Who is the Poorest Metallica member? Net worths, ranked: from millionaire founders James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich to Kirk Hammett, the late Cliff Burton and bassists Jason Newsted and Robert Trujillo
Metallica has been around for decades but its music is still going strong – the band just announced new song ‘Lux Æterna’, an upcoming album and the M72 Tour in 2023-24
Ultra-rich Ulrich comes out on top, Hetfield has starred on American Dad and has Jaguars and Fords, and Hammett still makes money off songs like ‘Fade To Black’
Metallica is back! After six years of waiting, the heavy metal rock band unveiled its new song “Lux Æterna” in late November. It’s the lead single and teaser to the group’s upcoming album 72 Seasons, which will feature 12 tracks in total and is confirmed for release on April 14, 2023. The album will launch in tandem with the rock stars’ M72 Tour in North America and Europe from April 2023 to September 2024, as announced on their website.
Founded in 1981 in Los Angeles, Metallica significantly influenced other musicians and millions of fans alike with its heavy and thrash metal music. After more than four decades, it is still one of the highest-earning bands in the world, selling over 150 million albums worldwide, per Rock Off Mag. Forbes estimated that the legendary musicians made US$400 million from their WorldWired tour alone, which began in 2016.
Metallica’s story began with founding members guitarist/singer James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich in 1981. They soon recruited lead guitarist Dave Mustaine and bassist Ron McGovney. But Mustaine and McGovney were later replaced by Kirk Hammett and Cliff Burton. Burton tragically died in a bus crash while on tour in 1986, and was replaced (with the blessing of Burton’s family, per Loudwire) with Jason Newsted, then Robert Trujillo.
Combined, the band currently has a net worth of US$1 billion, per Metal Shout. But who’s the Poorest member of Metallica as of 2022?
6. Clifford Burton
Estimated net worth: US$1 million
Joining in 1982, Burton shared some of the band’s most historical moments, including releasing its debut studio album Kill ‘Em All (1983) and recording Master of Puppets, which went on to earn its first gold record, per Loudwire. But the bassist’s life was cut short and he tragically died in a bus accident while on tour in Sweden in 1986 at just 24 years old. Celebrity Net Worth estimates his net worth was US$1 million at the time of his death, though it’s likely it would have continued to grow if he were still alive and with the band today.
5. Robert Trujillo
Estimated net worth: US$30 million
Mexican-American Trujillo was reportedly offered US$1 million to be part of the band in 2003 and has served as bassist for the longest time since then, per Ultimate Classic Rock. Before Metallica, he was a member of various rock groups such as Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves and singer Ozzy Osbourne’s band.
Outside of music, he has also appeared in a few minor roles in TV shows and films during his earlier years, including House Calls (1978), Scout’s Honor (1980) and an episode of Chips in 1982. Now 58, his net worth is estimated at around US$30 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
4. Jason Newsted
Estimated net worth: US$60 million
Replacing Burton in 1986, Newsted stayed with the group until 2001, playing its iconic hits like “Enter Sandman”, “The Unforgiven”, “Nothing Else Matters” and “Sad But True” in the album Metallica (1991), aka the “Black Album”, which was certified 16x platinum, per Metal Injection.
The 59-year-old also co-wrote three notable songs, namely “Blackened”, “My Friend of Misery” and “Where the Wild Things Are”, states Ultimate Classic Rock.
After leaving the band, he has continued working on music with other metal bands like Echobrain and Voivod, as well as touring with Osbourne. When he was unable to play instruments due to shoulder injuries from 2004 to 2008, he uncovered a new passion for painting, per Chicago Tribune. Newsted has held several exhibitions for his abstract works, which have been sold for up to US$125,000 each, says the source. This all adds up neatly to his US$60 million fortune, per Celebrity Net Worth.
3. Kirk Hammett
Estimated net worth: US$200 million
Despite not being a founding member, guitarist Hammett has been with Metallica since the early days, joining in 1983. He co-wrote some of its best songs like “Enter Sandman”, “Master Of Puppets”, “The Unforgiven” and “Fade To Black”, per Second Hand Songs. As a result, royalties and tours with the band have become his main cash flow. You’d think the musician is already busy enough as it is, but it turns out he’s a man of many talents. In 2016, he launched guitar pedal company KHDK Electronics. In 2017, he introduced his own coffee brand, Ghoul Screamer, in partnership with Dark Matter Coffee. According to Guitar World, Hammett is a fan of all things horror too. The rock star published Too Much Horror Business in 2012, to showcase his collection of monster movie memorabilia. More recently, in September, Hammett launched his online scary story project, I Have to Get Rid of This Guitar I Found, which he also does the soundtrack for, reported Guitar World.
Unsurprisingly, the 60-year-old guitarist has stacked up a decent bank balance of US$200 million, per Celebrity Net Worth.
2. James Hetfield
Estimated net worth: US$300 million
Hetfield James of US metal band Metallica performs in concert at the Horsens State Prison, Horsens, Denmark, in June 2012. Photo: EPA
One of Metallica’s two founders, frontman, rhythm guitarist and songwriter Hetfield has been cashing in on all of Metallica’s projects over the four decades. Out of the stage and studio, his voice can also be heard on episodes of animation series like Dave the Barbarian in 2004, Metalocalypse in 2006, American Dad in 2016 and Skylanders Academy the same year.
The multimillionaire has splurged a huge amount of his wealth on classic cars, including a 1932 Ford Roadster “Blackjack”, a 1934 Packard “Aquarius”, a 1936 Auburn “Slow Burn”, a 1948 Jaguar “Black Pearl” and a 1952 Buick Skylark “Skyscraper”, to name just a few, via GQ.
The 59-year-old Cali native has a gigantic sum of US$300 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
1. Lars Ulrich
Estimated net worth: US$350 million
Lars Ulrich is Metallica’s other founding member. Photo: @metallica/Instagram
The other founder, Danish drummer and songwriter Ulrich, has also been involved with everything the band has done since the beginning making him “ul(tra)-rich” – like his name suggests. His US$350 million net worth (estimated by Celebrity Net Worth) is larger than his fellow OG member Hetfield because Ulrich owns a wealth of profitable properties. In 2020, he sold his San Francisco hilltop mansion at US$10.3 million, via Loud Wire. The 58-year-old reportedly owns 56 hectares of undeveloped land in Marin County that he listed for sale for US$39 million in 2015, states Celebrity Net Worth.
On top of that, just like former bandmate Newsted, Ulrich also earns millions from art – but as a collector rather than a creator. He sold two Jean Michel Basquiat paintings from his collection at auction for US$5.5 million and US$13.5 million back in 2002 and 2008 respectively, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
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