Gene Simmons recently sat down with Billy Corgan for the debut episode of ‘The Magnificent Others’ podcast. Corgan questioned Simmons’ experience during the period when KISS was first regarded as a ‘has-been’ in the industry during the interview.
“One of the honest answers is that, by that time, there was a lot of money,” the bassist replied. “So, your perspective of ‘Uh-oh! The world is gonna collapse!’ is different when you’ve got a big load of cash in your life. And so, there’s a sense that if the worst happened, you’ll be okay.”
When Corgan mentioned insecurities, he added, “Of course, I have insecurities. I know, at one point, I’m gonna die. I don’t like that. I object.”
In addition to releasing 20 studio albums and giving hundreds of shows with KISS, Simmons appeared in various screen projects throughout his career.
Corgan asked the rocker if these were his way of balancing, and he explained, “No, I thought I was impervious that I could do anything, and it was the same blind delusion that made me think I could get in a band and we could be one of the biggest bands ever and I can act and I can do movies. And it seemed anything I tried—I had my own record company and managed Liza Minnelli and ‘discovered’ Van Halen.”
“Anything I wanted, it seemed like I couldn’t fail because I had that—Well, I had a loose screw anyway, I’m sure, and you do, too, and a lot of people that get up on stage because you gotta be out of your minds to pick this thing ‘cuz you’re putting all your eggs in a basket, right? So, once you have a cushion of money, it’s certainly better.”
“Somebody once said, ‘Money’s not gonna make you happy. So, if you’re a miserable son of a b-tch, it’s still so much better to be a rich miserable son of a b-tch,'” Simmons noted. He then confirmed, “I was certainly rich. I continue to be.”
Over their career, KISS has sold over 100 million records worldwide. Gene Simmons’ net worth is estimated at $400 million, while Paul Stanley’s is around $200 million. The band’s extensive merchandising and licensing deals have generated over $1 billion since the 1970s.
KISS retired with a final tour in 2023. On their last show at Madison Square Garden, though, the band announced a comeback as digital avatars sometime in the future. They teamed up with Pophouse for a reported $300 million deal, including all of their songs, brand and intellectual property.
