Net Worth Ranker
What Is Merle Haggard Net Worth’ Net Worth?
At the time of his death on April 6, 2016, Merle Haggard, the iconic American country and western singer-songwriter, had a net worth of approximately $5 million. This figure represents the culmination of a career spanning decades, marked by numerous hit records, extensive touring, and songwriting royalties. His financial journey, however, wasn’t always smooth, with periods of significant financial strain despite his artistic success.
Early Career and Rise to Fame
Merle Haggard’s early life was marked by hardship and brushes with the law. Born on April 6, 1937, in Oildale, California, to parents who had migrated from Oklahoma during the Great Depression, Haggard’s upbringing was humble. The family lived in a converted boxcar. The early loss of his father in 1946 deeply affected him. By age 12, he received a guitar from his brother. He soon found himself in trouble with the law, leading to stints in juvenile detention centers. One notable incident included a shoplifting charge in 1950. His struggles culminated in a prison sentence at San Quentin in February 1958 following an attempted robbery. It was during his time at San Quentin that he was inspired to turn his life around, attending a performance by Johnny Cash. He earned a high school equivalency diploma and worked at the prison’s textile plant. Released in 1960, Haggard started working for his brother’s electrical contracting company and playing locally.
Haggard’s musical career began to take off in the early 1960s. He found himself performing with Tally Records. His early recordings and performances were integral to the burgeoning Bakersfield sound. A key moment came when he recorded Wynn Stewart’s “Sing a Sad Song” in 1964, which became a national hit. This success paved the way for a string of hit records throughout the 1960s. By 1967, his album “Branded Man” achieved both artistic and commercial success.
Peak Years and Chart-Topping Success
The late 1960s and 1970s marked the peak of Merle Haggard’s commercial success. He released a string of number-one hits including “Mama Tried,” “The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde,” “Hungry Eyes,” and “Sing Me Back Home.” In 1969, he released “Okie from Muskogee,” which topped the country charts for a month and became an anthem for the Silent Majority. “The Fightin’ Side of Me” and “I Wonder If They Think of Me” followed in the same vein. By the end of his career, Merle Haggard had accumulated 38 number-one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. In addition to his hit singles, Haggard released numerous successful albums. Though exact sales figures for each album are difficult to verify, many achieved gold or platinum status, contributing significantly to his income through royalties.
In 1974, Haggard appeared on the cover of TIME magazine. Throughout the early 1980s, he continued to produce top-ten country hits. Though specific earnings from concerts and tours during his peak years are not publicly available, it is estimated that Haggard earned substantial income from live performances, which were a mainstay of his career.
Financial Challenges and Bankruptcy
Despite his success, Merle Haggard faced significant financial challenges in the late 1980s and 1990s. His multiple marriages and associated spousal and child support payments strained his finances. Haggard was married five times throughout his life. His first marriage was to Leona Hobbs in 1956, with whom he had four children before divorcing in 1964. In 1965, he married singer Bonnie Owens, who played a significant role in his career. They divorced in 1978, but remained close. His third marriage was to Leona Williams in 1978, ending in divorce in 1983. He then married Debbie Parret in 1985, divorcing in 1991. Finally, in 1993, he married Theresa Ann Lane, with whom he had two children. In 1992, Merle Haggard declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. He attributed his financial difficulties to the costs associated with his multiple divorces and support payments.
Later Career and Real Estate
In his later years, Merle Haggard experienced a resurgence in his career, touring extensively and recording new music. Specific details of recording contracts and royalties from his later albums are not publicly available, but his continued activity in the music industry contributed to his income. For the last several decades of his life, Merle Haggard lived on a 200-acre property in Palo Cedro, California. This property at one point spanned nearly 1,000 acres. However, he lost all but 200 acres as part of his 1993 bankruptcy restructuring.
Awards, Recognition, and Legacy
Merle Haggard received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, including multiple awards from the Academy of Country Music, the Country Music Association, and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. In 1977, he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, followed by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in 1994. He was also inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 1997. In 2006, he received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and was honored as a BMI Icon at the 54th annual BMI Pop Awards. In 2010, he accepted a Kennedy Center Honor. These recognitions not only solidified his place in country music history, but also likely contributed to increased performance fees and royalties in his later years.
Despite his financial ups and downs, Merle Haggard left behind a lasting legacy as one of the most influential figures in country music. His estimated net worth of $5 million at the time of his death reflects the culmination of a long and successful career, marked by both artistic achievement and personal challenges.
