Net Worth Ranker
What Is Carter Beauford’s Net Worth?
Carter Beauford, a highly accomplished American musician, drummer, and percussionist, has amassed a considerable fortune over his career. As of 2024, Carter Beauford’s net worth is estimated to be $75 million. This impressive figure primarily stems from his pivotal role as a founding member of the Dave Matthews Band (DMB). His contributions extend beyond drumming to include backing vocals, solidifying his integral position within the band.
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Born on November 2, 1957, in Charlottesville, Virginia, Carter Anthony Beauford’s journey into music began at a young age. At three years old, his father took him to a Buddy Rich concert because he couldn’t find a babysitter. This experience profoundly impacted him, sparking his initial fascination with drums. Shortly after, his father gifted him a tin drum set, marking the start of his musical exploration.
By the age of nine, Beauford was already performing professionally, showcasing exceptional talent and dedication. His ambidextrous playing style, honed through practice in front of a mirror, became a signature aspect of his drumming. Growing up next door to LeRoi Moore, who later became the saxophonist for the Dave Matthews Band, fostered a long-lasting friendship and musical partnership that would shape his career.
Career Highlights and Achievements
Beauford’s early musical endeavors included joining the Richmond, Virginia-based jazz fusion band Secrets, where he collaborated with LeRoi Moore and other talented musicians. This experience provided valuable exposure and further developed his skills. The band performed in bars across Virginia including at Miller’s, the Charlottesville bar where future frontman Dave Matthews worked. Beauford and Moore (along with Sal Soghoian and George Melvin) were also in the band Blue Indigo, which also performed at Miller’s.
The formation of the Dave Matthews Band marked a turning point in Beauford’s career. Dave Matthews had written some songs he wanted to record and approached Beauford and Moore about playing on his demo tape. The band’s first official performance took place on March 14, 1991, at Trax Nightclub in Charlottesville. In 1994, they released their first EP, “Recently,” featuring live recordings from The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia, and Trax in Charlottesville.
On September 20, 1994, DMB released its debut studio album, “Under the Table and Dreaming,” which propelled them to international fame. The album featured hit singles such as “What Would You Say,” “Satellite,” and “Ants Marching,” and was eventually certified six times platinum. “Under the Table and Dreaming” and its follow-up album, “Crash,” brought the band a Grammy Award and four additional Grammy nominations. “Crash’s” hits included “Crash into Me,” “Too Much,” and “Tripping Billies.”
Their third studio album, “Before These Crowded Streets,” released on April 28, 1998, achieved immediate commercial success, selling over 900,000 albums worldwide within its first week. “Everyday,” their fourth studio album, was released in February 2001 and was also a significant commercial success. The band has since released the albums “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 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Beauford’s drumming prowess has garnered widespread recognition. He was ranked number 10 in a Rolling Stone magazine reader’s poll in 2010 for the greatest drummers of all time. In 2013, he won two awards from the Modern Drummer Readers Poll: Best Pop Drummer and Best Recorded Performance. Furthermore, he contributes backing vocals to many of the Dave Matthews Band’s popular songs.
Beyond his work with DMB, Beauford has collaborated with numerous artists, including Carlos Santana, John Popper of Blues Traveler, Rashawn Ross, Tim Reynolds, Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, and Victor Wooten. In 2020, the Dave Matthews Band was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. While they were not chosen for induction that year, a 2020 article in Drum Magazine recognized Beauford as one of the most influential drummers of the 1990s, highlighting his “utter command of his instrument” and “hyper-fast single-stroke rolls.”
Beauford appeared on the soundtrack for the 2003 movie “The Fighting Temptations.” He’s credited as the writer, producer, and performer of the song “I Won’t Quit (Till I Get Home).”
Real Estate and Personal Life
Carter Beauford’s real estate holdings include a $4.5 million estate in Charlottesville, Virginia. This property spans 140.8 acres and features a private pond. The 10,288-square-foot house, built in 2005, boasts six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a tennis court, and a pool.
Before achieving fame with the Dave Matthews Band, Beauford worked as a history teacher. He has been married twice and has three children: a daughter, Brianna Simone Beauford, from his first marriage; a daughter, Nadja Angelique Beauford, born in October 2001, and a son, Marcus Carrington Beauford, born in December 2004, with his second wife, Karen Beauford. In 2003, during the Dave Matthews Band’s winter hiatus, he and former touring keyboardist Butch Taylor collaborated on scores for feature films and television.
While specific details about his personal investments and assets are not publicly available, Carter Beauford’s substantial net worth reflects his long and successful career in the music industry. The Dave Matthews Band’s consistent popularity, extensive touring, and numerous album sales have undoubtedly contributed significantly to his financial success. His contributions to the band’s sound and enduring appeal have solidified his status as a highly respected and financially secure musician.
