Willie Nelson is an American actor, musician as well as and activist who gained recognition as one of the best country music artists for his hit albums like “Shotgun Willie,” “Red Headed Stranger,” and many others.
In this article, we will cover the net worth of Willie Nelson, early life, career, personal life, and others. Read the full article to know everything about Willie Nelson, from his net worth to his personal life.
What Is the Net Worth of Willie Nelson?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, the estimated net worth of Willie Nelson is around $25 million. Willie Nelson’s career as a singer, songwriter, and several other endeavors have made him capable of earning this net worth.
After taking a sneak peek into his net worth, let’s have a look at Willie Nelson’s childhood development.
Early Life
Willie was born on the 29th of April 29, 1933, in Texas to Ira Nelson and Myrle Marie. In 1929, the family relocated to Texas from Arkansas to look for some employment. Willie’s father worked as a mechanic whereas his grandfather, as a blacksmith. Soon after his birth, his mother left the family.
His grandparents brought him up with his sister named Bobbie as Willie’s father remarried and left. At the age of 6, his grandfather gifted him a guitar and he apparently learned a few chords from his grandfather. Willie and his sister, Bobbie started learning music from their grandparents, helping them in pursuit of their musical careers.
He and his sister used to sing gospel songs with their grandfather in the church choir. Willie Nelson’s grandparents turned out to be important to help him establish his name and net worth. At the age of just 7, he penned his first song and played guitar at the age of 9 in a local band named Bohemian Polka.
Nelson attended Abbott High School and he used to participate in sports quite actively. Nelson was involved in sports like basketball, baseball, and football during his high school years. While in high school, Nelson joined the band named “The Texans,” which was established by his sister’s husband Bud Fletcher.
He used to sing and play the guitar there. In 1952, he completed his graduation from Abbott High School. Willie joined the Air Force briefly and subsequently attended Baylor University in order to continue his studies. Nelson was also a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.
After two years of attending college, Willie decided to drop his studies in pursuit of a musical career. In order to support himself during his early years, Willie did many odd jobs like a tree trimmer, saddle maker, and bouncer, and also worked at an auto parts shop.
Career
Willie Nelson’s career helped him majorly to build such a huge net worth. His first work as a DJ was at KBOP for which he relocated to Pleasanton, Texas. Later, he went on to record his first two songs in 1955 titled “The Storm Has Just Begun” and “When I’ve Sung My Last Hillbilly Song.”
In order to make these two, he just used the equipment that was available at the radio station at the time. After this, Nelson sent those to a local record label but couldn’t make it out. He continued working for many radio stations in Texas as well as used to perform in nightclubs.
Eventually, he went to Portland, the place where his mother stayed. At the time, Nelson went on to work as a DJ at several radio stations in Oregon, Portland, and Vancouver, Washington. He started tasting success when he started writing many tracks that not just turned out as a few of his biggest hits, but rather country standards along with “Funny How Time Slips Away.”
In 1960, he relocated to Nashville to sign a publishing deal. In 1962, his debut album titled “…And Then I Wrote” was recorded and became a hit. In 1964, RCA Victor then signed him, and the next year he teamed up with the Grand Ole Opry.
He has established his name in the world of country music. Some of his notable successful albums include “Shotgun Willie,” “Stardust,” and “Red Headed Stranger.” Willie released the successful singles titled “On the Road Again” and “To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before” during the mid-1980s.
This has also contributed a lot to building Willie Nelson’s net worth. He also established the country supergroup Kris Kristofferson, The Highwaymen with Johnny Cash, and Waylon Jennings.
Other Ventures
Apart from his career in music, Willie landed the cast of over thirty movies and served as co-author for a number of books. These works also played a significant role in Willie Nelson’s net worth. Nelson has also been an activist for biofuel use and Marijuana legitimization.
Personal Life
Willie tied the knot four times and has seven kids from his several wives. In 1952, he got married to Martha Matthews and had three children together: Lana, Susie, and Wilie “Billy” Hugh, Jr. The couple divorced in 1962.
A lot of times Matthews assaulted Willie Sr. There was even a point when she sewed him into bed sheets and knocked him using a broomstick. In 1991, their son named Billy died after committing suicide.
A year after divorce from his first wife, Willie tied the knot with Shirley Collie but the couple divorced in 1971 after Shirley discovered a bill from the maternity ward and learned that he had a child with Connie Koepke, a daughter named Paula Carlene Nelson.
The same year he exchanged wedding vows with Koepke and welcomed a second daughter named Amy Lee Nelson. In 1988, the couple divorced. In 1991, he tied the knot with Annie D’Angelo and welcomed two sons named Lukas Autry Nelson and Jacob Micah Nelson. Lukas Nelson also owns his own band Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real and is a popular country artist just like his father.
Legal Controversies
Willie has been detained a lot of times over the years for possession of marijuana. In 1974, he was arrested for the first time when he was in Dallas. In 1977, after a tour when Nelson went to the Bahamas, he was found in possession of marijuana and as a result, he was detained. However, within a few hours, he was released but this banned Willie from the Bahamas.
Nelson was again found in possession of marijuana in 1994 in his car near Waco, Texas. During his travel to the funeral of former Texas Governor Ann Richards in 2006, he was detained in Louisiana as he was once again found with marijuana as well as hallucinogenic mushrooms.
Willie was given probation for six months. In November 2010, Willie was detained in Sierra Blanca, Texas as marijuana was found on his bus when he was returning to Texas from Los Angeles. Nelson had to pay a bail of $2,500 to be released from prison.
Willie Nelson earned a net worth of $25 million from his musical and acting career majorly. We will keep you updated with all the latest information until then stay tuned to our website.