Net Worth Ranker
What Is Frances Bean Cobain’s Net Worth?
Frances Bean Cobain, an American artist, musician, and model, has a notable net worth. While figures fluctuate based on investments and assets, various reports and legal documents submitted during her divorce proceedings offer insights into her financial status. In 2017, legal documents indicated that Cobain’s net worth at that time was $11.2 million, derived from the Nirvana estate. It’s important to clarify that this figure represented the accumulated inheritance from the Nirvana estate up to that point, not her total final net worth. These assets included royalties, publishing rights, and investment dividends from her late father’s estate.
Frances Bean Cobain’s Income and Inheritance
Court documents revealed that Frances Bean Cobain earns over $100,000 per month from her father’s estate. This income is generated through various channels, including royalties from Nirvana’s music catalog, publishing rights, and investment dividends. In 2010, on her 18th birthday, Frances inherited 37% of Kurt Cobain’s estate. By 2022, upon turning 30, she inherited the full estate. This inheritance includes 100% of her father’s publicity rights to his name and image, which are estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. In 2014, the entire Kurt Cobain estate, encompassing music royalties and Nirvana catalog rights, was valued at approximately $450 million. It’s important to note that this valuation represents the estate’s total worth, from which Frances Bean Cobain receives a substantial portion.
Frances Bean Cobain’s Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born on August 18, 1992, in Los Angeles, California, Frances Bean Cobain’s early life was marked by both privilege and controversy. Her first name was inspired by Vaselines guitarist Frances McKee, and her middle name came from her father’s perception that she resembled a kidney bean on an ultrasound. In January 1992, Courtney Love spoke about a heroin binge she and Kurt Cobain had engaged in. This revelation led to an investigation by the Los Angeles County Department of Children’s Services, and Frances was temporarily taken from her parents two weeks after her birth. The case was later dropped, and she was returned to Love and Cobain. Frances last saw her father on April 1, 1994, at the Exodus Recovery Center in Marina del Rey, one week before his death at his Seattle home. Following Kurt’s death, Frances was raised by Love and other family members, dividing her time between Seattle and Los Angeles. In October 2003, after Courtney Love’s arrest on drug charges and subsequent overdose, Frances lived with her paternal grandmother, Wendy O’Connor, before Love regained custody in January 2005. Frances later studied art at Bard College in New York.
Frances Bean Cobain’s Modeling and Artistic Ventures
Frances Bean Cobain has explored various avenues in the arts and fashion industries. In 2006, she modeled for “Elle” magazine, wearing Kurt Cobain’s brown cardigan and pajama pants. She explained that she chose this outfit because Kurt wore it when he married her mother in Hawaii in 1992. In 2008, Cobain was featured in “Harper’s Bazaar,” dressed in outfits inspired by “Evita,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and “Grease.” In 2011, she modeled for an internet photo series by Hedi Slimane. In 2016, she modeled for “Schön!” magazine and was named the face of Marc Jacobs’s 2017 Spring/Summer campaign. Frances debuted an artwork collection titled “Scumfuck” at L.A.’s La Luz de Jesus Gallery in 2010, using the pseudonym “Fiddle Tim.” In 2012, she participated in the group art show “MiXTAPE,” creating art inspired by The Jesus and Mary Chain’s “Black.” In 2017, she held a joint exhibition with artist Lindsey Way, “Ghosts For Sale,” at Pasadena’s Gallery 30 South. During the summer of 2008, Cobain interned at “Rolling Stone” magazine, and David LaChapelle photographed her for the publication a few years later. She also chose the cover photo and title of the 2005 Nirvana album “Sliver: The Best of the Box” when she was 13 years old. Cobain was a guest vocalist on the 2010 Evelyn Evelyn song “My Space” and a guest judge on a 2019 episode of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars.”
Frances Bean Cobain’s Real Estate Investments
Frances Bean Cobain has made several real estate investments over the years. In 2011, she purchased a 3,357 square foot home in the Hollywood Hills for $1.825 million. This property, featuring four bedrooms and four bathrooms, was sold for $2.4 million in 2018. In January 2021, she acquired another home in the Hollywood Hills for $2 million. This property spans nearly 2,400 square feet and includes three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Additionally, the .29-acre property features a 541 square foot guest cottage with one bedroom and two bathrooms. Frances sold this home in January 2022 for $2.3 million. In 2021, she also purchased a home in San Diego’s Point Loma neighborhood, which she sold in October 2023 for $2.4 million. These transactions reflect her engagement in the real estate market and provide insights into her investment strategies.
Frances Bean Cobain’s Personal Life Milestones
Frances Bean Cobain’s personal life has been marked by significant milestones. Her godparents are actress Drew Barrymore and R.E.M. front man Michael Stipe. Cobain gave her first interview at age 13 to “Teen Vogue” in September 2005. In late 2009, her paternal grandmother, Wendy O’Connor, and her aunt, Kimberly Cobain, were appointed temporary co-guardians of Frances, and a restraining order was issued prohibiting Love from having any contact with her. The papers filed reportedly involved “allegations of domestic violence.” In July 2018, Cobain attended the opening of the Museum of Style Icons’ “Growing up Kurt Cobain” exhibition in Ireland with her paternal grandmother and aunt. During the exhibition, Frances stated that she often uses a phrase from Kurt’s suicide note, “peace, love, empathy,” because she wants to “reclaim the peace, love, empathy thing as something that’s meant for health and for compassion.” Frances married musician Isaiah Silva on June 29, 2014, and they divorced in November 2017. During their divorce settlement proceedings, Isaiah retained ownership of Kurt’s 1959 Martin D-18E acoustic guitar, used during Nirvana’s “MTV Unplugged” set. On October 7, 2023, Frances married Riley Hawk, the son of skateboarder Tony Hawk, after dating since January 2021. Her godfather, Michael Stipe, officiated the wedding.
Estate Management and Publicity Rights
Frances Bean Cobain’s control over her father’s publicity rights is a significant aspect of her estate management. She controls 100% of Kurt Cobain’s publicity rights to his name and image. While the exact monetary value of these rights is not publicly disclosed, they are presumed to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The use of Cobain’s likeness and music has been a subject of controversy, with some projects deemed incompatible with the late musician’s priorities and morals. For example, Courtney Love criticized the use of a Nirvana song in a Muppets movie, claiming that his memory was “raped.” Similarly, the use of Cobain’s likeness in a beer commercial for Bavaria was met with controversy. However, Love did approve of a posthumous collaboration with Converse sneakers. These decisions highlight the complexities of managing a deceased artist’s legacy and the ethical considerations involved in commercializing their image and work.
