Net Worth Ranker
What Is Paul Simon’s Net Worth?
Paul Simon, the iconic American singer-songwriter, boasts a substantial net worth estimated at $200 million. This impressive figure is a testament to his decades-long career marked by numerous hit songs, successful albums, and memorable performances. Simon’s financial success is derived from various sources, including music royalties, album sales, touring revenue, and strategic business ventures, most notably the sale of his music catalog. His journey from the folk-rock sounds of Simon & Garfunkel to a celebrated solo artist has solidified his place as a significant figure in the music industry and a master of his financial domain.
Early Career and Simon & Garfunkel’s Success
Born on October 13, 1941, in Newark, New Jersey, Paul Simon’s early life was steeped in music. His father, a double bass player, set the stage for Simon’s musical inclination. The family moved to Queens, New York, where Simon attended Fairfax High School and met Art Garfunkel. Their collaboration began in their school days, leading them to sign with Big Records under the moniker Tom & Jerry. However, it was their partnership as Simon & Garfunkel that truly launched their careers in 1964 when they signed with Columbia Records. Their initial album, “Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.,” released in October 1964, did not immediately gain traction. However, the song “The Sound of Silence” achieved significant airplay, leading to its re-release with overdubs and ultimately reaching No. 1 on the U.S. pop charts.
Simon & Garfunkel’s collaboration resulted in four more albums: “Sounds of Silence,” “Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme,” “Bookends,” and “Bridge over Troubled Water.” The duo became a sensation, captivating audiences with their harmonies and insightful lyrics. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003. The duo reunited for tours across the United States and globally, drawing huge crowds.
Paul Simon’s Solo Career Milestones
Following Simon & Garfunkel’s split in 1970, Paul Simon embarked on a prolific solo career. His self-titled album in 1972, featuring the hit single “Mother and Child Reunion,” reached No. 4 on the U.S. charts and No. 1 in the United Kingdom. Throughout the 1970s, Simon consistently released albums, frequently topping music charts. The album “Still Crazy After All These Years,” released in 1975, earned him the Grammy Award for Album of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal. The latter half of the 1970s and early 1980s saw a slowdown in Simon’s music releases. However, “Hearts and Bones,” released in 1983, became recognized as one of his best works, despite initially disappointing sales.
The release of “Graceland” propelled Paul Simon back into the spotlight, becoming his most commercially successful solo album. Inspired by his collaboration with South African musicians, including Ladysmith Black Mambazo, “Graceland” won the 1987 Grammy Award for Album of the Year and the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1988. In 1990, he released “The Rhythm of the Saints,” recorded primarily in Rio de Janeiro, which was also critically acclaimed. Following the success of “Graceland” and “The Rhythm of the Saints,” Simon organized a concert in Central Park with African and South American bands, drawing a crowd of over 750,000 attendees.
Paul Simon has won 12 Grammy Awards, two Brit Awards, and has been a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors. He has also been recognized as a BMI Icon and was selected by Time Magazine as one of the “100 People Who Shaped the World.”
Music Catalog Sale to Sony Music Publishing
On April 1, 2021, Paul Simon sold his entire music catalog to Sony Music Publishing for a reported $250 million. This agreement granted Sony Music Publishing 100% of Simon’s rights as a songwriter and publisher, transferring all future royalty income to Sony. The sale included approximately 400 songs, including hits such as “The Boxer,” “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” “Graceland,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” and “Mrs. Robinson.” The sale of his catalog significantly impacted his net worth.
Real Estate Holdings
In 2012, Paul Simon and his wife, Edie Brickell, acquired a 32-acre property in New Canaan, Connecticut, for approximately $16 million. The property featured an 8,800-square-foot main house and sprawling grounds. They initially listed the home for sale in April 2019 for $14 million but eventually sold it in June 2022 for $10.8 million to Richard Gere, who then sold the property in October 2024 for $10.75 million. Simon and Brickell also own a duplex in a celebrity-filled NYC building on the Upper West Side, where their neighbors include Lorne Michaels and Robert De Niro. In addition, they possess a 30-acre oceanfront estate in Montauk, in the Hamptons, and a 10-acre ranch property in Allen, Texas.
Personal Life and Relationships
Paul Simon has been married three times. His first marriage was to Peggy Harper in 1969, with whom he had a son, Harper Simon, in 1972. They divorced in 1975. He married actress Carrie Fisher in 1982, and they divorced in 1984, although they remained in a relationship for several years. In 1992, Simon married singer Edie Brickell. They have three children together and have maintained a lasting marriage. Paul Simon maintains a close friendship with Lorne Michaels, the creator of “Saturday Night Live,” which began in the 1970s when Simon lived in New York. Simon has also devoted himself to youth music education and contributes to numerous music-related organizations and festivals.
