Net Worth Ranker
What Is Ray LaMontagne’s Net Worth?
Ray LaMontagne, a celebrated American singer-songwriter and musician, has accumulated a net worth of $6 million. His diverse musical style, encompassing folk, rock, blues, and soul, has contributed to his financial success. LaMontagne’s proficiency in playing the guitar, piano, and harmonica further enhances his artistic repertoire.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born Raymond Charles Jack LaMontagne on June 18, 1973, in Nashua, New Hampshire, Ray experienced a childhood shaped by being raised by a single mother alongside his five siblings. During his teenage years, he resided in Utah, where he focused on drawing “Dungeons & Dragons” images. After graduating from high school, Ray relocated to Lewiston, Maine, and secured employment at a shoe factory.
Ray LaMontagne’s trajectory towards a music career began after hearing Stephen Stills’ “Treetop Flyer.” In the late ’90s, he started performing, and in 1999, he recorded a 10-song demo that led to Maine’s Oddfellow Theater offering him the opportunity to open for Jonathan Edwards and John Gorka. Business executive Ron Clayton discovered Ray at a Maine musical festival and subsequently introduced him to Chrysalis Music Publishing.
Musical Career and Album Successes
In 2004, LaMontagne recorded his debut album, “Trouble,” which he sold to RCA Records (U.S.) and Echo Records (U.K.). Released in September 2004, “Trouble” achieved significant commercial success, reaching #4 on the Irish Albums chart and #5 on the UK Albums chart. The album was certified Platinum in both the U.S. and the U.K. The title track “Trouble” peaked at #5 on the “Billboard” Adult Album Alternative chart, and the single and “Jolene” were both certified Platinum in the U.S.
In 2005, Ray LaMontagne showcased his talent on the PBS series “Austin City Limits” and released the EP “Live from Bonnaroo 2005.” His second studio album, “Till the Sun Turns Black,” was released in 2006. It earned Gold certifications in the U.S. and U.K., reaching #28 on the “Billboard” 200 chart. “Three More Days,” a single from the album, climbed to #5 on the Adult Album Alternative chart.
Ray LaMontagne continued his success with the subsequent albums: “Gossip in the Grain” (2008), “God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise” (2010), and “Supernova” (2014), each peaking at #3 on the “Billboard” 200 chart. “Gossip in the Grain” and “God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise” both achieved Gold certifications in the U.S. LaMontagne’s musical prowess earned him a Grammy Award for “God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise.” He received a nomination for “Beg, Steal, or Borrow,” which marked his first #1 single on the Adult Album Alternative chart. The same album also featured “For the Summer” and “Repo Man,” which reached #5 and #11, respectively, on the Adult Album Alternative chart. From “Supernova,” two singles, the title track (#3) and “Drive-In Movies” (#9), entered the top 10 on the same chart.
Ray LaMontagne’s sixth album, “Ouroboros” (2016), reached #13 on the “Billboard” 200 chart. The single “Hey, No Pressure” peaked at #2 on the Adult Album Alternative chart. In 2018, LaMontagne released “Part of the Light,” which reached #40 on the “Billboard” 200 chart. “Such a Simple Thing” from that album was certified Gold in the U.S. and reached #3 on the Adult Album Alternative chart. LaMontagne’s eighth album, “Monovision” (2020), included his second #1 single on the Adult Album Alternative chart, “Strong Enough.”
Real Estate Investments
In December 2008, Ray LaMontagne and his wife, Sarah Sousa, invested $1.05 million in a 104-acre estate in Ashfield, Massachusetts. This expansive property, surrounded by 438 acres of protected land, features an 1800s-era farmhouse that was once the residence of U.S. Ambassador William C. Bullitt. The primary home spans over 10,000 square feet. The estate also includes numerous additional structures, such as a two-story guest house that LaMontagne used as a recording studio for several of his albums.
In August 2023, Ray and Sarah listed the Ashfield estate for $5.25 million. The property was eventually sold in early 2024 for $4.5 million.
Awards and Recognition
Ray LaMontagne’s accolades include two Grammy nominations in 2011. He won Best Contemporary Folk Album for “God Willin’ and the Creek Don’t Rise” and was nominated for Song of the Year for “Beg, Steal or Borrow.” LaMontagne has garnered eight Boston Music Award nominations, securing wins for Album of the Year for “Trouble,” Song of the Year for “Trouble,” and Best Male Singer-Songwriter in 2005. That same year, he received an XM Nation Music Award for Acoustic Rock Artist of the Year, a “MOJO” Award nomination for Best New Act, a New Pantheon Music Prize Shortlist Music Prize nomination for “Trouble,” and a Pollstar Concert Industry Award nomination for Best New Touring Artist.
In 2006, LaMontagne won an Esky Music Award for Best Voice, and in 2007, he was nominated for a BRIT Award for International Breakthrough Act. These awards reflect his impact and recognition in the music industry.
Personal Life
Ray LaMontagne is married to poet Sarah Sousa, and they have two sons. Sarah Sousa is an accomplished poet. She has written the poetry books “Hex,” “Yell,” “See the Wolf,” “Split the Crow,” and “Church of Needles,” and in 2014, she published “the fully transcribed 1886 diary of Esther Small, the abused wife of a Civil War veteran; with introduction and afterword placing the diary in historical and cultural context.”
