producer, writer, and session musician. He then became part of the New Christy Minstrels, playing the double bass. After the band didn’t reach the expected success, Rogers and some members formed the First Edition, later known as “Kenny Rogers and the First Edition.”
The First Edition achieved notable success with tracks like “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In).” This song was famously featured in a dream sequence in the film “The Big Lebowski.” Other hits from this period include “But You Know I Love You,” “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town,” “Tell It All, Brother,” “Rueben James,” and “Something’s Burning.” By 1976, the group disbanded, and Kenny Rogers began a solo career that saw him appealing to both pop and country music audiences.
Solo Career and Album Success
Kenny Rogers’ first solo album, “Love Lifted Me,” performed well on the charts. He followed this up with a self-titled album in 1976. His single “Lucille” became a significant hit, topping charts in 12 countries. The success of “Lucille” catapulted many of Rogers’ subsequent albums to platinum status throughout the late 1970s and beyond.
Rogers collaborated with Dottie West on several projects towards the end of the 1970s, producing tracks like “Every Time Two Fools Collide,” “Anyone Who Isn’t Me Tonight,” “What Are We Doin’ in Love,” “All I Ever Need Is You,” and “Till I Can Make It On My Own.” This collaboration ended with West’s death in a car accident in 1991.
During the 1980s, Rogers collaborated with several famous singers like Dolly Parton, Kim Carnes, Sheena Easton, Lionel Richie, and Lynda Carter. Lionel Richie worked with Rogers on songs like “Lady” and the album “Share Your Love.” Sheena Easton was featured on the hit “We’ve Got Tonight.” Towards the end of the decade, Rogers won a Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for “Make No Mistake, She’s Mine,” featuring Ronnie Milsap. In the 2000s, after signing with Capitol Records, Rogers started creating hits again and toured extensively.
Kenny Rogers released the album “You Can’t Make Old Friends” in 2013. In the same year, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Following the release of “You Can’t Make Old Friends”, Rogers announced his retirement, scheduled to begin at the end of his “The Gambler’s Last Deal” tour in 2015.
Real Estate Holdings and Transactions
Rogers sold his 13,000-square-foot home in the northern suburbs of Atlanta in 2018 for $2.383 million. He had purchased the 1.5-acre estate in 2012 for $1.5 million and initially listed it for sale in 2014 for $4.8 million. The Mediterranean-inspired house featured six bedrooms and 10 fireplaces. Rogers also owned properties in Bel-Air and Beverly Hills, California.
Personal Life and Relationships
Kenny Rogers was married five times. His first marriage was to Janice Gordon in 1958, ending in divorce in 1960; they had one child. The same year as his divorce from Gordon, Rogers married Jean, a marriage that lasted until 1963. He then married Margo Anderson from 1964 to 1976, with whom he had one child. In 1977, Rogers married Marianne Gordon, and they had one child together before divorcing in 1993. His final marriage was to Wanda Miller in 1997. Wanda gave birth to twins, and they remained together for 22 years until Rogers’ death.
Other Ventures and Interests
Kenny Rogers was famous for having a pet goat named Smitty. He purchased the goat from a friend in 2008, and over the next few years, the two became incredibly close. Smitty was said to help Rogers reach a state of tranquility after long, stressful periods on the road when touring.
Throughout his career, Kenny Rogers sold over 165 million records worldwide and released over 65 albums. Rogers released albums that spanned many different genres, including jazz, folk, pop, rock, and country.
On March 20, 2020, Kenneth Rogers died from natural causes at 81. He spent his final days under hospice care in Sandy Springs, Georgia. Following his death, his family announced plans for a public memorial service once coronavirus restrictions were lifted.
